This Day In Gay Utah History May 27th

 

This Day In Gay Utah History May 27th

27 May

1891 A jury in Utah acquits two men of sodomy with each other despite the testimony of numerous eyewitnesses.

1965 Thursday- Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Where Do We Stand? City Judge Horace C. Beck has dismissed a charge of being a disorderly person against Angie Calonge and says his ruling automatically will dismiss the same charge against Utah Supreme Court Justice 

E R Callister Jr

E.R. Callister Jr. “Unless further evidence is produced before Friday”, when Judge Callister’s case is set for hearing. Judge Beck ruling raises some questions which demands an answer. Webster Dictionary defines disorderly as: “offensive to good morals and decency.” In dismissing the charge of disorderly conduct in a motel room at 522 So. Main, Judge Beck criticized Salt Lake’s laws as “not specific in defining what disorderly means,”  This cloud on the law designed to help police control, vice in the community needs to be removed lest there be no definition at all as to what  kind of conduct the community rejects as “disorderly” and “unacceptable”.  We think this is a challenge to the legal profession. And it may be even more of a challenge to the community.  Where do we stand on what is moral and immoral conduct?  Judge Beck also charged Salt Lake City anti vice police officers with “unlawful search and invasion of privacy” in the case.  If the police officers did exceed their authority in challenging the occupants of the motel room, they should be reprimanded.  But more then that police anti vice procedures, and powers, should be thoroughly investigated and guide lines drawn as to future police responsibilities in the area of vice control.  Here again we think this is a challenge to the bar, and to the courts, but even more to the community.  Where do we stand on suspected vice? Do we want the police to look the other way and refrain from investigating, to ignore control efforts?  Some contend the times and customs have changed and that laws and police practices should change to accord with new public attitude of tolerance for “sex freedom”.  If this is true has it resulted from broad public approval of a new code as to what is moral and immoral conduct?  Such a new code will certainly be established in Salt Lake City if Judge Beck’s ruling indicating vagueness in the law goes unheeded.  The bar, the courts, and the community must face that challenge- to either define “disorderly” conduct or have no standard of what is acceptable conduct and to either spell out police responsibility for vice control or accept no vice control ( 05/27/65 Page A6 col.1 SLTribune)

1975- The GAYZETTE, Utah’s first newspaper for Gays and Lesbians published its first issue. A copy is in Special Collections Marriott Library, U of U campus. The first issue of the newsletter was published without a name. “Contest to name paper will announce the name at the Grand opening Kegger.

1976 The Imperial Court of Utah held a car wash as a fundraiser. One of its first fundraisers..

1977-During the era of McCarthy, Wyoming followed the national trend in adopting a psychopathic offender law. It also raised the maximum penalty for sodomy during this time. However, in 1977, the sodomy law was repealed and five years later the common-law reception statute also was repealed.Wyoming repealed its sodomy law. A comprehensive revision of the state’s sexual offenses law set the age of consent at 16. This repeal did not affect the common-law crimes reception statute, however, thus leaving anal sex as an indictable offense. A comprehensive criminal code revision in 1982  abrogated common-law crimes, thus removing the threat of prosecution for any consensual sexual activity. Wyoming has the distinction of being the only state in the nation without case law on sodomy. There are no published cases dealing with the limits of state power to regulate sexual activity in places such as restrooms or parked cars. Because of the decriminalization of consensual sodomy, only that occurring in semi-public places still may be subject to prosecution.

Gordon Steele

1979 Sunday Memorial Day Weekend- The Imperial Court of Utah held its 4th Coronation. Lois Lane was elected Empress IV and Gordon Steel was elected Emperor IV. Rose Carrier held her annual Pajama party at The Rail Princess Royale IV was Dusty LaManns and Joe Conti were elected IV Prince Royale. 

David Chipman

1980- Ron Stanger Attorney for David Chipman spoke at Salt Lake Affirmation.  David Chipman, a one time resident of Provo was entrapped by BYU security forces for ”forcible sexual abuse”. Indignant at any abuse of police powers and infringement of individual rights, Mr. Stanger joined with ACLU in filing a class action suit against BYU on behalf of the many likewise unjustifiably entrapped.

1984-Actor Rock Hudson was diagnosed with Kaposi Sarcoma.

1984 The 9th Coronation of the Royal Court of the Golden

Spike  Empire was held with Alan Anderson and Auntie De [Dean Walton] stepping down. The new elected officers were The Lion Emperor, Emperor IX Lee Trinka and the Unknown Empress, Empress IX Annie Daniels. Prince Royale IX was Bill Arnold and Princess Royale IX was Madge. The 9th reign established the reigning Monarchs as Co-Presidents of the organization.  Prior to that the Empress served as President, with the Emperor serving as Vice-President.  The late Lee Trinka was also a past Rainier Emperor in Seattle Washington.  Annie was President of the Board for the 22nd reign and is known for her accuracy and attention to detail, as well as her amazing ability to see things outside the box. 

Lee Trinka

The 9th reign was also responsible for establishing the AIDS fund 

Annie Daniels

which is governed and maintained by the College of Monarchs.  This made the court one of the first organizations in our community to officially address and help people living with and dying from HIV / AIDS.  Through this fund, the court has raised and given out hundreds of thousands of dollars and helped hundreds of individuals and organizations. Princess Madge held the first fund raiser for AIDS relief and education in the state of Utah.

Rose Carrier

1985 Monday- Rose Carrier’s held her 10th Annual Pajama Party after Coronation at Backstreet SLC, UT

1987-Tammy Faye Bakker appeared on Nightline to deny that her husband Jim Bakker had a homosexual affair.

1988 I got several calls from Tim Wanee and Reina Horton from the Youth Group.  I suppose it has gotten out that I’ve pulled the plug on their phone line.  Why should I subsidize them when Garth Chamberlain made it clear he doesn’t need my interference and I don’t believe in supporting The Youth Group as presently constituted without guide lines. I’ve got too many things to do with out worrying about them. [Journal of Ben Williams]

Gary Broadhead

1990 The Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire held thier 15th Coronation

Betty John

 with with Gary Broadhead and Betty John stepping down. The newly elected officers were The Emerald Excalibur Emperor, Emperor XV Bruce Harmon and The Eternal Empress, Empress  XV Bianca. Guy Larson was elected Prince Royale XV and  Pat Brown a female was Princess Royale XV. The 15th reign was filled with great entertainment.  Not only was the late Bianca known for her incredible beauty, but was known for her exciting talent as a performer.  She was asked to be a command at many coronations around the circuit. Bruce was the instrumental factor that got the Royal Court its 501c3 status.  He also initiated the Pageant Committee and its guidelines and also started the Pride Pageant title.  The R.C.G.S.E still uses the same voting guidelines for its pageants as intended by Bruce. Bianca was also one of the first Empresses named Heir Apparent to the founder of our International Court System, the Widow Norton, Empress I, Jose.  Bruce and Bianca were the first and only monarchs to

have their step-down in the Grand Building at the Utah State Fair Park.  The attending guests were seated on the main floor during the first set, and for the second set were asked to move upstairs for a completely different floor plan and seating arrangement.  With their theme "Le Couronnement" (The Coronation) they pulled out all the stops, making it one of the grandest events yet.  The ball lasted past midnight, and the lights went out in the building right before the crowning of the 16th monarchs, meant to be impressively brought up to the second floor by hydraulics, causing quite a scramble to get them on for the final ceremony.

2001 The 26th Coronation of the Royal Court was held with Rhett Larsen and Felicia stepping down. The new officers were The Star Sapphire Emperor, Emperor XXVI Franke Holt and The Mythical Crystal Empress, Empress XXVI Cortney Cartier. Prince Royale XXVI was Russell Griffin and Princess Royale XXVI was  Kyra Prespentt.

2001 A question of sexuality Deseret News Published: Sunday, In his recent Deseret News article, James Thalman was careful to balance his report of Dr. Robert L. Spitzer's gay and lesbian research. Spitzer, a psychiatry professor at Columbia University, studied 143 gays and 57 lesbians who have gone "straight" in the past dozen years. David Elliot, a spokesman for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, said: "The sample is terrible, totally tainted, totally unrepresentative of the gay and lesbian community." According to Elliot: "No one knows what causes a person's sexual orientation." David Pruden, executive director of Evergreen International, a Salt Lake organization that helps gays become heterosexual through prayer and counseling, said the study shows that people can change and not just repress feelings. Darin Hobbs, assistant director of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah, criticized the study because it relies on self-reporting and said: "It's entirely possible to behave heterosexually but still be homosexual." My question for Hobbs is, "Is it possible to behave homosexually but still be heterosexual?" Clark Larsen Holladay

2003 CRAIG MILLER to  Ben Williams: Ben, If you could get that [Kristen Ries] plaque delivered to the Center, we can get the engraving done at the same time as the other awards. It would be nice if we could present it at the same time.  If I can help, let me know. Does that plaque have all the names of the past recipients engraved on it?  Craig

•         BEN WILLIAMS TO CRAIG MILLER I will pick the plaque up and bring it to the center by 4:30. My understanding is that Darren Hobbs also has some type of Ries Award plaque in his office cabinets that Becky Moss had made. Is that correct? Evidently the one I will bring has only one name on it- Kevin Hillman's. At the old Stonewall Center a plaque which had all the names on them used to be on the wall and I remember seeing it at the Center a couple of years ago. What happened to that one? Does Becky Moss have the original or is that what is in Darrien's office? Who should I give the plaque to at the Center? Chuck Whyte would like for you to call him on his cell phone since he no longer has access to a email account. I guess the two of you can go from there. If I or the USHS can be of further assistance don't hesitate to call or contact us. That is what the historical society is for.  Best Regards  Ben Williams - 29 May 2003 BEN WILLIAMS to Craig Miller I dropped the plaque off yesterday about 4:30 at the Center. I gave it to the library staff (an older couple) with a note to give it to you from me.  Ben -

2003 – Donald Steward- Dear All, There will be a workshop for anyone building floats (or needing logistical assistance) for the Pride Parade this Saturday May 31 at 10:00 a.m. at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah Inc. The Utah Gay Rodeo Association folks will be working on their entry in the rear parking area of the center. We will also be finalizing the balloon displays and structures, so, if you haven't put in your balloon order, do it now! If you have any questions call Clark or email me. Thanks.... Fergie

Mark Thrash

2003 MARK THRASH Welcome to the 28th (XXVIII) Elected Reign of the RCGSE - The Realm of Composure and Camaraderie! Thank you to everyone for your dedication and support over the years to our organization.  It takes the sum of us all to make the RCGSE successful.  Please keep your momentum moving onward and upward.So now let's have some fun while making a positive impact!  In just 5  days after stepping up... This weekend - Friday, May 30 through Sunday, June 1 - your reigning  Monarchs will be traveling to the city of Reno, Nevada, for their Coronation.  If anyone is planning to attend, please RSVP to me via  email. Mark Thrash Emperor XXVIII

2003 KENT POWELL to Ben Williams Dear Mr. Williams, I am pleased to report that the Program Committee has accepted your paper proposal "Utah's Response to the AIDS Epidemic 1981-86 for presentation on September 12 at this year's annual meeting of the Utah State Historical Society.  Presentations should be approximately 20 minutes in length (not to exceed 25 minutes).  There will be three papers presented during each one and a half hour session.  Each session will also include comments on the papers by a moderator and questions from the audience.  I will send you a draft of the program by mid-June and we expect to mail the final program to our members by the end of July.Please submit to me a draft of your paper by August 15th.  I will send the paper on to the moderator so that he or she can prepare some comments.  If you need special equipment such as a slide projector, overhead projector, etc., please let me know as soon as possible.  Sincerely, Kent Powell History Coordinator

2003 CHAD KELLER Dear USHS Board Members and Friends, I am excited and pleased to announce that Ben Williams has been accepted to make a presentation at the State Historical Society's annual meeting. His presentation will be on Utah's Response to the AIDS Epidemic 1981-86. Final Detail of the times will be forwarded later. I would invite member of our community to attend, for this presentation.  It is the first of its kind for the State Historical Society.   And may be the first time in such a forum our community to take center stage in such a presentation.  If possible, and where appropriate please share with interested parties and members of your groups. Thanks!  Chad Keller USHS

•         Randal Meyers Hi Ben, Congratulations on getting the opportunity to share this piece of recent history with The Utah State Historical Society.  I am very excited for you.  I immediately added the information to the website!I have no doubt you will do a fine job. While working on the website, I of course noticed how much work still needs to be done on it.  I would like to create a list of books that you believe have historical significance to gay culture, both on a local and world stage.  I know you are going to be busy with perfecting your report to the USHS, but if you could take a few and make a list of important books and other publications, I will be happy to get them on our website. with pride for you,

Randal Meyers

•         BEN WILLIAMS to RANDAL MEYERS Let me get the info for the Kiosks done first..they were due last week then I'd been glad to get you the info on books. Thanks Ben

2003 RANDY LAUB Subject Invenio Hello all: Just an update...we got our name out at Coronation over the weekend.  Thanks to Paul and Tyler for doing most all the work for Coronation!  I think it went really well. Today I'm just wondering how things are going with whatever incentive/giveaway we want to do for Pride?  (Paul is working with his contact at Weider and hopefully we will have some good news on that soon)  Any other ideas or progress that is being made?  Since Pride is only 12 days away I know we need to get things firmed up with whatever we are going to do soon.  Please post/email any information anyone has as far as our incentive/giveaway goes.  I really think it will help us get out the information at our booth at Pride if we have something fun we can give away. Thanks for all everyone is doing! Randy

2003 Ty Fisher  Subject Invenio -Hello, I need to confirm by e-mail everyone planning to help carry the flag in Pride for INVENIO and UAF. I am working on forming up details, but so far we are looking at June 8th, 8:30 AM at 300 South and State. I am also working on getting T-shirts for everyone that carries the flag. If you are planning on helping out please e-mail me at tylerf@utahaids.org. I have set up the calendar at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/INVENIOPlanning/ to have three shift for the INVENIO booth. The shifts are two hours and start at 10:00 AM and end at 4:00 PM. I think if we can get two people a shift that would be good. Please respond to this e-mail to sign up for a shift. I got an e-mail from our Avon connection. She is still hard at work getting the samples for us. I will keep you posted. Any word on the Weider? I sent an e-mail to Nivea to see if they would be willing to donate the free sample packs they have been distributing in Advocate and OUT (Fresh Cooling After Shave Balm). I'll keep you posted on those too.  I have the card stock that Rod got donated here at my office. How do we go about having Little Lavender get them printed? Who wanted to take the lead on getting this done? We are going to need to get a group together the week prior to Pride to put everything together. Please keep this in mind so we can schedule this during the June 2nd meeting! Thanks, Ty

2003 HUGO SALINAS Dear Ben: I just read your excellent history of Utah Pride. This is a tremendous contribution to help us understand Utah's gay history. Thank you so much! Hugo

Heidi Ho West Water

2004 End of a Reign Heidi Ho Reaches Out By Sally Neilson  SLMetro Issue 3 – MAY 27–JUNE 9 Red feather boas, sparkling outfits, champagne and drag performances every night: the glamorous life of an empress, right? Think again — ruling an empire is hard work. Empress XXVIII Heidi-Ho West Waters says the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire has spent the last year raising $45,000 for charitable organizations and $5,000 for scholarship funds. People living with AIDS and homeless youth alike have benefited from the Court’s largesse. The position of empress carries a lot of responsibility in its title: “A lot of our fundraisers are drag shows, so people stereotype us as ‘the drag queens,’” Waters said, “but the focus is to come out and have some fun and raise money for people less fortunate.” Not all members on the RCGSE board are performers. Waters herself is not — although she is willing to lip sync “I Am Woman” for the shows. Waters is also not the first straight woman to be empress — she believes in diversifying the community by working not just inside it, but outside of it as well. That way the Court can show what it — and the community as a whole — can do. “If we demand tolerance, we need to live tolerance,” she said.  Waters says she has always been involved in the gay and lesbian community. She’s been involved with the court for 22 years. “I like the acceptance and the way I am treated in this community,” she said. Her ties to the community run deep: According to Waters, most members of her immediate family are gay. During her reign, Waters has placed a strong focus on cancer-related charities. She oversaw Cancer Awareness Week and raised money for the Cancer Wellness House and for City of Hope, as well as for a private recipient who needed reconstructive surgery after having a facial tumor removed. During her own battle against cancer, Waters came to understand the difficulties faced by patients applying for state medical assistance. “You try to get help from the state and basically they say, ‘Well, you make too much money or you’re not totally disabled,’” she said. “There aren’t a whole lot of support groups out there for women with cancer, or for children.” Over the last couple of years, the RCGSE has also become involved in outreach programs to benefit youth and to get more women involved in the organization. “What’s really made me happy is the response and support from the women in the community. That’s very exciting for me,” said Waters.  Waters has been concerned with reaching out to gay people of color, combating bigotry and ignorance. “Someone of color who is gay has more challenges than someone who is white and is gay,” said Waters. “We need to be aware of those challenges. I would like to see a little more cohesiveness with different organizations in our community. We’re all in the same boat — we need to love one another.” According to Waters, it is important for the community to stand together as a whole, perhaps now more than ever: “We get enough flack from people outside our community. We need to be unified.”

2005 PR Ball Pirates of the Royal Caribbean: In Search of the Golden Spike $10.00 Sheraton Hotel 7:00 PM Bus Tour $10.00

Valerie Larabee

2005 UTAH PRIDE DROPS BAN, WELCOMES GAYS WITH GUNS SALT LAKE CITY -- A week after the leader of a gay firearms group challenged a controversial policy from organizers of the state's annual gay- and lesbian-pride events which would have banned legally concealed firearms from most of the events, GLBT Community Center of Utah Inc. Executive Director Valerie Larabee, who is also a lifelong shooter, said on May 27 that organizers will instead welcome people who choose to take their legal firearms and instead prohibit only those who violate laws. Stonewall Shooting Sports of Utah founder and owner

David Nelson

 David Nelson said that the change is an encouraging reiteration of the 2003 and 2004 pride-events rules when organizers agreed that people with legally concealed firearms could not be denied admission to the events. Nelson's challenge of the policy which led to the change won the attention of state and national news media. "Despite an unnecessarily bad start to the upcoming events, the organizers understand now that people with Utah Concealed Firearm Permits aren't the disruptive or illegal parts of their events," Nelson said. "No one who has met every legal requirement including daily FBI criminal-history investigations should be arbitrarily denied the legal, responsible and safe exercise of our human right to defend ourselves if we choose and need to do so." Seven of the eight announced pride events are planned for the Salt Lake City Public Library, Library and Washington squares, and the surrounding city streets and sidewalks -- all government properties. Because only one of the events is planned for

church property, Nelson described most of the events as public accommodations on public properties where legally concealed firearms are permitted. "State laws are very clear about who, what, when, where, why and how legally concealed firearms may be prohibited," Nelson said. "As we did in 2003 and 2004, our members will simply attend and enjoy one of the state's biggest outdoor events without complaint and without leaving one of our constitutional rights at the festival gates." SSSU is a group of gender- and sexual-minority firearms advocates and owners in the state, and supporters of the Pink Pistols idea that was described nationally in 2000 by writer Jonathan Rauch for the legal, responsible and safe use of firearms for their self defense and shooting-sport competition and recreation, including those who are gay and lesbian, and that of their families and friends. With hundreds of members, they're also the largest such group worldwide.

2006  Dear Community, Friends and Family, After four years of getting to kno

Aimee Selfridge

 w and love you all it is time for me to say goodbye. As life often does, it has thrown me many changes in the recent months, and with those changes I have made the decision to move back to the state of Oregon and begin the next chapter in my life. So many of you have become such sweet friends of mine, and to you all I thank you so much for all the love, support, laughter, and tears throughout the years. There are to many to list who have touched my life here in Utah, but I want you all to know how very grateful I am for you, each and every one. I will still continue to keep this site up to date until someone else would like to take it over. I will also continue to as available to you all as possible. Thank you so much for letting me serve you all for so long. For those that are interested in keeping up on my life and happenings, I have created a "Myspace" account, and will keep a blog. I will miss you all, please feel free to stay in contact.  Thank you, Little

Aimee Selfridge

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2007 The 32nd Coronation of the Golden Spike Empire was held with Kim Russo and Kyra Prespentt stepping down. The new officers were appointed by the College of Monarchs since no one chose to run this year. They were The Double Crowned Crystal Wizard Emperor, Emperor VIII & XXXII Alan Anderson and  The Double Crowned Only Serene Passionate Black Diamond 

African Empress, Empress XX & XXXII Sheneka Christie. Prince Royale XXXII was Thomas Shaylee and Princess Royale XXXII was  Systeen Chapel

2010 Community Service Awards by Michael Westley Q Salt Lake The theme of the 2010 Utah Pride Festival, “Our History, Our Future” has a focus that both acknowledges the duality of where the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community has been as well as how far it has yet to go. Along the same lines, the choice of Rep. Christine Johnson as the recipient of the 2010 Pete Suazo Political

Christine Johnson

 Action Award, and Mark Swonson as the recipient of the Dr. Kristen Reis Community Service Award, have a similar duality: Johnson as the public face fighting for justice for gay, lesbian, 

Mark Swonson

bisexual, transgender and queer people and understanding on capitol hill and Swonson, the unsung participant, selflessly working behind the scenes for a myriad of community missions. “One gets all the face time and the other gets none,” said Utah Pride Center Executive Director, Valerie Larabee. “And you can’t discount either because it takes both kinds of people to create the kind of leverage we need for full LGBTQ equality.” The Dr. Kristen Ries Community Service Award was established in 1987 and was first presented to Reis for her humanitarian efforts in dealing with the AIDS crisis and forever named in her honor. Mark Swonson, as the recipient if this award, has shown relentless dedication by being present and willing to lend a hand. He has served as a selfless promoter for the Utah Pride Center, the Utah AIDS Foundation, Equality Utah, Stonewall Democrats and many more organizations. “He must spend all of his free time doing things that benefit the community,” said Lucy Malin, past award recipient and North Salt Lake resident.

• The Pete Suazo Political Action Award was established in 2001 in honor of Senator Suazo’s tireless attempts to pass hate crimes legislation in Utah. Rep. Johnson, as a recipient of this award, embodies exceptional commitment to the equal rights of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer community of Utah through legislation, policy or declaration as a two-term member of the State House of Representatives. Johnson carries with her a resolute conviction of the strength and enduring qualities of the community along with a fierce set of networking and negotiating skills. Her efforts on Capitol Hill during the past Legislative Session kept peace during what could have been a tumultuous season. “These awards represent giants in the work of the broader Utah community to address health and social concerns,” said Larabee. “To be a recipient of these awards is perhaps one of the highest honors bestowed on individuals working in the community.” The awards will be presented at the Utah Pride Festival’s Grand Marshal Reception, honoring Sister Dottie S. Dixon as the 2010 Grand Marshal at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 4 at the IJ & Jeanne Jewish Community Center, 2 North Medical Dr., in Salt Lake City. Recipients will also be honored on Sunday, June 6 at the 2010 Utah Pride Parade.

2012 Michael Bennion and Emily Rose stepped down as the XXXVI Emperor and Empress of The Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire at the XXXVII Coronation.  . Nick Watts and Champagne become Emperor and Empress XXXVII

2015 My First March Walking in the Pride parade can be thrilling, inspiring and insanely fun By Babs De Lay City Weekly Oh, Pride—one of the deadliest of sins. Don't you love telling people we hold our Pride parade on a Sunday in downtown Salt Lake City, and tens of thousands of people participate? Salt Lake City has had Pride celebrations since the late 1970s, but we didn't have a real, live parade until 1990. I've attended each and every one of them in Utah and have marched in others throughout the country. Gay Pride is not held on the same day throughout the country, so it's fun to travel and celebrate out of town. More than 2 million people were in and alongside the Pride parade that I attended a few years ago in Vancouver, Canada. There were more rainbows there than on all the islands of Hawaii! The biggest Pride celebration is held every year in São Paulo, Brazil, where between 3 million and 4 million party for Pride. Locally, the Utah 2015 Pride Festival takes place June 4-7 at Washington & Library squares, with the Pride parade taking place on June 7, at 10 a.m. I don't remember much about Salt Lake City's earlier celebrations here except that I rode my little chopper, had a shaved head with a pink tail, wore excellent leathers and had plenty of women willing to ride with me. As a group, we were generally loud and obnoxious and had great fun. I remember playing volleyball against a snatch of drag queens and bet them that we tough women would beat the padded bras off of them. Oh, hell! They wiped our butts with their sweaty wigs! Here are some memories from folks, both straight and LGBT, about their first parades here in Utah:

•  Touched My Soul Leslie Memmott The first time I walked in the Pride parade was 2014. I am fortunate enough to work for a company that participates in the parade, so I took advantage of the opportunity. I also took my 5-year-old daughter, because it's important to me to expose her to different lifestyles, cultures, etc. Although I consider myself an ally and supporter, I decided to walk for myself because it seemed like fun. And it was fun! I had a great time! I was amazed by all the love and positivity I witnessed. About halfway through the parade route, the experience changed for me and became much deeper. I happened to make eye contact with a woman who was watching the parade. She mouthed the words, "Thank you," with a look of gratitude that touched my soul. I was stunned to think that I had a positive and meaningful impact on this woman. I never thought my support could be that important. I didn't know her or her story, but I feel grateful that I could be there for her. Needless to say, I will be walking again this year!

Pink Lame’ Evening Gowns Greg (Tracie Aviary) Hardin My first Utah Pride experience happened in 1986. My drag troupe, The Love Birds, and I were asked to perform as entertainment at Sunnyside Park. Preparations included wearing matching pink lamé evening gowns, newly styled Vidal Sassoon wigs and of course, a newly choreographed medley of hits by The Supremes. The performance took place on the back of a flatbed semi-trailer as a makeshift stage. I was very happy with our performance and by the audience reaction. We were asked back five years later to perform at Pride in Murray Park. In 2003, I was crowned Miss Utah Gay Rodeo and was informed by the Utah Gay Rodeo Association that I had to represent the organization in the Pride Parade. I chose to ride in the back of a pickup truck with my banner plastered all over the sides of the vehicle. It was a very hot day, and as we lined up for what seemed like a very long time for the procession to start, I was approached by the president of the Utah Bears to sit in the dunking booth (in drag) to help raise money for their organization. Hey, I'm not a glam-drag queen, but I was willing to do it to cool off and to have an excuse to get out of face. Several people lined up to take a chance at dunking "Miss Tracie Aviary," but it was a young 10-year-old boy who won the honor of dunking me, and pictures were taken. I sat at the rodeo booth out of face and enjoyed the rest of the day. My favorite part about Gay Pride is the parade and watching all the happy faces of the people as each parade entry passes by.

•  True to Myself Cris Aitch The first time I marched in the Pride parade was with the Pride Empathy Line. I was so excited to be participating because it meant I could be 100-percent true to myself without a single fear of being slammed down with hate speech and dirty looks. My best friend flew in from California to join me. It was one the best feelings ever to have her by my side as the crowd cheered on our cause. The experience made me feel proud and very loved. It helped me develop the courage to be more honest about myself with everyone I meet. Now, I look forward to new marching adventures with every Pride parade.

Loving Every Second of It Sarah Jane Woodhouse My first experience marching in the Utah Pride Parade came when I was asked by a dear friend to march in support of his campaign for office. Gordon Storrs, a Log Cabin Republican, was running, and I lined up with his volunteers and staff that morning to walk in the parade for the first time. Very early on in my transition, a few of my straight friends would comment on how I would become a great activist in whatever community I would settle into. I told them, "I have never been a marching, flag-waving, kind of person." I assured them this would never really happen because "that is just not me." Yet here I was, not yet five years into my journey as an out transwoman of faith, walking along with hundreds of LGBT people in front of thousands of supporters and, of course, those few nonsupporters (you know, the ones screaming on the street corner) and loving every second of it. It was a phenomenal experience, and I was overwhelmed by the amount of love that poured out from so many people—gay and straight alike. I have marched in the past two Pride parades, and I've added to that a tradition of marching in the Trans March on Saturday.

• A Life Full of Lessons Sean Dahl First, let me state that, as of now, I am Mormon. I was born into a Mormon family, raised by conservative parents and have lived as a member for nearly half a century. Like everyone else, I have lived a life full of lessons. One of the things that has challenged my faith the most is the issue of homosexuality vs. religion. I was taught one thing: I heard completely different stories from my gay friends, many of whom were returned missionaries for the LDS Church. While this is still an issue that weighs on my mind, I have been forced to mold personal spiritual beliefs that don't completely coincide with church headquarters. In June 2012, I participated in a grass-roots organization called "Mormons Building Bridges," thanks to a newspaper article about Mitch Mayne, an openly gay man who was then serving in his LDS ward bishopric. The group was spearheaded by a woman named Erika Munson and consisted of mostly active LDS Church members who supported their gay brothers and sisters. The highlight of this experience was when my daughter and I were walking the parade route, and she pointed out a crying man who looked like one of my best friends. It was, in fact, my friend Craig (and his partner, Wes) who had only come to terms with his own sexuality a couple of years earlier. I moved over to Craig when he saw me. We embraced. It was one of the most powerful, loving embraces I have ever experienced. Along the entire parade route were men and women in tears, my brothers and sisters who have spent much of their life either hiding their true identity or, in many cases, being abused (emotionally, if not physically) for who they are. It was truly moving to see people come together, not separate into groups of "us" and "them." To this day, that experience remains one of the most spiritual experiences that I have ever had, bar none.

Guys With Little Dogs Scott Harwell Though I didn't march in my first Pride parade, I still remember the excitement of the event. I had just moved from Blackfoot, Idaho, which has only one parade per year, and that one has nothing to do with gay pride! I was with new friends and couldn't believe how many people were attending. We watched the excitement from in front of the old ZCMI store on State Street, as that's where the route traveled in those days. The police were out in force, and the motorcycle patrols were fantastic to watch as they cleared the way for the grand parade. The floats were done up in ways that only family could conceive: color, sound and energy were everywhere! The mayor led the parade and was followed by convertibles filled with then-brave and waving politicians. The floats sponsored by different clubs were a delight to watch. I've always favored the Club Try-Angles float, as I know the guys there. Bare-chested celebrities, every one of them. It was somber when the AIDS quilt flowed by, everyone tossing in a donation. And the people watching—gay and straight—were caught up in the parade. I had never seen so many guys with little dogs in my life! In the end, we all went to the City & County Building for an afternoon of concerts and food. Now, many years later, the route has changed, but that's all. The excitement and enthusiasm are as strong as ever. Can't wait for this year!

•  Somewhat Swooned Sister Dottie S. Dixon (Charles Frost) I'm a parade watcher, not a parade marcher. However the first Pride parade I actually mini-marched in was the New York City Pride many years ago. I was in the Big Apple on a June theater tour, and it was Pride weekend, so I went to watch the parade on South Central Park Avenue. When the Harley leather bikers drove by, I four-finger whistled, and one of them motioned for me to sit on the back of his Harley. The spontaneous part of me (which is, oh, about 10 percent) took the chance to grab on to a hot biker, and I hopped on. I rode in the parade down Fifth Avenue for about 10 blocks, then got off. He gave me an unexpected hard kiss on the lips, and I somewhat swooned and melted back into the crowd. My time of being a Son of Anarchy lasted for 15 minutes. Fast-forward to Utah Pride Parade 2010: My first official march was actually a ride in a convertible, when Sister Dottie S. Dixon was Grand Marshal in 2010. It was an exhilarating but exhausting weekend of seven outfit changes, a production team of six, and eight appearances, including the big parade. Constant running! It was a fun parade, full of all of Sister Dottie's themes: love, acceptance, anti-bullying and family preservation. There were fond memories of thousands of loving people and friends. It was at the beginning of our current big shift. Hmm ... a realization and a-just-right-now admission: I guess I ride in parades. Maybe that's why I love Downton Abbey?

Fundamentally Changed My Perspective Rusty A. My first experience at Salt Lake City's Utah Pride Parade was just a few years ago. In the past, I had always found reasons to be elsewhere during Pride. I thought the occasion was somewhat antiquated and unnecessary. Certainly in modern times, we wouldn't need to stand in public or march down boulevards to declare our sexuality. What I discovered fundamentally changed my perspective. The crowds of families, children, moms pushing strollers and Mormons marching in solidarity with their LGBTQ friends completely changed my perspective. I knew in those moments what it meant to be a part of a community. Seeing people standing up for their dignity and finding their place in our culture left an indelible mark on my heart and reminded me that we are nothing as individuals without others to share those experiences with.

• We Can Do This Cristy Gleave It was 2001, and the Utah Legislature had just passed House Bill 103 into a law, which made it impossible for families like mine to adopt children. I remember creating fliers to hand out along the parade route that promoted overturning the awful law, and I handed one to my friend, Bruce Bastian. He said "Cristy, they will never overturn this." I was so naive and passionate in believing that I could get it overturned. I remember saying to Bruce, "You are wrong. We can do this." He was way smarter than I in regard to this issue. But all I have to say to Bruce now is: "We did it!" Only 14 years later.

We Took Our Lives in Our Hands Kara Cope My first Pride was when it was held at Sunnyside Park back in 1986. My bestie, Jon, had a booth there for personal training. I was his example of what some hard workouts can do for a body. He actually made some new clients from his exposure at Pride. In those days, we took our lives in our hands celebrating our diversity. There was no parade and no police protection, and there were protesters on the sidelines. I'm proud of how Salt Lake City has grown to embrace diversity and the support for our gay brothers and sisters in our community. I still tear up when I attend the yearly Pride parade.

• I Wasn't on Some Island by Myself Ryan Eborn My first experience at Salt Lake City's Utah Pride Parade was walking with the Cahoots float some 17 years ago. I had only recently come out after moving to Salt Lake City and felt very uncomfortable in my own skin. I had made a few good friends, and one weekend, they told me that we'd be going to Pride and that it would be the most fun I'd ever had. In those days—before social media and widespread news coverage—I had no idea what to expect. And I thought sure that a gay Pride parade in Utah was probably illegal. I was more than a little surprised by the size of this event, one I'd never heard anything about. So many people everywhere who were happy and having fun—and, most of all, just like me. The best part of this experience was learning that I wasn't on some island by myself. Each step I took in the parade that day was a step closer to feeling OK about my life and where I would go.

Hard Not to Have a Good Time Andrew Bornstein My first Utah Pride experience was one big party! Our friends knew some people who had an office nearby, so we pre-gamed there, then stopped by the Tavernacle for a few whiskey shots. The parade itself was wonderful. The floats clearly had lots of time and energy put into them. The people-watching was my favorite part; seeing how people express themselves when they feel comfortable putting it all out there makes for a great atmosphere. The floats with music and scantily clad people dancing and having a blast is infectious. It's hard not to have a good time! I noted a lot of corporations supporting the event and even marching themselves, which was cool. After the parade, we walked over to a house party for some more drinks and met a lot of interesting, like-minded people. We wrapped the day up at the festival, where we met up with one of our gay friends' LDS parents, who are very supportive of their son; it was really cool to see. My first Pride was a great time, and I have been back every year since.

• Marching for Our Rights as Parents Ann Bolland & Gina Herrera Our first Utah Pride march was June 2009. Years prior, we were simply supporters of the march, cheering on the representatives of our diverse community, but after Gina lost her daughter, Maddie, due to the Jones vs. Barlow decision, it was time to support Equality Utah and bring visibility to the cause. We proudly joined this group in marching for our rights as parents, whether biological or families of choice. I should note that we joined Equality Utah in 2010, our son Jameson's first Utah Pride march!

My True Coming Out Kate S. I was sweating and my heart was beating walking down State Street as one of 14 people carrying the largest Leather Pride flag in the United States as part of Salt Lake City's Pride Parade. I was more scared to be seen here in this moment than I had ever been to be seen at Pride. It was scarier, because it said something about me that I was afraid of people knowing. I enjoy pain and submission. I tried to hold my head up because it was Pride, after all. I am not really a lesbian. I am a queer leather boi. Finding that about myself seemed to be the true revolution, and this time, marching in this parade, was my true coming out.

•  A Clever Expression of Protest Bub Horne This is a sensitive issue for poor old Bub, because I'm one of those macho-asshole chefs, who was an equal-opportunity abuser for years before some sensitivity slowly sank into my wildly liberal but thick head: "Chronically single" people have a weird relationship with sexual freedom—that's how I thought. The first time I marched in the parade? Well, gee, I haven't yet! In my defense, I've been a working single parent for the past 10 or more years and worked restaurant hours for 20 years before that. I don't "do" parades—I just don't. But I see the "Rainbow Parade" as something more than just a parade. It's something special, a really clever expression of protest, undressed-up, as a celebration. Over time, God knows it's been too long, I have come to understand that the protest is a seriously profound civil-rights issue, and I'm embarrassed it's taken me so long to see that. The Rainbow Parade is a gentle, artistic and very clever way to celebrate freedom that must be fought for—perhaps as effective a protest as has ever been fought in American history. I confess, it's been a misunderstanding for me, and it's hard to explain, I thought this was all about sex—it's not at all! This is about freedom and love. This year, I will join in to celebrate what I feel is significant progress as a civil-rights movement, because I do "feel" the love, and the freedom!

Visibly Supporting Each Other Neva Wagner My first experience with the Pride parade wasn't very long ago. Even though I'm a member of the LGBTQ community, I was someone who actively sought to avoid attending or participating in Pride parades, due to stigma and stereotypes that I had heard about them. In 2014, my wife convinced me to get up early with her and a friend, stake out a good spot, and watch Salt Lake City's Pride parade. As the first few entries passed, I began seeing friends marching with different organizations. Eventually, my church, Wasatch Presbyterian, passed and my fantastic church family convinced my wife, friend and I to march with them. Today, I look back and can say that my prejudices about Pride parades were absolutely incorrect. A Pride parade isn't an "us vs. them," or a hypersexualized marketing scheme, as I had erroneously believed. Rather, it is a couple hours where allies and LGBTQ folk come together in a visible way to support each other, embrace our identities and remind the world that we are here.

• Family Bonds of Respect and Joy Greg & Angela Green Angela and I brought our three kids to walk in the 2010 Pride parade as part of the Corroon/Allen gubernatorial campaign. Our group walked in front of Queer Utah Aquatic Club in the parade, so we gravitated to the back of our group to join in their dancing and music. Our youngest daughter has epilepsy and a mild left-side paralysis from an in-utero stroke, and it's one of the reasons that we were there that day. We have always looked for ways to be engaged and to share stories that grow empathy and understanding. The Pride event is a celebration about culture and community that embraces everyone. We wanted our family to be a part of an event whose message promoted positive perceptions about who we are. As Richard Bach wrote, "The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's lives. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof."

"Just Married" Bella Hall In 2011, after moving to Utah from liberal Oregon, I participated in my first Utah Pride Parade in Salt Lake City. I rode proudly in the passenger seat of a fancy convertible with my handsome, soon-to-be "husbutch," Babs De Lay, at the wheel. We had special signs made for the sides of the vehicle that said something like "Engaged—but can't legally marry in Utah!" As we drove gaily forward, we waved madly and were cheered on by all of the parade goers. At the time, it was fantastic. Fast-forward to a quiet winter day in 2013, when we received news of a most unexpected Supreme Court decision. We raced to the courthouse and were legally married on that fateful day. In 2014's Pride Parade, we donned our white ensembles and marched with the "Just Married" contingent along with so many of the other happy couples. It was truly magical.

• Intense & Intoxicating Michael Aaron, QSaltLake editor/publisher When Connell
  

  

  O'Donovan announced the first gay march from the Utah Capitol and past Temple Square, there was no doubt in my mind I'd make the trek. Just a few years before, I had scraped every nickel from every crevice to attend the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The intensity of what you feel when surrounded by hundreds of thousands of people just like you—people who were hard to find growing up—is intoxicating. And while the numbers of this first march in Utah were only in the hundreds, these were a few hundred of my friends, my people. The feeling as you are walking and laughing and chanting and waving at cars and cat-calling bewildered onlookers on our own ground is intense. It is also intoxicating. In the end, although very few people were on the sidelines to stand witness, we celebrated another accomplishment, another milestone. In all things, there is a first, and we were part of that first. And Utah was changed ever-so-slightly one more time.
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2018  The new Monarchs of the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire, Emperor 43 Kayden Petersen-Craig and Empress 43 Vega Starr were crowned. Jody Stamback ran

a great campaign for Emperor. 

2017 Pride still has a long way to go to finally include everybody by Dylan Ashley                                                                                                                 

    As the summer sun returns to the valley, members of Salt Lake's queer community prepares for our annual festivities. And I confront yet again the perennial question: Why do we come together every June? To be sure, Pride is an opportunity for queer people to celebrate our beauty and creativity — but above all it is about strength. Neither our beauty nor our creativity kept police from harassing and unfairly arresting us 50 years ago at the Stonewall Inn — it was Marsha P. Johnson, a black trans woman with a brick. In April, Trans Queer Pueblo disrupted the Phoenix Pride parade, calling on the sponsoring organization to push for the protection of undocumented immigrants from police and state violence. If Pride aims to include and support queer people, that support has to include queer undocumented folks. Anything less is a failure to uphold their mission statement. Yet the issues run far deeper than a parade. After the disruption, Phoenix Pride lamented that TQP did not present their concerns sooner so they could be addressed in advance, despite a series of meetings in 2015 to address such unacknowledged concerns. If Pride has not made progress in two years, why should TQP remain compliant? In 2015, a group of local queer and trans Latinx organizers approached the Utah Pride Center to discuss areas to improve their outreach and support for Latinx communities. A primary concern was the lack of Spanish on the UPC website. Pride Center staff expressed concern and promised to address the issue. Two years later, the website remains exclusively in English. How are people supposed to believe that these organizations support individuals? How can white queer groups claim solidarity with marginalized communities while prioritizing the optics of one citywide event over the needs of those very individuals? When our Pride Festival is a celebration of corporate success and assimilation into a dominant white culture that actively violates the economic justice and liberation of communities of color, we have failed. When a room full of white queer people can agree without hesitation that the police should lead the parade, failing to recognize the ways in which police actively target people of color and represent symbols of violence and danger rather than safety and protection, we have failed. When our march for justice recreates white supremacist structures and we refuse to listen when that fact is acknowledged, we have failed. When we write off the concerns of people who are marginalized in many different ways, members of our community because we have not personally encountered them, we have failed. Some frustration stems from the emphasis placed on Pride. I would be inclined to agree — many queer and trans people face pressing issues such as homelessness, job insecurity and inadequate healthcare just to name a few. This burden falls disproportionately on queer and trans people of color. And I would be hard pressed to find an example of the Pride Center or other large queer-oriented organizations working to address those issues systemically. When we preach solidarity once a year then fail to show up when it's needed — we have gravely failed. Forty-four years ago, gay liberation and transgender activist Sylvia Rivera scolded a crowd of white gay men for abandoning their incarcerated transgender siblings for membership in a "white middle class … club." These men booed her as she advocated for the most needy in her community. Why is standing with the marginalized always a radical proposition? Many people's lives have improved since the days of Marsha and Sylvia, and Pride should be a place for us to celebrate that progress. But when that celebration is used to silence those in our community who are still suffering, we ought to reexamine our goals. So I ask you, why are you coming to Pride? What are you celebrating? What is your goal for this year? My goal is to celebrate the strength, beauty and creativity of my community; to experience the love and support of the transcendent individuals I call family; and to remind everyone that we have a lot of healing to do. Dylan Ashley is a local queer and trans organizer with the 1 to 5 Club, a program of the Utah Pride Center, which seeks to dismantle systems of oppression through community building, self-exploration and mutual aid.