This Day In Gay Utah History January 1st

 

This Day In Gay Utah History January 1st

January 1

Clyde Tolson & J Edgar Hoover

1877 Salt Lake City Police arrest William Wright alias “Dick” for prostitution at the Great Western RR

1879 E. M. Forster (1879 – 1970) is born in London. After his brilliant novel “A Passage to India” in 1924, he produced no new works. His gay novel “Maurice” was written in 1914, but not published until after his death. For 50 years his lover was a married London policeman named Bob Buckingham.

1886 – English Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1885 takes effect. “Indecencies” between adult males in private become a crime punishable by up to two years imprisonment.

1895- Homophobic J. Edgar Hoover, Bureau Chief of the FBI was born. He had a long time relationship with Clyde Tolman and are buried beside each other. Hoover led a deeply repressed sexual life, living with his mother until he was 40, awkwardly rejecting the attention of women and pouring his emotional, and at times, physical attention on his handsome deputy at the FBI.  What exactly was his relationship with his ever constant companion and fellow FBI man Clyde Tolson? There has been a lot of speculation but no documentation. Still there are numerous stories of Hoover appearing in drag in New York. Usually in a red dress, and he liked to be called “Mary”.

1900 – Silent movie star William Haines is born in Staunton, Virginia. His good looks and baby face made him a hit playing the wisecracking penniless young man in countless films. Blessed with a good voice, he was one of the few silent stars to make the transition to talkies. In 1933, Haines was arrested in a YMCA with a sailor he had picked up in Los Angeles’ Pershing Square. Louis B. Mayer, the studio head at MGM, delivered an ultimatum to Haines: Choose between a sham marriage (also known as a “lavender marriage”) or his relationship with Jimmie Shields. Haines chose Shields and they remained together for almost 50 years.  Mayer subsequently fired Haines and terminated his contract.  He made a few minor films at Poverty Row studios, then retired from acting. His final films were made with Mascot Pictures, Young and Beautiful and The Marines Are Coming in 1934. Haines never returned to acting, but continued to receive offers for film roles. During production of Sunset Boulevard (1950), Haines was offered a cameo role in the film, which he declined. He later said, “It’s a rather pleasant feeling of being away from pictures and being part of them because all my friends are. I can see the nice side of them without seeing the ugly side of the studios. Haines started a successful interior design business with his life partner Shields, and was supported by friends in Hollywood most notably Joan Crawford. Haines died of lung cancer in December 1973 at the age of 73.

1921 The Wasatch Springs Plunge building at 840 N. 300 West was built in 1921 by Salt Lake City at a cost of $177,450.00. The architectural firm of Cannon and Fetzer designed the building. With its white stucco walls, red tile roof, terra-cotta ornamentation, and wrought iron balconies, the Wasatch Plunge is one of the better examples in Utah of the Mission and Spanish Colonial Revival architectural styles popular between 1910 and 1935. The structure opened in 1921. Patrons paid 25 cents

Watch Plunge

for admission, and were given a suit, towel, locker, and use of the Olympic-sized main pool. A separate, smaller pool and individual hot baths were available for private use. There were separate locker rooms for the private pools. Both rooms had large signs at the entrance to the pool that stated, “DO NOT STAND INDOORWAY WITHOUT SUIT ON.” The building also had a café, barbershop, beauty parlor, and five private hotel rooms for travelers. A 1929 issue of the Salt Lake City Municipal Record enthusiastically notes the installation of automatic showers as a water-saving measure. Bathers would step onto a platform, which turned the shower water on and off. Natural spring water fed the pools until 1949, when the pools were chlorinated at the behest of the state health department. The natural sulphur in the spring water reacted with the chlorine to cloud the pools. Warm water from the springs was still used in the facility’s private baths, however. In June 1970, the city commission closed the building after chunks of concrete fell from the roof. The Plunge was remodeled and reopened, but only operated until 1976, when the city again closed the swimming pool. After several proposals to re-use or demolish the building, the former bathhouse was converted to the Children’s Museum of Utah in 1983. The former locker rooms, the barber and café were converted to exhibit space, and the hotel rooms became offices for museum staff. The private pools and the cavernous room housing the main pool are still intact and are used for storage. In fall of the Children’s Museum moved to bigger digs in the Gateway, and changed their name to Discovery Gateway. The building now remains vacant, while a new use is found for the building. Hopefully, this neighborhood landmark will continue to be a Capitol Hill fixture for years to come.

1933 British playwright John Kingsley was born in Leicester, England. Writing under the name Joe Orton he became of Britain’s most popular comic playwrights (Entertaining Mr Sloane in 1964 and Loot in 1966). He was murdered by his lover Kenneth Halliwell who then committed suicide in the London flat they had occupied for 15 years. In 1967 he had written in his diary “I have high hopes of dying in my prime.” A 1987 film Prick Up Your Ears was an account of Orton's and Halliwell's relationship. The film is the story of the spectacular life and violent death of Joe Orton. In his teens, Orton is befriended by the older, more reserved Kenneth Halliwell, and while the two begin a relationship, it's fairly obvious that it's not all about sex. Orton loves the dangers of bath-houses and liaisons in public restrooms; Halliwell, not as charming or attractive as Orton, doesn't fare so well in those environs. While both long to become writers, it is Orton who achieves fame - his plays "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" and "Loot" become huge hits in London of the sixties, and he's even commissioned to write a screenplay for the Beatles. But Orton's success takes him farther from Halliwell, whose response ended both his life and the life of the up-and-coming playwright. Gary Oldman played Orton and Alfred Molina played Halliwell. 

1942- Ogden was once known for its dens of prostitution when 11 whorehouses were in operation along 3 blocks of 25th Street during World War II.

1945- Utah Health Department reported that cases of Gonorrhea had reached an all time high of 1,097. (SLTribune 12/26/51 Pg.19 col. 7)

1946 --The University of Utah’s literary magazine, The Pen, Winter 1946 published Robert Shelly’s “Streak of Lavender” which ridiculed “the inverted Libido” of male ballet dancers who “shrilly lisped” and were “more graceful than the women.”

1947- Mormon Apostle Spencer Kimball received the special assignment by President 

Spencer Kimball

George Albert Smith to counsel with young men who had homosexual desires or homoerotic experiences. LDS Church: Apostle Spencer W. Kimball received the special assignment to counsel with young men who had homosexual desires or homoerotic experiences. Many of these were seeking to become full-time missionaries. (Jay Bell)

1953- The One Magazine, the first openly homosexual periodical in the United States published its first issue in Los Angeles, California. “I’m Glad I’m Homosexual” was the caption on the first cover.  The magazine was published from 1953-1967. Even though it was published in California, this periodical had an impact on Utah’s Gay people due to the exchange of progressive ideals concerning homosexuals between the two states. Magazines like The One managed to reach even places like Utah with homosexuals bringing them back to the state.

1954 Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Apostle George Mesley (1899-1966), bother-in-law of First Presidency member F. Henry Edwards, is outed as a homosexual. He resigned from his office.

1954- -Rose Carrier began her career tending bar at the Circle Inn a straight bar at 80 

Ross Carrier

West 300 South in Salt Lake owned by Theodore Glezos. Under age Mac Hunt used to try and sneak in the bar because he was in love with the drummer. On 3 March the tavern caught fire and spread to the Wasatch Hotel above the bar. Another fire broke out at the Circle Inn 10 January 1956 when the Wasatch Hotel caught fire. $15,000 was recovered from the bar’s safe. Men sleeping in the vacated old hotel was though to be cause of the fire. In 1977 The Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire Inc. awarded Carrier the Golden  Spike Humanitarian Award for her service to the Gay community.

1954-James Kepner, National Gay Archivist has recollections that a branch of the Mattachine Society existed in Salt Lake in 1954

Bruce R. McConkie

1958 Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie published Mormon Doctrine which condemned “sodomy, onanism, and homosexuality” and supported the death penalty for all sex crimes.

David O McKay

1959 Mormon Church President David O. McKay assigned Apostles Spencer Kimball and Mark E. Peterson  to counsel Lesbians and Gays to overcome their “homosexual problems “

 1959- 14 year old Pam Mayne from Bountiful using a fake idea went to the Broadway Lounge at 172 West 300 South in Salt Lake, a Lesbian Bar owned or managed by a Greek man named “Jimmy” (Pam Mayne) The Polk Directory for Salt Lake City said the bar was owned by D.G. and Mary Panos of 311 South 500 East Apartment 1.

1960-Rose Carrier began working for Salt Lake City’s Radio City Lounge as a bartender. The bar was owned by Lee Caputo and Elvin Gerrard. It was a straight bar during the day and a Gay bar at night. Women that wanted to go out and socialize were forced to wear dresses and if they wanted to dance while they were there and they had to make sure there were two men on the dance floor also, so the appearance of acceptable behavior was portrayed. 

1967 In Los Angles a dozen plainclothes vice officers had invaded a holiday party at the Black Cat, a bar in the Silver Lake area.  At midnight there was some kissing among the customers, and the police without identifying themselves began to tear down the Christmas decorations, and manhandling patrons and employees alike. Sixteen persons were dragged outside and forced to lie down on the sidewalk until 5 squad cars arrived to take them away. After stating that they were officers, the police still refused to produce any proper identification, as they were legally required to do, usually replying by hitting the questioner with the butt of their guns and saying “that’s all the identification you need.”  One bartender was so severely beaten as to suffer 2 broken ribs and a ruptured spleen, which later had to be removed. Much later he was held in jail for 22 hours before he was sent to County General Hospital for care. The bartender naturally was booked for assaulting an officer (a felony) and others for that or for “indecent behavior’.  A witness to the event, Dick Michaels founded the Los Angeles Advocate.

1967-Bars in Salt Lake City where Gays were welcomed: Radio City Lounge, The Metro on the corner of State and Main in the New Grand Hotel, The Crystal Inn on State Street almost across from Radio City, and The Twilight Lounge located on State Street  across from Social Hall in downtown Salt Lake City. A woman’s bar was the Broadway Lounge owned by a Greek man named Jimmy.

1968 The Los Angeles Advocate became a full tabloid size magazine and changed its name to the Advocate.

1969- -Apostle Spencer W. Kimball published “The Miracle of Forgiveness” in 1969 exact date unknown.  Its chapter titled “Crime against Nature” encouraged homosexual oriented men to “force” themselves to marry women. Kimball detailed an absurd theory that masturbation caused homosexuality, which in turn, often led to bestiality. Contrary to the New Testament position that all sin is equal, Kimball claimed  that “the sin of homosexuality is equal or greater than that of fornication or adultery.” Effectively placing homosexuality next to murder in the Mormon hierarchy of sins. “To those who say that homosexuality is incurable I respond: How do you say the door can not be opened until you knuckles are bloody, tell your head is bruised, till your muscles are sore? It can be done.” [Spencer W. Kimball, Apostle "Crime Against Nature", chapter six of The Miracle of Forgiveness, (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft) 1969, pp. 77-78, 85

"Thus prophets anciently and today condemn masturbation....While we should not regard this weakness as the heinous sin which some other sexual practices are, it is of itself bad enough to require sincere repentance.  What is more, it too often leads to grievous sin, even to that sin against nature, homosexuality.  For, done in private, it evolves often into mutual masturbation - practiced with another person of the same sex - and then into total homosexuality." [pp 77-78] "Sin in sex practices tends to have a ‘snowballing' effect. As the restraints fall away, Satan incites the carnal man to ever-deepening degeneracy in his search for excitement until in many instances he is lost to any former consideration of decency.  Thus it is that through the ages, perhaps as an extension of homosexual practices, men and women have sunk even to seeking sexual gratification with animals." [p 78] "Many have been misinformed that they are powerless in the matter, not responsible for the tendency, and that God ‘made them that way'.  This is as untrue as any other of the diabolical lies Satan has concocted.  It is blasphemy.  Man is made in the image of God.  Does the pervert think God to be ‘that way'?" [p 85] "Sometimes not heavenly but earthly parents get the blame.  Granted that certain conditions make it easier for one to become a pervert, the second Article of Faith teaches that a man will be punished for his own sins.  He can, if normal, rise above the frustrations of childhood and stand on his own feet." [p 85] (Connell O’Donovan)

1969 The Gay Friendly Bars were The Radio City Lounge and The Twilight Lounge. Health care for Gay men consisted mostly of the Salt Lake County Health Department. The main Homosexual Cruising and Gathering Places were  Pioneer Park, Liberty Park, Memory Grove, Sugar House Park, Jordan Park,  Greyhound Bus Terminal, the Deseret Gym, Salt Lake City Library, Skid Row (2nd South 3rd West-5th West) South Beach of Great Salt Lake, and Esquire Adult Theater 228 South State.

1971 Spencer W. Kimball, Acting Presiding Apostle, "New Horizons for Homosexuals", church-published pamphlet, 1971, p 11 "One of Satan's strongest weapons is to make the victim believe the practice [homosexuality] incurable regardless of one's effort....Satan tells his victims that it is a natural way of life; that it is normal; that perverts are a different kind of people born ‘that way' and that they cannot change.  This is a base lie.....Many...authorities in the field have proclaimed that homosexuality, like fornication, adultery, robbery, and other detestable sins is curable." [p. 11 Affirmation article

1971 – Colorado and Oregon decriminalizes private consensual adult homosexual acts.

1972 – Hawaii decriminalizes private consensual adult homosexual acts.
1972 – Science magazine publishes a report that suggests male homosexuality may be determined in the womb due to chemical and/or hormonal stress of the pregnant woman.

1973- The Metropolitan Community Church of Salt Lake City was officially chartered with Reverend Troy Perry officiating at the charter presentation.

1974 – Ohio repeals its sodomy laws and decriminalizes private consensual adult homosexual acts.

1975 – New Mexico decriminalizes private consensual adult homosexual acts.

1975 Dr. Robert D. Card, M.D. "Counseling the Homosexual in a Private Practice Setting", 

Robert Card

AMCAP (Association of Mormon Counselors and Psychotherapists) annual journal, Vol. 1, no. 1,1975, pp. 10-13 Card's definition of male homosexuality was "a conditioned avoidance of an adult female in a domestic setting".  According to Card, Lesbianism is caused when "the husband or father has been covertly seductive, buying the girl slinky dresses and all sort of things and at the same time the girl cannot relate to the mother".  As to "curing" homosexuality, he said that, "I'm afraid that the measure of success that I'm looking for is marriage". (O’Donovan)

1975 BYU administrators ordered its campus security officers to squash a “homosexual ring“on campus. Security officers descended en masse on the Harris Fine Arts Center and took all male drama and ballet students out of their classes to interrogate them in the hallways.  Some of the drama students involved in the “Purge of ‘75” had tee shirts printed up at the BYU bookstore which read “I’m on the list-are you?”

1975 The Wasatch Hot Springs Bath House closed. The City operated the bathhouse on Beck Street, north of Wasatch Hot Springs Park. The area had been used for bathing since Mormon Pioneer times. The building later housed the Children’s Museum.  The bath house was for most of its existence was used by Gay men as a place to cruise.

1975  “Jeff’s Gym” part of a chain of Gay Bath houses known as Club Baths opens on 17th South and 7th West in Salt Lake City.

1976 – Iowa decriminalizes private consensual adult homosexual acts.

1976- The board of Trustees of the Gay Community Service Center changed the name of

Babs De Lay

the Gayzette to The Salt Lick, with Babs DeLay as editor. Places distributing Salt Lick Cosmic Aeroplane, Open Book, Club Baths, The Sun, Sisters, Radio City, The Sunset Room, Rape Crisis Center, Name of the Game Jr., The Munch Shoppe, Mother Earth, MCC, Grace Christian Church, Round Records.

1977 – Vermont decriminalizes private consensual adult homosexual acts.

Anita Bryant

1978-Anita Bryant was named "Most Admired Woman in America" by Good Housekeeping magazine.

1978- Gay Activity Society formed to “get folks together in a social atmosphere and to attend movies, plays, rock concerts, dinners, drag shows, art receptions, sport events and meetings.”

1978 – North Dakota decriminalizes private consensual adult homosexual acts.

1979 The Terrace Ballroom, located on 464 South Main Street, SLC which prior to 1971, was Utah’s largest concert hall, was torn down by owner Earl Holding of Little America.  It was replaced with a parking lot which still exists. During the 1930s, when it was called "Coconut Grove", there was no larger ballroom in the United States. Its name was originally changed in the 1940s to "Rainbow Rendezvous" before it settled in the 1950s to "Terrace Ballroom". During the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s the venue hosted performances by several famous musicians and rock bands, including Frank Zappa, The Grateful Dead, The Moody Blues, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane and The Doors.

1979 A few months after Dr. Wolf Szmuness began his Hepatitus B Vaccine experiment among Gay men of New York, purple skin lesions began to appear on the bodies of young white Gay men in Greenwich Village. During the next thirty months, Manhattan physicians encountered dozens of cases of a new disease characterized by immunodeficiency, Kaposi's sarcoma, and a rapidly fatal lung disease, known as  Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

1980 George Romney published a letter in the Mormon Church’s newspaper The Deseret News in which he doubled down on his attacks, writing: “Surely this resolution [the ERA] and its supporting statements are designed to legitimize sex and social relationships other than those that form the basis of divinely ordained marriage, parenthood, family and home..."  Romney also argued that the ERA would legitimize practices contrary to what he called “the truths about sex and sexual preferences voiced by God through his prophets.” [“Romney fears ERA would be boost for gays”, Miami News Services, January 1, 1980]
1980 – Arizona decriminalizes private consensual adult homosexual acts.

1980- Photographer and University of Utah Student, John Scheidell exhibited his photographs of the 1979 Gay and Lesbian March on Washington at the University of Utah.

1980 James O. Mason, Church Commissioner of Health 1980 (?) undated, "Attitudes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Toward Certain Medical Problems" "The Church looks upon the homosexual act as a physical perversion, and Church leaders are advised to...persuade them [homosexuals] that repentance can bring them forgiveness from such transgressions." (O’Donovan}

1981- Three women wanting to create a space where women could gather to share 

Debra Burrington

political thought, socialize, share information, meet other women of similar interests in the Salt Lake Community formed a bookstore/coffeehouse called 20 Jacob Rue named for the Paris address of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas.  20 Jacob Rue, a Lesbian/ Feminist Bookstore and coffeehouse, was founded by Abby Maetas, Mashelle Louann and Debra Burrington opened located at 232 East 800 South  Salt Lake City.

1982-Salt Lake Affirmation met at 167 North Redwood Road Club House. Lee Williams became the Newsletter Editor.

Luci Malin 

1983- Luci Malin became Utah state coordinator of NOW in 1983, and went on to be a national Board Member from 1985-1989. 

1984 20 Jacob Rue book store also operated a food co-op. Proprietors of the bookstore were Abby Maestas, Mashelle Louann.

Weldon Young

1985- Weldon Young returned to Radio City as manager but would later moves to St. George Utah in April of 1986. 

1986-Gay Bars and Bath Houses- Radio City Lounge 147 South State, The Sun moves to 700 West and 2nd South, The Deerhunter at 636 South 3rd West, Puss & Boots at 996 South Redwood Road, Backstreet at 108 South 500 West, Reflections changed to Reflections Good Time Place  at 315 West 400 South, The In-between at 579 West 200 South , Blue Horizon at 430 25th Street Ogden, The Wall Street Journal at 1600 Wall Street in Ogden Club Baths (Jeff’s Gym) 727 West 17th South, Club 14, 1414 West 200 South, at 579 West 200 South, Club 14  at 1414 West 200  South, Gay Clubs and Support Groups Knights of Malta, Fourth Sunday Group, The Wasatch Leather and Motorcycle Club, MADGAL-Married and Divorced Gays and Lesbians, Gay Service Organizations The Gay Help Line 533-0927, The Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire, The Gay Community Service Center and Clinic, Gay Pride Corporation, The Tavern Guild, Lesbian Organizations- Women On Weekends, Order of the Rose, OWLS-Older and Wiser Lesbians, Gay Spiritual Support Groups- Dignity Gay and Lesbian Catholic Support, Affirmation of Salt Lake, Integrity of Salt Lake, Wasatch Affirmation, Gay Religious Organizations- Metropolitan Community Church of Salt Lake City changed name to Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church 569 South 1300 East  at the Unitarian Church. Bruce Barton worship coordinator, The  Restoration Church of Jesus Christ-Bishop Robert McIntier, Gay Recreational Groups- The Salt Lake Men’s Chorus, Gay Rodeo Association changed name to The Golden Spike Gay Rodeo Association, Gay Political Organizations Mountain and Desert States Conference, Human Rights Campaign Utah Chapter. Gay Student Organizations The Lesbian and Gay Student Union U/U, Family Support Groups Parents and Friends of Gays became People Who Care”, Gay Health Resources- Salt Lake County VD Clinic, Gay Alcoholics Anonymous, The AIDS Hot Line, Utah AIDS Project, Salt Lake AIDS Foundation, Community Service Clinic, Gay Media - KRCL’s Concerning Gays and Lesbians,  The Triangle, Gay and Lesbian or Gay Friendly Businesses- Cosmic Aeroplane Bookstore, The Waking Owl Bookstore,  Video One, Cahoots, Aardvark’s Cabaret- a west-side “la Cage” experience” owned by Beau Chaine 160 South 500 West, Man To Man Utah’s Only Gay Owned Telephone Dating Service, The Painted Word located on 4th South and 4th West, The Connection, a Gay restaurant located at 529 West 200 South, The Gingerbread House, Art Attack

1986-Gay and Lesbian students at the Utah Technical College on Redwood Road attempt to organize a Gay student union spear headed by Alma Smith.

Duane Dawson

1986 AIDS Project Utah hired Carol Ellison, a psychiatric nurse to conduct a day training program in basic counseling. Director Duane Dawson organized the Salt Lake workshop based on the Shanti program and was attended by 15 people.

1988-Sundance Film Festival held at Park City featured Gay films; Chuck Solomon: Coming of Age, Hair Spray, Nobody’s Wife

Ben Barr

1988- Ben Barr left the AIDS Project Utah and joined the Salt Lake AIDS Foundation as Dr. Patty Reagan, fatigued by burn out, began stepping down as director. He opened an office at 323 ½ South Main Street to give the foundation more visibility.

1988 Friday “As Russ Lane was beginning to leave the New Year’s Day party I held for Unconditional Support, he held me and began to cry, saying that it’s because of all I did for him that he and Chuck [Thomas] were together.  Russ then said that he loved me for all that I did for him and the community, I held him too and said, Russ I love you too.  Let’s keep going and build a community here,”  John Reeves said that was the closest he ever saw someone coming to seek a blessing. All in all we had a good turn out with Randy Olsen, John Reeves. Scott Anderson, Shawn Donnally and his boyfriend Brent Burch, Curtis Jensen Greg Harden (Lulene), Shawn Hughes, Michael Ortega, Mike Anderson, Danny Keele, Chuck Whyte, and a friend of his David Sells, Sam and myself.  Sam was this Native American kid from BYU who got stranded here last night.  He called the Gay Help Line and Beau Chaine called me to see if I could put him up for the night until he could catch a bus home tomorrow. I said certainly.

John Wesley Fletcher

1989 In an article appearing in the January Penthouse, Evangelist John Wesley Fletcher, a former Jim Bakker crony, details homosexual encounters with Bakker, claiming that he also procured other young men for the boss of the PTL Club. “The Devil in Jim Bakker: His Homosexual Lover and Pimp Tells All” — Title of Penthouse article, January, 1989 article on Fletcher

1991 Wasatch Leathermen Club Officers were Michael Bolin-Master, Jim Kester-Pledge master, Chris Cox- Record master, Monty Montalvo-Bondmaster, Other members: Mike Aylett, Greg Garcia, Les Emmett, Doc Livingston, Doug Hansen, Rich Hilligras

1991- Call For Participations In Psychological Study of the Emotional Lives of Gay and Lesbian Couples: Dr. Tomi Ann Roberts, formerly of Stanford, currently BYU, is seeking Gay and Lesbian couples to participate in a two week study of the emotional lives of romantically involved couples. Participation is completely confidential. If you are involved in a committed same-sex relationship (cohabitation not required) and you are your partner interested in participations, please call. Note: This study is in no way connected to or designed to inform the 1992-Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons) Understanding and Helping Those Who Have Homosexual Problems - Suggestions for Ecclesiastical Leaders (church-published guidebook), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1992 Some people who seek help for homosexual problems may have concluded that experiences from their youth, such as perceived problems with a parent or some other older person, contributed to their inappropriate feelings.  Some may believe that they have not consciously chosen to have such feelings in the first place.  No general agreement exists about the causes of such problems.

1992- I heard that that David Sharpton is back in the hospital. I need to go see him. [Journal of Ben Williams]

1993 Bars and Bath Houses in Utah- Radio City Lounge 147 South State, The Sun- A Private Club 702 West and 2nd South, The Deerhunter at 636 South 3rd West, Puss & Boots at 996 South Redwood Road, The InBetween at 579 West 200 South, Aggies & Bogarts King of Clubs at 1225 Wilmington Ave. Sugar House, Your Place or Mine 551 South 300 West SLC, the Kaleidoscope Palace. The Wall Street Journal at 1600 Wall Street in Ogden (154) The Brass Rail 103 27th Street Ogden Club 14  1414 West 200 South

Carrie Gaylor

1993 Carrie Gaylor served as Chair of GLCCU, Renee Rinaldi as Vice Chair, and Cary Ferrin as Secretary

1993  Friday- Allen W. Remington, died of complications of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. He was 36 years old. Born in Tooele and educated in Tooele. Allen enjoyed family activities such as baseball, fishing and family vacations. He was an honor students at Tooele High School, graduating in May 1974. Allen was formerly employed at Tooele Public Library, Hardy Salt Co., and American Salt Co. He also worked for the US Army at Dugway Proving Grounds, where he received his training in mainframe computer operations. In 1982, Allen was employed by Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City, where he worked in computer operations until failing health forced his retirement in 1991. After his own diagnosis, Allen devoted countless hours as a volunteer with the Utah  AIDS Foundation, as a public speaker and educator. Allen chose to share his own experiences as a PWA in an effort to promote greater public understanding of this health crisis. The number of lives influenced, and potentially saved by Allen's educational efforts is unknowable. In his personal life, Allen enjoyed running, travel, and antiquing. He also pursued a never ending quest to enlarge his vast and varied music collection. And finally, a very special thanks to his dear friend, Jim Pierce, for his years of loving care and his unique ability to make life a constant adventure.

1993- Ron Richardson publisher and editor of Salt Lake City’s Gay periodical OutFront 

Dee Dee Corradini

Review was drumming up financial support for ``Ultraflight For Life.'' He told potential investors that the “first-ever'' trip would raise $10 million for AIDS research; he would get 10% for “administration.''  After a meeting with Mayor Dee Dee Corradini, Richardson circulated a letter saying he was ``working closely'' with the mayor and that he had the ``support and endorsement of the city.'' Kay Christensen, .Corradini's chief of staff refuted his statement saying, “All we ever did was talk about it,'' and The whole thing seemed overly ambitious, even farfetched.''

1993- Park City celebrated Gay Ski Week with Becky Moss creating a stage act, which she inaugurated at the Gay Ski Week in Park City. Moss’ act “is a mixture of Gay- and Lesbian-related jokes, personal stories and a putdown of myths surrounding alternative lifestyles. And, like other Gay comedians, she makes full use of the curious and absurd.”   

1993-The Journal moved from 1600 Wall Street to 27th and changed the name of the bar to The Brass Rail 103 27th St, Ogden, UT. Would become the one and only Gay Bar in Ogden and home bar for the Barony of Northern Utah later to become the Imperial Rainbow Court.

Kevin Knollenberg

1993- Kevin Nollenberg, a former Army Ranger is Executive Director of the People With AIDS Coalition

1994 The Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah officers were Chair-Hank Hannah, Vice Chair/Treasurer- Kim Russo, Secretary-Ben Williams

1995-Stats on gay marriage: Denmark began registering same-sex unions in May of 1989. As of this date in 1995, a total of 2,760 couples had registered, 1898 female and 862 male. The total divorce rate was 264, making the divorce rate 9.5%.

1996- The Board of Directors for the Utah Stonewall Center was Chair Nikki Boyer, Julie Brizzee, Jimmy Miller, Stan Penfold, Val Mansfield, Hank Hannah, Ben Williams and Kim Russo

1996  Randy Dean Readicker, age 37, died peacefully at home January 1, 1996, due to complications from AIDS. He was born April 9, 1958 to Carl and June Readicker. We will all miss his strength and courage. Randy will be remembered for his love of people. Randy's passionate love for his animals and cars will not be forgotten. Preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and many friends. Survived by Kelly O'Keefe, brother, Carl J.  Readicker, sister-in-law, Judy; nieces, Stacie and Lisa; nephew, Brad, all of Salt Lake City. A heartfelt thanks to all who cared for Randy. Graveside services at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Jan. 4, 1996 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Utah AIDS Foundation  (01/03/96 SLC Tribune Page: D4 )

1996 After writing a research paper on the high suicide rate of Gay adolescents in Utah, Katherine created the Delta Lambda Sappho Union at Weber State University in Ogden. (154) By-Laws of: Delta Lambda Sappho Union-Mission Statement Delta Lambda Sappho Union brings together the sexual minority students, prospective students, alumni, faculty and staff of Weber State University, their friends and families, and members of the community; in spirit of the unity, social support and self-empowerment; and in a safe, confidential and nurturing environment. Delta Lambda Sappho Union promotes academic and personal growth and development by encouraging outcomes such as intellectual growth, realistic self-appraisal, enhanced self-esteem, leadership development, fitness and wellness, meaningful interpersonal relations, social responsibility, satisfying and productive lifestyles, appreciation of aesthetic and cultural diversity, spiritual awareness, critical thinking and achievement of personal goals. Delta Lambda Sappho Union serves as a catalyst for the creation of a campus and community environment free of prejudice, bigotry, harassment and violence. Delta Lambda Sappho Union provides such services as; coming out support, support for victims of perpetrators of homophobia and hate crimes, services to address family issues and health concerns, as well as advocates for the human rights of all individuals. Delta Lambda Sappho Union Welcomes any students, prospective student, alumnus, faculty and staff, friends, and family members of the community, regardless of degree of enrollment status, age, gender, ethnicity, ability socio-economic status, religion, or sexual orientation; who are interested in supporting, or learning about the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and trans-gendered communities.

1997- Board of Directors for the Utah Stonewall Center consisted of Brook Heart-Song, Chair, Kim Russo Vice-Chair, Richard Cottino Sec/Treas, Val Mansfield, Ron Johnson, Anna Maria Straight, Ben Williams and Chuck Whyte.

James Dabakis

1998- Jim Dabakis, chosen new chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center (formerly the Stonewall Center). Michelle Turpin was Treasurer, and Alan Artow was Secretary.   Dubakis was a long time Utah Radio and TV talk show host as well as president of East Group the world’s largest exporter of Russian Art.

1998- The Wasatch Bear Club elected as  '98 President Todd Bennett,  '98 vice-president Blair Lewis, '98 Secre-bear: Ron Hunt '98  Treasurer: Jim Ingle '98 Bear-at-Large: Peter Crane '98 Bear-at-Large: Clint Ericson Wasatch Mountain Bears is a social organization for bears and like-minded men, promoting a comfortable environment of brotherhood through recreation, education and service.

1999 PEOPLE WITH AIDS COALITION PWAC Board of Directors of The People With AIDS Coalition of Utah; Chair-Robert Chase, Vice Chair-Mark Young, Treasurer-Maggie Snyder, Secretary- David Tompkins, Bryce Beesley, Paula Campbell, Lars Hansen, Brook Heart-Song, Carla Kelly, Glen Lanham, Ron Lyman, Julie Mohr, Udell Players, Jr. 

2000 Page: B2 Salt Lake Tribune Utahns Gather at U. for Predawn Celebration of Peace Advocates gather at University of Utah to sing hymns, meditate on theme: 'Peace Begins  Unconditionally With Me.' Fewer than 100 people braved the wee hours of New Year's Eve morning to attend the annual World Peace Celebration at the University of Utah. University of Utah law professor Ed Firmage spoke about his travels to Geneva last summer as part of the United Nations Subcommittee on Human Rights.   "We're really not as different as we think we are,'' Firmage said about the peoples of the world. "We're brought together by different shades of metaphor.'' On a local level, Firmage cautioned the crowd to be careful about the way youths are treated in our own community. "Look what we do to young gay and lesbian children in Utah, at East High School, for example,'' he said.

1 Jan 2000 (The Salt Lake Tribune 01/01/2000 Page: B2) Utahns Gather at U. for Predawn Celebration of Peace Advocates gather at University of Utah to sing hymns, meditate on theme: 'Peace Begins Unconditionally With Me.' BY HILARY GROUTAGE   THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE    Fewer  than 100 people braved the wee hours of New Year's Eve morning to attend the annual World Peace Celebration at the University of Utah.    "The people who needed to be here were here,'' said organizer Barbara Simper, who has helped her sister, Robyn, put the event together for the past 14 years. The idea is to get as many people as possible to meditate for world peace simultaneously at noon Greenwich Mean Time  5 a.m. in Salt Lake City, where one of the hundreds of worldwide  meditations took place. Two-year-old Emma Johnson was the youngest mediator and managed to hug her bear and keep quiet while the grown-ups thought and prayed about turmoil across the globe.  "Let us take care of the children,'' said Ellen Vlasic, the retired minister  of the Inner Light Center who led the group meditation. "They have a long way to go.'' University of Utah law professor Ed Firmage spoke about his travels to Geneva last summer as part of the United Nations Subcommittee on Human Rights. "We're really not as different as we think we are,'' Firmage said about the peoples of the world. "We're brought together by different shades of metaphor.'' Firmage spoke of two young African boys who fled Guinea by crawling into the wheel well of a Belgian jetliner. The boys froze to death, but stitched into the lining of their jackets was a message to world leaders that outlined the horrors of their short lives. "These two young boys shouted with a voice clearly louder than they had in life,'' he said. On a local level, Firmage cautioned the crowd to be careful about the way youths are treated in our own community. "Look what we do to young Gay and lesbian children in Utah, at East High School, for example,'' he said. Members of the advocacy group JEDI Women handed out ribbon banners at the celebration. The banners were pinned across the chest of every person in the audience and read "Peace Begins Unconditionally With Me.'' "It's about commitment,'' said Heather Buchanan. "For a lot of years I've thought about being here, but this year I'm here. It's about commitment to this path of peace.'' he crowd may have been small, but there was no shortage of goosebumps when Leraine Hortsmanhoff played the didgeridoo  while Kathryn Warner belted out "Amazing Grace."    "It's not like this is a bunch of hippies getting together to do peace and love,'' Simper said. "It's peace and love, but we're not hippies."

1 January 2000 GAY YOUTH 01/01/2000 Page: B2 Utahns Gather at U. for Predawn Celebration of Peace Advocates gather at University of Utah to sing hymns, meditate on theme: 'Peace Begins Unconditionally With Me.' Fewer  than 100 people braved the wee hours of New Year's Eve morning to attend the annual World Peace Celebration at the University of Utah. University of Utah law professor Ed Firmage spoke about his travels to Geneva last summer as part of the United Nations Subcommittee on Human Rights.   "We're really not as different as we think we are,'' Firmage said about the peoples of the world. "We're brought together by different shades of metaphor.'' On a local level, Firmage cautioned the crowd to be careful about the way youths are treated in our own community. "Look what we do to young Gay and lesbian children in Utah, at East High School, for example,'' he said.

1 Jan 2000 Mary and Cela, in South Jordan, hosted their third annual "New Year's Day Rainbow Buffet" for the men and womyn of Affirmation and their friends. Bring a potluck dish to share and wear something the same color as your food.

2003 BY GLEN WARCHOL THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Page: D1 Owner Says 'Lifestyle' Cost Club Its  License The owner of a Salt Lake City gay bar says his alcohol license was revoked because police and state officials are offended by its patrons' "lifestyle." "The basic problem is that we've been targeted by the police department," said Club Blue owner Mike Webb. "They have been bothering us for a long time for a variety of reasons. Most of the people in the gay community think it's an attack on our lifestyle."  But Earl Dorius, head of licensing and compliance for the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, said the violations at Club Blue, a private social club, were the most flagrant he has encountered in his 22 years of involvement with DABC, both as an administrator and earlier as chief counsel for the agency.  "It's the worst I've seen," Dorius said. "A commissioner [Nicholas Hale] who's been here for 11 years said it's the worst he's seen."  The alcohol license for the club at 60 E. 800 South was pulled for six counts of violating state liquor laws during a closed party in October. The violations included a bartender serving alcohol while naked; club employees permitting people to expose, caress and fondle genitals and buttocks; and patrons and employees performing simulated or actual masturbation, oral sex and sodomy. Fines for the violations totaled $11,000, plus administrative costs. In March, Club Blue's license was suspended for 60 days following an "underwear night" party that the DABC said led to lewd behavior.  Webb said because the October violations came during a closed party, it should not have led to revocation of the club's license. "They are attacking me, saying I allowed or encouraged the behavior at the party, instead of citing the people who were breaking the law. They are putting me out of business," he said.   Dorius said that the club is permanently closed and the owners cannot apply for another liquor license for any club for at least three years. Webb said his attorney was in the process of filing for a stay on the revocation. The club will appeal the revocation to the 3rd District Court, he said.   glenwarchol@sltrib.com

2003  -Howdy Ben Williams!! I remember you. yes I be the same guy from UAF. I am now in school in Berkeley getting my PhD-- School is much better than the real world.  How are you? Are you still in Utah? --- Ben-David Barr, MSW

2003-(Regarding the Stonewall Archives) It is extremely distressing to learn that a substantial part of the history of the lgbt community of Utah has been in all likelihood permanently lost due to the destruction of the archives originally held by the Utah Stonewall Center, and subsequently passed on to the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah. Whoever on the board (e.g., Jim Dabakis, Michelle Turpin, Terry Kogan) authorized this to happen or allowed it to happen is guilty of a crime against humanity in my opinion and a violation of the trust that once existed between the center and the lgbt community. My partner and I donated a large collection of books to the center library in the early 1990s only to see the books gradually disappear through carelessness and lack of attention. We have recently been the recipients of two car trunk loads of books of interest to the community, e.g. literature, politics, history, photography, essays, etc. I have no intention of allowing these books also to be lost. If I could be reassured that the Marriott Library would hold these books as part of a permanent collection of glbt materials, I would happily donate them to that institution.  Marlin G. Criddle

2004 The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah (GLCCU) officially changes name to Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Community Center of Utah (GLBTCCU)

2005 2,916 People have contracted AIDS since 1983 in Utah.1,062 have died.

Stuart Matis

2005 In Quiet Desperation”: An Open Letter to Marilyn Matis by Jason Clark January 2005 Affirmation. Three months ago, Deseret Book published In Quiet Desperation, a new book with two candid accounts revolving around gay Mormon experience. In the following letter, an Affirmation member describes his reaction to the first part of the book, written by the mother of gay Mormon suicide Stuart Matis.  Dear Sister Matis: I just finished reading the first part of the book In Quiet Desperation, which you published through Deseret Book. I come to you as one who has had a close gay LDS friend commit suicide. I mourn the death of my friend, of your son, and of so many other gay Mormons who have taken their lives.  I think your account is honest and well-intentioned. I commend you for urging members to achieve "better understanding" (pg. 5). Thank you for reminding us that families "must be open in their discussion of same-sex attraction" (pg. 50). I particularly appreciated your cautious approach to so-called "reparative therapy," and I agree with you that "until we have a definite understanding of what causes same-sex attraction, all therapy becomes a guessing game" (pg. 10). And yet your account leaves me angry and disturbed.  From the 50 pages of your essay, it becomes clear that you and your husband did all the things that LDS leaders advise: You were compassionate and understanding; you were open to dialogue all through your son's turmoil; you encouraged him to remain chaste. Yet still your son committed suicide. Not only that--you received the impression, both through Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (pg. 40) and through a peaceful spiritual experience in the temple, that your son "would be all right" (pg. 18). I don't know what we are supposed to conclude from your account, except that it is fine for chaste gay Mormons to experience years of suffering and end up dead on the steps of a stake center. Your story doesn't bring me the peace you say you experienced. On the contrary--it troubles me and makes me angry.  In one of the most troubling passages of your account, you say, "Although losing our son was difficult, it has been comforting to know that he was faithful to his temple covenants." (pg. 20). As a gay Mormon, what am I supposed to conclude from this statement? That I should kill myself rather than be sexually active? Your statement resonates with a troubling, oft-quoted anecdote by Marion G. Romney. According to Elder Romney's story, before leaving for his LDS mission, his father told him, "We would rather come to this station and take your body off the train in a casket than to have you come home unclean, having lost your virtue" (Conference Report, October 1952, pg. 34.).  I do not want to brush off the importance of chastity. But I believe the time has come when LDS leaders have to tell us if they honestly believe that chastity, presumably as defined by the monogamous heterosexual model that the Church decided to embrace in 1890, is more important than life itself. If they say it is, then it appears to me they have sided not with life but with death.  The Deseret Book winter catalog says that your account "takes us into the heart and mind of parents who did all they could to assist their son to bear this heavy burden" (pg. 36). I am no one to judge whether you did all you could; my point is that the rhetoric of the Deseret Book sales pitch clearly aims to justify your son's death. Are our suicides an acceptable price we pay for remaining chaste? This rhetoric is not just irresponsible--it is just plain deadly. If the Church could even start to intimate that homosexuality is not a challenge, but a gift from God, they could help to end overnight the pandemic of gay suicides. This would not be an easy step: Just as in 1978, when President Kimball received a revelation that allowed blacks to receive the priesthood, it could come only after much prayer, and it would have some embarrassing implications for past LDS statements and actions. But such a courageous step would provide a solution based on Christian principles and not on the ever-changing rhetoric of the Church. Too many gay and lesbian Mormons are indeed in quiet desperation, living lonely lives and holding a second-class status in the Church. Before taking their own lives, these gay sons and lesbian daughters need to know that our Heavenly Father loves them unconditionally. They need to know that their lives are infinitely more precious than the 1890 Mormon standard of heterosexual monogamy. They need to understand that the Church may have a prophet, twelve apostles, and thousands of bishops, but "the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there" (2 Nephi 9:41). Respectfully, Jason Clark

2007 Why Bisexual Awareness Month?  Why not?  Bisexual awarenes month gives us a chance, as a community in Utah, to open up a dialogue about that scary, invisible sexuality. The Pride Center began celebrating January as Bisexual month.

2016 Utah Pride Center elects new executive board members    

Michael Aguilar

After discussing the resignation of Marian Edmonds-Allen at length in executive session, on 26 October 2015 the board of directors of the Utah Pride Center moved onto previously scheduled business and elected a new executive committee. Michael Aguilar was elected as chair, Sue Robbins as vice chair. Jason Suker replaces Aguilar as treasurer and Liz Pitts replaces Suker as secretary.  The board created a new position, titled community relations liaison and Angie Rice was elected to fill it.Aguilar is the program director for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Intermountain Area and has served as the director of operations of The Leonardo. He holds a master of arts from Westminster College in community leadership. He also has a bachelors from the University of Utah in business administration and management. His masters thesis was titled, “The Rhetoric of Utah’s LGBTQ Movement: Igniting Change through Experience and Dialogue.” Robbins is a lead test engineer at L-3 Communications and was a chief of training development for the U.S. Army. She has an associates degree from the University of Maryland in computer studies. She has been on the board since May of this year. Outgoing chair Kent Frogley and vice chair Chris Wharton remain on the board at least until the end of the year. The Center has announced it is seeking new board members at large to join beginning January 1, 2016. Individuals must be 21 or older to serve on the board. “Board Members commit to the mission of the Center which is to provide support, education, outreach and advocacy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & queer (LGBTQ) individuals and their allies through programs, services and resources. In addition to the roles and responsibilities listed below, the organization is looking to expand to include individuals with a proven commitment to service and expertise in one or more of the following areas:

– Individual and Corporate Giving
– Public relations and marketing
– Legal council
– Operations management (IT, systems, infrastructure management)
– Finance (CPA preferred)
– Human Resource Management

“The Board of Directors sets the tone and direction of the Center and takes seriously their fiduciary responsibility for the organization. Effective board leadership and governance helps ensure that the Center can operate to its fullest capacity. Board members ensure the fiscal, programmatic, ethical, and legal health of the Center.”