This Day In Gay Utah History May 1st

 

This Day In Gay Utah History May 1st

1 May

1891The next case was that of James Hamilton charged with the crime against nature. The indictment alleged that the offense was committed with one W.D. Burton. The jury had failed to agree at a late hour last night. Deseret News

1892 Ogden Standard Examiner The Reform School Board page 8 Superintendent Allison asked that the following cases be finally disposed of in order that the books might be cleared recommending that the paroles be discharged: Ernest conk,  Joseph Wilson,  Harry Yager,  and Susan R Green. So Ordered.

1919-  The verdict of a Naval Court Martial of 15 sailors charged with sodomy was announced. The Newport sex scandal arose in 1919 from the United States Navy's investigation of illicit sexual behavior on the part of Navy personnel in Newport, Rhode Island. The investigation of a homosexual subculture in Newport was centered at the Army and Navy YMCA and the Newport Art Club. Local civilian homosexuals regularly made contact with one another. The naval personnel’s detailed reports recorded “effeminate behavior, cross-dressing, and parties involving sexual activity, liquor and cocaine.” Chief Machinist  Mate Ervin Arnold, a former Connecticut state detective, was placed in charge of the investigation with an infiltration approach in mind. He chose his enlisted personnel investigators on the basis of their youth and looks. Over a period of several weeks, 13 such agents

submitted daily reports to Arnold that included candid descriptions of homosexual acts and their participation in them. They rarely reported any hesitancy or qualms about their direct participation in sexual acts. By April 22, fifteen sailors had been arrested. Each was brought before a military tribunal where they heard Arnold’s infiltrators provide graphic testimony of their encounters. In his charge to the jury in that case, the judge was at pains to discredit the witnesses who described their participation in illicit sexual acts. He reasoned that since no military or governmental authority could legitimately order them to participate in such acts against their will, either they were willing participants, whose complaints were groundless, or they were acting under the compulsion of unlawful commands, on the part of their superiors. The three-week military trial ended with the court-martial of 17 sailors charged with sodomy and "scandalous conduct." Most were sent to the naval prison at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine.  The Newport newspapers were critical of the Navy and Assistant Secretary Roosevelt angrily charged that press coverage would damage the Navy's reputation to the point that parents would not 

Franklin D Roosevelt

allow their sons to enlist. In 1920 Congress investigated the methods used in the Newport Naval Scandal. While investigations dragged, Roosevelt resigned from his position as Assistant Secretary of the Navy in July 1920 when he accepted the Democratic Party's nomination for vice president.  A year later on July 19, 1921, a subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs denounced both the Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels and Roosevelt for the methods used in the Newport investigations. The New York Times reported that most of the details of the affair were "of an unprintable nature" but explained that the committee believed that Daniels and Roosevelt knew that "enlisted men of the navy were used as participants in immoral practices for the purpose of obtaining evidence." The committee report declared that using enlisted men in this way "violated the code of the American citizen and ignored the rights of every American boy who enlisted in the navy to fight for his country." They refer to a "lack of moral perspective" and invoked the youth of the navy personnel: "Conduct of a character at which seasoned veterans of the service would have shuddered was practically forced upon boys." Their most explicit description said that the navy personnel allowed "to be performed upon them immoral acts."  Also, the committee

wrote that for Daniels and Roosevelt to allow personnel to be placed in a position in which the acts were even liable to occur, was "a deplorable, disgraceful, and most unnatural proceeding." Roosevelt rejected the report, noting that the subcommittee's two Republican members had condemned him while the one Democrat issued a minority report. He contested many details and interpretations in the committee's report, and then went on the attack: "This business of using the navy as a football of politics has got to stop." He had nothing to say about the court-martial's assessment. Any damage to Roosevelt's political prospects paled when he was stricken with a paralytic illness while vacationing in August 1921 at Campobello Island in Canada.

Harry Hay 

1953- Harry Hay a founder of the Mattachine Foundation resigned as mounting conservative pressure forces the organization to disavow its roots. The Mattachine Society becomes a conservative Gay organization. New leaders stated “We do not advocate a homosexual culture or community and we believe none exists. “   Hay fought in the 1930’s labor movement trying to gain rights for workers including workmen’s comp, health care, and job security.  He was the embodiment of an agitator. He spoke truth to power, uncomfortable truths, and demanded fair treatment for himself and his fellows.  His early activism for the rights of gay men in the conservative 1950’s was nothing short of earth shattering.  He challenged the status quo.

1963- Joe Redburn began his radio career in Salt Lake City at KSXX radio. “It was pretty much all AM radio back then. It was 1963 and Salt Lake had KALL, KSL, KNAN and KCPX. Our station played jazz and folk and I deejayed basically,” stated Joe Reburn.

1970- At the Second Congress to Unite Women in New York City, lesbian feminists stage the Lavender Menace action in protest of lesbophobia in the women's movement and particularly in the National Organization for Women.  The Lavender Menace was an informal group of lesbian radical feminists formed to protest the exclusion of lesbians and lesbian issues from the feminist movement. Members included Karla Jay, Martha Shelley, Rita Mae Brown, Lois Hart, Barbara Love, Ellen Shumsky, Artemis March, Cynthia Funk, and Michela Griffo, and were mostly members of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) and the National Organization for Women (NOW).[

1971-Ann Arbor, Michigan: The lesbian newspaper Spectre publishes one of the earliest position statements of lesbian separatism is published.

1973-Dykes and Gorgons, a publication of the East Coast-based Gutter Dyke Collective, takes lesbian separatism to its most extreme position, angering many other lesbians with its call to "rid the world of men." The first step: "wimmin" must stop having male babies. The collective is also one of the first to declare that male-to-female transsexuals cannot be lesbians, an issue that will remain controversial for decades to come.

1974-The first Gay rights demonstration in Portugal took place, protesting laws which oppress homosexuals.

1976-Christopher Street magazine premiered. Christopher Street was a gay-oriented magazine published in New York City, New York by Charles Ortleb. Known both for its serious discussion of issues within the gay community and its satire of anti-gay criticism, it was one of the two most widely read gay-issues publications in the United States. Christopher Street covered politics and culture and its aim was to become a gay equivalent of The New Yorker. The magazine printed 231 issues before closing its doors in December 1995.

1976  Alcoholics Together,  the first 12 step program organized for Gay alcoholics in Salt Lake City.

1977-Integrity, a Gay support group for Episcopalians and Dignity, a support group for Gay Catholics combined in SLC. Members were Hal Carter, Michael C. Cress, Duane R. Daniel, R. Joseph Dover, Paul Larson, C. Lovely, Richard Park, and J. Michael Reid.

1977- The Quayside Inn at 249 West 400 South was a Gay managed restaurant. The location later became home of Aardvark Cabaret then demolished. and presently a Wendy’s Restaurant. 

1978- The SUN TAVERN began showing free movies every night except Mondays The OPEN BOOK bookstore was raided by Salt Lake City Vice from complaints it had Gay books considered pornographic.  The RAIL Tavern opened just east of the SUN TAVERN  at 363 West South Temple.  Mike Reid of Gay Service Coalition accused the Gay bars of not supporting the growth of the community by fighting amongst themselves “ With only four bars here in town there is no reason to be always fighting’”

Ken Kline

1979- The Open Door’s new editor was Michael Perry. Publisher was  Prometheus Enterprises owned by Ken A. Kline

Krazy Pete

1979 Club Come Back was located at 551 South 300 West SLC and owned by Krazy Pete [Jon Peterson].  Today the location is the north side of the Mischievous Adult novelty store.

1980-San Francisco resident Isabel Wade, when asked for her opinion about Gay men having sex in Buena Vista Park, was quoted in the San Francisco Examiner as saying, "My feeling is it is probably the safest park in the city. If you scream, you know fifteen guys will pop out of the bushes to help you."

1982- Channel 2 Extra crew interviewed Salt Lake Chapter of Affirmation members for a program on aversion therapy for local homosexuals. Filming was completed in June of 1980 and the segment was released in September coinciding with the trial of D.H. in his suit against the city for discrimination.

1984- Kathy Rieser editor of the Women Aware Newsletter commented on how the women’s community was dwindling due to lack of support.  OWLS [Older and Wiser Lesbians] a lesbian group for women over 30 began to organize less political feminist activities and began to organize outdoor activities, such as camping, fishing, and rafting, and indoor get together such as pot luck dinners, bowling on Sunday mornings at the Ritz Bowling lanes, sing-a-longs and rap sessions.

1984- -Ronnie Love Carver, former co-owner of the Unicorn opens Blue Horizon at 430 25th Street in Ogden as a dance club.

1984- -Mason Rankin and Don Warner formed the first Human Rights Campaign Chapter in Utah.  David Bender from the Washington D.C. Chapter came and talked to the Lesbian and Gay Student Union  and to  a group of people at the Sun Tavern

1986- AIDS The Center For Disease Control gave Utah’s State Health Department a grant of $117,000 to develop programs aimed as preventing the spread of AIDS. Craig Nichols, state epidemiologist refused to print safe sex guides lines saying, “We will probably cover every area except the Safer Sex area…Most of the material that have been produced are too graphic for a state health department publication.” Nichols felt that explicit discussion of

the risks of Gay sex must come from the Gay community itself, “I don’t feel like we bear the total responsibility. And so we’ll do things we know we can do and are acceptable. And other groups will have to fill in where they think there’s a deficit..” Dr. Patty Reagan of the Salt Lake AIDS Foundation  argued “how badly we needed the help because the Gay community was working so hard to help itself “ and Reagan was told, “If the Gay Community can help itself, I don’t see why the state health department should be doing anything else.”

1987- Ensign Magazine has article “Reverence and Morality’  written by Mr. Gordon B. Hinckley which stated “Marriage should not be viewed as a therapeutic step to solve such problems as homosexual inclinations or practices.”

1987- Mark Bluto of the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ died in Orange County CA from the AIDS Epidemic. 

May 1987- Your Place or Mine Bar opened its doors at 551South 300 West in Salt Lake City as predominately a women's bar. The location is where the novelty shop Mischievous is located.

1988 Sunday I did a radio program at KRCL interviewing David Sharpton. He really ripped 

David Sharpton

the LDS a new ass hole saying how Alan Gundry deceived him and other members of the Gay Community with the hope that the LDS Church was changing its policy towards Gays.  Not only are they totally in a "stick my head in the sand" mentality and non-supportive, they also are actively behind a lot of the discrimination against people with AIDS.  I think David has finally had his eyes opened the six months he has been here.  When he blew into town last fall telling us all that we didn't know what we were doing, or how to handle the LDS Church, he really put a lot of people off.  Including me. However I've seen David in action and in his AIDS arena. He is a power house and a dedicated fighter.  I'm finally glad that he's realized that we Gay Community leaders aren't the enemy, but rather the far right, the conservative, almost fascist fanaticism of LDS Church’s homophobia is.  After taping the program, David and I went to Affirmation where we just sat in the back and visited about community goals but mostly about our so called boyfriends. After the meeting I went up to Affirmation's Director, Dave Malmstrom, and asked him and LGSU to okay using some of the money we raised at the last dance to pay Dave Sharpton's registration fees for the Mountain and Desert States Conference in Denver. I know David really wants to go because Rob will be there but he doesn't have any money. Dave Malmstrom thought it was a great idea and now I just have to clear it with Chris Brown. This will be a surprise for David and why not. He's done a lot, galvanizing the community to help defeat those awful AIDS bills. [Journal of Ben Williams]

Wayne Owens

1991 Wayne Owens who has conservatively supported Gay rights cause has become a co sponsor of the “Civil Rights Amendment Act of 1991”. This bill will add “affectional and sexual orientation” to the amendment, thereby affording the same anti-discrimination protection for Gays and Lesbians that are guaranteed to other minorities. Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats is very enthusiastic about Owen’s support. “We urge you to write Owens and thank him,” said GLUD secretary/treasurer, Dale Sorensen. “You can be sure he will hear from the bigots and he needs to know we support him

1992- The Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats asked Salt Lake Mayor Deedee Corradini if she would sign a executive order prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientaton for the city and then work to include sexual orientation as a specific protected category in city's ordinance. Corradini turned down the request, said David Nelson.

1992- Marius Andre Van Huizen, age 27, died from complications related to AIDS.   , Survived by special friend and companion, Leonard StreetObituary

1993 James R. (Jim) Cordell, 32, died of AIDS

1994 Sunday- The Salt Lake Tribune ran a story “SIZE OF OPENLY GAY COMMUNITY MAKES IT HARDER TO FIND MATES”  Brad [Dumas], 33, a Salt Lake City real-estate agent, ran a newspaper personal ad several years ago seeking another man for a possible relationship. But of the four responses he received, three were from men he already knew. `It's frustrating out there,'' he says. ``I have a lot of people crying on my shoulder at how difficult it is to meet some one decent outside of the bars.'' Such is the plight of Salt Lake's single gays and lesbians, many of whom complain they can't find someone new because the number of openly homosexual men and women here is relatively small.` `The gay and lesbian community in Salt Lake is very tight knit. Everyone knows everyone. It's incredibly limiting,'' says Jared Brown, 21, a part-time student at the University of Utah. There are six gay bars in Salt Lake and two in Ogden, but, as with heterosexuals, most gays here say they go to nightclubs to drink, dance and hang out with friends -- not to find a partner. ``You have to get a little creative to meet someone,'' says Brad, who declined to give his last name. ``You throw a party and have friends bring friends you don't know.''  The perception that gay dating mostly consists of anonymous sexual trysts in parks or secluded wooded areas is unfair, gay men say. In Salt Lake City, most gays and lesbians meet through friends

or support groups and activities sponsored by the Utah Stonewall Center, the city's gay community center. Others meet through gay dating phone lines, gay and lesbian volleyball leagues or by volunteering at the Utah AIDS Foundation. Salt Lake's lesbians gather at concerts by lesbian musicians and comedians. Several local gay computer bulletin boards have sprouted in recent years. And the annual Gay Pride Day in June is always popular among single gays. ``The opportunities to meet people are very much alive,'' says Kim Russo, editor of Pillar, a newspaper for the state's gay and lesbian community. Somehow, she says, ``You survive in your own little world.'' The city's lesbians say they are

Kim Russo

 more likely than men to be in long-term relationships. A popular joke among Salt Lake's gay community goes: What does a lesbian in Utah bring on a second date? A U-Haul. `It's true,'' laughs Jane, 32, a classical musician who shares a house with her lover of seven years. ``We do tend to move in a little prematurely. We tend to work a little harder at our relationships.''  To help Utah's gays meet in a relaxed social setting, Boris Kurz, 27, of Salt Lake, has founded a gay-dating service called Family Dining, which brings groups of eight gay men and women together for dinners in restaurants. Kurz hopes to hold his first dinner later this month. (05/01/94 Page: E2 SIZE OF OPENLY GAY COMMUNITY MAKES IT HARDER TO FIND MATES By Brandon Griggs SLTribune )

1997 Michael O’Brien was chosen by the board of directors as Executive Director of the Utah Stonewall Center. He replaced Rene Rinaldi after a month long hiring process.

1997  Deseret News Coming out of 'Ellen' evokes both positive and negative

Ellen DeGeneres

 reactions...apathy, too. But show garnered huge audience in state and across the U.S.By Jennifer Toomer and Joe Costanzo, Staff WritersThe creators of "Ellen," members of Utah's gay community and a conservative media watchdog group are divided on the significance of Wednesday's "coming out" episode on TV. While producers had billed the episode as an honest depiction of an acceptable lifestyle, the president of a conservative media watch-dog group called it dishonest propaganda aimed at youths. And while members of the gay community said the episode was groundbreaking and inspirational, others in the community said they simply didn't care. "I see it as part of a decades-old effort to change the public perception of homosexuality," said Robert W. Peters, Morality in Media president. Peters, who was in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, told the Deseret News that well-organized and funded gay groups have strategically promoted public acceptance of homosexuality by downplaying the imagery of sex, reducing the issue to one of lifestyle and making anti-discrimination its theme. But the gay community sees the character's "coming out" as an inspiration and historic moment in network TV joining the ranks of the first broadcast inter-racial kiss. Ellen, played by comedian Ellen DeGeneres, is the first TV title character to be openly gay. The actress also recently publicly announced she is homosexual."I feel like it's a holiday - almost like a pride day," Kathy Worthington, 46, a gay mother of two, said

Kathy Worthington

 Wednesday. "There must be women out there in America who have been totally closeted who are at least thinking about (coming out) tonight."Some locals felt soaked by pre-episode hype, and many wondered if ABC had an eye on ratings in airing the program."I think it's her personal life and if she wants to share it with the world, go for it," said 20-year-old Daye Mariner, who works in a downtown salon. "I really don't care. It's not going to be a big thing in my life."But Peters had hoped no one would tune in. "I hope the program will die for lack of an audience. The simplest answer is for people not to watch it."David Nelson, member of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund board of directors, hails the episode as a giant step for the gay community. The Washington-based political action committee hosted an "Ellen" party at 

David Nelson

Cafe Med in Salt Lake City.Gay characters on TV historically have been secondary or incidental characters, often stereo-typed as distraught and self-destructive, he said.Peters, too, decries the entertainment industry's "old way" of portraying gays as vile or ridiculous people - depictions he says have subjected homosexuals to public hatred and physical attacks.But he says the industry now has gone to the other extreme, portraying gays "as American as apple pie . . . "That's not an American value."Terri Engebritson, a Salt Lake mother of four, was shopping downtown during the broadcast. Still, Engebritson, who isn't gay, says the episode portrays a part of life that she wants her children to understand."(Gay people) have had a lot more problems in their lives because people don't understand," Engebritson said.But 36-year-old mother Melinda Crandall said that when she heard of the "coming out," her family turned off "Ellen" for good. She laments the actions of DeGeneres, who she called a talented comedian but stands firm that the show now would send the wrong message to her children."As parents, we're striving to set standards for our children," Crandall said. "We believe you walk one way and you talk one way." According to the Associated Press, the "Ellen" coming-out episode scored more than twice its usual audience in the ratings of major media outlets nationwide, a big win for the May sweeps.The program had a 26.5 rating and 37 share in the Nielsen Media Research overnight measurements. For the season, the show has averaged a 9.6 rating and 16 share, the Nielsen organization told the AP.Locally, ABC affiliate KTVX reported a 19 rating and 30 share for the hourlong show, beating the competing CBS and NBC offerings put together."Obviously, there was enormous interest in the program," said KTVX vice president and general manager Peter Mathis. "Ellen" did better nationally and in some other Western markets than in it did in Salt Lake City, but Mathis said the local numbers were impressive nonetheless. "It's considered a very big rating."A rating point in the 37 major media markets represents about 560,000 households. Share is the percentage of those televisions tuned to a given show during a specified time period. These ratings measure about 58 percent of the nation's estimated 97 million TV homes.

Jan Graham

1998-Utah Attorney General Jan Graham wrote a scathing letter to Gov. Mike Leavitt, who criticized her for refusing to file a "friend of the court" brief supporting Vermont's stand against same-sex marriage.

1998- The Utah Stonewall Center is being recreated into an organization that will both appeal to and serve a broad cross-section of Utah’s Gay and Lesbian Community.  The center is engaged in a major fundraising effort in order to raise over $125,000 to accomplish their goals of creating a vital community center. There will be a series

Jim Dabakis

 of local fundraising benefits and auctions. Construction of the new Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah building is being done at the new location of 361 North 300 West.  A Grand Opening is scheduled for October 3rd.  New center is approximately 3000 square feet and is a two story building. Jim Dabakis brokered a deal with Signature Books to secure the location. 

1998- Inklings- a full service Gay and Lesbian Bookstore opened at 900 South 247 East.  Inklings was brought to Salt Lake City by Stephanie and Liz. Two women who purchased the existing stock of a bookstore in Houston, Texas that was closing their business.

1998 In a federal lawsuit filed by Wendy Weaver, a tenured teacher, she charged that school officials illegally barred her from  discussing her sexual orientation.

1998- Family Fellowship held its annual three day conference held at the U of  U campus and Little America Hotel.  Conference theme was “Our Children At Risk”. Gary Remefedi MD MPH a world authority on adolescent homosexuality and teenage suicide was keynote speaker. Sessions included “Risks of Facing Gay Children”,  “Coming Out”, Conversion Therapy, Homophobia and Dealing With the Rhetoric”

2003 Chad Keller Subject Fundraiser: Todd [Dayley] called me last night as he had been working on a pig fund article of which he forwarded to Paul [Cunanto], who of course forwarded to the world.... and got UGRA [Utah Gay Rodeo Assc] in more trouble with Todd. Anyway the $300.00 is on its way and checks will be sent in June and July

2003 Jeff Freedman to Chad Keller: “Chadster- This is Jeff Freedman. You STILL don't ever stop to amaze me.  You are wonderful! Just  thought that I would share that with you.  Hope all is going well with you.  I think of Utah often...and glad that there are people like you to keep it in good hands! Keep up the good work my friend...talk to you soon! -Jeff  Ben to Chad “Chad  just remember who loves you and not those who don't.”

2003 Kathy Worthington Subject: Utah Pride Interfaith Service 2003 Coming Out to God: Celebrating Who We Are The second annual Utah Pride interfaith service will be held on Saturday evening of Pride weekend at the synagogue of Congregation Kol Ami in Salt Lake City. The service will consist of music, prayers, and presentations that celebrate our spirituality and sexuality as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons. The service will last approximately one hour. After the service, we will have refreshments and hold a social. Come join GLBT people from various faith traditions as we celebrate not only who we are, but also what we believe and value. When: Saturday, June 7, at 7:00 pm Where:Congregation Kol Ami 2425 Heritage Way (2760 South) Salt Lake City. During the social after the service, space will be available for gay-supportive religious groups to set up tables with literature. There is a $10 tabling fee to help pay for refreshments.

2003 PFLAG KICKS OFF MONTH OF ADVOCACY WITH MOTHER'S DAY CONGRESSIONAL RECEPTION WASHINGTON, Commencing May 1st, PFLAG mothers from all across the United States will converge on our nation's capital to personally deliver PFLAG's message of inclusion and respect to their Congressional legislators.  In meetings with their representatives, PFLAG moms will share pictures of their loved ones to personalize issues crucial to the LGBT community and emphasize, through compelling photos of their loved ones, that prejudice and exclusion cause real harm to real people.  The day's visits will usher in PFLAG's Inaugural Mother's Day - Father's Day Congressional Outreach Project. "As the nation's foremost family organization for social change, PFLAG has organized this national effort to persuade our legislators to honor their commitments to their entire constituencies, including the millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens they represent," said PFLAG president Sam Thoron.  "This effort is central to our mission and reflects our core values." The PFLAG Month of Advocacy will last until Father's Day, June 15.  To launch the effort, PFLAG will host an Inaugural Congressional Reception on May 1.  The Honorable Lynn Woolsey, California congresswoman, a longtime advocate for equality and fair treatment for all, and a mother herself, will be honored with the PFLAG 2003 Courageous Mother Leadership Award.  Barbara Warner, past president of the PFLAG Metro DC Chapter will receive the 2003 PFLAG Outstanding Mom of the Year award.Joining them on the program will be Lianna Carerra, a Virginia high school student who founded the Gay/Straight Alliance at her high school.  The evening's program will be hosted by PFLAG national president Sam Thoron and moderated by PFLAG executive director David Tseng. PFLAG education and advocacy will continue on the national and local level.  Mothers across the nation who can't travel to Washington, D.C. will meet with representatives in their home districts to educate them on the following issues: *  The importance of clearly including our transgender family and friends in federal civil rights legislation -- and in congressional office equal employment opportunity policies.  Mothers will offer their representatives an office Diversity Statement and encourage them to sign it on the spot, or thank the seven senators and 63 representatives who have already done so. *  PFLAG's support for family friendly legislation that honors the partnership commitments of our loved ones, including the Permanent Partners Immigration Act (PPIA) and a bill recently introduced by Senator Joseph Lieberman that would extend partner benefits to Federal employees. *  The Judicial nomination process. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is the nation's premier grassroots organization committed to the civil rights of gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) persons.  Founded in 1973 by heterosexual mothers and fathers, PFLAG has 500 chapters and over 250,000 members and supporters throughout the United States. SOURCE  Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays  CO:  Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays; PFLAG

2005  Sunday, noon – 4pm  Pride Community Softball Jordan Park Pride Softball is now underway!  All games are played at Jordan Park, every Sunday, located at 1050 S. 1000 W.  If y our not playing you should be out their cheering the teams on.  For more info:  Dan Montoya

2007 Joseph Timpson (8 February 1965 - 1 May 2007)  committed suicide. Joseph Michael Timpson was born February 8, 1965 in Denver, Colorado, and graduated from Graduate Skyline High School in 1983. Joe earned a degree in English from the University of Utah and completed an MBA at Brigham Young University. He was employed by the US Postal Service for almost 20 years in the Regional Remote Encoding Center. Joe enjoyed books, movies, politics and his cat Gertie. He was active in his church service activities.  Joe committed suicide on May 1, 2007—two months following the suicide of his co-worker and lesbian activist Kathy Worthington. He was 42 years old. He is survived by his parents, his brother, his brother-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.  Joe is buried at the Holladay Memorial Park in Holladay, Utah. 

Gayle Ruzicka and Dottie S. Dixon
aka Charles Frost

2014 SL County Mayor Ben McAdams hosted a Roast for Jim Dabakis at the Rail Event Center as departing Democratic Party State Chair. Gayle Ruzicka and Sister Dottie S. Dixon shared a stage to roast Jim.

James Dabakis Thanks to Mayor Ben McAdams for bringing our Utah community together. If Sister Dotty and Sister Gayle can share a stage, and smile, there is hope. I love Utah. I know we can be better, for everyone....Dottie S Dixon :Got her ta smile! WooHoo. The whole evenin' & event was well worth it--expecially fer this one moment. Thanks ta everyone who's been sa sweet'n nice about my Spring pink ensemble, JCP I tell ya, always has me covered. Ben McAdams and James Dabakis was all the motivation I needed ta say YES, hellfries, yes! I have a friend request inta Gayle, we shall see, we shall see. One heart, one mind, one change at a time. Love is the way HOWEVER! Many have been askin' and inquirin' about what Gayle and me chatted about in the green room. I'll do my best durin' Release Society tomorrow ta write up the main points of the conversation, and post em' soon. The lesson tomorrow is "Cul-de-sac Liahona: Sisters of the Hood." Not ta be rude er nuthin' but Sister Glendeena Chapple is teachin', so I am sure I'll have plenty a time to fuss away on my iPad. Enjay yer weekend now. Alla ya. Sister Dottie. S. Dixon. — withNutCracker.Local Politicians Do Standup Comedy, Things Get Weird by Eric S. Peterson SL City Weekly It was a star-studded night as politicos like Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper and House Speaker Becky Lockhart, R-Provo joined with the Eagle Forum's Gayle Ruzicka to do stand up comedy at a fundraiser gala for Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams. It was two hours of awkward comedic jabs and bizarre performances. Of the two hours here's a rundown on the nine minutes or so of funny. Where to begin? Perhaps the greatest laugh to be had from a political perspective was from McAdams himself for not only being able to get so many Republicans to attend his fundraiser that packed the Rail Event Center at 235 N. 500 West in Salt Lake City, but for also getting some key

Put A Ring On it

Republican headliners on the event, which was the second “United We Stand (Up!)” fundraiser he's thrown so far for his election efforts. As for the stand-up comedy itself, I'm still not sure there's enough whiskey for me to erase the things I saw. Did that happen? Was it real? There were little moments from the night that felt like I was watching some fevered dream sequence from an episode of Twin Peaks—Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City spanking himself on stage, Gayle Ruzicka accepting a copy of Pat Bagley's The

Spanking

Mormon Kama Sutra from her doppleganger Sister Dottie S. Dixon. Other people saw these things too right? Hopefully writing about these things will provide catharsis because its too early to start drinking again. OK so its unfair to say that there were only nine minutes of funny since the event did feature actual comedians from Wise Guys Comedy who did sets in between those done by local politicians and were very funny. Also to be fair the featured acts did have some solid lines. Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper was the first legislator to take the stage and set the right edgy tone dressed like UFC commentator Joe Rogan with his backwards black baseball cap, jeans and Pittsburgh Penguins jersey and sporting his “homeless facial hair” (his joke not mine). Hughes got a lot of mileage out of pointing out how the media loves to take statesman-like photos of McAdams while every photo involving Hughes makes him out to look crazy, or troll-like. “Look at that,” Hughes said pointing to a picture of him with McAdams “I look like a troll! I look like I live under a bridge and charge people to cross.” House Speaker Becky Lockhart, R-Provo performed a good set filled with jokes about running against Herbert for Governor in 2016. Lockhart mentioned how McAdams asked her if she needed a teleprompter and she responded that teleprompters were for Governors. “Talk to me about that in 2016,” Lockhart said. She also roasted Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox nicely, after explaining he had one of the hardest jobs in government--"Convincing people he is actually the Lieutenant Governor and not the Lieutenant Governor's prematurely balding High School intern.” She also took the opportunity for a well executed non-defense of her soon to be campaign opponent Governor Gary Herbert. “If you think I'm going to stand up here in front o room full of influential leaders and take pot shots at a Republican Governor who is really more of a RINO and wants to expand socialized government, hates the second amendment and is in favor of crony capitalism—then you are sadly mistaken,” Lockhart said. “This is Utah and we are more civil than that.” After Lockhart there was a special roast of Dabakis in celebration of his stepping down as the State Democratic Party Chair that included a lightning round of short roasts by various politicos from the Legislature, the Salt Lake County Council and elsewhere. These ran the gamut of witty to wince-worthy. Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder pretty much owned this section of the evening talking about keeping an eye on Hughes because of his hoodlum attire. The other highlight came from Tom Love, CEO of the ad firm Love Communications riffing on Dabakis as the “openly-gay senator” by shouting with gusto about himself being “openly-straight.” “I love boobs!” Love shouted. “I love boobs so much I grew a pair!” Which I guess if you weren't there and haven't seen Love, was a man-boobs reference. Things really started to devolve into sheer madness after this point. Dabakis, who was recently married when a federal ruling temporarily lifted the state's ban on same-sex marriage did a quick dance routine to Beyonce's “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It).” Sorry about the blurriness of the photos but Dabakis was just jamming out too fast for my phone to get a better pic. But here's a run down on some of the moves from his routine that will haunt me to my dying day. This display was topped off by the surprise finale bit by the Eagle Forum's own Gayle Ruzicka who in her grandmotherly way threw a few loving zingers Dabakis' way. “He has such enthusiasm for his liberal causes, he inspires people to get involved, to call their legislators and stand up for what they believe in—it's about time someone set a fire under those Republicans,” Ruzicka said. “In fact my phone tree right now is so large it makes my genealogy tree look like a banzai tree.” There was also a tender moment in the night where Ruzicka thanked Dabakis for being a friend who always treated her and her beliefs with respect and the two hugged on stage--adding an "aww shucks" moment to complement the many "what the hell?" moments of the evening. Charles Frost the actor who plays the exuberant the Utah County Mormon Mommy persona of Sister Dottie S. Dixon then took the stage with Ruzicka, for some standup. Which to be fair was mostly Ruzicka smiling politely while Dixon made jokes about the women being sorority sisters at BYU. Dixon then handed Ruzicka various liberal paraphernalia like the The Mormon Kama Sutra and a “Hillary 2016” bumper sticker while Ruzicka considered in the back of her mind how the gifts would burn up nicely in her fireplace. Gayle Ruzicka and Sister Dottie S. Dixon. Try and guess which one's which. Then it ended, the show was over, and no one who left the event would ever be the same again. As scarring as it was, I hope I get invited back next year. 

2017  At Gay Men Aloud a support group for older Gay Men, more treats than people so it seemed. Ben Williams shared a quiz on the three archetypes among Gay men, Celtic, Roman, and Goth that shows up in the Gay Men tribe as Clans of Faeries, Leathermen, and Bears... He Shared a little of why I became an activist because of experiences in high school and college... 

Rob Goulding

2018  Salt Lake Tribune Rich Kane A gay bar has lost its owner — but this safe place for Utah’s LGBT community isn’t going anywhere. There was a big party thrown Thursday for Rob Goulding, but the guest of honor wasn’t there. Goulding, 62, died April 9 from pancreatic cancer. Many of his friends and family turned out at the Sun Trapp, the Salt Lake City gay bar he owned, to pay tribute with stories and remembrances. It almost felt as if Goulding were still in the room. “We were friends for 15 years,” said a watery-eyed Teresa Engle. “He was a bighearted guy and super friendly. I don’t think he ever met a stranger. I’ll miss everything about him.” Engle was in Kentucky the day Goulding died, but friends made sure she would make it back to Utah for his wake. “He absolutely would’ve enjoyed this,” Engle said. “He would tell everyone to not be sad, what’s done is done, just be happy. Because he would crack jokes, even when he was sick. He didn’t complain or sit around feeling sorry for himself.” Kevin Hillman said he started going to Salt Lake City gay bars in the ’80s, not long after he was excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He

soon met Goulding and became fast friends. “Whenever you saw him, there was always a hello and a hug,” Hillman said. “You never had to wonder if your friendship was in trouble.” Utah gay bar culture was quite different decades ago when the Sun Trapp — then known just as the Trapp; the “Sun” was added years later as a nod to the Sun Tavern, which was destroyed in the infamous 1999 tornado — opened in 1990 under the ownership of Joe Redburn. At one point in the 1970s, Salt Lake City could boast 10 gay or lesbian bars. Now there are two: the Sun Trapp and Club Try-Angles. The slow demise of the gay bar scene, in Utah and nationally, has largely been attributed to the rise of the internet and dating apps. Hillman said one of Goulding’s lasting legacies is that he kept the Sun Trapp a gay bar instead of selling it or turning it into a different business. “Rob always knew it was important to have a place where we could come and meet and be who we are, a safe place to be out,” said Hillman. That sentiment is echoed by the Sun Trapp’s new ownership team, made up of Dennis Gwyther,

Richter, Goulding & Gwyther

Riley Richter and Goulding’s brother Michael, who have vowed to not only keep the bar a meeting place for Utah’s LGBT community, but also make improvements. Those have already begun. In recent days, bright flags of LGBT offshoot groups have been hung along the building’s roof — flags representing transgender, lesbian, leather, bisexual, bear and more, even a POW/MIA flag for gay military veterans. More upgrades are on the way, including a new patio to replace the wooden outdoor deck. “It’s all about inclusiveness and keeping Rob’s memory alive this way,” said Gwyther. “He donated to so many charities. If he could help someone out, he would do it.” “He created such a great establishment,” said Michael

Goulding. “And it’s still successful. We have people outside the door every weekend and wall-to-wall people inside and on the patio. We’re going to make it bigger and better.” Looking around the bar as Goulding’s wake drifted into the evening, as patrons and friends waxed lovingly about his life, it certainly felt that the Sun Trapp still plays a vital role in Utah’s LGBT community. “People need physical interaction, to look at and talk to other people in person,” Gwyther said. “Apps just don’t cut it all the time.”

2018 Gary Broadhead age 66 passed away. He was elected Emperor XIV of the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire in 1989. Gary was born 23 June 1951. He attended Kearns High School and attended the University of Utah where he majored in Business.  At the time of his death he lived in Taylorsville, Utah. Comments from his family and friends on Facebook- He died  Last Tuesday. . So sudden. He hadn't been sick. His brother died suddenly from a heart attack, so it isn’t completely surprising. He had just adopted a 10-year-old cat. It is kitten

 season and he resisted those who always get adopted and went for an older kitty. A testament to the kind person he was. He was a wonderful friend who was shy, humble and kind. He was a good man. He was always quick to help others. He had a witty humor and such a soft, kind 

2020 Club Try-Angles, Sun-Trapp to open as Utah relaxes restrictions  As Utah Gov. Gary Herbert “dialed back” the state’s risk level for COVID-19, bars and restaurants are being allowed to open, though under strict health safety guidelines. Club Try-Angles will open Friday at 4 p.m. and The Sun Trapp will open at 11 a.m. Under state guidelines, the bars must work to maintain the health safety of its patrons and staff, including social distancing and the use of masks. Among the guidelines: Those deemed symptomatic (fever, cough, etc.) will be refused entry into the building. Masks must be worn by all patrons and staff at all times except when eating, drinking, or smoking. People are to maintain a 6-foot distance from one another. Hugging, handshaking, kissing, and other physical contact is prohibited. Tables and chairs have been placed by the staff to encourage distance between customers and must not be moved. “We are excited to see everyone again,” said Club Try-Angles owner Gene Gieber. “While I hate that we can’t hug, kiss, or tap butts, we can at least be the social animals we are.”