Metro, Volume 2, Issue 11

Utah’s Gay and Lesbian Biweekly Newspaper Volume 2 ■ Issue 11 May 26–June 8

Michael Mitchell Moves On Equality Utah begins search for new executive director

Royal Court Begins Its 30th Year Coronation Memorial Day weekend with ‘Bedtime Stories’

Bountiful Barnes & Noble Highlights Anti-Gay Book Manager claims the book is ‘scientific’

Guns at Pride?

First year it becomes an issue

KSL Stirs Pink Panic During Sweeps Week Park cruising story is shameful Park: Take the Time to Be Seen at Pride Mecham Suffers From Lesdyxia Gay Agenda

News WORLD AND NATIONAL

Nebraska Gay Marriage Ban Overturned by Federal Judge

by Ross von Metzke Lincoln, Neb.—A federal judge struck down Nebraska’s ban on gay marriage Thursday May 12, saying the nearly five-year-old measure interferes not only with the rights of gay couples but also with those of foster parents, adopted children and people in a host of other living arrangements.

The constitutional amendment, which defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman, passed by a wide margin in November, 2000.

U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon said in his ruling that the ban “imposes significant burdens on both the expressive and intimate associational rights” of gays “and creates a significant barrier to the plaintiffs’ right to petition or to participate in the political process.”

Bataillon said the ban beyond “goes far beyond merely defining marriage as between a man and a woman.”

The judge said the “broad proscriptions could also interfere with or prevent arrangements between potential adoptive or

foster parents and children, related persons living together, and people sharing custody of children as well as gay individuals.”

Nebraska has no state law against gay marriage.

The challenge was filed by Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Lesbian & Gay Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Lamba Legal attorney David Buckel has called the ban “the most extreme anti-gay family law in the entire nation.”

“This anti-gay-union law, in effect, hung a sign on the door of the Unicameral saying ‘Same-Sex Couples Not Allowed,’” Buckel said.

Forty states have Defense of Marriage laws, but Nebraska’s ban is the only one that prevents gay couples who work for the state or the University of Nebraska system from sharing health insurance and other benefits with their partners.

Massachusetts has allowed gay marriage since last May. Vermont has offered civil unions to gays since 2000 and Connecticut will begin offering civil unions in October.

2

■

SALT LAKE METRO ■ MAY 26, 2005

Study Finds Gay Men Respond Differently to Pheremones

By Ross von Metzke Washington D.C.—Swedish researchers say that the sexual area of a gay man’s brain works a lot like that of a woman when exposed to a particular stimulus. In an experiment, men and heterosexual women sniffed a chemical from the male hormone testosterone. The homosexual men’s brains responded differently from those of heterosexual males and in a similar way to the women’s brains.

“It is one more piece of evidence ... that is showing that sexual orientation is not all learned,” Sandra Witelson, an expert on brain anatomy and sexual orientation at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, told the Washington Post.

Witelson, who was not part of the research team, said the findings clearly show a biological involvement in sexual orientation.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published the results of the study, which was conducted by researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.

According to the Post, researchers exposed heterosexual men and women and homosexual men to chemicals derived from male and female sex hormones. The chemicals, thought to be pheremones, are known to trigger responses such as defense

and sex in many animals.

Human response to pheremones has been widely debated in the sciences, although in 2000 American researchers reported finding a gene that they believe directs a human pheromone receptor in the nose.

The brains of different groups responded similarly to ordinary odors such as lavender, but differed in their response to the chemicals thought to be pheromones, lead researcher Ivanka Savic said.

The Swedish researchers divided 36 subjects into three groups—heterosexual men, heterosexual women, and homosexual men. Using PET scans, they studied the brain response to sniffing the chemicals.

All the subjects were healthy, unmedicated, right-handed and HIV-negative.

When the subjects were given scents including cedar and lavender, all of their brains reacted only in the olfactory region that handles smells.

But when confronted by a chemical from testosterone, portions of the brain active in sexual activity were activated in straight women and in gay men, but not in straight men, the researchers found.

The Swedish research team was funded by the Swedish Medical Research Council, the Karolinska Institute and the Magnus Bergvall Foundation.

MAY 26, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 3

News WORLD AND NATIONAL BRIEFS

Arizona Group Petitions Against Gay Marriage Tucson, Ariz.—After a May 17 rally on the capital steps, the nascent Protect Marriage Arizona Coalition began a statewide petition drive to put a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union between a man and a woman on the 2006 ballot.

“Arizona citizens should have the right to decide how the state defines marriage,” the Tucson Citizen quoted Coalition chair Lynn Stanley as saying while addressing a group of more than fifty supporters who gathered in the parking lot of Faith Community Church.

“This kind of support is going to grow over time,” she added before coalition members left to attend similar gatherings in Phoenix and Flagstaff.

While proponents of the petition drive have said that a state amendment is needed to protect marriage from being redefined by “activist judges,” opponents of the measure have said it could harm unmarried partners, including senior citizens who wish to enter a domestic partnership.

“This is an attack on heterosexual unmarried citizens disguised as a ban on gay marriage,” said Steve May, co-chairman of the gay-rights group Arizona Human Rights Fund. Additionally, the status of government-sponsored domestic partner benefits, including health and dental insurance, is also up for question. If the legislation passes, the government could no longer offer these, though private businesses would not be affected. Currently, the cities of Tempe and Phoenix offer such benefits.

If supporters collect 183,917 valid signatures, the measure will appear on the ballot in the next local election.—JV

4

■

SALT LAKE METRO ■ MAY 26, 2005

Gay Catholics, Supporters Denied Communion St. Paul, Minn.—A Catholic priest denied communion to more than 100 members of the Rainbow Sash Alliance during the Christian celebration of Pentecost, observed this year on May 15.

The Rev. Michael Sklucazek told the congregation at the Cathedral of St. Paul that those wearing rainbow colored sashes and pins—symbols of support for gay and lesbian Catholics—could approach the altar for a blessing, but not the sacrament. Earlier this month, Harry Flynn, the city’s archbishop, sent the group a letter telling them they would not receive communion throughout his diocese because the sashes were now perceived as an attempt “to use the reception of communion as an act of protest.”

But not all Catholic clergy remained unsympathetic to the group’s message. Sister Gabriel Herbers, who wore a sash, called the protesters’ sexual orientation “a gift from God just as much as my gift of being a female is.”

Founded in 2001, the Rainbow Sash Alliance encourages its supporters to wear the sashes and pins to masses on Pentecost

Sunday, the day Christians believe the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus’ disciples.

Though chapters in other states and countries, including Australia, have been denied communion in the past, this year marks the first time members at St. Paul’s Cathedral have been refused the sacrament.—JV

Alabama Shoots Down Book Banning Bill Montgomery, Ala.—A notorious bill seeking to prohibit public schools from spending state money on literature portraying homosexuality in a positive light died on the last day of the legislative session when the minimum number of members required to vote on it failed to show up.

One of three pieces of anti-gay legislation sponsored by Rep. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, the bill gained national attention and criticism in 2005, including a “muzzle” award from the Thomas Jefferson Center for Protection of Free Expression.

Defending himself against criticism that his bill was discriminatory and unconstitutional, Allen said he was simply “driven by the very historic principles that it is intended for a man and woman to have families.”

“This is not about hate,” the Associated Press quoted him as saying. “This is about our culture being under attack and about the fact that a majority of citizens support not spending tax dollars to promote a lifestyle that’s not acceptable.”

While the bill initially sought to prevent all public schools and libraries from purchasing literature by gay authors or featuring gay characters, Allen recently narrowed the bill’s focus to target only K-12 schools.

Earlier in the session, legislators approved a proposed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. It will go before Alabama voters in 2006.—JV

Poland Bans Gay Parade Warsaw, Poland—The mayor of Poland’s capitol has said he will ban, for the second year in a row, a gay rights parade scheduled to take place June 11 because, in part, he is “against propagating gay orientation,” the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Considered a likely contender for the presidency in the country’s upcoming elections, Mayor Lech Kaczynski said the planned parade would interfere with the unveiling of a monument in honor of General Stefan Rowecki, the leader of Poland’s anti-Hitler underground during World War II. “Organizing a gay parade on that day is a joke,” the news agency PAP quoted the mayor as saying. “I am for tolerance, but am against propagating gay orientation.”

Last year, Kaczynski banned the fourth annual Equality Parade because he said he wanted to prevent a clash between participants and protesters. Despite the ban, 500 protesters rallied in front of city hall yelling “homophobe.”

Equality Foundation, the body planning the parade this year, said it would attempt to challenge the ban in local courts.—JV

MAY 26, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 5

News LOCAL AND REGIONAL

Michael Mitchell to Leave for ACLU Job

Equality Utah Searches for Replacement Executive Director

by Joel Shoemaker joel@slmetro.com

6

■

SALT LAKE METRO ■ MAY 26, 2005

JOEL SHOEMAKER

After helping lead the fight against an antigay marriage amendment, one of Utah’s most visible gay advocates, Michael Mitchell, will leave his post as executive director of Equality Utah on June15 to help advance the national dialogue on gay marriage in

a new position with the American Civil Liberties Union in New York.

Mitchell credits, in part, his experience with the Don’t Amend Alliance—which was a branch of Equality Utah—as helping prepare him for the job. Even though the amendment passed, many thought of the campaign as a major step forward for Utah’s gay community showing that more than 300,000 voters would vote against it, including two counties where a majority turned it down.

“This job is an amazing opportunity,” said Mitchell in an interview with Salt Lake Metro. “If we can make a difference in Utah, we can make a difference anywhere.

There’s a focus nationally on the east and west coasts, but in Utah we’re here on the front lines. What happened in Massachusetts and San Francisco gave us our amendment and all of the inner states were caught off guard. It shows we have to build our network of support through allies in more conservative areas across the nation.”

Mitchell has been the only executive director Equality Utah has had, hired four years ago when the group was called Unity Utah. Along with a very active board of directors, the group has grown during that time, giving tens of thousands of dollars

each year to gay-friendly political candidates and becoming the state’s preeminent gay advocacy group.

Mitchell has been a very visible person in the media because of his role; the Deseret Morning News and Salt Lake Tribune both ran stories about his departure. “I’m often called from the media to speak for our entire community, which isn’t easy [since] our community is so diverse,” he says. “I’ve tried to show that Utah’s GLBT community are real people—people’s friends and neighbors. When I’m interviewed, I try to keep a specific gay person or family in the back of my mind so I can draw on those people and personalize the issues.”

Other groups have not always been pleased with Mitchell and Equality Utah’s work. During the 2004 campaign, the Stonewall Democrats expressed their anger at E.U. for endorsing Republican Attorney General candidate Mark Shurtlef, who opposed Amendment 3 but had filed a friend of the court brief to the U.S. Supreme Court favoring anti-sodomy laws in Lawrence v.

Texas. Others expressed concern that Mitchell and E.U. had used a person listed on Utah’s sex offender registry as their lobbyist.

Says Mitchell, “Our movement here locally is maturing into one that has institutions, away from kitchen table politics. There’s going to be natural tension sometimes. But everyone is on the same team. We’re all singing the same song even though we’re singing different parts with different voices.”

Moving forward, Mitchell says he sees the main challenge is to stop the infighting between groups and to continue to look for allies outside the gay community, particularly with moderate Republicans. “The game of politics is about the perception of power. Equality Utah is about not only the perception of power, but of real power: the ability to get money for candidates, the ability to get votes, the ability to get the ear of lawmakers. People are beginning to see us as having a strong constituency behind us and that they need to listen to us. There are people who are looking for any opportunity to bring us down, they’re looking for the chinks in our armor. We need to have good and strong people represent us.”

E.U. board of trustees Chair Jane Marquardt wouldn’t comment on what type of person E.U. is looking for to replace Mitchell, only to say she’s excited to see the response from those who apply for the job. Whoever the next director is, Mitchell says the most important traits for the job are tenacity and optimism. “It’s important to remember the small victories along the way. Even though sometimes it looks like defeat, this is groundwork for the future.”

Candidates for emperor and empress of the Royal Court, Peter “Jester” Savas and Krystyna Shaylee

The Royal Court Gets Ready to Celebrate Its 30th Year

by Kim Russo kimr@slmetro.com

Coronation XXX Activities: “Bedtime Stories, A Night In The Imperial Nursery” WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 7pm In Town Show, Paper Moon*, free THURSDAY, MAY 26 9pm Mr. Salt Lake Contest, Club 161*, $5 FRIDAY, MAY 27 7pm PR Ball 2005, Sheraton City Centre, $10 10pm Bus Tour following PR Ball, $10 SATURDAY, MAY 28 10am–2pm Hospitality Suite, Sheraton City Centre, No charge 3–5pm Empress Tea Party, The Trapp*, free 8pm Out of Town Show, Trapp Door*, $10 11pm Bus Tour after Out of Town Show, $10 SUNDAY, MAY 29 10am–2pm Hospitality Suite, Sheraton City Centre Hotel, No charge 5pm—Coronation XXX, Sheraton City Centre Hotel, $30 advance, $35 door MONDAY, MAY 30TH 11am Victory Brunch, The Trapp*, $10 *private clubs for members

MAY 26, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 7

This Memorial Day weekend will mark the beginning of the 30th year of service to the community by the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire. An event that contains pieces of elegance and fanfare, the weekend will be a very significant social celebration.

Included in Coronation activities is the election of the new empress and emperor, who will serve as co-presidents of the organization for the 30th reign.

This year, two candidates are running for the positions: Krystyna Shaylee (Thom Martinez) is running for empress and Peter “Jester” Savas is seeking the post of emperor.

Shaylee said she wanted to seek the title of empress since she became involved with the Royal Court. Since then, Shaylee says her knowledge of the organization has grown and she has even more reasons to seek the title.

“I want to make a difference by being a mentor to not only the Royal Court but to the community as well,” she said. Shaylee feels that the organization is life-giving because it embraces all people and assists them wherever possible. She is drawn to that concept and believes that she can only add to furthering the Court’s mission of outreach to others. Shaylee hopes to lead the 30th reign with her belief of the “three R’s:” retain, recruit, and renew.

“I want to retain the current membership of the Court, renew the members of the organization that were once with us, and recruit new members to ensure that we are still here for another 30 years,” says Shaylee.

Savas decided to run for the position of emperor because he wanted to put his stamp on the community and the Court system. “Really,” Savas says, “if you want to make a difference, you have to step up to the plate. No one is going to do it for us.”

Savas wants to expand on the good and positive works the Court has accomplished in the last 29 years.

Savas also speaks of the empowerment that the Royal Court can give to individuals

within the community. “You know, there were individuals in the community that felt that they didn’t fit the mold,” he says. “So much so, that they really didn’t get involved in any aspect of the community. Then they took a step and got involved with the Royal Court and that gave them the strength of character to really realize who they were and what they could offer. That is life-affirming to me.”

Both Krystyna Shaylee and Savas agree that while they may have various visions for their reign if elected, one in particular stands close to their hearts; both want to reach out to the youth in the community.

“Krystyna and I have talked in depth about the role of the youth within our organization,” says Savas. “We both agree that if we are elected, one of our top priorities will be to let the youth know that we care.”

Savas adds that between himself and Shaylee, they want to have a reign that sets the example for the youth in the community and one that is the visible refuge for youth.

The Royal Court is the longest-running organization in the queer community.

Emperor I Pepper (Linda) Prespentte, tells how the Royal Court first came to be in the Salt Lake community. Her friend and fellow Empress, Deania, went to a Denver coronation 30 years ago where they encouraged her to start a Court organization back in Utah. Deania returned home from Denver, spoke with Prespentte, and the two went to work making the local Royal Court become a reality. They both ran for the office of Emperor I and Empress I and held their first crowning at Puss N’ Boots, and a year later held the first coronation in the east room of the Sun Tavern.

Prespentte recalls that during the first year, both she and her empress developed bylaws, organized the Founders Table and held numerous functions to raise money for charity. “Thirty years ago,” Prespentte recalls, “the AIDS virus wasn’t here, so when we did raise money it went directly to our People’s Concern Fund. It actually helped a lot of people who were struggling financially to pay their rent or utilities.”

Currently, the Royal Court has eight charitable funds—the Monarch AIDS Fund,

Rainbow Fund, PWA Christmas Fund, Scholarship Fund, Felicia (Wade DeForrest) Children and Young Adult Fund, Cancer Fund, People’s Concern Fund, and General Fund. The organization works year-round during each reign to ensure that each fund has enough financial strength to meet the needs of the community members who approach them for assistance. All are supported

by Royal Court members and seek their financial strength through Court members who organize functions, such as drag shows, to keep the various funds financially healthy.

Prespentte, who is still an active member of the Court, says she is proud of the Royal Court because they have grown in a direction that is admirable and humanistic.

“The organization surpassed all expectations; our mission was to help the community. All of the members did their very best, and I believe that we have been successful in keeping that commitment to the community alive.” Prespentte also adds that the 30th reign will also make the Royal Court much stronger, and that they will move ahead with energy and enthusiasm for outreaching to others and the community.

News LOCAL

Bountiful Barnes & Noble Manager Picks Homophobic Book

by Kim Burgess kim@slmetro.com

8

■

SALT LAKE METRO ■ MAY 26, 2005

Bountiful—Bountiful native Greg Harrison expected a relaxing browse through his local Barnes & Noble. Instead, he encountered a “manager’s pick of the week” book that inspired his outrage. Titled Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth, the book contains statements comparing homosexuality to alcoholism and claiming that homosexuals are often pedophiles.

Large sections of the book also discuss “curing” homosexuality through Christian treatments and 12-step programs. Beneath the book was a recommendation card describing its views as “scientific.”

“It’s blatant hate literature,” Harrison said. “It’s dangerous being openly gay in Bountiful, and I don’t want my parents or three children to be victimized.”

Harrison confronted the store manager, Bart Thomassen, telling him that he found the book’s content offensive and felt it was inappropriate for a manager’s pick. “[Thomassen’s] basic thought process was that it’s scientific,” Harrison said. “Then basically he said the prophet said so. I said this is hate literature and he said, ‘Well, we also stock Mein Kampf.’”

The next week, Harrison returned to the store with copies of the pamphlet “A Guide for Gay Families Dealing with Homosexual Attraction,” which is published by Reconciliation, a group of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that supports acceptance of queer people.

“It says less than I would like it to say, but it is definitely a bridge between gays and

Mormons. Reconciliation was willing to donate copies of these pamphlets for free, which was great.”

Harrison requested that Thomassen distribute the free pamphlets, a request Thomassen did not grant. When asked by Salt Lake Metro, Thomassen said, “We’re only able to accommodate three free publications and right now we have three.”

Harrison said he will submit the pamphlet to Barnes & Noble for inclusion among the merchandise in its store.

As a second request, Harrison asked that the store mark its section of gay and lesbian books by a topper sign. Thomassen was also unable to accommodate this request, saying that the store is too small to place signs above every section. The gay and lesbian books are currently shelved alongside women’s studies titles.

“I don’t understand that at all,” Harrison said. “They have two bays of books on African American history, and there are very few African Americans in Bountiful. Why don’t they have more than three shelves for queer books?”

Thomassen told Salt Lake Metro that his store will put out a table of books for Pride Month, a decision that was made at the corporate level for all Barnes & Noble stores. Harrison would like to see a large, diverse selection on the Pride table.

“I went to the Sugar House Barnes & Noble, and they were really helpful. I gave him [Thomassen] a list of thirty books in the Barnes & Noble system and said ‘Here are some books you could put on the table,’ hoping that he doesn’t include the hate literature.”

Local human rights organization Equality Utah is following developments in the situation. Executive director Michael Mitchell says, “I am prepared to write a letter to the Bountiful Barnes & Noble and the corporate headquarters if I hear reports of persistent problems with homophobia.” Barnes & Noble’s media relations department was not available for comment.

Heads Up Owners Offered Cash to Relocate

by JoSelle Vanderhooft joselle@slmetro.com

One of Utah’s newest gay clubs may be moving before its first anniversary.

According to David Hurst, one of the bar’s three owners, the nine-month-old club may be closing its doors and relocating by May 31 due to a request from his landlords. In the past, he says, they’ve complained of cigarette smoke wafting through the building and beer cans and cigarette butts left around the front.

“My landlords have come to me and offered the money to relocate simply because they’re kind of tired of the whole bar scene,” he said. “They’ve also offered to purchase anything in the bar to do the relocation.” Two other bars preceeded Heads Up in the space.

According to Hurst, the building’s owners had approached him earlier about the smoking, leading him to organize several non-smoking events. Still, he says, smoke got into the building through a silo-like structure over the entrance when patrons went outside to light up.

“Even though we did a couple of events where we went non-smoking—people did enjoy that—the smoke would actually go up into [the structure] and we’d get a call Monday morning.”

The landlords, who also run an architecture firm out of the building, gave Hurst the offer on May 12. At the time, he says, they wanted him to accept the offer and relocate by June 1, but due to Heads Up’s status as a private club, his license couldn’t be transferred, leading Hurst to decide that it was just easier to move at a later date.

He added that his landlords have already given him a location, but due to its lack of facilities, he would have to “start totally from scratch.” He is considering other locations.

He also said he may take the club in a different direction when it reopens.

“Our reopening time frame is going to be down the road [because] I have some other projects I’m also working on,” he said. “I don’t know if the next club if I’m going to go with a gay bar at this time. I’m not sure if I’m going to go with a gay bar or just a bar.”

In the club’s short lifespan in this location, Hurst says he’s thankful to the community for attending—though he has been a little disappointed that attendance wasn’t as high as he had hoped.

“The gay community really had an opportunity to have more than three clubs here,” he said. “At one time there were seven gay bars [in Salt Lake City]. The only thing I’m disappointed in is when the Sun went down and the Deer Hunter burned down, and some of them started closing up, straight bars started having a gay night which really made a lot of people stay home because they didn’t know which bar to go to. That’s kind of what I’m disappointed in, because we said we’re a gay bar seven days a week, and we have a lot of people that do come on a regular basis, but it’s not quite as many as we need.”

Still, he said he was pleased that people came by and “enjoyed the place.”

“We’ve had a lot of fun, a lot of organizations made a lot of money and a lot of people have really enjoyed the club overall,” he said.

As of now, the club is scheduled to close May 31.

“We’re trying to let everyone know that if they haven’t been here before, it’s their last chance,” Hurst said.

He clarified that he is not being evicted.

Indeed, his five-year lease gives him “a lot of rights” as a tenant. But Hurst says he’ll “accept the money, do more research and move” in order to get the club some of the things it needs, like a patio for smokers.

“We’re pretty much going to accept the offer,” he said.

Countdown to Utah Pride Utah Pride is just around the corner and organizers from the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Community Center of Utah hope you’re making plans to attend and get involved.

FILM FESTIVAL Utah Pride kicks off this year with the Pride Week Film Festival, showing six full length movies over three days June 8-10. The films will be screened at the downtown Salt Lake City Main Library theater. Plans were still being finalized at press time, but information will be available on the Utah Pride website, www.utahpride.org.

GRAND MARSHAL RECEPTION On Friday, June 10, community members are invited to join this year’s grand marshal and community award-winners for the Grand Marshal Reception at the Salt Lake City Main Library. From 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Grand Marshal Sen. Scott McCoy, Youth Grand Marshals Courtney and Taunica— Murray High School’s Cutest Couple—and others will be on hand. Tickets are $25 at the entrance to the event, which will be held on the library’s roof level.

DYKE MARCH Saturday, June 11, will feature three exciting events. The Dyke March is a popular annual tradition in Utah, bringing visibility and political awareness to the lesbian community. Womyn and allies gather at City Creek Park at 6 pm for the rally, and the march itself steps off at 6:45.

PRIDE INTERFAITH SERVICE

PRIDE DANCE Whether you attend the Dyke March or the Interfaith Service, the only way to end Saturday evening will be the Pride Dance from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Library Square festival grounds—200 E. 400 South.

5K RUN/WALK/ROLL Sunday, June 12 will begin at dawn as health-conscious members of the community gather at Memory Grove Park for the annual 5K Walk/Run/Roll. Pets are welcome at the event, so sign up online for you and Fido to run in support of the queer community. The 5K begins at 8:30 am.

UTAH PRIDE PARADE Of course, the next thing on the agenda is the Utah Pride Parade. The parade kicks off at State and 300 South at 10:00 a.m., continues up State Street to South Temple, hangs a U-turn and comes back down 200 East. Be sure to arrive early to catch of the pomp, spectacle and camp of one of our longest-held traditions.

Utah Pride 2005 comes to a boil at the Pride Festival from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 12. Held as Washington Library Squares, this year’s festival will be unlike any previous. Remember to enter from the east side of the library this year on 300 East. It’s a good idea to purchase your $5 tickets in advance to avoid the lines.

One of the most notable additions to Utah Pride 2005 is the “Hip Hop” Dance Tent. This spacious covered area located inside the festival on 200 East will host seven hours of non-stop dance music, including hip-hop and club favorites spun by DJ Camille Bird.

“In talking to Pride coordinators from other parts of the country, it seems this was an element that we’ve really been missing out on,” said Sherry Booth, Utah Pride Coordinator. “A hip-hop dance tent really appeals to the younger generation and ups the ‘party factor’ for our celebration.”

In addition to the Dance Tent, three stages will provide a variety of entertainment, including political discourse, diverse local artists, and outstanding regional and national acts. More food vendors than ever will be on hand to keep you fed and over 100 exhibitors will want to educate, inform or sell quirky products to the attendees.

For the latest information on Utah Pride 2005, visit their website at utahpride.org and look for the official Pride Guide at any Utah Pride event.

Nebo District May Have Found Gay-Free Textbooks Spanish Fork—Nebo School District may not have found a textbook completely devoid of homosexual reference, but the recently approved Psychology from Glencoe/McGraw-Hill may be quiet enough on the topic for now.

Several months ago, the Nebo School District found itself in a tough spot. They try to replace their textbooks with up-todate books every seven years, but they also have a highly restrictive rule that “the Healthy Responsible Lifestyle Committee will disapprove any curriculum discussing perversion, homosexuality, contraception, promiscuity, and abortion, except when presenting the negative consequences thereof.”

At issue were the textbooks for the high school level psychology classes. Springville High psychology teacher Priscilla Leek told district board members that teachers were having trouble replacing their outdated psychology textbook with one that did not mention homosexuality. Most psychology textbooks include extensive chapters presenting homosexuality in a neutral context. School district officials and teachers considered alternatives like textbook-free classes and continuing to use outdated books.

“I never thought it was a big deal,” Leek told the Salt Lake Tribune. “I will teach out of the textbook that I have.”

Still, the book recommended by a committee of Payson, Springville and Spanish Fork high schools may be the solutions, for another seven years anyway. The book does include mentions of homosexuality, but the discussion is minimal. Now the book must be approved by Nebo School District board members.

The proposed book would be used for basic-level classes. For advanced placement students studying for the AP exam in psychology, the text books do have a detailed section on homosexuality. The board OKed the text for advanced students, but still require a parental permission slip for students in those classes.

Utah law prohibits schools from teaching a curriculum that “advocates homosexuality.” Nebo School District, the seventh largest school district in the state, has stricter and far more conservative rules in place.

In March, religious conservatives in Texas targeted another Glencoe/McGrawHill textbook, Evolution: In Our World Today: People, Places and Issues. A passage noting that glaciers formed the Great Lakes “millions of years ago” was altered to read “in the distant past” after a conservative reviewer attacked the phrase as merely “the opinion of some scientist who supports the theory of evolution.”

Salt Lake Metro’s Website Is Ranked in the Top 100,000 Websites in the World Alexa Internet, Inc. ranks internet traffic using technology similar to television’s Nielsen Ratings.

The most popular site, Yahoo, ranks #1. Salt Lake Metro’s website is ranked number 86,583 of all internet sites, showing it to be have more traffic than the Ogden Standard-Examiner, City Weekly and New York Blade.

Here is a comparison of related sites the week of May 10, 2005: Top 10 Utah Newspapers SITE RANKINGS 1 Deseret News, Salt Lake City 5,967 2 Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City 6,717 22,459 3 Provo Daily Herald, Provo 4 Salt Lake Metro, Salt Lake City 83,260 5 Ogden Standard-Examiner, Ogden 85,482 6 St. George Spectrum, St. George 118,054 7 City Weekly, Salt Lake City 136,706 8 Daily Utah Chronicle, Salt Lake City 187,221 9 Davis County Clipper, Woods Cross 234,188 312,528 10 Park Record, Park City Top 10 Gay Local Publications 1 Washington Blade, Washington DC 2 Salt Lake Metro, Salt Lake City 3 Gay City News, New York City 4 HX, New York City 5 New York Blade, New York City 6 Bay Windows, Boston 7 Frontiers, Los Angeles/San Francisco 8 Express, Ft. Lauderdale 9 Metro G, Long Beach 10 Houston Voice, Houston

SITE RANKINGS

Source: Alexa Internet, Inc., May 10, 2005

Advertise on slmetro.com and get results!

Reserve Your Call Ad Space in the 801-323-9500 Gay Pride Issue today!

Today!

323-9500

70,504 83,260 122,271 186,571 233,081 234,844 290,154 357,277 394,827 404,314

MAY 26, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 9

Meanwhile, for those who prefer a more inward experience, the Pride Interfaith Service will also begin at 6:00 p.m., held at the First Baptist Church,1300 E. 800 South.

The service, which will last approximately an hour, includes religious leaders from a variety of faith traditions and will celebrate the theme “Holy People: Equal Rites”—a play on the Utah Pride 2005 theme “Equal Rights. No More. No Less.” Following the service, attendees are invited to share refreshments and learn about various area religious organizations which are welcoming of queer people during a social hour.

“It is erroneously and tragically thought by many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, especially queer youth, that on the event of their coming out, they lose all rights to consider themselves people of faith, spiritual and capable holiness,” said Interfaith Committee chair Duane Jennings. The goal of the Pride Interfaith Celebration is to show that queer people are found in every faith tradition and many have strong religious and moral influences on their lives.

Featuring the mixes of Sexy DJ Claudette, attendees will literally be dancing in the streets of downtown Salt Lake.

UTAH PRIDE FESTIVAL

Special Report: Legal Issues Legal Ways Gay Couples and Families Can Protect Their Interests

by Joel Shoemaker joel@slmetro.com

So you’ve found the love of your life.

The two of you have been shopping at Bed, Bath and Beyond on Saturdays picking out draped shower curtains and stainless steel-lidded trash cans. People are starting to notice how both of you have been dressing more and more alike. You finally start to get all those silly romanticcomedy movies you hated when you were single. Why? Because you’re in love. Then one day, being two people who realize life isn’t all roses, you both decide you want to make it so each of you is the primary decision maker in times of crisis for the other’s care.

That’s when you realize: crap—you’re in Utah. This isn’t going to be easy.

Even before the addition of Amendment 3 to the Utah Constitution, state laws prevented gay and lesbian couples from marrying and obtaining the same legal rights afforded to opposite-gender couples. But attorney Laura Milliken Gray—whose private practice has been helping queer couples and families coordinate their legal rights for over 10 years—emphasizes it’s still possible to draw out those rights in a legally binding manner.

“This is a period of discrimination and we are living in a very hostile environment,” says Gray, “but there are ways to protect ourselves.”

Gray says there are three basic components of an estate plan she would recommend for most couples. First, a will that details what you want to have happen to your possessions after your death. Second, a disability plan that names powers of attorney for financial decisions and also powers of attorney for medical decisions (who would make decisions regarding your medical care if you were unable to speak for yourself ). The third component is a living will that gives specific directives about what to do in the event you’re comatose or in the late stages of an illness.

“Gay people need these documents so badly because there’s no priority in the law to make a gay person’s partner the one to make these decisions,” says Gray. “Marriage gives a lot of that presumption.”

Larger estates might require a living trust to avoid probate, the legal process to settle matters of a person’s estate after his or her death. This avoids going into a legal hearing where people might try to challenge a will.

Gay Divorce: Guiding Couples Through Troubled Legal Waters

by JoSelle Vanderhooft

10

■

SALT LAKE METRO ■ MAY 26, 2005

joselle@slmetro.com

Though love and marriage may go together like, well, the proverbial Clydesdale and buggy, divorce is often the stone that breaks the yoke—even for couples whose marriages aren’t legally recognized in the first place.

According to data released by the Netherlands’ Central Bureau for Statistics, the divorce rates of gay and lesbian couples in Holland (where gay marriage has been legal since 2001) now equals those of oppositegender couples. In Massachusetts, where same-gender marriage has been legal for just under a year, couples have already begun filing for divorce, many of them with help provided by gaydivorce.com. Even Reichen Lehmkuhl and Chip Arndt, the charming winners of The Amazing Race who the reality show described as “married,” called it quits before the full season had aired.

Regardless of a couple’s orientation, divorce is never an easy process to undergo.

But dividing up property, separating joint bank accounts, and deciding who should get custody of children can be much harder for couples who aren’t legally married.

“Unfortunately I’ve seen those horrible situations involving a couple buying property together and then everything falls apart,” says Russell Hathaway, a Salt

Lake attorney. “The one partner just never got around to putting the other’s name on the title. So what do they have at the end of the day? Absolutely nothing.”

Hathaway, who has practiced family law in the city for over eight years, says that, in general, he sees a “couple of clients either coming together or separating from a same-sex relationship” every so often. But whether the couple is just moving in together or separating after thirty years under the same roof, Hathaway says he always gives them the same advice: get it all in writing.

“The best thing going into [a relationship] is whatever your interests are—if it’s children, property, a business—the more you have spelled out in advance in legal documents the easier an ugly breakup can be,” he explains.

“Since no legal rights just come naturally with [this kind of] relationship, the best thing going into one would be having co-parenting agreements, or partnership agreements if you’re not dealing with children. If you own a home together you may not have both partners’ names on the title. You ought to address that. If it can’t be addressed by putting both people on the title then it ought to be addressed in some form of partnership agreement as far as who owns what and who has

An average fee for drawing up an average “will package” is about $600 per person, Gray says. “If something goes wrong, it’s the best money you’ll have spent.”

Amendment 3 didn’t change the validity of these types of documents, Gray says.

“The right to name who you want for endof-life decisions is separate from marriage rights. That doesn’t mean some hospital won’t make it difficult, but I think that would be illegal.”

Still, Gray emphasizes it’s important to make sure legal documents are put together properly, and not to attempt to do it yourself. “Everyone, but particularly gay couples, needs to have a lawyer to get these documents done properly. Pulling them off of the internet is very dangerous because each state is different and it is highly likely that mistakes or omissions will occur. You can create these documents and then have a false sense of security.”

Protecting the rights of gay and lesbian parents, as well as the interests of their children, is much more complicated, Gray says, especially in Utah where in 2000 the state legislature banned adoption by co-habitating adults. In this area, Gray describes a three-tiered plan, but emphasizes each situation is different.

First, Gray has parents draw up a will naming the non-biological parent as the guardian in the event of the biological parent’s death. Second, in a co-guardianship legal proceeding, the parents receive a

court order naming the non-legal guardian. Third, the parents draw up a co-parenting agreement where the parents agree to both act as parents even in the event of a breakup. Gray says this last measure is meant to ensure that the biological parent can’t shut out a non-biological parent after a breakup, protecting not only the parents, but also the child from losing a parent.

Gray says the co-guardianship proceeding and co-parenting agreement are new in Utah; they are two strategies she developed from lawyers facing similar issues in other states. “Some of it is untested, but it’s better than having nothing at all,” she says.

The broad concern with drafting documents that outline parental rights, particularly with adoption and surrogacy situations, is how they’ll be regarded from state to state. The goal of these measures is to create lots of different documents that essentially say the same thing.

Gray is no stranger to being on the cutting edge of helping gay and lesbian families spell out their legal rights—shortly before the state legislature takes away those rights. She believes she may have been the first lawyer to help coordinate an adoption by a lesbian couple, only to end up losing a fight against the state legislature banning gay adoptions during its 2000 session. She says she doesn’t have any political ambitions, preferring to “quietly help one couple at a time.”

what interest, then when you get to the point where you are dividing that up, then you’ve got a clearly legal basis.”

Of course, says Hathaway, the more investments the couple holds together—a business, a home, a bank account or, in the most complicated scenario, custody of children—the more complicated a breakup can be.

“The most extreme [situation] occurs if you’ve got kids involved,” he says. If gay and lesbian couples have decided to have children together, adopt, or have children from previous relationships, they need to think about providing for their children in the event of a breakup. For this, Hathaway advises getting co-parenting agreements, which can give same-sex partners some rights in the event of a breakup or death.

“Have a co-parenting agreement that plans for the worst, [that spells out] what happens to the kids if we do split up, whose going to have custody, what visitation rights do we think would be best for the kids.”

While some breakups can be amicable and assets can be divided without attorneys and the law getting involved, this is not always the case. When a divorce turns exceptionally ugly, Hathaway recommends that both partners seek out mediation first—before going to court, a step Utah law now forces married spouses to take.

“There are fantastic mediators in Salt Lake and throughout the state who are well-equipped to handle mediating the breakup of a same-sex family, and it’s

not going to freak them out,” he says.

“If you can get the couple to reach the agreements themselves, they’re going to feel like it’s a lot more fair and they’ll probably abide by their agreements more than [they would] if they got attorneys to litigate something and a judge to kind of force a decision down their throats. To a certain extent, both halves of the couple probably wouldn’t be happy with the decision.”

But despite all this advice, Hathaway also says that Amendment 3, which illegalized same-gender marriage in Utah, may make the separation of gay and lesbian couples even more difficult—particularly when one partner is the recipient of health care benefits through the other partner’s employer. However, he is quick to add that actual cases will have to go through Utah’s courts before the amendment’s effects can be truly determined.

“With Amendment 3 we really don’t know what the status of anything is,” he says. “We may find in the long run that in some ways it doesn’t make too much of a difference. That’s the unknown at this point.”

Ultimately, Hathaway advises same-sex couples to do their best to keep separations amicable, whether this means asking friends for advice or trying mediation before going to a law office.

“A really great breakup isn’t going to involve the law at all,” he says. “I hate to say it because it’s not good for business, but I think your last option should be attorneys.”

MAY 26, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 11

Publisher Michael Aaron Editor Jere Keys Arts Editor Eric J. Tierney Proofreader Nicholas Rupp

Opinion

Contributing Brandie Balken Writers Kim Burgess Vanessa Chang Jason Clark Beau Jarvis Laurie Mecham Rob Orton William T. Park Nicholas Rupp Mandy Q. Racer Ruby Ridge Kim Russo David Samsel Joel Shoemaker Brenden Shumway Eric J. Tierney Darren Tucker JoSelle Vanderhooft Ross von Metzke John Wilkes Ben Williams Contributing David Harris Photographers William H. Munk Kim Russo Joel Shoemaker Art Director Michael Aaron Designer Kris Kramer Sales Director Steven Peterson Display Ad Sebastian Cruz Sales Chris Lemon 801-323-9500 National Rivendell Media Advertising 212-242-6863 Representative 1248 Rte 22 West Mountainside NJ 07092

Classified Chris Wold Sales 801-323-9500 Distribution Tony Hobday Managers Courtney Moser Copyright © 2005 Metro Publishing, Inc.

12

■

SALT LAKE METRO ■ MAY 26, 2005

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner, including electronic retrieval systems, without the prior written permission of the publisher. One copy of this publication is free of charge to any individual. Additional copies may be purchased for $1. Anyone taking or destroying multiple copies may be prosecuted for theft at the sole discretion of the publisher. Reward offered for information that leads to the arrest of any individual willfully stealing, destroying or trashing multiple copies. Salt Lake Metro and Utah’s Best for 2005 are trademarks of Metro Publishing, Inc. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers or staff.

Salt Lake Metro is published bi-weekly on alternating Thursdays by Metro Publishing, Inc.

352 S. Denver Street, Suite 350 Salt Lake City, UT 84111

(801) 323-9500 Fax: (801) 323-9986 President: Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer:

Michael Aaron Steven Peterson Steve Whittaker Larry Tanner

Shame on KSL For Pink Panic Story On May 11 and 12, KSL Channel 5 aired a two-part story titled “The Secret Side of the Playground,” an exposé on public places where men go to have sex with men. At the Jordan River Parkway, helicopter cameras for the news program caught sight of two men together in the bushes. The report also included other parks and public restrooms listed on websites dedicated to men who cruise such areas.

No one is denying there are people who cruise these areas and engage in sex. But KSL’s story was offensive. Sensational journalism used to scare people and promote stereotypes may bring in viewer ratings, but it does a major disservice to the gay community and to the larger public.

First of all, the majority of the men who engage in public cruising do not self-identify as gay. Many of them are married men who are deeply in the closet about their sexual desires.

As such, the only outlets they feel they have are cruising locations such as public parks and mall restrooms. There are deeper problems here than what a family might discover if they wander into the wrong area—we need to address the social situations in our culture that lead these men to feel that public cruising is their only option to explore their desires. Most of this sex is risky and unprotected as well, so there’s an additional health concern, too.

Second, the KSL story implied that these men are a danger to children. By and large, that is not the case. The worst thing most families will experience is having to explain what gay sex is to their children. Forgive us if we don’t weep at the idea that more Utah families have to acknowledge that gay sex exists. Still, KSL’s repeated warnings about what your children may see (even the title of the piece “The Secret Side of the Playground”) reinforces the archaic notion that gay men are promiscuous, child molest-

ers, and predators. Promoting this stereotype of gay people, even indirectly, is undeserved and inexcusable.

More to the point, KSL producers didn’t even address the real safety concerns families should have at Jordan River Parkway and other public parks. These locations are rife with drug and alcohol use, and the evidence of it is all over on the ground. We should be more concerned about broken bottles and discarded syringes than what two men, who are desperately trying to avoid being caught, are doing.

Another aspect KSL producers missed entirely is the good work of the GLBT Public Safety Liaison Committee and the Court Diversion program crafted by the queer community and law enforcement working together on this subject. Salt Lake City has one of the nation’s best programs for dealing with men cited for public lewdness. Repeat offenders are few and far between, which is more than can be said about the programs in most cities. KSL’s portrayal of the police as ineffective and unable to do anything about the problem is both inaccurate and demeaning to the hard-working men and women in blue.

KSL ought to be ashamed of “The Secret Side of the Playground.” It is the opinion of Salt Lake Metro that the story was misguided at best and deliberately biased at worst. We call on the entire queer community to let KSL know that we will not be used as the targets of “pink panic” stories for the sake of ratings. We also call on the community to let KSL advertisers know that we are offended by the content of this “news” broadcast.

KSL owes an apology to the queer community, to the police officers who have approached this issue with sensitivity and understanding, and to the viewers who have been treated to tabloid-style journalism masquerading as credible news.

From the Editor Cannibalism

by Jere Keys jere@slmetro.com

I’ve considered myself to be a queer activist since the summer of 1997 when I attended my first Gay Pride Festival in San Francisco and immediately returned to my local community, determined to get involved in helping plan community events and organizations. It’s difficult work, but also fulfilling and something that makes me proud of myself and gives me hope for the future.

Then there are the days when the cannibals come out. Cannibals are members of our own community who love to attack each other in an effort to promote their own narrow agenda, ideas or sense of importance.

I’m not talking about those people who politely disagree about the way things ought to be run, or those who are fighting passionately for whatever cause they believe in. Cannibals are people who contribute nothing to the overall strength, growth or development of the community except criticism and demoralizing attacks on the people who are making a difference.

It’s no secret that I’ve thrown a lot of my free time and support behind The Center and this year’s Pride event. While I’ve tried to remain as neutral as possible about the controversies and opinions put forth in the editorial pages of this paper, it can be a struggle. Especially when the opinions put forth begin to feel like a personal attack on the decisions I’ve been a part of and have struggled over.

But you don’t last long as an activist or a writer without developing a thick skin.

Still, there seem to be more and more people out there who seem less interested in achieving the ultimate vision than landing the perfect catty remark. It seems we take our goddess-given right to a wicked tongue and a witty barb as license to tear down one another when we could be using those voices to combat the real problems out there such as heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.

Ah, but there’s nothing I’m going to say here that will convince the cannibals to abandon their feast. What I can do, though, is offer some words of wisdom to the leaders in the community who can and do put their money (or time and effort) where their mouth is.

And now that I’ve opened the door to platitudes … Those who can, do. Those who can but won’t, criticize. It has been my experience that most of the infighting within our organizations and between groups stems from an unwillingness to actually get involved and make a difference.

Healthy debate is vital to a democratic society, but the difference between healthy debate and cannibalism is that a healthy debate ends with all the parties still willing and able to work together.

Cannibalism only leads to more cannibalism until those subject to the criticism eventually lose spirit and quit their efforts.

A dear friend and fellow activist once told me that the problem with grassroots efforts is that most of those involved have a shelf-life of about three years. After three years of fighting for any cause, especially fights without an easy win, the bulk of the membership is burnt out, their spirits broken, and their energy spent.

Saddest of all, former activists make the worst cannibals. After having been picked at for years, they know all the best ways to break the spirit of another. I’m not sure that I understand why they do this. Jealousy, maybe, of the younger or fresher people who have stepped in to replace them with new ideas and methods.

I ask and beg our community leaders to hold onto their spirits and ignore the complaints of the cannibals. Praise those who contribute, and remember that a thousand words of praise can be destroyed by one word of ingratitude. For my part, I thank you for all you’re doing and still plan to do.

Letters Entry Fee Deters Our Allies I’m not worried about the queer community’s reaction to the entry fee at this year’s Utah Pride. Most gay people will happily spend $5 to support their community and have a good time while doing it; we often spend more than twice that for one night out at a bar with friends. I do wonder, however, about the negative affect this charge may have on our visible straight support.

For more than 20 years, Utah Pride has been another great downtown festival that draws all kinds of people just because it’s fun and free. Taking away the “free” this year may not hurt attendance from within our community—especially since we should all be there, visibly supporting our Center and each other—but it does make it less likely that non-queer people will fork over their cash and come to the party, too.

I know Utah Pride isn’t all about getting straight people to come celebrate with us.

But the celebration is partially about introducing us to our non-queer neighbors and fellow citizens—and it’s about removing the barriers in getting to know each other.

It’s a shame that The Center’s inability to manage its budget may make that process even more difficult than it already is.

Nicholas Rupp Salt Lake City

KSL Promotes Bigotry Last week, KSL TV broadcast an investigative report on protecting children from men cruising for sex in Oxbow Park. According to police reports, over 70% of the men arrested for this activity last year had 3 things in common: they were married, had children and lived in Utah County. Generally, these men self-identify as straight, vote conservative, are against any pro-gay political initiatives, carry their weddingrings in their pockets and many have temple recommends. They are not part of the gay community.

Yet the gay community has used what little political clout it has to work with the police to establish a program to re-educate these men. The gay community may not have been directly indicted in the KSL report, but the unprofessional omission of key facts, such as over 90% of pedophiles are heterosexual men, has had a very negative impact on Utah’s gay community.

Sunday afternoon, while walking my dog in

Rotary Park, a woman started screaming at the top of her lungs at me about my “f-ing lifestyle.”

She went into explicit detail using foul language to describe gay sex acts, told me it was “illegal and dangerous for children.”

The poor father standing next to me with his two children ages 5 and 11 said to me, and to his children, “It’s is best to ignore such people.” This is the true impact of KSL’s unprofessional and incomplete reporting, which was clearly designed to pander to homophobia in hopes of gaining points during sweeps.

Stuart Merrill Salt Lake City, Utah

Guns at Pride Ok, I understand the right to bear arms is a constitutional right. However, this right needs to be exercised in the context for which it was established. As I understand it, this right was originally meant as self-protection of citizens during war time when public peace officers were very limited in numbers (and probably non-existant).

We are by FAR in a different time and age. Even though we have advanced since this constitutional right was established, I think this right is still beneficial for protecting ones personal property and family.

In my opinion, there is only one situation that would be appropriate for someone to bring a gun to Pride. This would be for the organizer of Stonewall Shooting Sports to have some UNLOADED guns on display at a booth to promote his organization.

However, I see absolutely NO positive argument for ANYONE in the general public to bring weapons into any public event!

Especially for an event that is supposed to be communicating peace, love and acceptance to the rest of the world. Add to that, the fact that the Salt Lake City Police Department will be out in large numbers with firearms to protect the public if needed.

Why in God’s name would anyone need a gun at Pride?

Aaron Cloward Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake Metro welcomes letters from its readers. Please email letters@slmetro.com or mail your letter to: Editor, Salt Lake Metro, 352 S. Denver St. Ste 350, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. We reserve to right to edit for length or libel.

Pride: The “Be Seen” Scene

by William Todd Park liam@slmetro.com

Last year, attendance estimates for the Pride celebration in downtown Salt Lake City topped 50,000. An event that draws that kind of crowd and includes so many facets of the community takes a huge amount of organization and effort. In talking to the organizers, they’ll readily tell you that no sooner is one Pride festival put to bed that the planning for the next year’s event begins.

It gives me pause to consider just how big the hearts are of those who pour themselves into this annual celebration, especially with the vocal surge of ingratitude from people who complain about the nominal admission fee. Rather than investing any emotional energy in whiners, I’d rather laud those who make Pride happen and tell you why it’s important to be seen.

In today’s world, it’s difficult for younger people to imagine monuments to bigotry like segregated restrooms or drinking fountains in the South, but they existed and I assure you having lived there for nearly 20 years, prejudice often lurks just beneath the veneer of genteel civility. So it is with the many issues facing gays and lesbians today. One of the biggest reasons that gay rights is such a hot-button issue with conservative extremists is that in granting any rights, in essence, extends formal recognition to gays as a class of people. Legally, that opens the door to anti-discrimination legislation, but until that happens, equality is still a goal worth fighting for. To borrow the tagline from Equality Utah, “Equality means everyone.” That’s a message that needs to be reinforced daily and one of the best ways to do that is to be visible.

Richard Goldstein points out in the May 10 Advocate that visibility of queer characters is falling off. He cites figures from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation that gay visibility on broadcast networks is on the downswing. While there are a number of queer-themed indie flicks, only one big budget film with a significant or supporting queer character will be released this year, down from twelve last year. “Representation is reality,” which is why Goldstein asserts gay visibility is such an issue for the Right.

We walk a tightrope in asserting how

we want to be seen. To be exactly like the average couple next door with their 2.7 children, minivan, and Labrador retriever diminishes that which makes us unique and special. Some would see the very fact that the law does not grant any status to same-gender relationships as proof that these unions are stronger. Without the threat of the financial sanctions of divorce, the two partners choose to stay together because they truly love each other and share the commitment without the law telling them to. The end goal is simply having the option to live like other couples with all the requisite rights and responsibilities that come with legal legitimacy.

Same-gender relationships will always have a bit of a cachet to them, much the same way interracial couples do. The chemistry, the challenges, and the social dynamics will require both recognition and unique needs, but the first step in getting there is shattering the stigma. Same-gender relationships exist and they last, and if Johnny has two soccer moms in his family, the underlying issue should be that he has loving parents, not that they happen to both be of the same gender.

If you’ve experienced hatred because of what you are, then you owe it to yourself to stand tall and celebrate Pride. And if you haven’t, you owe it to those who have given their blood, sweat, and tears so that you can feel the public embrace of your lover, instead of spittle on your face from an unchallenged bigot. If you’ve ever experienced abject loneliness because you just don’t fit in or you felt different, you need to come and be part of the rest of us who overcame the solitude and became a force of solidarity. For me, Pride was the first place I could come and be part of something that allowed me to be myself instead of what was expected of me.

Gay Pride isn’t outdated, but it has evolved. We cannot fall into the trap of thinking that Pride is irrelevant, inconvenient, or only for the hedonists. While we become complacent in our thinking, detractors to civil liberties will be busy at work looking for ways to cleverly package legislation that will promote bigotry, restrict freedoms, and discriminate. When the queer community is perceived as simply queer and not much of a community, civil rights are up for grabs.

We cannot turn our backs on 35 years of progress. Pride is for all of us. Take the time to be seen!

MAY 26, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 13

AberRant Lesdyxia

14

■

SALT LAKE METRO ■ MAY 26, 2005

it again, and I swear to God it said, “Bill Cosby Sex Change Update.”

By Laurie Mecham “Oh my God, honey. This thing about the laurie@slmetro.com news just said Bill Cosby Sex Change UpMy sister forwarded date!” Naturally, she thought I was wrong, a joke in which a lady but I told her I read it twice, and that is comes into the vet holdwhat it said. We tried to guess what was ing a limp duck. I swear really up with this news teaser. We decided to god I thought it said, that perhaps someone had started a rumor “limp DICK.” But that wrecks the joke. At about Bill Cosby having a sex change and least, it changes it. Why would the lady take that the update would be that it had just a limp dick to a vet? been a rumor. Annie said, “Well, if there is Does this happen to you too? Not the anything to it, nobody’s going to listen to limp dick thing, the reading problem. We him any more.” Cosby has been stirring the can talk about that other issue later. I nopot quite a bit in parts of the black comtice that the older I get, the more lesdyxic I munity lately. He has come down hard with become. Furthermore, for some inexplicaaccusations, making broad generalizations ble reason—and I am not making this up— and telling people to clean up their mess.

I have sort of specialized dyslexia. Not only If Bill Cosby were to become Billie Jean do I read words wrong, but nine times out Cosby, how would fatherless inner-city of ten they are also dirty. It happens several youth react? Would their grandmothers times a day and I usually don’t remember continue to quote her? the words. I’ve been making an effort lately So, we waited for the news to come on, to write things down in order to give you a and were surprised that the newscasters sense of my experience. Examples: weren’t throwing out enticements for the story. It was one WHAT IT SAID: WHAT I READ: of the rare times Daily motivator Daily molester when it seemed Audit designers Adult diapers like the news Grand Marshal is introduced and honored. Grand Marshal is introduced and ignored. went on forever Go Army Go Away and they never Urban’s Legends Urban’s Lesbians cut to commerRevolving Shoe Tree Revolting Shoe Tree cial. Truly, how Employers Reward Healthy Behavior Employers Reward Filthy Behavior often does that Misses Incredible Sweaters Misses Invisible Sweaters happen? Finally Hersh Harps on Bush Policies Herpes Harsh on Bush Policies at the end of the Say hi to…

Say shit to… broadcast they Dixie Dense Pack Forks Dixie Disease Pack Forks got to the story.

Powell Leads Exodus Powell’s Head Explodes Turns out that a I know you probably don’t believe me, woman alleged that Cosby had fondled her but I vow on my remaining collagen, these breast and he, of course, denied it. End of all actually happened in my mind. Until story. Finally the light went on for me. “Sex a few weeks ago, that last one had been Charge. Bill Cosby Sex Charge Update!” Just my favorite among those misreads that I goes to show the power of a single letter, remember. We were watching the end of you know hat I men? some television program, and a banner Another kind of mental loss I suffer is came up at the bottom of the screen for mixing up words. For example, I always the news show to follow. I read it, then read get the words narcolepsy and necrophilia

confused. Why I need to use either of these words does not matter here, but I hope this illustrates the vital importance of using the correct term. I’d hate for my therapist to think I was narcoleptic! Suffice to say that either word can be used for a fantastic punch line frequently, but not interchangeably.

Often, in order to find the proper word, I have to verbally run down a list of closebut-no-cigar words, such as, “caliber, cribbage, cholesterol, collateral, celluloid— cartilage!” I swear I am just like Professor Trelawney (Emma Thompson in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban). My son had injured his ankle, and once the bones healed it was necessary for me to talk to the orthopedist about the recovery of his cartilage. For two years I had to go through the whole damn list to get to the right word. Dr. Beals may not have respected my intellect,

but I’m certain he admired my tenacity.

How did I lose the word promiscuous?

Again with the list. “Pernicious, perspicacious, porcine, pustule, promenade…promiscuous!” Yes, I have a legitimate need for this word as well. I need the word in order to point out the absurd conundrum in which uber-conservatives charge queers with being promiscuous while at the same time blocking our rights to civil marriage.

I have really been paying attention to these problems lately, and I have made some improvement with the lost words.

Some days are good. Other days are an uphill battle. I feel like I’m rolling a giant boulder up the mountain, just like that mythic guy, um, Serpico, Spartacus…oh yeah, Syphilis!

Laurie Mecham manages just fine in spite of her ongoing cunnilingus.

Lambda Lore Gay With a Capitol ‘G’

by Ben Williams ben@slmetro.com

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was Gay. Okay, I admit I’m an anachronistic Gay Libber. There are still a few of us left. Damn few. I still love to see rainbow flags fly from houses. I still remember Harvey Milk and what he stood for.

Sadly, I recently heard that drag queens would not be allowed to perform at Gay Pride Day, I mean Pride Day, this year. ’Tis a pity, because without some angry crossdressers in 1969, there would be no need to have a party every June at all. I hope this is just vicious gossip.

I get so annoyed when I hear “Why do we even need Gay Pride Day anymore?”

For duh! It’s like saying, “Why do we need to celebrate the Fourth of July?” Gay Pride Day, not Pride Day, has its historic roots tied to commemorating the rebellion on Christopher Street in New York City.

You know—at Stonewall Inn! “We are the Stonewall girls ... We wear our hair in curls ... We don’t wear underwear ... We show our pubic hair ... ” I digress.

Although I am mellower in my Senior Discount Years, I still play this game with my editor which none of you readers ever get to see. I capitalize the word Gay and my editor or proofreader lowercases it. For over a year, I have been uppercasing Gay while you dear readers see only the ineffectual lowercasing that appears in print. Perhaps my editor doesn’t even know I have a political motive to my syntax madness.

As any good editor would do, my column is scrutinized to make sure it adheres to the style adopted by the Associated Press Stylebook and the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (notice how I carefully capitalized their name). A past editor once told me, “It helps make our publication stand out by giving it a professional and consistent editorial style.”

But every time I write a column for this paper I say, “The hell with the Associated Press,” and for that matter the hell with the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association. What a bunch of assimilation-holes!

I proudly, as a Gay person, remain steadfast in adhering to a resolution

that was voted on by the “Committee for Homosexual Freedom” in November 1969.

They decided, way back then, to “request all publications to hereafter capitalize the word Gay.” Advocates of Gay rights argued that Gay is a proper noun and proper adjective when describing a people. Libbers were reclaiming the lexicon used to define us as a people, rather than adhering slavishly to how the straight world wants to define us. At this historic meeting it was strongly felt that heterosexual writers and lexicographers were, by lowercasing the word, aiding and abetting in “the psychological oppression of homosexuals.” Now, do you see where I am going with this? Are you going to take that crap from heteros?

Well, I’m not! Gay! Gay! Gay! I just can’t understand why any selfrespecting Gay newspaper, or journalist for that matter, can accept this political decision to lowercase the word Gay. True, it took years for the heterosexual media establishment to even use the word in the first place, and only then after finally feeling comfortable to print the word homosexual. Why do we allow outsiders or heterosexual lackeys to choose how we define ourselves? Notice no one uses Negro anymore. “I would like to introduce you to my Negro friend.” Huh? As an elementary school teacher, the font of all wisdom, even my sixth grade grammar books state emphatically that all proper nouns and proper adjectives are capitalized! Am I missing something here? The adjective and adverb gay, as in the state of being “happy and gay,” I can understand being lowercased.

But if we are a people—if we have redefined ourselves as a distinct community or folk or tribe, then we are indeed proper nouns and adjectives and, damn it, Gay! Too bad we don’t do as the Germans do and capitalize all our nouns. Then I wouldn’t bitch so much. But then, as long as Mormons and Baptists get to be capitalized then so do Gays!

Therefore, I will continue to capitalize Gay, as much as anything, to say “fuck you” if you don’t like me being Gay. Then again, all my Gays may be lowercased by my formidable proofreader and this column will appear as if I’ve been on one too many acid trips from 1969. I see rainbow flags everywhere!

Ben Williams is the founder and president of the Utah Stonewall Historical Society at utahstonewallhistoricalsociety.com

Ruby Ridge Living KSL Blows

by Ruby Ridge ruby@slmetro.com

So, pumpkins, did you see the travesty of an “Investigative Report” that Channel Five did on the Jordan River Parkway?

What a stinking piece of sweeps-week road kill that was! For those of you who missed the two-part series (or the amazingly homophobic promos), KSL reported on cruising along the Jordan River, complete with helicopter shots of men walking together in the brush, sinister pixilated faces, and jump cuts to children in playgrounds. So what was the not-so-subtle message behind the report? I think it came down to “your children are at risk because fags are having sex on the monkey bars,” but I’m not sure. It was so tabloid-ish I was freaked.

Petals, the GLBT Public Safety Liaison Committee has been working on the problem of public sex offenses for five years, and in that time helped create the Court Diversion option for men cited for lewdness. Over 375 men have completed the program with only about 1 in 100 re-offending. KSL never researched or approached anyone from the gay community to authenticate the story, or discuss the plea in abeyance program. How unethical and unprofessional is that?

Now, I totally agree with the idea that families and children should be able to enjoy public places without the specter of two men waving weenies at each other.

However, Channel Five’s report suggested that gay men are solely responsible for lewdness in public parks. The actions of a few do not represent us all. If the gay media held up Mark Hacking as the poster child of temple marriage, all hell would break loose.

So why is it, when our entire community gets painted as pedophiles lurking on playgrounds, that we are just expected to take it and not fight back? Excuse me for being unladylike, but that’s bullshit.

Here are a few kernels of truth that will never make it into a KSL broadcast about cruising. Some of the most aggressive and brazen cruisers in the parks are married, closeted, LDS family men from all over Salt Lake, Davis, Summit, and Utah counties— men who would rather die than admit they were gay. In a classic supply and demand scenario, randy gay men cruise the parks knowing there is a stream of hormonallychallenged married men with blue balls who just want to get in, get off, and get out with nostrings-attached. The fact that they are loitering in dangerous places and putting themselves at risk of physical assault doesn’t even enter into the equation.

KSL is never going to admit that bisexual and gay men trapped in dysfunctional heterosexual marriages are inevitably going to seek male-on-male sex.

Typically, that’s going to happen in a very public place, like a restroom or park, where there is opportunity and cover for illicit activity. A large number of these men are older and are living pretty conflicted lives because they were historically counseled by the LDS church to deny their biology, get married and have a family, assume all the trappings and benefits of heterosexual life, and voilá ... they would be straight. They had no openly gay role models, no social support, no legal ways of hooking up, so why are we so surprised that they are maladapted and end up cruising the parks? Investigate that KSL!

If the gay media held up Mark Hacking as the poster child of Temple Marriage, all hell would break loose.

Ruby Ridge is one of the more opinionated members of the Utah Cyber Sluts, a camp drag group of performers who raise funds and support local charities. Her opinions are her own and fluctuate wildly due to irritability and being surrounded by “advocates” and “activists” who keep their balls in a box and won’t challenge the status quo.

MAY 26, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 15

SUMMER FASHION

Track Ja

by Ugly Shi $19

Vintage Collared

by Hathawa $9 Available at 2144 Highla

Button-Up Shirt

by Parasuco Available at Cockers Crossroads Mall $95

Button-Up Shirt

1

■

SALT LAKE METRO ■ MAY 26, 2005

by Mikosa Available at Cockers Crossroads Mall $120

Blond Synthetic Fiber Wig

by West Bay Imports Available at Pibs Exchange 2144 Highland Dr, SLC $26

acket rt Brand

Classic d Shirt ay t Pibs Exchange and Dr, SLC

Vintage Baby Doll Striped Shirt

by Lady Arrow Available at Pibs Exchange 2144 Highland Dr, SLC $5

by Diesel Available at Pibs Exchange 2144 Highland Dr, SLC $26.99 —continued on page 2

MAY 26, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 2

Teacup Diesel Industry Denim Skirt

SUMMER FASHION Flower Hair Pin Available at Pibs Exchange 2144 Highland Dr, SLC $4.99

Straight Leg, dark wash crinkle denim Jeans

Open Back and Tummy Shirt

By Miss Sixty Available at Pibs Exchange 2144 Highland Dr, SLC $41

18

■

SALT LAKE METRO ■ MAY 26, 2005

Stretch Denim Pants

By AG Adriano Goldschmied Available at Pibs Exchange 2144 Highland Dr, SLC $41

Advertise in Salt Lake Metro 323-9500

Vinyl Pink Clutch with Buckles Available at Pibs Exchange 2144 Highland Dr, SLC $9

By Banana Republic Available at Pibs Exchange 2144 Highland Dr, SLC $18

Jeans

by Division Available at Cockers Crossroads Mall $95

Jeans

by Division Available at Cockers Crossroads Mall $95

by Brave Beltworks Available at Cockers Crossroads Mall $48

Belt

by Tobacco Road Available at Cockers Crossroads Mall $55

MAY 26, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 19

Belt

SUMMER FASHION Hat $12

Wristbands Pink–$6.99, Furry–$10 Available at Foxtrot America 2132 S. Highland Dr, SLC

Pink Top

By Industry Available at Foxtrot America 2132 S. Highland Dr, SLC $46

Buffalo Jeans $124

Distressed Jeans

By True Religion $188

Leather Belt

Buffalo Polo Shirt $59 Available at Foxtrot America 2132 S. Highland Dr, SLC

20

■

SALT LAKE METRO ■ MAY 26, 2005

$188 Available at Foxtrot America 2132 S. Highland Dr, SLC

Make Sure You Get Your Ad In the Gay Pride Issue!

Deadline June 3 323-9500

White Sneakers

by New Balance $26 Available at Pibs Exchange 2144 S. Highland Dr.

Local Retailers Offer a Splash of Originality in Salt Lake

by Brendon Shumway brendon@slmetro.com

Few things are worse than buying a new outfit and wearing it for the first time, only to spot someone else wearing the exact same thing. For years, shopping in Salt Lake has meant little more than a monotonous stroll through box-like stores selling homogenized fashion to the masses. But the fashion tide seems to be changing, thanks to the opening of a few new stores that have less to do with ordinary than with originality.

One such store is Cockers, located in Crossroads Mall downtown. What started out years ago at Trolley Square as a small shop selling provocative underwear and club-appropriate clothing has, over the years, blossomed into a much larger shopping entity encompassing a vast array of clothing items geared toward fashion-forward guys. Throughout the store is a wide selection of jeans, slacks, shirts for dressing up or dressing down, and even accessories such as belts, ties and scents that one would be hard-pressed to find in other stores.

“We aren’t trying to be mainstream,” confesses owner Dale LeBaron. “What we go after is the latest cutting edge.”

Many of the clothes offered are acquired through national clothing conventions that give buyers a greater network of designers to obtain original fashions from. In addition to the popular sexy knickers the store first offered, hot selling items include jeans imported from Italy and Brazil, as well as tailored European shirts that come in an unimaginable number of prints and patterns.

“What’s unusual about our store is that we find smaller designers that are not quite popular yet,” says LeBaron.

Because of the diverse collection of fashion offered, it has become somewhat of a destination store attracting many repeat buyers. And while there hasn’t been any outright complaints from the shopping public about the sometimes risqué clothing sold, LeBaron admits some passing customers hesitate at the sight of the store name before walking in or just moving along. LeBaron recently opened a second store, named Spark, in the Valley Fair Mall. Spark carries more moderately priced clothing lines that will appeal to the younger, cultural, and less-trendy but no less fashion-conscious crowd.

On the other side of town, in Sugar House, is the newly-opened Foxtrot, a joint venture between partners Ronald Tucker and local designer Marcus Walker. Tucker, who ended up in Salt Lake by way of Vancouver, realized very quickly the growing diversity of the community and wanted to find a way to accommodate that.

“One of the first things I noticed was not the lack of fashion consciousness, but the lack of availability to it,” he said.

Not wanting Foxtrot to appear as a plastic replication of any other retailer, Tucker and Walker took pains to present to the public a store that was unlike anything else in both appearance and merchandise sold. With a built-in DJ booth, cool overhead melodic beats, wide changing rooms with bright green curtains, and even a wall-mounted steel and glass fish tank designed by a local artisan, the interior has been built from the ground up to reflect diversity embracing originality and a lack of pretentiousness.

Along with the items that Walker designs, Foxtrot also carries items from local designers, such as vintage women’s shoes that are airbrushed and sealed, each pair a different color and design ensuring one-ofa-kind authenticity. On top of their own inhouse line, the store also offers a selection of retro and contemporary clothing hailing from either coast, deliberately carrying just a few of each item so as to keep within the idea of individuality.

“We really want to offer something to everyone,” says Tucker, who would like to eventually sell fewer clothes by big name designers and focus more on the artistic fashion designs of both the Foxtrot line and local designers.

The under-30 crowd has been their target audience, and regardless of gender and orientation, the response has been great. The pair also credits the location of their store, which is nestled between other pockets of originality like Haight, Pib’s Exchange and Luna’s Ice Cream, as an area that has transformed from just another Salt Lake street into a metaphor for the changing diversity of the city.

With the welcome arrival of fashionforward shopping unlike anything before, one can finally leave the homogenized products at the farm.

MAY 26, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 21

EL-WIRE SEAHORSES AT A PREVIOUS UTAH BURN. See Friday, June 3

THE GAY AGENDA 26THURSDAY

28SATURDAY

There is literally nothing else quite like a Coronation. As Americans, we rarely get to see the pomp and circumstance of crowning royalty, but we do get a campy and fun ceremony with the Royal Court’s Coronation XXX. For thirty years, the Salt Lake community has crowned an emperor and empress to reign over this organization of dedicated fundraisers. Tonight is the Mr. Salt Lake Contest at Club 161.

My old pal Lloyd used to say that there were two types of queers: Erasure queers and Cure queers. Those of you in the former category can swoon along to “Oh L’Amour” live and in person tonight while the rest of us sit at home, burning black candles and playing “Love Song” over and over.

Activities continue through May 29, see page 7 for a full schedule. www.rcgse.org

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? Well, no better weekend to test that theory than this one. The Las Vegas Gay Pride Festival is in full swing today and the bars, as always, don’t know the meaning of the phrase “last call.” So slap on some sunblock and head south for the holiday weekend.

27FRIDAY There’s nothing quite so electrifying as hearing a piano and orchestra thundering out a great symphony or concerto.

Tonight’s Utah Symphony concert featuring Denis Matsuev promises to dazzle with selections from Mendelssohn and Grieg as well a symphonic rendering or Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.

8pm through Saturday, Abravanel Hall, 123 W South Temple. Tickets $12-$38 at 355ARTS or arttix.org

7:30pm, Kingsbury Hall 1395 E Presidents’ Circle. Tickets $30 at 581-7100 or kingsburyhall.com

12-9pm, The Sport Center Las Vegas, Las Vegas Blvd & Sunset. Tickets $15 at the gate. lasvegaspride.org

29SUNDAY Of the few cool things ever to come out of Boise, I’d venture to guess that Built to

Spill is about the coolest. Think Modest Mouse after a Percocet or two. The band plays tonight along with Mike Johnson, of whom I have to confess I’ve never heard. But if Built to Spill likes him, he’s gotta be good.

8:30pm, The Velvet Room, 155 W 200 South Tickets -$12 in advance, $14 day of show at 467-TIXX or smithstix.com The Velvet Room is a private club for members.

Happy Birthday to Salt Lake Metro’s own Jere Keys!

You know a show is going to make waves when its first episode includes a man-on-man demonstration of exactly what rimming is. But after five years it’s almost time to say goodbye to the boys and girls of Queer As Folk. Don’t go through the last season alone, come watch it with a group of Friends at Club Try-Angles.

8pm and 11pm, every Sunday night, Club Try-Angles, a private club for members, 251 W. 900 South. 364-3203.

22

■

SALT LAKE METRO ■ MAY 26, 2005

31TUESDAY We hear about the unrest in the Middle East every day on the news, but the conflict seems abstract and distant to us. Tonight, The Human Rights Film Festival will screen Promises, a film about the stories of seven children living in Israel & Palestine which helps to out a human face on the tragedy.

7pm City Library Auditorium at Library Square. Admission is free. For information call 524-8200.

1WEDNESDAY Who says we don’t have diversity here in da’ SLC? Consider the variety of entertainment options that you can choose from tonight:

Get your old school Southern rock on at the Marshall Tucker Band show.

Thirty years on and they’re still searching for that rainbow.

Or you can check out Stereophonics, one of the hippest and simply best modern rock bands of the past ten years.

Poor man’s Denver my ass!

Marshall Tucker Band: 7pm, Peery’s Egyptian Theatre, 2415 Washington Blvd, Ogden.

Tickets $35 at 355-2787 or smithstix.com Stereophonics: 8pm, In the Venue, 219 S 600 West. Tickets $10 in advance or $12 day of show at 355467-TIXX or smithstix.com In the Venue is a private club for members.

2THURSDAY If you’re one of those people who think that sugary Broadway musicals aren’t quite hokey enough, have I got the show for you! Magic of Love is a stage spectacle that combines the music and merriment of the American musical with…wait for it…the derring-do of the classic illusion show! The show, which is direct from Asia and features an all Singaporean cast, was created by Lawrence Khong, Asia’s answer to David Copperfiled. Run, don’t walk!

8pm though Saturday, 2pm matinee Saturday, Capitol Theatre, 50 W 200 South.

Tickets $20-$40 at 355-ARTS or arttix.org

Look y’all—if you have never seen the incomparable Lisa Marie and the CoDependents in concert, you’re missing out on one of the very best things about living in Salt Lake. Tonight they take the stage with equally cool local group Star 69. That’s a lot of killer music for five bucks.

7:30pm, The Velvet Room, 155 W 200 South.

Tickets $5 at 467-TIXX or smithstix.com

3FRIDAY Janet Gray Studios is a pretty fabulous dance school, and their programming is always first rate. This weekend they present Future Meets Past, an exploration of the music and dance of the Harlem Renaissance period. The show will feature blues singers, hip-hop choreography, and an historical tribute to the storied “Hoofer’s Club.”

7pm, 2pm matinee Saturday, Kingsbury Hall, 1395 E Presidents’ Circle. Tickets $12 at 581-7100 or kingsburyhall.com

What better way to spend a weekend than camped out with a huge gathering of artists, queers, pagans, nudists and assorted other free spirits? The Utah Burn, a local version of the annual Burning Man event, takes place this weekend.

This year’s theme is “Neverland” as the event attempts to capture the spirit of a world full of adventure and never growing up.

Continues through June 5, Boneville SeaBase near Grantsville, Utah. Tickets at the gate are $50 each, www.utahburn.org.

Despite the execrable mess that is her television show, I really like Reba McEntire. She’s sassy and she can SING. Tonight she’ll perform with fellow country greats Brad Paisley and Terri Clark.

I can think of worse things than sitting in an outdoor ampitheatre on an early summer night listening to some classic crooning. Like a hybrid Broadway musical/magic show, for instance.

7pm, Usana Ampitheatre, 5400 S 6200 West Tickets $27-$71 at 467-TIXX, smithstix.com

5SUNDAY Nothing like spending The Theatre’s most glamorous night with the most glamorous theatre folk in Utah. Tonight you can rub elbows with some of your favorite local performers at Utah Contemporary Theatre’s Tony Awards Gala Fundraiser. Watch the awards on a big screen, eat fabulous food, and dance the night away. Attendance at this event is expected to be nearly double the size of the telecast’s audience, by the way.

6pm, Patrick Moore Gallery, 200 S 511 West.

Tickets $40 at 355-2787 or arttix.org

4SATURDAY

6MONDAY

If it’s Saturday night in Salt Lake, it’s definitely time for some… wholesome family entertainment! Inside Out is an award winning six man a capella group whose lively show includes old favorites, catchy originals, and contemporary songs. This and “Magic of Love” all in one week? This really is Zion!

It’s Monday night and you have nothing to do. Why not give your spirits a lift by attending tonight’s performance by Children’s Ballet Theatre? The little sprites in the company are enormously talented and isn’t watching the emergence of budding little artists a more worthwhile endeavor than watching an “Everybody Loves Raymond” rerun?

7:30pm, Capitol Theatre, 50 W 200 South.

Tickets $11-$17 at 355-2787 or arttix.org

The truth is, Utah is alive with queer rights activism. No where will this be more apparent than at the HRC Gala Dinner taking place at the home of Bruce Bastion tonight. Guest Speakers include Tipper Gore and HRC President Joe Solmenese, and entertainment provided by the incomparable Oleta Adams.

Come hobnob with the political elite while helping the country’s largest queer advocacy group.

6pm, The Residence of Bruce Bastian in Orem, Utah. $150 per plate, $300 for VIP access, (800) 494-TIXS or galadinners@hrc.org.

6:30 through Wednesday, Jeanne Wagner Theatre at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W Broadway. Tickets $4 at 3552787 or arttix.org

8WEDNESDAY The Second Annual Damn These Heels Pride Week Film Festival kicks off today.

That’s right, Utah Pride events officially begins today! This year, the film festival will screen six full-length films over three days leading up to the big weekend. Be sure to check the website for details.

Screening times tba, Downtown Salt Lake Library Theater. www.utahpride.org

From Zero to Fabulocity

by Eric J. Tierney eric@slmetro.com

June 10 – 11, 8pm. June 11, 3pm. June 12, 6pm. Rose Wagner Center, 138 W Broadway. $10, 355-2787

MAY 26, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 23

The experience of coming out and coming to terms with one’s sexuality has changed dramatically in the past decade. With queer figures becoming more and more visible in the media and popular culture, not to mention in business and public life, today’s queer youth are coming to terms with themselves much earlier in life and are living proudly and openly. Tooth and Nail Theatre Company has been conducting a series of workshops this spring with queer youth and their straight advocates and is providing them an opportunity to share their stories in their season closing show, which they’ve entitled Project Fabulocity.

The title, according to co-facilitator and director Roger Bennington, calls to mind the notion of velocity. Bennington recognizes that the queer community is experiencing a major historical moment, as civil and human rights issues are advancing through the culture at an unprecedented rate. Fabulocity also celebrates Salt Lake as a fabulous city where, even in the ultra-conservative environment where they live, the young people in the show are able to live their lives in the open.

“We see the show as not just a theatrical production,” Bennington said in a recent interview as he commuted from his teaching job in Sandy. “It’s also a forum for these kids to tell their stories, to share their lives and their experiences in an absolutely safe and supportive environment.”

He notes that the youth are also being provided with a rare opportunity to ally themselves with older queer role models, which is rare for queer youth anywhere, but especially in Utah.

There are roughly 15 youth participating in the project, ranging in age from 14 to 20.

Bennington guesses that nine of them will appear in the final work. The script for the show is still being fashioned, but the material will come directly from the work the youth have done in the workshops, which have not only dealt with the youth and their stories, but have also been a kind of theatrical training ground.

Bennington has been challenging the participants to create stories in an array of creative styles, from monologues to puppetry to narration to traditional scene work. “When the script is finalized,” he says, “it will probably consist of one story that frames the others, which will

then be told in a variety of styles.”

That frame comes from the story of one of the group’s participants, a young girl who logged onto AskJeeves.com one night to research a homework assignment. Amongst the results for her query, according to Bennington, was a link labeled “How do I know if I’m gay or lesbian?” Intrigued, she clicked on the link. Three hours later, after reading the site and others it led to, the girl had begun her coming out process.

“Then she went ahead and finished her homework. That’s the best part of the story, I think,” laughs Bennington. In the show, the discussion groups that the girl accesses will provide openings for the rest of the stories to be told.

Bennington is careful to note that none of the youth will play themselves. He says that this has required the building of enormous trust amongst the group to ensure that they all feel safe with their stories in someone else’s hands. It’s also enabled each participant to see his or her story objectively and to place in the context of what the rest of the youth community is experiencing. “These are really interesting kids who’ve all led interesting lives. The show promises to be enormously compelling,” he says.

The project is funded in part by the Bruce Bastian Foundation and is a function of Tooth and Nail’s educational outreach program. The company hopes to make the show an annual event. The workshops are being co-facilitated

by Daisy Blake, one of Salt Lake’s busiest actresses in the last few seasons, and Rodney Cueller, the company’s accomplished designer.

Tooth and Nail is easily Utah’s most daring theatre company, consistently offering razor sharp productions of spare, highly stylistic plays that very few other companies would be willing to touch. This season’s schedule included the annual holiday staging of The Santaland Diaries and the well received Pains of Youth.

No matter what shape the final script takes or where the final three weeks of workshops take the group, the product is sure to be an evening unlike anything else on Utah stages this summer.

Bennington sums it up best himself when he says “We are committed to producing a steady diet of engaging theatre in Salt Lake City. The stories these youth have to tell are about as powerful and engaging as you get!”

P R E P A R E T O G E T D O W N A N D “F U N K I F Y” !

o. o k c Cu nce. e n go is Da s ’ orld can do W The ll you A

Original Cast Albums

by Eric J. Tierney eric@slmetro.com

20 0 5

BY

ALLEN NEVINS & NANCY BORGENICHT

CABARET SEATING AVAILABLE CALL NOW FOR TICKETS Wednesdays & Thursdays at 7:30pm Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm Sundays at 2pm and 7pm

JUNE 14-AUGUST 28 NO EXTENSION! For Tickets call 363-SLAC or 355-ARTS

■

SALT LAKE METRO ■ MAY 26, 2005

THE SALT LAKE ACTING COMPANY 168 WEST 500 NORTH www.saltlakeactingcompany.org

24

EarPiece

Recently I took a road trip to San Francisco, which is quite the long haul across the barren Nevada desert. To pass the time, the two of us on the trip who liked musical theatre thought it would be delightful to torture the one of us who didn’t particularly care for it by singing show tunes at the top of our lungs most of the way from Elko to Lovelock.

I’ve mentioned before that I am a musical theatre nut from way, way back. There was a time when Original Cast Albums were the only music I bought and my conversation consisted chiefly of questions like, “Who was the better Grizabella? Betty Buckley or Elaine Paige?” (Elaine Paige, obviously) and, “What exactly went wrong with the 1984 revival of Pacific Overtures that made it such a failure?” My enthusiasm for the genre has faded considerably in the last four years or so, but a truly great score will still get me every time.

On this trip, though, I heard recordings of some newer, more popular shows with which I’m not familiar, shows like Hairspray and Avenue Q and Wicked. And as our Chevy Venture van rolled its way across the verdant plains of western Nevada, I was struck by a horrible realization: the songs from these shows, and the voices singing them, were virtually indistinguishable. They all sounded like the same show with the same cast: bouncy, melodic faux-pop sung by American-Idol rejects—men with bad falsettos and warbly vibrato and women with shrill vowels and assaulting belts.

During the eighties and for much of the nineties, the musical form was finally really getting somewhere. Say what you will about Andrew Lloyd Webber, but scores like Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita and, to a lesser extent, even Aspects of Love, changed our perceptions of what a musical was and most certainly pushed the envelope musically. Les Miserables, despite its over-exposure and blatant commercialization, is a well-crafted work of art. And then there is Stephen Sondheim—what to say about a man who takes musical theatre so seriously, and who believes in its evolution into a true art form so sincerely, that he takes two years to teach himself Japanese music theory before scoring Pacific Overtures and writes a libretto in which the Japanese characters don’t speak in Latinbased words?!

But Stephen Sondheim literally cannot get a new show produced in New York these days. The commercial musical market, after all, is driven almost exclusively by tourists, and tourists meandering around 42nd Street after dinner at Sardi’s are out for entertainment, dazzle, and laughs. With ticket prices now consistently hovering

around $100, one can hardly blame them.

I don’t know that I would have wanted to spend that much to see Donna Murphy swoon her way through Passion. Playwrights are feeling the pinch as well—it’s a simple fact these days that in order to mount a truly terrific play, one must have a movie, or at least television, star in the cast.

Brando wouldn’t stand a chance at playing Stanley on Broadway in 2005. The role would go to a George Clooney type trying to up his credibility as an artist by slumming it in a play for ten months.

There is hope, however. William Finn, who created some of the most innovative, poignant and hilarious musicals of the past thirty years with his Falsettos trilogy, has a show on Broadway for the first time in over a decade. The cast recording of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was released May 24, and although I haven’t heard it yet, I’m crossing my fingers that Finn hasn’t sold out the way Stephen Schwartz has with Wicked. The three Falsettos musicals are incredibly unique: they are small in scale, the quality of their lyrics is studied, detailed, and precise, and the music has a sound entirely its own, not the homogenized “show music” style that comes thumping out of the Theatre District A THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

w

w

these days. If Spelling Bee retains even half as much heart and style as Finn’s other work, there may be hope for the form yet.

Finn, thank God, is not the only composer resisting the inexorable forces of creditcard-company theatre. Adam Guettel, grandson of Richard Rodgers, another musical theatre maverick, wrote the phenomenal Floyd Collins almost ten years ago, a work that was universally praised for the quality and integrity of its musical vision.

The show, which has a small ensemble cast and is about a man in a cave, was deemed, unsurprisingly, to be commercially unviable. Not until now has Guettel had a crack at the Great White Way, but his new show The Light in the Piazza is doing a decent business, which gives me hope.

When Pippin was produced on Broadway, j composer Stephen Schwartz balked at Bob Fosse’s elaborate vision for what was conceived as a chamber piece. Over thirty years later, Schwartz arrived at Wicked, a show with one of the largest budgets in Broadway history. There is no integrity in the commercial theatre, and those of us who esteem the form and believe in its possibilities ought to take a page from Sondheim—sometimes w its better to close out of town than to win a Tony for being a hack.

Mazza

by Vanessa Chang vanessa@slmetro.com

Address: 1515 S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City Phone: (801) 484-9259 Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 am to 9 pm

Subscribe Today and Never Miss an Issue!

Yes! I would like to subscribe to the biweekly Salt Lake Metro.

Please send me: 13 issues (6 months) / $13.95 26 issues (one year) / $24.95 NAME ADDRESS CITY/STATE

ZIP

EMAIL*

PHONE

PLEASE CHARGE MY CREDIT CARD: MASTERCARD VISA AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD NO: EXPIRES

/

SIGNATURE A CHECK IS ENCLOSED.

BILL ME.

*All information, including your email address, is collected only for the purposes of transacting business of Metro Publishing, Inc. We will not sell your personal information to any other entity for any reason without your express permission. For your convenience, credit card orders will automatically renew after the end of the subscription period unless you call the offices and unsubscribe at 801.323.6500. Subscriptions are sent the day of printing via third class mail.

Mail to: Metro Publishing, 352 S Denver St, Ste 350, Salt Lake City UT 84111

MAY 26, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 25

I try not to review restaurants where I know the folks. Never mind the ethics behind it; simply, it’s bloody uncomfortable trying to review a place that you frequent and adore.

There are plenty of selfish reasons for this as well. When you’re on a first-name basis with a favorite place, it’s your space. It has nothing to do with the professional realm.

In fact, it’s a refuge from it. There, you meet up with friends and get a good meal. So, why on earth would I want to transform this relationship and throw it into the cauldron of work-related stress? In this instance, the answer is simple. Mazza is a great place to eat. Period.

No gimmicks. No pretension. Just good food. I am forever grateful to owner Ali Sabbah for two things: 1) trusting the populace of Salt Lake City to appreciate undiluted Lebanese fare; and 2) for not hiring buxom belly dancers to “entertain” the dinner crowd. There are places in Salt Lake and beyond that are overpriced and made supposedly authentic with the presence of an especially endowed and bleachedblonde belly dancer named Scheherazade (read Darla) shaking her moneymaker as I chew on a dry kebab.

Not that there would be space in Mazza for such entertainment. There are only a dozen or so tables to accommodate the legion of hardcore fans. Ochre walls show off photographs of Old Beirut. Tables are spaced just so everyone has enough elbowroom to devour their meals from generous plates.

Upon entering, the aroma is the first thing you notice. Garlic, coriander, cumin, and cinnamon in one sensuous haze—instant aromatherapy. The only therapy more effective is the food, which is essentially a hybrid of Sabbah’s family recipes and his own palate, consistently tuning flavors with his memories. There are the usual suspects—silky baba ghannouj, rich hummus, and crunchy nuggets of falafel.

But the best items are lesser known. From the appetizer, or “mazza,” side of the menu, you can order three or four items together as a generous combination plate. A humble dish of mujadara is wonderfully complex with layered flavors of caramelized onions, rice, and delicate lentils. Another favorite is sfiha—a mini pizza of spiced ground lamb and pine nuts served with a cucumber yogurt sauce. And potatoes harra is one of the best carb fixes I know of.

Sandwiches like the shawarma have become instant classics with flavorful Morgan Valley lamb in warm pita. Chicken shawarma boasts an unbeatable texture with tender chicken pieces doused with a tahini sauce and a warm crunchy-toasted oversized pita. On the entrée side of things, a luxuriously rich kafta is a great primer on Lebanese fare for those who call themselves “meat-and-potatoes” sort of people. And thanks to Luke, one of the friendly folks at Mazza, I got turned onto the combination of braised eggplant and chickpeas, called maghmoor, served in the vegan style—atop my favorite mujadara in place of rice.

To wash it all down, there’s a concise wine and beer selection featuring, of course, Lebanese and Moroccan labels, and the increasingly popular Armenian Kilikia beer. On the non-alcoholic side of things, the strongly-brewed house tea can be sweetened with orange blossom syrup. It’s a good match, hot or cold, with any menu selection. But with the impending summer heat, Ali’s limeade is one thirst-quenching option. It’s sparkling, not too sweet, and delicately fragrant with orange blossom water; it’s what Sprite dreams of being.

Do save room for dessert. Lebanese cuisine and Middle Eastern cookery in general have some fine sweet concoctions that stretch the repertoire beyond ice cream and pie. Of course, there’s a version of baklava (the Lebanese name escapes me), but ma’amool, a crumbly semolina cake filled with dates or pistachios, best shows off the cuisine’s nuances.

To go, to stay, I don’t care how you enjoy it. Just do. The place is too good not to share with everyone else. So there you go—my unselfish act for the day.

Red,White Bubbly News at Vine

by Beau Jarvis beau@slmetro.com

UTAH PRIDE NEEDS YOU! Sign up today to volunteer two or more hours for a free ticket, T-shirt, invitation to the volunteer appreciation party and plenty more swag!

Email volunteer@glbtccu.org or sign up at

26

■

SALT LAKE METRO ■ MAY 26, 2005

www.utahpride.org

Live from the Basic Juice Broadcasting Center in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s The News at Vine with your anchor Vin Vintner.

V. Vintner: Good evening and welcome to News at Vine. Tonight we begin at the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. The court ruled, in a five-to-four decision, to support interstate wine shipments directly from wineries to consumers. The High Court reasoned that state laws banning such shipments are discriminatory and, therefore, unconstitutional. Plaintiffs in Michigan and New York are certainly pleased with this decision. For more on today’s ruling, we turn to News at Vine Senior Legal Affairs Correspondent, Barry Cooper. Barry, how does this decision affect wine enthusiasts in the state of Utah?

B. Cooper: Thanks, Vin. Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court does precisely bubkus for Utah’s wine lovers. Sure, Utah could follow the sensible example of Nevada and Virginia and require out-of-state wineries to purchase a direct shipping license from the state, pay both excise and sales taxes, limit shipments, mark boxes, and consent to the jurisdiction of the state issuing the license.

But Vin, we must protect the children. I mean, can’t you see that kids are just waiting to order a $500 case of Pinot Noir from Wolverine Winery in Michigan? They’ll order online, wait a week for delivery, and then uncork the bottles at a slumber party, washing Cheez-its down with forty-buck-a-bottle wine.

V. Vintner: Excuse me, Barry. Do you really think children will order wine online?

Wouldn’t it be much easier for an underage drinker to obtain alcohol with fake identification or through a friend of legal drinking age?

B. Cooper: Vin, please don’t try to analyze this complicated legal matter. Frankly, you’re not qualified. Do you mean to tell me that little Jimmy would pay his older friend, “Frank,” ten dollars to run into the Kwiki Mart, buy a forty-ounce bottle of Olde English Malt Liquor, and then guzzle it down behind the dumpster? Vin, that seems far-fetched. A minor purchasing fine wine over the Internet is much more dangerous.

As such, Utah should be vigilant in barring access to all out-of-state wineries.

V. Vintner: That’s Barry Cooper, with insight into today’s Supreme Court ruling. When we return, our very own “Veggie Vern” Reece Ling will help us pair wine with persnickety vegetables and herbs.

(Musical jingle) Veggie Vern knows produce. Veggie Vern knows wine too. Veggie Vern knows what’s good for you…

V. Vintner: Hello, Reece! What have you got for us today?

R. Ling: Hi, Vin. Let’s talk raw garlic. Who doesn’t love a Caesar salad with chunks of raw garlic? And what about hearty, garlicladen pasta salad? Don’t you just love it?

V. Vintner: Reece, I must admit, I enjoy eating fresh tri-colored pasta salad with mounds of fresh garlic. Funny, though, my Merlot doesn’t seem to sit too well with it.

R. Ling: Oh Vin! Don’t drink a fruity red with raw garlic. Sip a chilled Sauvignon Blanc. It’s the perfect foil to garlic. Sauvignon

Blanc is tangy and zesty. Many also have great herbal and citrus flavors. I recommend a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Try the 2003 Lake Chalice Sauvignon Blanc. It sells for fourteen dollars. You’ll adore it with garlic, onions, or even chives.

V. Vintner: Thank you, Reece. I’ll take a bottle home with me tonight. Now, let’s turn to our wine critic, Roberta Parks. Roberta, what wines are you reviewing this week?

R. Parks: Hello, Vin. We’re coming up on blockbuster movie season. And what’s summer movie season without summer wine? I raise one glass way up to a fabulous little white wine from Argentina. It’s Bodega Norton Torrontes. This wine is from the 2004 vintage, it will make a great house wine, and it’s only eight dollars. Torrontes was a fairly anonymous supporting wine grape in Spain.

However, under the direction of Argentina’s climate and winemakers, it has become a charming wine. My second summer pick is from a relatively unknown district within France’s famous Burgundy region. This undiscovered district is called Santenay. Red Santenay wine is made from the current “it” grape, Pinot Noir. My second glass is raised high for the 2001 vintage of Morey Santenay Passetemps. At only eighteen dollars, you’ll be able to taste Pinot Noir, in all its subtle, deep, alluring glory.

V. Vintner: Fabulous, Roberta. Both wines sound like winners to me. Oh, by the way, are the labels for these wines in English or are they in French and, uh, hmm, uh, Argentinian?

R. Parks: Vin, the wine from France has a partially translated label. And the Torrontes label from Argentina is all in English.

V. Vintner: Oh great, Reece. I tend to have a difficult time with foreign wine. That’s it for us tonight. Thanks for watching and please tune in tomorrow night.

(Ominous music; Barry Cooper’s voice) “Do you drink Pinot Noir? Are you going bald? Are you afraid of going bald? We’ll explore the unsettling connection between baldness and Pinot Noir. We discuss “Sideways” star Paul Giamatti’s purported affinity for Pinot Noir and his obvious baldness.”

V. Vintner: Disturbing indeed. Until tomorrow night…Cheers!

Bar Guide Club Try-Angles* 251 W. 900 South 364-3203 clubtry-angles.com HOURS: 2pm-2am daily GAY: Every day AGE: 21+ / COVER: No FR-SA DJ Boy Toy. MO “MorMondays.” TU, FR, SA–$1 drafts. SU afternoons–Buffet.

Heads Up* 163 W. Pierpont Ave. (240 S) / 359-2161 headsupslc.com HOURS: 4pm-2am daily GAY: Every day AGE: 21+ COVER: $2 / Members free Salt Lake’s newest club.

MO & TH Karaoke. TU 50¢ drafts. FR, SA High NRG.

La Zona Rosa* 49 E 900 South.

364-4147 HOURS: 4pm-2am daily GAY: n/a AGE: 21+ COVER: $2 / Members free TH: Hip Hop/Top 40, FR Latin Night, SA New Vibe, SU Merengue/Salsa

MoDiggity’s* 3424 S. State St. 832-9000 modiggitys.com

4pm-12am F–SA 4pm-2am SU 11-2am GAY: Every day / AGE: 21+ COVER: $4/members free Sports & music club for women. Football & mimosa brunch Sundays.

HOURS: M–TH

Todd’s Bar & Grill* 1051 S 300 W / 328-8650 toddsbarandgrill.com HOURS: W 10am-2am GAY: Wednesday / AGE: 21+ COVER: No Gay Weds w/ DJ Ebenflow and Brent B. Free parking

Trapp* 102 S 600 W 531-8727 / thetrapp.com HOURS: 10am-2am daily GAY: Every day / AGE: 21+ COVER: $3/members free Really gay every day. SU Buffet, NFL, M & W Karaoke.

Trapp Door* 102 S. 600 W. 533-0173 / trappdoor.com HOURS: 10am-2am daily GAY: Every day / AGE: 21+ COVER: $3/Members free New Ownership. Dance, show club. Hot men & hot music. SU Latin night.

Di ing Guide Dining de Bangkok Thai

Nick-N-Willy’s Pizza

1400 Foothill Dr. / 582-8424 HOURS: MO-TH 11:30-2, 5-9:30PM F 11:30AM-2PM, 5-10PM SA NOON-10PM, SU 5-9PM CUISINE: THAI PRICE: $ CARDS: TC AE D MC V

4538 S, HIGHLAND DR./ 273-8282

We serve the World’s Most Exciting Thai Cuisine!

Café Med 420 E. 3300 S. / 493-0100 HOURS: SU-TH 11AM-9PM F-SA 11AM-10PM CUISINE: MEDITERRANEAN PRICE: $ CARDS: TC AE D MC V

nicknwillyspizza.com SU-TH 11AM-10PM F-SA 11AM-12PM CUISINE: PIZZA PRICE: $ CARDS: AE D MC V HOURS:

Dine in or take-out. Call ahead and we’ll have it ready.

Albertsons Shopping Ctr.

Orbit Cafe

Persian, Greek, Italian, Turkish 540 W. 200 S. / 322-3808 orbitslc.com and Vegetarian in a warm, HOURS: SU-TH 11AM-10PM relaxing atmosphere.

Coffee Garden 898 S 900 E / 355-3425 HOURS: SU-TH 6AM-11PM F-SA 6AM-12AM CUISINE: COFFEEHOUSE PRICE: ¢ CARDS: AE D MC V

SLC’s buzzing java shop with a diverse crowd.

Fiddler’s Elbow 1063 E. 2100 S. / 463-9393

F-SA 11AM-3AM AMERICAN ECLECTIC PRICE: $ CARDS: TC AE D MC V

CUISINE:

Open late nights on Fridays and Saturdays with DJs and a special menu.

Salt Lake Pizza & Pasta 1063 E. 2100 S. / 484-1804

fiddlerselbowslc.com

saltlakepizzaandpasta.com

M-TH 11AM-11PM F-SA 11AM-12AM SU 9AM-10PM CUISINE: AMERICAN PRICE: $ CARDS: TC AE D MC V

M-SA 11AM-11PM SU 11AM-10PM CUISINE: ITALIAN PRICE: $ CARDS: TC AE D MC V

HOURS:

HOURS:

32 beers, including Utah’s Voted as Utah’s Best Pizza best selection of microbrews. two years in a row! Great Gringo’s West Valley beer selection. Sugarhouse.

2785 W 3500 S / 969-8811 HOURS: M-SA 10:30AM-9PM SU 10:30AM-8PM CUISINE: MEXICAN PRICE: ¢ CARDS: MC V

Good Mexican food...fast. Fresh salsa bar, food made to order.

Michelangelo Ristorante 2156 S, HIGHLAND DR./ 466-0961

michelangeloristorante.com

TU-SA 11:30AM-1:30PM 5:45-9PM CUISINE: ITALIAN PRICE: $$ CARDS: AE D MC V HOURS:

Begun by childr\hood friends Paulo Celeste and Marco Gabrielli of Tuscany.

Xiao Li 307 W. 200 SOUTH / 328-8688 HOURS: LUNCH: 1130AM-2:30PM DINNER: 4:30-10PM F-SA 4:30-11PM CUISINE: CHINESE PRICE: $ CARDS: TC AE D MC V

The restaurant that serves the most authentic Szechwan and Mandarin cuisine.

Restaurant Owners: Get in the Dining Guide Today! 323-9500

MAY 26, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 27

28

■

SALT LAKE METRO ■ MAY 26, 2005

Comics ADAM AND ANDY by James Asal

A COUPLE OF GUYS by Dave Brousseau

BITTER GIRL by Joan Hilty MAY 26, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 29

30

■

SALT LAKE METRO ■ MAY 26, 2005

Service Guide ATTORNEYS

MASSAGE

MARLIN G. CRIDDLE, P.C. Serving Utah’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender communities. Estate Planning, Probate, Criminal Law, Bankruptcy, Corporations/Business.

474-2299. marlincriddle.com

UNBELIEVABLE MASSAGE Athletic Male Therapists, 440-5851 Contact 641-4009 MASSAGE WORKS: 801-450-4144 LORRAINE, Convenient Location RELAX

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

BEST THERAPISTS, best price, best place, best hours, call 486-5500 Pride Massage 1800 S. West Temple # A224

APPLE ONE Employment is seeking qualified people in many skills. Apply and begin your qualification today.

Employers, let us fill your staffing needs. Call Steven Whittaker at 801-463-4828.

ESTATE PLANNING JANE MARQUARDT & DOUG FADEL Attorneys at Law, pro-viding comprehensive estate planning services, custom designed to your unique family situation. Trusts, wills, partnership agreements, estate admin. 294-7777

HEALTH CARE EXTRAORDINARY SKIN CARE Chemical Free Skin Care Line with powerful ingredients that are clinically proven to nourish, revive, and refine. http:// brian.whyskincare.com or brian@whyskincare.com

JEWELERS CUSTOM DESIGN Jewelry.

Relaxed atmosphere. All types of stone settings.

Commitment rings, wedding rings, earrings, pendants.

Repairs welcome. Charley Hafen Jewelers. Trolley Square. 521-7711

#109063

DENNIS MASSAGE Dennis is Utah’s only physique print model & massage therapist... see why he is so well liked at www.dennismassage.com, www.dennismodeling.com.

(801) 598-8344 LMT#98212332470

STIMULATE YOUR SENSES or feel deep peace with a relaxing full body massage.

Call Therron at 879-3583 for $5 off mention this ad. LMT #5608006

RESOURCES CAMP PINECLIFF Weekend, Annual retreat for people with HIV/AIDS and their care providers c/o Dick Dotson, Coordinator P. O. Box 608, Magna, Utah 84044-0608 or call (801) 518-8733 ARE YOU a single lesbian?

Wondering how to meet other single lesbians for friendship and social events? If so, you are invited to sign up for the LEsbian Singles Social Group at groups.yahoo. com/group/lesbian_singles/ UTAH GAY Rodeo Association ugra.net PO Box 511255 SLC, UT 84151-1255 A social & Rodeo Sport Organization

WANT A HOT summer body? Queer Utah Aquatic Club (QUAC) invites swimmers and water polo players of ANY skill levelincluding beginners- to join the team. Visit QuacQuac.org for more info.

KUED BROADCASTS the entire PBS schedule as well as locally produced programs. In addition, KUED sponsors a variety of community events, including monthly screenings at the City Library and Sam Weller's Bookstore. For more visit www.kued.org or call KUED Viewer Services at 581-3064.

THE SALT Lake County Division of Youth Services provides youth and families in crisis with immediate and safe intervention, including 24-hour 7-day a week crisis counseling. Most services are provided free of charge.

Please call 269-7500.

AFFIRMATION: GAY and Lesbian Mormons. members.aol.com/wasatchweb/: Sunday meetings 534-8693 QVINUM.COM IS a fabulous group of wine lovers who hold winetastings at members’ homes, travel to wineries and hold special fund raisers for the community. qVinum.com ENGENDERED SPECIES 801.320.0551. A social/ support group resources for transgender people. www. engenderedspecies.com AMERICAN CIVIL Liberties Union. Fighting for individual freedoms since 1958. www.acluutah.org

BI MEN of Utah groups.yahoo. com/group/Bi-Gay-Men-Utah.

Social and support group for bi/gay men of Utah.

GAY RM’S–SOCIAL group for return missionaries of the LDS Church. Regular parties and group activities more info. at www.gayRMs.com UTAH MALE Naturists meets through the summer for naked lunches, has clothing optional outings and overnight camping trips in a sex-free environment. groups.yahoo.com/group/ utahmalenaurists ROYAL COURT of the Golden Spike Empire. rcgse.org Membership meetings held twice monthly. Help support your community!

GAY MENS HEALTH SUMMIT. Gay men’s health is more than just HIV. visit us at utahgaymenshealth.com CODE PINK. A women-initiated peace and social justice movement by positive social change via creative protest and non-violent direct action. www.codepinkalert.com SAME-GENDER MARRIAGE is a Feminist Issue: NOW’s mission is to promote equality for ALL women. NOW has fought for gay and lesbian rights, and we won’t stop until we achieve equality for all. Join us utahnow.org FIRST NATIONAL Conference on Methamphetamine, HIV and Hepatitis: Science & Reponses 2005 August 19–20 in Salt Lake City. Visit us at www.harmredux.org ADVERTISE IN THE SERVICE GUIDE CLASSIFIEDS FOR AS LITTLE AS $15 PER ISSUE! CALL 323-9500 TODAY OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT SLMETRO.COM.

Classifieds TIRED OF THE BAR LIFE? Pride Counseling is offering a Gay Men’s Therapy/Support Group. Gay men often find MURRAY $995/MONTH. Nice clean, 3 bdrm, hrdwds, that their options to socialize storage, quiet & private limited to clubs and bars. patio, relaxing large yard.

Most insurance companies Walk to park & lake in billed, sliding fee scale. For neighborhood. 1019 E 5700 information please call Jerry S 262-0113 cda prop.

Buie LCSW at 801-595-0666.

BUSINESS ROOMMATES FOR OPPORTUNITY WANTED RENT FANTASTIC BIZ OPP $275K+ 1st Year Portential, Proven Business Model Home based; Not MLM. Serious people only call 800-676-0495.

HELP WANTED

APPLE ONE Employment Services is seeking qualified call center experienced in sales. Can earn $12+/hr plus commission. Apply today. Employers, let us fill your staffing needs. Call Steven Whittaker at 4634828 for an appointment.

FOR SALE GAY WEST CAPITOL HILL 3 bdrm Tudor. 245 West Reed Ave - 750 North. Original charm–arched doorways, hardwood floors. high ceiling in roughed-in basement with separate entrance.

Benny 201-5237.

DOWNTOWN, 335 E Broadway, Clean/Quiet, hrdwd, heat included, security, parking, 1bdrm 500.00/ Studio 400.00 322-2478 or oxfordplace.50megs.com

LETTERS/STORIES WANTED I am an employee at a local credit union and have witnessed actions by upper management that I consider DONT RENT—BUY! All dishonest. Lower loan rates credit accepted, Connie for managers and family 801-347-2956 members, questionable board meeting trips, disclosing inaccurate information to ARE YOU HIV+? members-to name a few. I Pride Counseling has am looking for people with restarted a Therapy/Supsimilar stories. If you are a port Group for men who credit union employee or are HIV infected and member and have had a simiseeking support from others in similar situations. lar experience, please send For information please call you story to P.O. Box 511161 SLC, Utah 84151. Anonymity Jerry Buie LCSW at 801595-0666 strictly protected.

MISC. STUFF

MAY 26, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 31

DISPLAY AD SALES. Salt Lake Metro is seeking a full time display ad sales person. Previous sales is helpful but not required.

Must be available to work full time. Call or email Steven for details at 323-9500 or steven@slmetro.com

PAY NO RENT/deposit/utilities in Phoenix to watch the house when owner is away/help part time in the office. Will become full time salaried job as manager of fast-growing business.

Comfortable home, private room. No smoking, drinking, drugs. Friendly, congenial, single male w/LDS values seeking same. Terrific opportunity for a successful new life. The right person is now earning a low wage, extremely eager to study and learn, and anxious to build a new career.

Will help relocate. Email azhomedog@yahoo.com or call 602-348-1379.

Grand Marshall Reception

32

■

SALT LAKE METRO ■ MAY 26, 2005

Utah Pride 2005

Utah Pride 2005 Grand Marshall