Metro, Volume 2, Issue 16

Utah’s Gay and Lesbian Biweekly Newspaper Volume 2

■ Issue 16 August 4–17

GAYPL8S OK N UT Park City woman wins right to show gay-positive plates

Gay Youth Program Launched in Ogden Unitarians name Gary Horenkamp project leader

Salt Lake to Host National Meth Conference Science and Response: Methamphetamine, HIV and Hepatitis

String of Arson Cases Against Gay Businesses Bar owners: ‘We will not let this destroy the community’ Jere Tries to Quit Smoking, Wants Porn Ruby Wants True Diversity in Days of ‘47 Parade Hot August Weekend: Lagoon Day, Raging Waters Day Gay Agenda

News WORLD AND NATIONAL

Third Case of Suspected Arson in Series of Gay Nightclub Fires

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by Ross von Metzke Dallas, Texas—A string of suspected arson cases against queer-friendly venues hit the heart of Texas on July 24 when the Heart Rock nightclub was gutted by fire. This marks the third such attack in as many weeks.

The Brownsville, Texas club opened for business in May with a 25-foot gay pride flag draped over its doorway. According to club owner Sylvia Armente, this is not the first time the club has been vandalized.

Investigators told the Brownsville Herald the suspects broke in through the front, vandalized the interior and poured several cans of gasoline before igniting the fire that gutted the windowless cement building.

Armente told the local newspaper it was a hate crime directed against Brownsville’s gay community. “What else could it be?” she said. Armente added that the club had not received any specific threats but had suffered random acts of vandalism, such as broken lights. “Everyone’s friendly here, but other people pass by and say nasty things,”

she told the paper.

Chuck Smith, deputy director of the Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby of Texas, told the PlanetOut Network that the anti-LGBT rhetoric has increased in Texas as voters prepare to consider a state constitutional amendment on Nov. 8 that would deny same-gender couples marriage rights.

“It is conceivable that the anti-gay rhetoric that is prevalent can play a factor in that,” he said. “We will be interested to see whether incidents of hate crimes have increased because of the lies and mistruths that have been spread against us to deny us our humanity.”

Under Texas law, arson is a second-degree felony punishable by anywhere from two to 20 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine. A suspect could face additional penalties under the James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act, a bill named after an African-American man dragged to death in Jasper, Texas.

The Brownsville blaze comes a week after a fire destroyed Studio 716 in Fay-

etteville, Arkansas (the city’s only queer club) and two and a half weeks after a fire damaged St. John’s Reformed United Church of Christ in Middlebrook, Virginia.

That church’s national board had endorsed same-gender marriage five days earlier.

Fayetteville’s Studio 716 was left an empty shell, with the east wall and parts of the roof and floorboards missing after the July16 blaze. Much of the roof, interior walls and a firewall between the bar and the adjoining Tramps Salon and Spa still stood.

“There was substantial damage to the building itself, and a total loss of the contents,” Fayetteville Fire Department Battalion Chief Terry Lawson said. “The entire back wall is completely gone.”

Lawson would not comment on how the fire may have started, but representatives for the club posted a message on their website calling the blaze “an unprovoked attack.”

“We will not let this destroy the ... community,” the message on the site went on to say. “This is a time for the gay and lesbian community to stand together.”

Lawson said a fire set June 26 behind the nightclub had been intentionally set.

No one has been arrested in the first fire, officials said. Fayetteville police said the nightclub had been broken into recently and vandalized.

Fayetteville police and fire officials said investigations will continue.

Firefighters were called to the nightclub at 7:12 a.m. on Saturday, July 16 and that the fire was under control less than an hour later. The club was unoccupied at the time the fire broke out, Lawson said.

Jay Smith Brown, a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, called the trend of suspected arson attacks on queer-

friendly establishments “alarming.”

“The current rhetoric right now is not helping,” he said. “We need to build a dialogue that is constructive. We need to make it clear this kind of violence is not OK.”

Florida Man Convicted of Killing 3-Year-Old “Gay” Son

by Danny McCoy Tampa, Fla.—A man accused of seconddegree murder after killing his three-yearold son because he thought the boy might grow up to be gay was convicted July 14 of second-degree manslaughter by a Tampa, Florida jury.

Ronnie Paris Jr. was also found guilty of aggravated child abuse in the death of his son, Ronnie Antonio Paris. According to the Tampa Tribune, the boy was beaten so badly that he became lethargic, stopped eating and began wetting himself. On Jan. 22 the boy went into a coma and died six days later. Experts testified that his death was caused by blunt trauma to the head.

Following sentencing, Ronald Paris Sr.—grandfather of the victim—protested accusations the killer learned his violent behavior from his father.

“I raised my son in the right way,” he said.

“We played football, went fishing, went to wrestling matches, boxing, all that.”

The child’s mother, Nysherra Paris, testified that her husband was trying to “toughen up” their son because he was worried he might grow up to be gay.

Nysherra Paris, who stayed silent about the abuse until February, is charged with child neglect and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Ronnie Paris will be sentenced next month. He could potentially face life in prison.

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News NATIONAL AND REGIONAL

San Diego Deputy Mayor Toni Atkins

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San Diego Names Lesbian Deputy Mayor Until November Run-Off

by Ross von Metzke San Diego, Calif.—San Diego councilwoman Donna Frye may have collected 43percent of the July 26 vote in her bid to take over as mayor of the financially-troubled city, but it wasn’t enough to secure her the seat immediately.

Though the democratic surf-shop owner earned nearly twice as many votes as her next-closest competitor, Republican former police chief Jerry Sanders, it wasn’t the 50-percent or more required to keep the two from locking heads in a November run-off election.

Until then, the San Diego City Council has spoken—openly gay councilwoman Toni Atkins will serve as deputy mayor for the city until the new mayor is made official.

Atkins, who was unanimously voted to take over the position, needed only five votes of the six-member council for the appointment. Two members of the council, including ex-Deputy Mayor Michael Zucchet, whom Atkins is replacing, resigned last week after being convicted in the city hall federal corruption trial.

Zucchet briefly acted as deputy mayor following former mayor Dick Murphy’s departure last week. Murphy, who was named one of the worst mayor’s in the United States by Time Magazine earlier this year, announced his resignation in May amid San Diego’s mounting fiscal problems and federal investigations into the city’s finances.

Typically, the deputy mayor is a ceremonial role rotated annually among council members. But in the mayor’s absence, the

deputy performs all mayoral duties, including setting meeting agendas, presiding over meetings, and representing the city at official functions.

Atkins, who has been active in attempting to solve the city’s financial issues in recent months, has been vocal in the fight for queer rights and equality in San Diego.

She was a staunch opponent of the city renewing the Boy Scouts of America’s permit to use city land for their meetings. At the appointment meeting, Atkins praised the coming gay pride parade and celebration in the heart of San Diego’s Balboa Park.

Though many members of the audience booed the announcement, a local pastor took to the mic and spoke in favor of Atkins’ appointment. “To brand people because of sexual preference to me is undemocratic and certainly un-Christian,” said Wayne Riggs, pastor of Plymouth Congregational Church in North Park.

During a council break, Atkins said the appointment was “significant” for her community. “I think that I feel an even larger sense of responsibility because many people from my community are in elected office, and we have said all along it’s about being the person able to do the job,” she said. “It’s not about your sexual orientation.”

“In many cases, many of us feel we’ve had to be above and beyond, and I think other ethnic groups will tell you the same thing,” she said. “It’s a higher hurdle, so it is significant for my community, and I feel that weight even more heavily and I will do my best to serve them with dignity as well.”

Regional Prides Offer Different Experiences Than Bigger Cities even if I am the only one who shows up!’”

Crawford said.

Nine years later, Reno Pride will be held August 19, 20 and 21 at the Sands Regency Casino and Hotel. Crawford expects about 10,000 people to show up—a far cry from the bad old days when it took her five years to convince the city to allow her to put up banners for the event.

This year’s Reno Pride includes a kickoff party (featuring Ari Gold), parade and a two-day festival at the Sands on Saturday and Sunday.

“Big events like San Francisco and Salt Lake City are a lot of fun, but they are so crowded,” Crawford said. “We have all the vendors and all the entertainment they have but it’s not nearly so crowded. Many of the vendors we have come from San Francisco and say our event is much more fun.”

Crawford said despite the initial opposition from the city of Reno and even the gay and lesbian community in northern Nevada, the fight for Reno Pride has been well worth it.

“We put this on—even when everyone said it couldn’t be done—because it is important,” Crawford explained. “I believe we should be able to walk down the street holding hands just like anyone else.”

Scott Weisenberger, organizer of Pridaho, feels the same way. He said “six strongminded people” came together to start the Pocatello Pride Festival five years ago. He said there was a lot of controversy the first year, but it’s pretty much over now.

“The first year, there was a lot of controversy, but not one problem with our event,” he explained. “Now they really spotlight it up here. It gets a lot of attention in the paper and stuff, but no problems at all with protestors or anything.”

This year, Pridaho will be held August 19-21, with a kick-off party and karaoke contest on the 18th. The festival then features a white party on Friday with a street festival on Saturday and a barbecue and show on Sunday. Saturday night from 8:00 until 10:00 there’s a street dance offering people not old enough to go to the bars a chance to come out and socialize as well.

“We don’t have a really big community here, maybe 300 to 500 people show up,” Weisenberger said. “But we all come together at once and build something we can really be proud of. It’s done a lot to make the community stronger up here.”

And Pridaho has become one of the most popular regional pride celebrations, he said. Every year visitors come from Boise and Salt Lake and even as far away as San Francisco and Seattle.

“We just want people to show up and have a good time,” he said.

MORE INFORMATION: PRIDAHO WWW.PRIDAHO.ORG SOUTHERN UTAH PRIDE WWW.TECHNOPHILIAX.COM/PRIDE.HTML RENO GAY PRIDE WWW.RENOGAYPRIDE.COM

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by Darren Tucker darren@slmetro.com Don’t put away that rainbow flag and store those short shorts for winter just yet—there’s plenty of pride to be had for the rest of the summer, if you’re willing to travel just a little bit. And what you find when you arrive may be a smaller pride celebration than Salt Lake City’s, but it’s likely to be every bit as fun and heart-felt as any party you’ll find.

All around the west, in towns like Reno, Pocatello and even tiny Springdale, Utah, queers are gearing up for their late-summer celebrations. The regional festivals feature many of the same elements as the bigger parties, but often come with a smaller, more home-time feel.

“We want it to feel more like a family picnic,” said Aimee Selfridge, co-coordinator of Southern Utah Gay Pride. “At the big pride events, there are so many people that they all walk around and never talk to each other. At ours, people actually meet each other and talk and have fun.”

Selfridge is half of the Southern Utah Pride Committee; her partner Amie Marie is the other half. They stage the event on their own, with the help of some very dedicated volunteers. They both also perform—Selfridge is a stand up comedian and Marie is a singer-songwriter—giving the festival a very “family reunion” kind of feel.

Southern Utah Gay Pride takes place August 26 and 27 in the tiny town of Springdale, Utah. The town is right at the entrance of Zion National Park, providing one of the most spectacular venues for a pride party anywhere.

There is no parade, but there’s a potluck barbecue dinner, two dances, a festival, political speakers and even a pick-up softball game. Right now it’s the kind of down-home, small-town celebration you would expect, but the way it’s growing don’t expect it to stay that way long.

“The first year we had about a hundred people,” Selfridge said. “Last year we had about 200. This year we have already had thousands of hits on our website.”

Selfridge said the town of Springdale has been “really, really, absolutely wonderful” to work with. She said there are several gay and lesbian-owned businesses in town and they are very supportive. But it’s not just the “family” members that make this event so successful; even the police department chipped in and helps the stage where the events take place.

“The rest of Southern Utah is still pretty close-minded,” Selfridge explained. “But the town of Springdale is just awesome.

They love having us there, they just love it.”

That isn’t exactly the case in Reno, Nevada, where staging a yearly pride event has been more of a struggle for Kaye Crawford, the executive director of Reno Gay Pride. Crawford said the first year, even gay and lesbian people in northern Nevada were skeptical about a pride festival.

“I went to the Silver Dollar Court and pounded my fist on the table and said ‘We will have a gay pride event in this town,

News LOCAL

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First National Drug Conference of Its Kind Comes to Salt Lake

by John Wilkes john@slmetro.com Methamphetamine addiction is a growing epidemic across the country, especially in the queer community, and more than you may think right here in Salt Lake.

According to the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 12 million Americans have tried meth. The drug was recently listed as the ninth leading cause of drug-related deaths investigated by medical examiners. In 2002, the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program reported that Salt Lake City had the fourth highest incidence (out of 23 regional reporting sites) of female arrestees who tested positive for methamphetamine.

The dangers of meth lie not only in its ease of acquisition and relatively low cost.

The physical and mental damage done by this drug is devastating. Methamphetamine has been linked to increased incidence of HIV and hepatitis infection, paranoia, psychoses and irreparable, stroke-like brain damage. Furthermore, a plethora of other health problems arise from intravenous use of this drug. In addition to the harm meth use causes to individuals, the ineffective ways in which society chooses to deal with it only exacerbate the problems. Drug treatment centers are overloaded, expensive, emphasize only abstinence or replacement therapy, and are rarely covered by insurance.

Lack of universal health care often means users either don’t seek or don’t receive treatment. Overall social prejudice and law enforcement’s policies of criminalization and incarceration create barriers to better solutions. Experts say it’s a huge problem and the old answers aren’t working.

Enter two organizations dedicated to seeking and implementing new approaches to the problem: The Harm Reduction Coalition (HRC) and Harm Reduction Project (HRP). These two groups have challenged law enforcement, health care and social service professionals from across the country to come together and explore new concepts for dealing with drug addiction and its social ramifications.

On August 19 and 20, Salt Lake will host “Science & Response: 2005, First National

Conference on Methamphetamine, HIV, and Hepatitis,” at the downtown Hilton Salt Lake City Center; 225 S. West Temple. Patricia Case, Sc.D. of Harvard Medical School will deliver the keynote address. Medical professionals from Yale, Johns-Hopkins, the University of Utah and several other universities will address a wide variety of topics in plenary sessions throughout the day, including meth and the sex trade, meth and women, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and other health concerns. Local and national law enforcement agents from all levels, including Salt Lake City Chief Prosecutor Simarjit Gill, will discuss current legislation and enforcement strategies. Social service and mental health workers from several agencies will enlighten attendees concerning the psychological aspects of the epidemic. Hundreds of exhibitors will provide information on their products, organizations and resources.

Other speakers of interest to the queer community include Yves-Michel Fontaine of Gay Men’s Health Crisis and Michael Sevier, Ph.D., director of University of California San Francisco’s Stonewall Project. Salt Lake City Mayor Ross “Rocky” Anderson is also scheduled to speak.

Luciano Colonna, executive director of the local HRP says, “The conference is a time for all those involved in trying to enhance their community and agency response to methamphetamine use to come together and share experiences and challenges, to learn from new data and new approaches, to acquire new skills and to take a critical look at what has been achieved so far.”

Response has been so great that the necessary funding is already in place for the next such conference in 2007.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. on both days. A breakfast, which is included in the cost, will be served each morning from 8:00-9:00 a.m. The cost is $250 for both days or $125 per day. Continuing education credits are available for social workers and medical professionals.

For more information, contact the Harm Reduction Project at 801-355-0234 or visit harmredux.org or harmreduction.org.

Visit Salt Lake Metro at the Farmer’s Market Saturday, August 6.

Lagoon Day Information, Raging Waters Tickets, Gay Wendover Weekend info and more.

JOEL SHOEMAKER

Newly-appointed OUTreach Project Leader Gary Horenkamp, center, with Roxanne Taylor and Rachel Macfarlane of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ogden GLBT steering commitee.

OUTreach to Ogden Youth provided the initial jump-start to the program, the end goal is to make it standalone, complete with its own facility.

Enthusiasm was unanimous among the group, “We’re enthused. We’re ready to get to work.”

Additional information can be found by calling 686-GLBT (4528), email to outreachogd@yahoo.com.

Community Briefs Bears Donate to Crisis Line The Utah Bear Alliance and the Utah Cyber Sluts made a $1,000 contribution to the GLBT Community Center of Utah for the new crisis line. Bear Alliance and Cyber Slut representatives presented the donation to The Center in July during Cyber Slut Bingo at the Center’s Black Box Theater.

Pride Day Otter Pop sales raised the funds for the donation; teams of Bears and Cyber Sluts sold the frozen treats to dozens in the overheated crowd. Seed money for the fundraiser came through a donation from the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire.

Additional funds came from the Utah Bear Alliance’s general fund.

Parents and Friends in Southern Utah PFLAG in Southern Utah is holding its annual potluck dinner in Kolob canyon—one of the most beautiful spots in Utah—Saturday, Aug. 6. at the cabin of member Claudia between 4 and 8 p.m. For information, call Claudia at (435) 712-3356

Upcoming Affirmation Conference in Denver Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons will be holding its 2005 annual conference in Denver, Colorado. Held at the Adam’s Mark Hotel, the conference will include a variety of speakers, including keynote speaker Dr. Don Johnson, a well-known professor at the University of Colorado.

Registration for the September 30–October 2 conference is open now at www.affirmation.org

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by William Todd Park liam@slmetro.com On July 21 the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ogden gave its blessing to Gary Horenkamp as the first project leader for OUTreach. OUTreach is a collaborative effort between the UUC and Weber State University’s Gay-Straight Alliance and is intended to be a resource for Ogden area youth who are either coming to terms with or questioning their sexual orientation.

The objectives of the program are simple but very much needed in the Ogden area, according to co-chairs of the church’s GLBT steering committee, Rachel Macfarlane and Roxanne Taylor. “We want to provide a safe place,” says Macfarlane.

Loosely-structured social events, opportunities to talk about feelings, and educational resources in a welcoming atmosphere are all part of the plan, although the program will not provide professional counseling. As part of her undergraduate study, MacFarlane found that gay youth were statistically at higher risk for suicide and for substance or sex abuse. From that experience, she poured herself into making a difference. Macfarlane is a recipient of the Matthew Shepherd Scholarship.

Gary Horenkamp sees OUTreach as filling an unmet need, adding, “Gay youth are the ignored population.” The biggest hurdle in front of him is simply getting the word out to those who need to hear. He hopes to have the youth group officially up and running by the end of August, although there is an ongoing group that meets at Grounds For Coffee at the corner of 30th and Harrison in Ogden. School counselors and a number of local businesses have been generally supportive, seeing this program as a valuable resource.

Taylor said there has been virtually no pushback from the congregation. “We’re quite passionate about [OUTreach],” she says, but with tongue-in-cheek admitted there might be a closet dissenter or two. $20,000 of the first year’s operating fund came in the form of a grant from the Unitarian Universalist Fund for Social Responsibility, and an additional $5,000 from private donors. Although the church

News LOCAL

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“GAY” on Utah License Plates Gets OK From Judge

by Joel Shoemaker joel@slmetro.com In response to an appeal brought by a Park City woman represented by the ACLU, a state tax commission administrative judge ruled in July that Utah vanity license plates can now feature the word GAY and gaypositive messages.

In an interview with Salt Lake Metro, Elizabeth “Beano” Solomon says she first applied for her gay-positive license plates in December 2004. She gave the license plate division three options: GAYWEGO, GAYSROK and GAYRYTS. But she was sent a letter from the state tax commission, which controls license plates, telling her all three options were rejected, in part because license plates are “not a public forum.”

Beano took her issue to GLBT Community Center of Utah, which referred her to the Utah chapter of the ACLU. They reapplied for the plates and this time were given an OK on “GAYWEGO,” but denied the others. Then the ACLU filed a formal legal complaint. On May 12, Beano and the ACLU argued their case to an administrative law judge who ultimately ruled that all three were OK as long as they didn‘t violate statutory or regulatory restrictions.

Beano says she did it all to support her three gay children—one lesbian daughter and two gay men she’s adopted in her heart. She’s straight, but has been a long time supporter of gay issues, having worked extensively with PFLAG and currently sits on The Center’s board of directors.

“I didn’t look on this as my free speech rights had been denied—this wasn’t even a gay rights thing. This was my mommy button getting pushed. I was doing the plates to show my support of my children. When I was told, ‘No,’ I just said you can’t do this. Hell

hath no fury like the woman whose mommy button has been pushed!” said Beano.

In a statement, ACLU staff attorney Margaret Plane applauded the decision. “Too

Community Briefs

Equality Utah Planning Annual Allies Dinner

Time Changes for Sundays and the Center Due to the popularity of events, the GLBT Community Center of Utah has announced some changes to its Sunday schedule.

Centered Yoga—a free yoga class for people of all abilities—now takes place from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Class instructor Leraine reminds interested folks to bring their own mats.

Following the yoga class, the Center’s “AbFab Brunch” is held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

During the potluck meal, everyone watches episodes of the gayest Britcom ever, Absolutely Fabulous. Patsy drag is optional.

For more information contact the Center at 539-8800 or visit www.glbtccu.org

often, public officials are scared by the word ‘gay’ and they refuse to recognize that gays and lesbians are an increasingly public and positive part of our community. The commission rightly recognized that their own rules don’t allow them to censor gay-positive messages like Mrs. Soloman’s,” Plane says.

The tax commission has 30 days to appeal the decision. Beano has yet to get to her license plates.

Now, Beano has issued a challenge to the community. For the first 100 new license plates that are verified as using the word GAY, Beano will donate $100 to the GLBT Community Center, which will also entitle the car owner to a membership at the Center. Send proof of plate and contact info to Beano’s Challenge, GLBT Community Center of Utah, 355 North 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT, 84103.

Equality Utah is getting ready to throw its much-anticipated fourth annual Allies Dinner. Each year Equality Utah comes together with community allies to celebrate the accomplishments of the year and re-commit to equality. The banquet will take place September 21 in the Salt Palace Grand Ballroom.

This year’s award winners are: Michael Marriott, Chandler Weaver (formerly Wendy) and the National Conference for Community and Justice. Tim McFeeley, executive director of the Center for Policy Alternatives and former executive director of HRC, will be the guest speaker.

Equality Utah has an immediate need for table captains at the event. To sign up or for more information, contact Missy Larsen at 355-3479 or melissa@equalityutah.org.

Annual Sunstone Symposium Highlights Gay, Lesbian Issues

by JoSelle Vanderhooft joselle@slmetro.com Along with its usual panels on Mormon doctrine, scripture and history, the 2005 Sunstone Salt Lake Symposium sponsored a number of panels on gay and lesbian church members. This year’s sessions featured such things as critiques of LDS publications aimed at gays and lesbians, a panel discussion of the pamphlet “For the Strength of Gay Youth,” and a film about one gay Mormon’s quest to live celibately, in accordance with current LDS teaching on homosexuality.

Shown to a small audience of approximately 30, the documentary Go Forward opened with the quote for which it was named: Gordon B. Hinckley’s 2000 address on gays and lesbians. In this address, the church’s president said, “My response is that we love them as sons and daughters of God. They may have certain inclinations which are powerful and which may be difficult to control ... If they do not act upon these inclinations, then they can go forward as do all other members of the Church.”

The short film then cut to its subject, Gary Horlacher, Ph.D., and his decades-long struggle to come to terms with his sexual orientation. A self-described “good member of the church” since childhood, Horlacher talked about his ten-year struggle to date women (including one failed engagement), the suicidal depression he fell into on realizing he was gay, and his attempts to change his orientation with the help of Evergreen, an LDS-doctrine-based ex-gay ministry.

Little by little, however, Horlacher said he realized his feelings for men were not going to go away. He then joined Affirmation and Reconciliation, two support groups for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Mormons and their friends. In these groups, he said he developed deep friendships with other gay men and learned that “it wasn’t a bad thing to love others.” He also said that his friendships with other gay men were currently fulfilling all of his emotional and social needs, and that, at present, he did not feel “anxious to jump into a relationship.”

“Two people don’t always complete each other,” he said in the question and answer period that followed. “And there may be other things you need and need to learn from others [before you can be involved in a healthy romantic relationship].”

Mike Green and Dr. Ron Schow, Go Forward’s co-producers, said they made the documentary to let Mormons listen to the stories of gay members while being respectful of LDS teaching and the feelings of those struggling to better understand homosexuality.

“Part of our message is the feelings of homosexuality aren’t chosen and don’t go away,” said Green, an openly gay Mormon.

“I wish we had one of these DVDs in the hands of every bishop right now, of every family dealing with this issue,” said Schow as he passed out copies of the film. At this time, Schow also drew the crowd’s attention to Go Forward’s sequels, Marriage Hopes and Realities and Embracing Our Homosexual Children. The first sequel, he said, followed

the story of Russ Gorringe (interviewed in Salt Lake Metro, September 30, 2004) and his experiences being married to a woman and attending Evergreen. The second sequel details the experiences of a Mormon family with eleven children, three of whom are gay and one of whom is lesbian.

Schow added that he and Green had spoken to Mormon-owned Deseret Book about distributing the three films—a proposal the store had turned down despite giving both a favorable review.

“Financially they don’t think there’s a lot of money to be made from them,” he said.

Although Horlacher admitted to being slightly embarrassed at watching the documentary with a room full of people, he added that he was glad to share his experiences.

“My life is an open book,” he said. “So if it helps someone, I’m willing to do this.”

On Saturday, July 30 the symposium presented two panels on the gay Mormon experience. The first, “Steps in the Right Direction? Evaluating New LDS Publications on Homosexuality” looked at recently published Mormon literature about gays and lesbians, including In Quiet Desperation: Understanding the Challenges of Same-Gender Attraction and A Guide for Latter-day Saint Families Dealing with Homosexual Attraction. Here, moderator Dr. Robert A. Rees and panelists, including Sunstone news editor Hugo Olaiz, Dr. Schow and BYU molecular biologist Dr. Bill Bradshaw, discussed these publications as well as other “recent statements” about homosexuality from LDS leadership.

The second symposium centered on “For the Strength of Gay Youth” by Aaron Cloward, a 7,500-word pamphlet that won last year’s Affirmation writing award.

Modeled after the LDS publication “For the Strength of Youth,” which instructs Mormon youth on issues pertaining to sex and morality,

Cloward’s pamphlet covers topics of import to young, gay Mormons including “How do deal with family and depression” to “What to do about the Internet, dance clubs and dating” and advice on sexuality geared to help young gays decide what they want out of sex and romantic relationships. The five-member panel, including Cloward; moderator Olaiz; Daniel Holsinger, founder of the scholarly gay LDS group FHE Family; psychotherapist Lee Beckstead; Journal of Mormon History editor Lavina Fielding Anderson; and Affirmation Youth Services coordinator Jed Brubaker, discussed their reactions to the publication (available on Affirmation’s website) and its strengths and weaknesses.

According to Brubaker, the pamphlet was “very thoughtful,” particularly in its first chapters discussing the so-called “gay lifestyle.”

“It dawned on me this week that there is no gay lifestyle, but there is an LDS lifestyle which is why [thinking a gay lifestyle existed] would make sense to an LDS person,” he said, to laughter from the small audience of 20. “If you’re LDS there’s only one way to do it, to [practice your religion].”

In the question and answer period that followed, Cloward said he hoped to revise his booklet to be more inclusive of transgender issues, as well as for converts and Mormons “from other cultures” who may not have had the same experiences with their sexuality as Mormons who grew up in “small Utah towns.”

He added that he hoped his work could create dialogue among Mormons about gay and lesbian issues, even for those who disagreed with his frank discussions about sexuality.

“I couldn’t agree more that the only way we’re going to get anywhere is in understanding each other rather than in yelling at each other,” he said.

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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 William T. Park Nicholas Rupp Mandy Q. Racer Ruby Ridge Kim Russo David Samsel Joel Shoemaker Brendan Shumway Eric J. Tierney Darren Tucker JoSelle Vanderhooft Ross von Metzke John Wilkes Ben Williams Contributing David Harris Photographers William H. Munk Kim Russo Art Director Michael Aaron Designer Kris Kramer Sales Director Steven Peterson Display Ad Dave Harris 548-6995 Sales Russ Moss 259-0844 801-323-9500 National Rivendell Media Advertising 212-242-6863 Representative 1248 Rte 22 West Mountainside NJ 07092

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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

2GAY4UT No Longer Beano Solomon’s recent victory in getting personalized license plates that read “GAYSROK” and “GAYRYTS” is a big deal. If you don’t follow national news feeds and services as often as we do at the Salt Lake Metro office, you might not have realized exactly how big a deal this is.

See, as a result of the court ruling, the state cannot deny personalized license plates just because they have a gay positive theme. So why is that a big deal?

Because in Utah, we have institutionalized the idea that being gay is bad into almost every level of our government. Schools are forbidden to “advocate for homosexuality,” the Salt Lake County Council denied giving employees benefits out of fear that it might look like the approval of gay marriage and, until now, the DMV routinely denied any request for a vanity plate with the word “GAY” in it—whether positive or negative in it’s message.

So much of our fight for equality has and always will be dependant on visible, positive images and messages about the queer community. Our opponents in the fight for equal rights would like to silence us. If they had their way, the only discussions about queer issues would follow the Nebo School District’s policy of ignoring the subject altogether or simply talking about being queer in a discouraging, negative manner.

Now, we have one more option of taking our message—that there is nothing wrong, shameful or bad about being queer—to the streets.

Plus, you don’t have to ruin your paint job with tired rainbow stickers anymore.

Another reason Beano’s fight is important is that we actually won this one, folks. Our political “wins” in Utah are too few and far between.

We haven’t had a positive shift in government this visible and tangible since Scott McCoy was elected to the state senate. And we’ve taken an awful lot of losses lately: hate crimes, domestic partner benefits, civil unions, amendment 3.

It might seem like something small, but it’s not. This case sets precedence that other states facing the same issue will be able to draw from.

The courts, even in conservative Utah, have upheld our first amendment rights.

It’s a sign of the changing times. It used to be that a billboard with the word “gay” would be denied exposure by the company in charge. This year, people barely batted an eye at the Pride advertisements in Utah County. A few years ago, people debated about what would happen if a gay group wanted to adopt a highway. Now, nobody seemed at all worried when the GLBT Community Center of Utah started popping up on UTA buses last spring.

Once again, we owe a debt of thanks to the American Civil Liberties Union for helping break down another barrier. Salt Lake Metro encourages our readers to show their appreciation for the ACLU’s advocacy on our behalf by making a donation to the local branch. Among all the non-profit agencies we actively support in the queer community, the ACLU is perhaps the most underappreciated of them all—consistently going above and beyond on our behalf without half as much public support as many of our other charity organizations.

Now, here are a few of Metro’s official recommendations for personalized plates…

GAY BOI—please be under the age of 25 GAYNGR8—the perfect gift for your partner GAY SEN—get it while you can, Senator McCoy. GAYMOMS/GAYDADS—then park the minivan in a visible spot at soccer practice.

GAY NRA—for a certain Stonewall Shooting Sports spokesman.

GAYPRYD –you better sign up to volunteer for the parade.

ROYLGAY—surround with a glittering rhinestone frame as the perfect accessory for all your Royal Court functions.

From the Editor Cravings and Desires

by Jere Keys jere@slmetro.com If you’re a regular reader of this space in the newspaper, you might have noticed that it’s been a while since I wrote about my outrage over the topics of the month. Yes, I feel it’s time to rant and rave about some great injustice in the world, or at least the state of Utah.

There’s no shortage of topics to be upset about these days. A string of arson crimes against queer-friendly businesses… the beheading of two teenagers in Iran for the “crime” of homosexuality… the ongoing hypocrisy around Rovegate… the upcoming series finale for Six Feet Under…

So, what am I outraged about? Short answer: Everything!

Of course, that could be the nicotine withdrawals talking. I’m trying to quit smoking and so far, I’ve entertained murderous fantasies about nearly everyone who’s crossed my path. Especially non-smokers.

Speaking of fantasies and unfulfilled cravings…

During one of our wholesome and chaste work conversations (all conversations around the office are kept Sunday-school appropriate because we know the Holy Ghost is a voyeur), I learned something shocking that I didn’t know before.

Apparently, if I wish to purchase an adult DVD or video, I must travel to Nevada or Wyoming to do so, because it’s illegal to sell or ship hardcore adult entertainment in our beloved state.

That’s right, readers—I’m outraged about porn!

Last time I checked my driver’s license, I’m 28 years old and that qualifies as an adult just about everywhere. That means society has generally decided that I’m capable of making decisions for myself. Since no one has declared me mentally unfit to care for myself (yet), I’m free to choose to participate in any number of activities that we generally discourage younger people from participating in.

Keep in mind that I moved here from Las Vegas, where you can purchase pornography at the grocery store or in the church lobbies.

There are two basic reasons that I’m outraged by the state ban on the sale or shipment of adult entertainment. First, I consider myself a reasonably spiritual person. As such, I’m willing to listen to the counsel and advice of my pastor, members of my church, even other people of faith while I’m attending religious functions. The short list of people I don’t turn to for moral guidance includes: Gayle Ruzicka, the state legislature, elected officials as a whole, and anybody with the title “Porn Czar.”

Porn Czar—it sounds like the setup of a kinky Russian scene. “Sex workers of the world unite!”

The second reason that the law has me outraged is simply that it’s archaic and useless. The internet has made such bans seem silly. When you get down to it, maybe even irresponsible. See, if the goal of the law is to keep minors from getting their hands on themselves (oops, I mean pornography), then it’s a failed law. Why would a teenager pay $80 for the latest Bel Ami release when they can download Sean Cody videos on Kazaa or Limewire for free? In fact, wouldn’t it be better for the state to regulate the businesses that sell adult entertainment and collect taxes on the products?

So here’s my idea. I’m willing to bet that everyone who agrees with me that the law is stupid has at least one old worn-out tape or DVD that just doesn’t do it for them anymore. Wrap that tape or DVD in plain white paper with the words “End the ban on sales and shipment of adult entertainment in Utah” written across it, then mail it to your state senator or representative. Just think of your senator’s face when he finds out he received a used copy of “Anal Frat Boys, volume 4.”

Until the law changes, I guess it’s back to watching straight boys get paid to expand their horizons on the internet. And since the only sex I’ve had lately is with myself, it does reduce the chances I’ll want a post-coital smoke.

Letters

Keep History Alive Dear Editor, I want to thank Ben Williams and the Metro team for dedicating a recent issue to queer Utah history.

Many people in the gay community worry what will happen to their gay-affirming journals and photo albums if they eventually fall into the hands of gay-unfriendly relatives.

I would like to invite anyone in that situation to consider donating them right away to the Special Collections of the University of Utah, which already has a robust collection for gay Utah history and another one for gay Mormon history. Unlike some other Utah institutions, the University of Utah does not censor its collections. The contents are safely preserved for everyone to read and see.

Prejudice, fear, and ignorance still threaten to rob us of a history that is legitimately ours. If we want future generations of gays and lesbians to understand and celebrate their history, we’d better make sure we preserve ours.

Hugo Salinas Salt Lake City

Bisexuals Support Queer Causes Dear Editor, It is upsetting to see the skewed views on bisexuality represented by some of the Metro’s readers (Letters to the Editor, “Two Views on Bisexuality,” Jessi Reade, July 24). If some people in the queer community are against bisexuality, find it “disgusting, perverted,” and “whore-ish,” and ultimately believe it does harm to queer causes, then those readers should re-examine their own place in this community.

Believing that bisexuals “hide” from queer causes while they date people of the opposite sex is ignorant to the truth that many bisexuals—even those married in different-sex relationships—DO EXIST and continue to do positive things for the queer community. I wonder if the ignorance of such readers like Mr. Reade extends to the point of not wanting straight allies to help queer causes? If so, these readers should stay quiet while the rest of us who ARE motivated—gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender people, and straight people—fight the good fight. We don’t need ignorance impeding our momentum.

Daren Brabham Salt Lake City

Come Out Today

I regret the fact that I wasted so many years in hiding when I could have been doing so much more to help people see who we really are.

To those of us already out, we all know someone who is gay but not out yet, so encourage them to do so. This doesn’t mean to go shouting from the rooftops that so-andso is gay, but just be open to answer any questions they might have about coming out, sharing your own experiences and letting them take it one step at a time. If you’re not out yet, it’s not as scary as it sounds. This may seem like a huge leap of faith, but it’s not. Your friends aren’t going to treat you any differently, and if some do, screw ‘em.

You’re worth more than that. Hell, if you want to talk to me about it, just hit me up at rebelfag@gmail.com. I don’t promise the answers to every question, but I’m pretty good at listening and helping people get things off their chest. I look forward to hearing from you.

Adam McDonald Midvale

Guest Editorial United Church of Christ Decision Was Courageous

By Rev. Erin Gilmore On July 4, 2005 the United Church of Christ acted courageously by affirming marriage equality, by affirming the civil rights of same gender couples to have their relationships recognized as marriages by the state, and by encouraging its local churches to celebrate and bless those marriages.

This decision by the General Synod of the United Church of Christ follows in a long trajectory of resolutions by the General Synod to affirm the full human dignity of all persons and the welcome affirmation of gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual persons as ministers, members and friends of the church. And these resolutions follow a rich history going all the way back to the forebearers of the United Church of Christ, who came to this land on the Mayflower almost four hundred years ago. As they were preparing to leave England, their pastor, John Robinson, spoke to them these words, “God has yet more light and truth to break forth out of His holy Word.”

As a pastor and member of the United Church of Christ, I believe the General Synod listened carefully to the Spirit and acted faithfully out of a biblically-grounded concern for justice for all and theological conviction that same gender couples are as capable of fulfilling the vocation of marriage as heterosexual couples. A vocation described in our marriage rite as one in which couples offer each other mutual care and companionship, bear witness to God’s great gift of joy for them and for others, and in the intimacy of their relationship, represent the intimacy of Christ’s love for the Church.

We have in this country a history of withholding rights and privileges to certain members of society based on gender, race, or nationality. The recent amendments proposed and passed by several states across our country, while purporting to merely affirm traditional views of marriage, more often than not have been used to

vilify same sex relationships, and in some cases deny or restrict their full civil rights.

If ever there has been a time for alternative voice, particularly from a Christian voice, it is now. There are all kinds of biblical references to homosexuality but none of them should be taken out of context to be used today as a basis for denying civil rights to citizens of this country. Likewise there are all kinds of examples of marriage in the bible, including polygamy, abuse, and subordination that are often not included in the discussion of “the biblical view of marriage.” As a scholar and student of the bible, I find a far stronger biblical admonition to welcome and love our neighbor than there is to vilify and exclude them.

It seems to me that withholding a marriage certificate remains one of the few remaining ways of limiting full citizenship to some among us who are perceived to be alien or “other.” As Christians we must ask what our general minister and president, John Thomas, asks, “How do we square this with the frequent biblical admonition to ‘treat the alien in our midst as a citizen?’

Not to tolerate. Not to grant second class status. But to treat as citizens.”

The General Synod’s action on the resolution of marriage is a crucial and groundbreaking step in a time when marriage equality is such a difficult and polarizing issue. In a country ridden with fear, this action stands as alternative, one that recognizes our common humanity and celebrates our differences as a part of God’s diversity seen throughout all of creation. It is my hope that this action will ultimately deepen our understanding of marriage and remind us that marriage is much more than an institution; it is a covenant between two people who choose to commit their lives to one another. If love is a core value of the Christian faith, then it is ours to build love up, to celebrate love, and to recognize and support love wherever it blooms and grows and takes root. I am grateful that God is still speaking to us today, and I hope that we can continue to have hearts and minds that can hear more light and truth breaking forth from God’s holy Word.

Rev. Gilmore is the pastor at Holladay United Church of Christ. For more information, visit holladayucc.org.

Obituary Lynn E. Stewart Looking out into space, I can see beyond my mind, And into my universe within.

Our dear and gentle friend Lynn Stewart, born November 6, 1957, went nova on July 24, 2005. An avid astronomer and birder, she gave all of us a new perspective on stars, birds and the universe. A graphic artist by trade, she was a quality control supervisor in electronic pre-press and worked at Hudson Printing in Salt Lake City for over 20 years. Lynn was a member of Wasatch Affirmation and attended the First Unitarian Church. She loved hosting “star-b-ques” in the canyon and at her family’s cabin. An accomplished pianist, she shared her original compositions with small groups of friends gathered around her keyboard. Her kindness and courage touched countless lives in our community. She never missed an opportunity to speak her love. Lynn is survived by three children, Kirt, Vanessa and Cami; and a grandson, Gerrit. A memorial fund for transgender awareness and resources has been established in Lynn’s honor at the GLBT Community Center of Utah. Friends may donate to: GLBT CCU, 355 N. 300 West, 1st Floor, Salt Lake City, UT 84103.

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Dear Editor, I really try to live my life with no regrets.

Not saying that I don’t ever screw up, but that I do my best to learn from everything I do—good or bad. If you learn something, even from a mistake, then you should have no regrets. Well, I finally found something I do regret—not coming out sooner. Now, I know what many of you reading this are thinking.

“Why is this guy talking about coming out in a gay newspaper?” But there’s good reason.

If anyone thinks that every gay person who reads this paper is out and proud, they’re dead wrong. I’m sure that many who enjoy Salt Lake Metro have to grab a copy when no one is looking and hide it under their mattress for fear that someone should find out who they really are. I know because I did it in high school via internet chat rooms, where I could finally be myself because, hey, it was totally

anonymous. When I finally did come out on New Years Eve 2001 (it’s amazing what good, loving friends and a decent amount of alcohol can help you reveal) I found that, honestly, no one gave a crap that I was gay. To them I was still the same person I always was; the only reason they looked at me differently was because they saw I loved them enough to be honest and tell them who I really was.

Since then, I have been able to make a huge difference in all my friends’ lives— straight or gay. I can’t even begin to tell you how many straight people have told me I changed their entire viewpoint on homosexuality just because I had the guts to tell them I was gay. How awesome is it that my saying two little words can change how people view the world?

That said, I would give anything to go back in time in order to come out MUCH sooner than I did. I knew I was gay when I was a kid, so why didn’t I say anything? Fear, plain and simple. Fear of rejection and hate, which I discovered was never really there in the first place. But I let it get to me, so I hid.

William T. Park

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No Room For Divisiveness In Diversity

by William Todd Park liam@slmetro.com I’m a local. I was born at LDS Hospital and raised here in Salt Lake City. I was spoiled early on by our worldfamous snow, the vibrant landscapes, and the seemingly never-ending places in the state to have fun. Utah holds a lot of great memories for me. Growing up in such an idyllic place, it’s hard not to make assumptions about how things should be, but it wasn’t until I had gone to college on the east coast that I saw there really was a different face to the country besides the overwhelming Caucasian and Christian I knew of in Utah.

Religious jokes didn’t make sense to me and ethnic epithets were repeated innocently enough, but when I actually met, interacted with, and befriended people that didn’t look like me, the jokes weren’t funny anymore. For the first time in my life, the brunt of those jokes had a face and a name and feelings. After graduating from college, my first roommate was black and his family welcomed me as part of theirs without a second thought and insisted I stay with them until I found my own apartment.

Some might argue that the reason my cultural experience has been so different is, in part, due to government-enforced quotas. While it’s true the armed forces are conscious about minority representation, the biggest impact is simply that the demographics outside the state of Utah are vastly different. Moreover, my experience over the eighteen years I was active duty is that ability and competence have no tie whatever to race or religion and that the only performance metric separating gender was physical strength. The unique contributions of a number of members of different cultural and ethnic groups considerably strengthened the organization as a whole.

Studies I took part in as part of Equal Opportunity working groups reinforced those assertions empirically.

Fueled by fear and ignorance and perhaps a false sense of invincibility, there is a growing sense of intolerance in the media.

There are some that feel that diversity is ruining the nation with quotas, sensitivity training, and human resource specialists waiting behind large, impersonal doors to drive bamboo shoots under the fingernails of those who transgress the political correctness doctrine. Naturally, that

kind of sentiment begs the question of equality, but cowardly-influence peddlers will always capitalize on the paranoia of inaccurate stereotypes and turn points that do have credibility into rhetorical fodder rather than formulating a solution that further improves existing inequities.

For a lot of people who haven’t ventured outside their comfort zones, diversity feels like dogmatic force-feedings from the Ministry of Truth, serving up threats of lawsuits or professional banishment for dessert.

Perhaps, the key in pushing past the ill feelings is presenting facts rather than appealing to emotion. Putting diversity in terms that have more to do with economic viability than social norms. Diversity is good for the bottom line of a company and it is good for the economic growth of a community, but the cultural and social aspects of diversity are still absolutely essential in order to remain competitive in the burgeoning global marketplace.

Locally, we continue to fight for the emergence of an economy that pushes beyond what amounts to isolationism, but the effects of Amendment 3’s passage in the November 2004 election continue to ripple out. Measures that would have extended benefits to partners of employees at Utah State University and, more recently, the Salt Lake County government have been voted down.

Companies that have a favorable track record when it comes to diversity will attract and retain higher-caliber talent and it goes without saying that these same companies will take the market share from competitors that are less inclusive. If officials expect to beef up the local economy by attracting major employers on the order of American Express and Delta Airlines, diversity can’t simply be a nice buzzword.

It has to be something practiced and embraced. Of course, it stands to reason that, where possible, many of us would prefer to patronize smaller companies who have the same open and inclusive corporate philosophy, and especially those who openly support the gay community.

Diversity rides the line between being progressive and savvy and that of the root of divisiveness. For it to be successful, diversity must be demonstrated on smaller scales by the many groups that contribute to the whole. As surely as diversity will contribute to the overall economy and social well being of a community, divisiveness will keep us all apart. With the political scene continuing its deliberate movement to the extreme right, we cannot afford to be anything but unified in our voice. Diversity has no room for divisiveness.

AberRant Work Nekkid

by Laureie Mecham laurie@slmetro.com You know those dreams where you go to school or work naked? Well, I’m sort of having that experience today. It’s not my body that’s undressed—it’s my face. Every few years I try getting contact lenses, and seeing how this is the Year of the Rooster, I’ve gone and done it again. As you can see from my highly attractive, only-lightlyretouched, contemporary (i.e., taken in this decade) photo, I usually sport these gi-normous eyeglasses. Today I’m wearing contacts instead.

I started wearing glasses in second grade. I got contacts in eighth grade. This was before soft lenses, when contact lenses were sharp little convex circles of hard plastic. I endured them for years. I still have the calluses on my eyeballs. I can pick up paper clips, coins, and other small objects with my eyelids. I usually had a backup pair of ugly eyeglasses: Nastay Wire Frames, or BIG glasses, AmericanMovie-big frames. Then the most amazing thing happened. Someone, somewhere began manufacturing hip eyewear. When I bought my first pair of funky frames, I left my contact lenses to shrivel up and die in their case. I began a love affair with hip eyeglass frames. Wearing them instantly brought me into a tribe of other fashionforward myopics. “I like your glasses” was our code greeting, our fraternal acknowledgement, and occasionally, a pickup line. The downside is that cool frames are damned expensive, and then you still have to buy lenses for them. When you get into the big numbers of vision correction such as 810, like me, it gets spendy. In order to keep the weight down and avoid a permanent dent in the bridge of your nose, you have to go with toxic-shockingly-priced high index plastic. That, of course, requires scratch coating—ka-ching, ka-ching—and by the time you’ve made them non-reflective and added undercoating, rustproofing, an extended warranty and a maintenance contract—well, let’s just say you could have put a down payment on a nice condo.

So today I’m wearing the new contacts.

The thing is, I can see pretty well at a distance but I still need reading glasses

even for my computer screen. And here’s the real disturbing part: seeing my face, naked, in the mirror. My vision is so bad that I literally cannot see what I look like without glasses. I have to hold the mirror about 1½ inches from my face in order to bring the image into focus. With the naked eye, I’m able to inspect my eyeball and the surrounding quarter inch of skin. So seeing my whole face without glasses after the last time a couple of years ago is something of a shock. What I had not realized is the key role that these frames have played in hiding the bags under my eyes. I also had been unaware of the effect of gravity on the upper eyelid. I didn’t used to have a fold there. Guess I’ll just have to keep my eyebrows raised all day to compensate. Do I look surprised, or just disapproving?

For a number of reasons, I am a terrible candidate for lasik surgery, but science is changing things all the time, and there may come a day when I don’t have nightmares that Armageddon has come and my glasses got lost and I have to crawl on the ground, sniffing and scrabbling through the sharp and squishy debris for something edible.

My wonderful ophthalmologist is always optimistic, and he articulated the silver lining that I’m looking for. “The best thing that could happen to you is to get cataracts,” he said. It sounds like a modern-day version of the Evil Eye, some kind of curse.

Why, oh why, did he think that the best thing for me would be getting cataracts?

Why didn’t he wish glaucoma on me, or a detached retina, perhaps some kind of scales inside my eyelids like Helen Keller’s teacher Anne Sullivan had? The doctor did have an explanation. Most people’s vision settles down with age, but my eyes keep getting worse. Myopia means that the eyeball is elongated, so that the image focuses ahead of the retina instead of on it. Well, apparently my eyeballs are so long that if the back of my eye itches, I can just scratch behind my head. So the reason that getting cataracts would be a “blessing” for me is that it would give the doctor a reason to replace the lenses in my eyes with artificial ones, which actually permit vision. So, apparently, my having a healthy future is going to rely heavily on bionics. Wow—I can’t wait to hear what my gynecologist has to say!

Laurie Mecham is a myopic, presbyiopic, premenopausal lesbian.

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LAGOON DAY! RAGING WATERS DAY! SALT LAKE METRO HOT AUGUST WEEKEND AUGUST 20–21 slmetro.com/august

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Lambda Lore Second South Greek Active and Passive

1414 West 200 South since the late 1970s.

Second South was increasingly becoming gay. The first official gay bar on the 500 West block was the In-Between. The In-Between opened in 1986 at 579 West 200 South at the Three Aces’ old location. The bar was positioned between the Sun Club and Backstreet on 500 West—hence the name. The owners were Bob Dubray and his lover Donny Eastepp. After the death of Dubray, Joe Redburn bought the bar and renamed it “Bricks.”

Through a succession of owners the club is called now called Club Sound. Little do patrons know, nor probably care, that they are dancing on the location of the old Albany Hotel and Demiris & Veros’ Saloon.

Yes, Goldilocks, You Can Have That Record of Breaking and Entering Expunged.

by Marlin G. Criddle marlin@slmetro.com So, you’ve done something that ... wasn’t the best alternative. Maybe you thought you were sober enough to drive. The nice officer didn’t agree. Or you were in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong kind of pipe in your pocket. Relax. We all know it wasn’t yours. You’ve been through the legal process and accepted responsibility for your mistake. You’re ready to behave. But now you have a record. It’s going to follow you for the rest of your life, right? Maybe not.

Most criminal and arrest records can be expunged. I say most because there are some offenses—like murder or sexual abuse—that are serious enough to last. “Expungement” means that an arrest or criminal record is sealed or destroyed. With an expungement order, the judicial system essentially agrees to say “it never happened.”

If you aren’t a repeat offender, expungement is a simple process. Most people can do it themselves if they know how to file what, where, and with whom. (But things can still get sticky. Make sure you’ve done your homework before you decide to represent yourself in any legal proceeding!) For arrests not followed by a conviction, you can start the process 30 days after the case has been dismissed. There is no filing fee for expungement of arrest records. Juvenile records can be expunged one year after the juvenile court terminates jurisdiction.

The waiting period for an adult offense is a little longer: 3–10 years, depending on the offense. Before filing for expungement, all fines must be paid, and probation and other requirements of your sentence completed.

The process is usually pretty straightforward. First, you need to obtain a certificate of eligibility from the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI). Application forms can be downloaded from the BCI website (http://bci.utah.gov/Admin/FormsRecords.html).

Second, you need to file a petition along with a $65.00 fee. Victims and prosecutors are given 30 days to file an objection. If there are no objections, there is generally no hearing. If there is no reason to deny an expungement, the court issues an order sealing your records. After this order has been served to all people and agencies involved, the past is where it belongs. You can move on to the life of a law-abiding citizen.

You can legally say that you have never been arrested or convicted of anything other than a traffic ticket. No one will ever

have access to your record again, except under very specific circumstances.

Just don’t make the same mistake twice.

If you have two or more of the same offense, or you’ve had your records sealed before, it could mean that you aren’t eligible for expungement. If you are, you might have to wait for as long as 15 years before you can have your record expunged. You might even find that your prior record can be used against you as evidence in a later case.

As I mentioned above, there are other specific circumstances where an expungement order does not apply. Even though a record has been expunged, certain groups can still access it, like the State Office of Education, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Board of Pardons and Parole, Peace Officer Standards and Training, and federal authorities. It can also be accessed to assess eligibility for a concealed weapons permit. So if you’re planning to become a teacher, doctor, lawyer, or beautician, there’s nothing you can do to hide your record.

But if you avoid criminal behavior, there’s nothing to worry about.

One last thing: the information in this article applies only to offenses that occur in Utah. If you are reading this article outside of Utah, be aware that the laws in your state might be different from Utah’s. And it’s always smart to discuss the specifics of your case with an attorney. Sadly, there’s nothing I can do to erase the memory of a bad performance by Ruby Ridge and the Cyber Sluts.

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by Ben Williams ben@slmetro.com This week’s column is about a stretch of road between 500 and 600 West on 200 South. Like most of you, I have eaten there, walked there, and partied there without giving much thought about the old derelict buildings on the block.

After a little investigating, however, I was flabbergasted by the life and sexual vitality that was crammed into this little nook on the west side of Salt Lake City. In its heyday, between 1910 and 1915, it was as crowded at Sugar House ever was. Over 75 businesses operated on the block, not including the infamous Stockade where anywhere between 75 and 100 women were making a living in the sex trade.

In 1915 alone, twelve of Salt Lake’s 24 coffee houses were located within its borders. Besides the coffee houses, between 1910 and 1915 there were seven barber shops, three meat markets, a candy store, a shoe repair shop, seven neighborhood grocery stores, a dry goods store, a drug store, six clothing stores, three cigar stores, three rooming houses, three hotels, a boardinghouse, four furnished-room establishments, a café, seven restaurants, an Italian bakery, 17 bars and saloons, four billiards parlors, and two pool halls.

It was a community geared to mainly single ethnic gentile men, and the women of the Stockade. If one lived there, one would not have had to venture out of the area for lodging, food, clothing, or recreation.

Second South Street has always been randy, ever since pioneer days, although in the 19th century the action was located between Main and State. Here, Whiskey Street, Plum Alley and Commercial Street were filled with saloons, brothels and opium dens, just a stone’s throw away from the Mormon temple. By 1894, as Salt Lake City began to mature and statehood was eminent, steps were taken to have Salt Lake’s vice and “bums” removed to nearer the railroad tracks on the west side of town.

At the beginning of the 20th century, 500-600 West and 200 South became the heart of “Greek Town.” According to census records, in 1900 there were only three Greeks in all of Utah. However, through the efforts of Leonidas G. Skliris, a labor agent, by 1910, the largest concentration of Greeks in the United States was in Utah: nearly 4,000. Greeks settled all over the intermountain west but were concentrated on 200 South, where the Skliris’ coffeehouse was located at 507 West.

When the gentile Greeks, Turks, and Italians moved in, the old genteel Mormons moved out. In 1900 the block was filled with dressmakers, bakeries and barber shops, but in 1910 all but the barbershops had moved.

It was not only the influx of southern Europeans that drove the respectable citizenry from the neighborhood, but also a beautiful woman named Mrs. Dora B. Topham. In 1908 Salt Lake City’s Mayor Bransford established a red light district

between 530 and 560 West on 200 South called the “Stockade” to rid downtown Salt Lake of its brothels and prostitutes.

The mayor put Mrs. Dora B. Topham, a professional madam, in charge of the sex business. She was the employer of nearly 100 men and women at any given time.

The decision to place the Stockade in the neighborhood was influenced by “class and ethnic biases” with city councilmen stating that the area was full of Italians, Greeks, and “Japs.”

The Stockade, which was surrounded by a ten-foot wall, was approximately behind where the Orbit Café is today, and operated for three years before Topham was convicted of inducing a minor “to enter the Stockade for immoral purposes.” In 1911, the Stockade was closed and Topham returned to Ogden, although she quietly continued to lease a brothel in the southwest corner of the Stockade until 1913. Eventually, the Stockade was torn down to rubble.

The end of the city’s supported sex trade and the beginning of Prohibition in 1919 doomed the businesses on the block. By 1920, national prohibition had a sobering effect, with the Polk Directory for Salt Lake City declaring, “see Soft Drinks” under the heading “Saloons.” Several enterprising businessmen, however, did open seven soft drink establishments along 200 South.

They didn’t last.

The Greeks and Italians had mostly assimilated by the 1920s and moved away from the increasingly shabby neighborhood. Also, new minorities began mixing with the Greeks in that decade. During the “roaring twenties” the ethnic makeup of the block began to change as more southwestern Latinos moved to Salt Lake and settled on 200 South.

By the 1930s, the block had passed its prime, with pool halls, newly reopened bars, and flop houses for the Depression’s destitute being the block’s main businesses. The Great Depression years hit the block hard and by the 1940s the Polk Directory showed many vacant lots on the block where old businesses had been torn down. The place was a ghost town and quickly becoming a skid row. The Church of God operated a soul-saving mission and soup kitchen at 559 West for those down on their luck.

By the 1950s only a few flop houses and bars remained. A business called the Three Aces Tavern operating at 579 West, staying in business for over 35 years. It was for a time a gay-friendly bar in the 1960s, as gays became the newest minority to inhabit and frequent the block.

The reputation of 200 South as a place to solicit sex remained long after the Stockade closed. The deserted west side neighborhood was ideally suited for “vice.” In 1964 the Utah State Health Department cited west 200 South as the worst area for venereal disease cases reported since records were kept. Violent crime was also becoming rampant.

In 1967 Salt Lake City vice officers led a morals drive along the 500 block of West 200 South with a massive roundup of prostitutes. The city fathers were embarrassed because Salt Lake City had ranked in the top 1/3 of cities its size for prostitution.

The morals drive failed and the area was

still the main location to solicit illicit sex in Salt Lake City until the late 1970s. The block’s most noticeable “John” arrested in 1975 on 200 South was Utah’s 2nd District Congressman Allen Howe.

Streetwalking prostitution peaked in 1977 when city commissioners put up “no parking signs” along 500 West and 200 South to curb roadside services. However, well into the 1980s the occasional hooker still picked up tricks on the corner of 600 West and 200 South.

In the early 1980s, the Sun Club relocated to 702 West 200 South where the Kozy Corner Bar had operated since 1905. Also a gay bathhouse had been operating at

Ruby Ridge Living really, really, really well organized. (If only the Pride Parade could have their entry deadline and line up finalized in December of the previous year!) With that said, cherubs ... I do have a slight issue with the whole revisionist history and exclusion thing. Okay, Okay, you’re

by Ruby Ridge ruby@slmetro.com right. It’s a big issue.

So, munchkins, I appreciate the fact that the LDS piofor those of you neers trekked their way across the counwho missed the try to settle Utah, but it’s not like they Days of ’47 Parade, let me recap the were the only ones who suffered and highlights. They went a little something sacrificed to settle the west. What about like this: motorcycle cops, LDS Church the Native Americans they displaced, dignitaries, handcarts, small children, or the Catholic missions all across the temples, covered wagons, Republicans, southwest? What about the prospecmore motorcycle cops, more handcarts, tors and miners from all over Europe more floats with handcarts, floats with and the Mediterranean? What about the handcarts and covered Asian railroad buildwagons, floats with ers? Someone at LDS handcarts, covered headquarters needs wagons, temples, Reto send a memo that The only things publican LDS Church diversity is not just dignitaries and small missing from this a token Polynesian children. Do you see band, a small band of year’s Mormon a pattern emerging, Spanish dancers and darlings? I tell you, May Day Parade a black gospel choir. it was such a blatant With all the immigrawere the ICBM display of LDS Church tion and demographic authority and image missiles, some shifts facing Utah, the control that the only Days of ’47 Parade goose-stepping things missing from will eventually have to this year’s Mormon soldiers and the concede that nonMay Day Parade were Mormons live in Utah giant portraits of the ICBM missiles, as well. Yes siree Bob, some goose-stepKim Jong-il. that means including ping soldiers and the the Democrats, the giant portraits of Kim hippies, the Mexicans, Jong-il. the Catholics, and the Now before you fire fruits and the lesbos up the angry e-mails accusing moi of being completely negative, I will say this. in the parade line up right alongside the ten floats reinterpreting the Mormon There are so many things that the Days crickets and seagulls miracle AGAIN! of ’47 organizers do really well. The fact And you know dang well that Carole that they can get thousands of spectaMikita will just FREAK! tors and participants in and out of Salt Anyway, pumpkins, I would donate Lake City smoothly without a replica of hard-earned cash to the Salt Lake Men’s the Nauvoo Temple taking out a scout Choir to enter a float in next year’s Days pack is a credit to their years of experience and organization. They have a huge of ’47 Parade. Let’s face it—our talented little volunteer choir has performed in volunteer base, financial sponsorships the National Cathedral in DC, at the Gay for days, and logistically the parade is Games in Australia, and in various venues across Utah for years. If they don’t fit the organizers definition of pioneers facing adversity, then I want to know who the heck does? Perhaps the Men’s Choir could sing Barbara Streisand’s “Evergreen.” Just a thought ... Ciao, kittens!

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Days of ’47 Charade

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 seeing every Ford Focus driving suburban geek overcompensating by wearing Orange County Chopper and West Coast Chopper T shirts. Face it…when your logo is on Stretch and Grow babies pajamas at K-Mart…your time as a bad ass icon is up! Let it go!

How Does This Gay Wedding Stuff Work?

One Couple’s Experience Planning a Wedding

AUGUST 4, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 17

by JoSelle Vanderhooft joselle@slmetro.com Ask most gay and lesbian couples intent on tying the knot and they’ll tell you wedding planning can be a real headache. Not just because the right caterers and photographers can be hard to find, but because only a few places in the country will perform a legal, binding ceremony.

For Mary Beecher and her partner Louise Jensen (names changed by request), finding a county where an out-of-state couple could get hitched was the biggest challenge of all.

“We looked at going to San Francisco and decided it would be better to go up to Multanomah County,” says Beecher, who married her partner of seven years in summer 2004. “And then it seemed too iffy, like [marriages there might not be legalized].”

After talking things over with Jensen, the couple decided to fly into Massachusetts. Here they faced another challenge: Governor Mitt Romney’s use of a 1912 anti-miscegination law to prevent out-of-state couples from marrying in Massachusetts.

“I was in a pretty big funk over that because it seemed like we couldn’t do it,” Beecher said. But through a series of phone calls to the state’s Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Beecher got some good news.

“I spoke with someone there and she said, ‘I understand in Provincetown they’re still marrying out-of-state couples,’” Beecher remembers. “So I called the Provincetown town offices, and was told that the council members there had taken a vote and basically said we have never discriminated against out of state couples in any of our laws and we’re not going to start now.”

The couple packed their bags and headed for Provincetown, informally known as the country’s most gay-friendly city. Unable to stay in state for the mandatory four-day waiting period, the couple got a judge to sign a waiver and filled out the forms at the clerk’s office.

“We were staying at a bed and breakfast thanks to generous friends who gave that as a wedding gift, because we blew all our money in Boston,” Beecher laughs. “The proprietor of the very gay-friendly bed and breakfast took pictures. We didn’t have to have a witness, so it was just the two of us and the justice of the peace on the grounds of the B and B.” On returning to Utah, however, the couple decided they wanted to hold “some kind of party” for their friends and family. So they held a small reception at Cactus and Tropicals, a local exotic garden and green house which Beecher describes as “very gay-friendly” as well as “really a beautiful place.”

“You couldn’t pay to have beautiful fountains and lush orchids and statuary and benches surrounding you,” she recalls.

The couple printed their own invitations, which they sent to family members, friends and several of Beecher’s co-workers. To save money, Beecher convinced some friends to cook a delicious Italian dinner. The small gathering was relaxed and casual; both women chose to wear nice pant suits in lieu of typical “gowns and tuxedos,” and the highpoint of the evening was cutting the wedding cake, as opposed to a more traditional first dance.

Like many married couples, straight and gay, they also registered for gifts.

Still, Beecher says that she and Jensen preferred to keep the reception simple because the celebration was secondary to “being able to get married legally.”

“People later asked why we got married and asked about benefits and politics and things like that,” says Beecher. “I just said people got married for the same reasons that anybody gets married. We wanted to marry one another. We wanted to bind our lives and make that commitment to be together. I want to take care of her. That’s my bottom line. I want to be there for her and take care of her.”

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Who Will Help Us Get Married?

by Brendan Shumway brendan@slmetro.com Despite recent decisions within the state legislature and Salt Lake County Council concerning same-gender unions, a nod toward the approval of gay marriage seems to be taking place in many parts of the world, with the legalization of same-gender marriages in Spain and Canada most recently at the forefront of the gay marriage debate.

Regardless of law prohibiting the recognition of any union other than a marriage between a man and a woman, many couples are increasingly making a statement of their commitment through ceremonies like that of their heterosexual counterparts.

But in a conservative and mono-culturally dominated society such as Utah, the challenge of planning such a union between members of the same gender can seem a daunting task.

When Carmell and Janece Hoopes-Clark decided four years ago that marriage was the next step for their relationship, the first step they took was to invest in a planning guide specific to gay weddings.

“We felt that there were more questions and issues to be asked in a gay wedding, as it doesn’t follow traditional standards,” they said. “The book brought a lot to our attention that helped in our planning.”

A leading issue cited was the fact that some vendors may not feel comfortable with or approve of providing services to same-gender unions. However, as acceptance for gay marriages increase and markets are created, many of them will not openly voice a problem with providing services on the basis of gaining a customer and making a profit.

One of the most important and personal aspects of any nuptial ceremony is the exchange of rings, the buying of which often requires the presence of both parties, adding to the uncertainty of a couple’s perception of how they might be treated.

Billy Day, a gay jewelry salesman who has worked locally at a number of nationally-owned jewelry stores, claims that while sales are money based and motivated, retailers are customer-service oriented and would be reluctant to turn down a sale on the basis of sexual orientation.

“Most places I’ve worked have had specific policies in place that bar anyone from discriminating against customers,” Day said. We usually work with two or three same-sex couples a week, and try to treat everyone with the same respect.“ While some couples may have the luxury of knowing people who can provide professional services, other matters may have to be hired out, requiring the use of vendors from the general public who may not always be receptive to the idea of same-gender ceremonies. The Hoopes-Clarks had friends who provided a place for the ceremony, photography and videography, but were left to find vendors who could supply formal wear, catering and floral arrangements.

Rather than giving in to a procession of cold

calling inquiries and subject themselves to pre-conceived judgment of prospective vendors and retailers, the couple decided that initial face-to-face contact with those involved was a better idea.

“We decided it was better just to show up, be ourselves and hope that everything would be okay. By being open and friendly with people, they responded by being friendly back.”

Whether in person or over the phone, reactions towards same-gender unions can have varied results, positive or negative.

Local queer resources like the Lavender Book can also be helpful in finding companies that can provide supplies for ceremonies, but in many cases listings are limited to what services can be provided, leaving few options other than using local traditional wedding suppliers. Wedding planners and reception houses that offer full wedding services can also be an option when it comes to negotiating merchants open to the idea of a gay wedding.

Mary Lynn Porter, manager of the Silvercrest reception center in Sandy says that while she has fielded calls from queer couples inquiring about holding ceremonies and is open to the idea, she has not had any couples take it past the initial phone call.

“We are completely open to having gay or lesbian ceremonies here,” she said.

“There isn’t much difference between gay or straight wedding, just the ceremony and the reception after.”

On top of the services they offer, they work with a number of people such as photographers and florists. “It wouldn’t be hard to find those that are comfortable working with a same-sex couple.”

While no legal form of civil unions or marriage exist yet for same-gender couples in Utah, those willing to put aside legislative differences and support the symbolic commitment between two people is increasing. The important thing to remember is that it’s your wedding and you should have what you want.

What You Need to Know About Gay Weddings

by Charlotte Eulette For many partners in a same gender relationship, holding a commitment ceremony is a clear decision as it enables the couple to declare their love among family and friends in a formalized manner. How to actually create one, however, may be a little less clear. It is essential that a commitment ceremony gets to the essence of your bond.

Your partnership should be reflected in every aspect of the ceremony—from what you wear, to what is said, to the venue/location where you hold it.

Following are several suggestions on how to create a commitment ceremony that will be true to your relationship and one that you will cherish for years to come.

ANNOUNCE YOUR CEREMONY: any way that feels right for the two of you. Be happy and proud to print your invitation to say any of the following in describing your ceremony: A Commitment Ceremony, a Wedding Ceremony, a Union Ceremony or a Marriage Ceremony.

EXPRESS YOURSELVES: Have your ceremony express in words, poetry, music and symbols how you feel about one another, your hopes and dreams for the future, your similarities and differences and the journey that brought you both together.

YOUR PRESENTATION: Both of you can enter the room together or separately to the music or song you both love. You can also

have one or both of your parents or a special person in your life “present you.” Your wedding Celebrant can write a presentation piece to honor this moment in your ceremony.

INCLUDE YOUR GUESTS: In addition to your own personal vows, ask your guests to pledge their support too, by promising their love and support for your union together.

PUT IT IN WRITING: Include the signing of a commitment certificate in your ceremony.

Your Celebrant will invite your witnesses and the two of you to sign a certificate that states in a formal way your union. Your certificate can be a beautifully designed document and can also be made larger to include the signatures of all your guests.

CANDLE LIGHTS: Candles have been used throughout the ages in many different ways. Consider them celebratory. If you would like to light a marriage unity candle, go ahead. In fact, borrow any and all symcontinued on page 22

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THE GAY AGENDA HOWIE DAY See Thursday, August 4

by Eric Tierney, eric@slmetro.com

4THURSDAY Howie Day writes the kind of songs that you put on when you’ve invited the guy home after the third date and are just about to put the moves on him—melodies worthy of Leonard Cohen and a voice like a nice Maker’s Mark Manhattan. If you missed him when he opened for Tori Amos at the E Center a few years ago, check him out when he hits Salt Lake tonight.

8pm, Capitol Theatre, 50 W 200 South. Tickets $20 at 355-2787 or arttix.org.

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5FRIDAY The Deer Valley Music Festival continues tonight with the marvelous Muir Quartet performing three chamber pieces—one of them Beethoven’s lovely No. 12—in the equally lovely St. Mary’s Church in Park City. String quartets are marvelous things for a variety of reasons: I have a friend who says that listening to the vibrations produced by a really good cellist have the same effect on her as the vibrations that come from the appliance she keeps in her nightstand. So, you know, bear that in mind.

7:30pm, St. Mary’s of the Assumption Church1505 White Pine Canyon Road, Park City. Tickets $20 at 355-2787 or arttix.org.

For those of you who think Beethoven is simply…not loud enough, I offer an

excellent alternative: Motley Crue will be smoking in the boys’ room tonight in Salt Lake City. Come on out and shout at the devil, kids. You’ll feel better.

6pm, USANA Amphitheatre, 5400 S 6200 West, West Valley City. Tickets $26-$71 at 487-TIXX or smithstix.com.

Utah photographer Tom Szalay has been making images for more than thirty years. His work includes news, portraits, landscapes, nudes and street photography, all of it highly personal and very beautiful. A retrospective of his work opens tonight as part of Ogden’s First Friday Art Stroll—a reception will feature live music and light refreshments. A compelling reason to go to Ogden!

Reception tonight at 5; exhibit runs Fridays, 5:00-9:00; Saturdays, from noon-8:00 pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 5:00-8:00 pm through August 20th at Universe City Department of Visual Arts. 2556 Washington Blvd., Ogden. Admission is free; information and private viewings at 458-8959.

6SATURDAY Now here’s a sentence you never though you’d read: Tonight, the Utah Symphony’s Deer Valley Music Festival is pleased to present ... Air Supply! This is not a joke: the boys will be crooning “Even the Nights are Better” tonight onstage at Deer Valley. I can’t imagine how such a thing has come about—if the Symphony is trying to generate new audiences, you

think they’d book a band that people, you know, listen to. But what the hell.

“Here I Am” live? I’ll take it!

Deer Valley, 2250 Deer Valley Drive South, Park City. Tickets $24, 355-2787 or arttix.org

You know the kid at concerts with the dreads and mangy beard, flailing about by himself in the front row? One of his favorite bands is probably 311. The boys are bringing their groovy blend of rock, funk and reggae to us tonight. If you’re allergic to patchouli, you are strongly encouraged to stay away.

6:30pm, USANA Amphitheatre, 5400 S 6200 West, West Valley City. Tickets $38 at 487TIXX or smithstix.com.

Every Sunday morning I listen to NPR’s Weekend Edition, and every week I find myself getting exasperated with the dolts who struggle with the answer to Puzzle Master Will Shortz’s on-air word games. “Come on, ya gits,” I yell, “this isn’t that hard!” Then Will describes the complex puzzle he wants us all to work on by ourselves for the next week, and I suddenly feel barely verbal. You think you got jumble skills? Think you can crossword? Take your challenge to Will at his appearance tonight at the City Library, a presentation of the Dewey Lecture series.

7:30pm, City Library Auditorium, Library Square. Admission is free and tickets are available in advance; for information call 524-8200.

7SUNDAY Every year, 10,000 chefs, food purveyors and food lovers get together in 65 U.S. cities to eat and raise money to fight hunger. Utah joins the effort today at Utahns Against Hunger’s Taste of Nations: 45 restaurants and pastry chefs from Utah institutions like Lugano, Tuscany, the Paris Bistro, Stein Erickson Lodge and the Red Iguana will come together beside the creek at Solitude for a casual summer feast. There’s something ironic about having a giant dinner to raise money for hunger ... but let’s talk about it while we eat.

12pm to 4pm. Tickets range from $60 to $550 and all ticket proceeds benefit local anti-hunger and anti-poverty programs; information and tickets at 328-2561

8MONDAY

7:30 p.m., Utah Cultural Celebration Center, 1355 W 3100 South, West Valley City. Ticket information not available at press time; information at 965-5108.

9TUESDAY Tell you what. All I’m going to say here is that the Art Access Gallery has a show

10am-5pm, Monday-Friday though August 12, Art Access Gallery, 339 W. Pierpont Avenue, information at.328.0703

11THURSDAY It’s always fun when a band that had one or two hits comes around a few years later and you get to go and see them on the cheap, singing along to the well known tunes, and hitting on people during the others. That’s why you should check out Lifehouse tonight.

7:30pm, In the Venue, 219 S 600 West.

Tickets $17 in advance, $20 day of show, at 487-TIXX or smithstix.com

If you don’t think Sawyer Brown’s version of “The Winner Loses All” is one of the greatest country recordings ever, then you just ain’t my kind of people. This is country music as God intended: loud, rollicking, low-brow and a hell of a good time. Grab the hip-flask and your Stetson and head up to Weber County. Gay rodeo belt-buckles strongly encouraged.

8pm, Golden Spike Events Center, Weber County Fairgrounds, 1000 North 1200 West Ogden. Tickets $20-$30 at 487-TIXX or smithstix.com.

12FRIDAY It’s that time again! Gay Bingo night at the Center—come on down and practice for what will become your primary activity after retirement. Tonight we’re playing out on the lawn, so be sure to bring a blanket, beach mat, or chair. Or a hemorrhoid cushion—again: practice, practice, practice!

7pm-9pm, the Center, 361 N 300 West. Admission is free, information at 539-8800.

13SATURDAY You’re a great father/uncle/babysitter.

You enjoy your/other people’s children.

You are constantly on the lookout for stimulating, creative outings that are not tied into a breakfast cereal and do not include adults dressed in furry costumes or. This afternoon you might check out Claymation Station. A co-presentation of the Children’s Museum of Utah and Spy Hop Productions, the event will teach kids to create, produce and direct short claymation films—with their very own hand-made clay figures and set design. How much cooler is making your own film than going to see the latest Pixar? Get ready for some hugging.

9:30-3:30pm, Children’s Museum of Utah, 840 N 300 West. Cost is $500, registration and information at 328-3383.

16TUESDAY How far is heaven? Not far at all tonight.

One of last year’s biggest breakout bands, Los Lonely Boys, are hitting the stage tonight at Deer Valley. The band, made

up of three brothers, has created a sound that includes a little bit of everything: Tex-Mex, blues, country, pop ... the guys call themselves the Mexican Beatles. See them now, before they get to the Ravi Shankar period.

7pm, Deer Valley Resort, 2250 Deer Valley Drive, Park City. Tickets $37 at 487-TIXX or smithstix.com.

17WEDNESDAY Most people, when they reach the age of eighty, are thrilled when they can so much as make it out of the house. Then there’s BB King. The blues master and his trusty Lucille are currently touring in celebration of King’s 80th birthday, and they’re traveling with guests like Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Four hours of the very best in blues; sounds like BB’s giving a gift to us.

6pm, Deer Valley, 2250 Deer Valley Drive South, Park City. Tickets $45 at 355-2787 or arttix.org

UPCOMING Aug. 19–20 Pridaho, Pocatello, Idaho, pridaho.org Aug 19–21 Utah Gay Rodeo Association Wild West Roundup Payson Canyon, ugra.net Aug 20–21, Reno Gay Pride, Reno, Nevada, renogaypride.com Aug 20–21 Salt Lake Metro’s Hot August Weekend: Aug. 20, Out-Rage-Ous—Raging Waters Day, Salt Lake City Aug. 21, Out in the Park—Lagoon Day, Farmington Aug. 27–28, Southern Utah Pride, Springdale Aug 29–Sept 5, Burning Man Festival, Black Rock Desert in Nevada, burningman.com Sept. 8–11, Salt Lake Metro’s Gay Wendover Weekend, slmetro.com/wendover

AUGUST 4, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 21

Admit it—like everyone else in the world, you’re a shamefaced closet folk music junkie. You also can’t get enough cowboy poetry. There is no need to live in darkness any longer, my friend. Come join your ilk tonight in West Valley City for a concert by folk trio Blue Sage, who will perform with Cowboy Poet Don Kennington. The range, horses, people with two first names ... I think I need help.

right now called Art in the Box, comprised of the mixed media work of a very talented artist named Marcee Blackerby.

Here’s the fun part: now you go to the gallery, knowing nothing about the work, entirely open to a brand new subjective art experience. Not bad for a Tuesday afternoon, right?

What You Need to Know About Gay and Lesbian Wedding Ceremonies Continued from page 19

bols and rituals and make them your own.

WHAT TO WEAR: Wear what makes you feel good and comfortable. Find the colors that you like and incorporate them into your ceremony, your invites, attire and décor.

Have your celebrant dress to compliment your style as well.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Rehearsals are very important. Make sure you rehearse your ceremony, especially your entrance, the ring ceremony, the certificate signing and the recessional. Your celebrant is an expert at this and it should be automatically included in your agreement with him or her.

INCLUDE SOMETHING CREATIVE AND LASTING: If you are having an outdoor ceremony at your home, you might want to include a planting by your guests in your garden so

that the ceremony is remembered from this day forward as love blooms!

The Celebrant USA Foundation is a nonprofit educational institution dedicated to helping families personalize celebrations that mark life’s milestones. Founded thirty years ago in Australia , Celebrants have performed over one million weddings worldwide. Celebrants officiate at virtually every life event, including weddings and commitments, funerals and memorials, and baby namings and adoptions. With a focus on personalizing each ceremony to reflect the needs, beliefs and values of the couple or family, celebrants are trained in the art of celebration, symbolism and tradition.

For more information about the celebrant Foundation or to locate a celebrant near you, visit us at www.celebrantusa.com .

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Music Review: The Mars Volta—Frances the Mute

by Eric J. Tierney eric@slmetro.com Frances the Mute is not music for the faint of heart. This is not the kind of music you might put on in the background while doing the dishes or sing along to as you tool along the highway on a road trip to the beach.

What the Mars Volta have created is a seventy-five minute suite of musical movements that could not properly be categorized as songs, but which have been conceived with such ambition, guts and artistry that they could bring about nothing short of a transformation of music as we know it.

Rock writers consistently tag the band with a “prog rock” label and like to refer to their first two CDs as “concept albums.”

Both are labels that the band vehemently rejects as reductive. Sure, they may resemble Bowie in that they are re-imagining popular music, in that they believe that rock is a high-art form only just now beginning to come into its own and which deserves the kind of respect and attention ordinarily reserved for John Cage or Phillip Glass, but that’s where the similarity to the kind of prog-rock that has gone before them ends. Their sound, their vision, and their style are entirely their own. The music they make could more properly be described as “art rock.”

The results are, to put it benignly, uncompromising. Frances is composed of five tracks, each broken down into as many as five sections, making for more than an hour of uninterrupted sound. The style ranges from the kind of majesty and grace of early Pink Floyd or Zeppelin at their finest, to the kind of near-metal that System of a Down makes, to traditional Latin melodies, rhythms, and instrumentation—and yet the band manages to pull it off without a trace of schizophrenia: everything your ear perceives has clearly been placed there with care and for a reason. Anything that can vibrate is used to create sound for the piece, which integrates noise and distortion into its fabric to create a palette as rich

in texture for the ears as a Jackson Pollock painting is for the eyes. Singer Cedric Bixler Zavala’s voice seems capable of anything, from an insouciant, erotic whisper, to an eerie, insidious falsetto, to a rich, open, powerful tenor release.

The album’s inspiration was a diary found in the back of a repossessed car by a now-deceased friend of the band.

The friend, who was working as a repo man, was struck by the similarity of the anonymous diarist’s life experience to his own—the author had been adopted and was looking for his real parents. The pages told of abandonment, addiction, isolation, and redemption. Bixler Zavala and songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Omar a Rodriguez-Lopez transformed those themes into songs, using names from the diary for each title.

While they are open about the album’s mega-themes, the band is reluctant to let the audience in on too much, keeping many of the lyrics codified and symbolic, asking the listener to do much of the legwork on his own. Indeed, a substantial portion of the album is sung in Spanish.

The Mars Volta was created from the ashes of a previous band, At the Drive-In, which had been hailed as a major player in the modern punk scene. But Bixler-Zavala and Rodriguez-Lopez felt trapped by the limitations of mainstream pop music and the incredibly exploitive industry which surrounds it, so the Volta was born. Their first CD, 2001’s extraordinarily convoluted and difficult De-Loused in the Crematorium, was a major critical and popular success—to the collective shock of the band, the industry, and the listeners. With Frances the Mute, the band is continuing on that innovative trajectory. Frances is the musical equivalent of a Faulkner novel— awing, powerful, elusive, and, ultimately, enormously satisfying. The prog-rock revolution that the seventies promised us is finally here—and the Mars Volta is leading the charge.

Caffé Molise

by Vanessa Chang vanessa@slmetro.com 55 W. 100 South, Salt Lake City, (801) 364-8833 Mon.–Thur. 11:30am–2:00pm; 5:30–9:00pm Fri. 11:30am–2:00pm; 5:30–10:00pm Sat. 5:30–10:00pm

AUGUST 4, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 23

There’s always one foolproof test when it comes to rating Italian restaurants with my friends: gnocchi. In the world according to Mr. R., Mr. Y, and especially our good friend Mr. M (now residing, ironically, in the carb-phobic capital of L.A.), a good Italian restaurant has to offer at least one version of gnocchi. How? They don’t care. Swathe it in nothing but a velvety and artery-clogging mixture of Gorgonzola and butter. Let it macerate in enough pesto to keep your breath volatile for two days. Or, in true gluttonous fashion, transform the entire dish with a tangy tomato sauce and enough cream to make it electric pink. Just give em the gnocchi. So, needless to say, Mr. R. was especially thrilled to see the gnocchi di patate on Caffé Molise’s dinner menu.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m only a seasonal fan of the popular dumpling. The triple-digit heat and unrelenting sunshine, for me, means more pomodoro and less patate. And really, I’m a bitch when it comes to gnocchi. I’ve had phenomenally tender puffs of potato gnocchi. And I’ve had wretched little gut bombs pretending to be it. I’ve even gone as far as to conduct a bona fide gnocchi experiment in a friend’s kitchen (very messy) using different recipes to see what constitutes “the best gnocchi.” So when I go out, I make it a point to ask if it really is that good.

In Caffé Molise’s case, it does a pretty good job. I wouldn’t call it orgasmic. But if you’ve got a craving for the hearty stuff, even in this unrelenting heat, then I suggest you hunker down in the outdoor patio and prepare yourself for a heavy, albeit enjoyable, meal. A pool of tomato-cream sauce acts like a summer frock for these humble little morsels. Toasted pine nuts add a nice textural and flavor contrast in an otherwise potentially boring dish. One thing I’ve discovered in the “great gnocchi experiment” is that different consistencies work best for certain sauces. A barelythere ethereal cloud of gnocchi melts with

cream, sage butter, and cheeses. But you need a bit of heft to ponder the tomato taste; otherwise, it’s reminiscent of baby food. The bite was there. And, hallelujah, the sauce wasn’t overly creamed!

Just as it sits geographically (between Abruzzo and Umbria in central Italy and the southern culinary territory of Puglia), the range of the menu straddles between true Molise and some reaches into the pan-Italian realm of chicken Marsala. The food reflects the terrain of the area—abundant herbs, vegetables, lots of meat and game. A small portion of Molise hugs the Adriatic coast so seafood naturally has a role. Unfortunately, on the Molise menu it comes up short in any sort of glory with a disappointing lobster ravioli featuring obscure chunks of the luxurious shellfish, a cumbersome but attractive pasta dough, and saffron drowned out in canned San Marzano tomatoes.

Stick to land-loving fare. Sausage (salsiccia) plays an important role in the region and it lends itself well to an ample bowl of orecchiette pasta. One of my favorite shapes, these al dente “little ears” of pasta discs are substantial enough for spicy sausages, sweet bell peppers and onions, and earthy wild mushrooms—a lot of flavors in one bite. Either paired with bread in a panini or served atop polenta (another regional classic), the sausage is always a good bet.

Entrées like the bistecca exhibits that universal love for a big slab of meat on a summer day. Involtini di pollo combines two favorites—sun-dried tomatoes and prosciutto—as successful partners with a normally bland chicken breast. And the arista, a pork loin with fig compote, was flavorful enough to wipe the lobster ravioli from mind.

The portions are all hearty. Dessert will seem extravagant after such a meal.

Especially an insanely rich tiramisu, whose ladyfingers could’ve used a little longer soak in the espresso bath on a couple of occasions. The mascarpone cheese is so rich it erases a lot of the moisture from your mouth. Your tongue almost begs for more caffeinated and alcoholic juices from the classic dessert. Maybe I’m just a Marsala wine whore. But when it’s lacking, I think the gelati and sorbetti are better options.

And according to Mr. R, not only did the gnocchi pass the test, so did the goblet of lemon sorbetto.

Red,White Bubbly pioneers’ crops from a ravenous Six Degrees the insect horde of biblical proportions.

OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS are of Rosé on the minds of northern Italians 2 HORDES

by Beau Jarvis beau@slmetro.com

About ten years ago, three college students with too much free time and too much alcohol created the game “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.” The object of the game is to link any actor to Kevin Bacon in less than six degrees or steps. For example, take lovable child star Gary Coleman of Diff ’rent Strokes fame. He has a Bacon number of 2: Gary Coleman was in the film Dirty Work (1998) with Jessica Booker. Ms. Booker was in Cavedweller (2004) with Kevin Bacon. Thus little Gary is only two degrees from Kevin. Fun, eh?

Let’s port the spirit of “Six Degrees” to the world of wine. We’ll be playing “Six Degrees of Rosé.” But not just any rosé, I’m going with the best rosé I’ve had in a long while; it’s called, “Oeil de Perdrix,” from Santa Barbara, California. And instead of an actor, I’ll begin with a local date of interest: July 24, Pioneer Day. JULY 24, PIONEER DAY—This holiday always causes me to think about the great seagull miracle. Wherein voracious Mormon cricket-eating seagulls saved

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these days—especially those winemakers in the province of Alessandria. At this very moment, swarming clouds of locusts are devouring many of the vineyards that produce two of Italy’s treasured wines.

The TREASURED WINES UNDER INSECT SIEGE are tangy red Barbera d’Asti and that delicious dessert treat Moscato d’Asti. By the way, stock up on Chiarlo Barbera d’Asti, ’03 ($14) and Batasiolo Moscato d’Asti, ’03 ($11), as there may not be many grapes left to produce the 2005 vintage. I suppose i viticulturati Italiani could blend the remaining red and white grapes to produce a rosado of sorts.

Of course BLENDING RED WINE AND WHITE WINE doesn’t actually result in rosé per se; it results in blush wine. And blush wines are ignominiously represented by American White Zinfandel. On the other end of the wine-quality spectrum, there are rosé Champagnes made using this blend-red-and-white-together method. However, true rosés are made in an entirely different manner.

Our French friends mastered the ART OF CLASSIC ROSÉ. Red grapes are

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crushed and the resulting juice comes in limited contact with the pigmented grape skins. The pink-tinted juice is then removed and fermented minus grape skins. Tavel is a region in the south of France that is renowned for its rosés (give Chateau d’Aqueria Tavel a try). And, as with most things French, there is a lovely term used to describe Gallic rosé: Oeil de Perdrix, or “eye of the partridge.” It’s true: many partridges do indeed have rosé-colored eyes (I checked the encyclopedia).

And Oeil de Perdrix is the name given to the BEST ROSÉ I’VE SIPPED IN RECENT MEMORY. It’s made in the classic rosé way - with Pinot Noir grapes. The wine is Belle Glos Oeil de Perdrix Pinot Noir Blanc, ’04 ($18). A very French name for a California wine, which tastes more French than Californian. This is a lovely wine and, come to think of it, Belle Glos would actually pair nicely with roasted pheasant (which, by the way, is in the same family as perdrix).

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There—I did it in six. That’s the equivalent of a hole-in-one. So the next time you’re bored and don’t want to play Texas Hold ‘Em or Bunko, pull out a bottle of wine and play “Six Degrees of Rosé,” or “Six Degrees of Cabernet,” or “Six Degrees of Champagne,” or ... you get the point. Cheers!

Beau Jarvis is a sommelier and wine educator.

He operates basicjuice.com, a wine review and info website. He also runs basicjuice.blogs.com

Di ing Guide Dining de Bangkok Thai

Michelangelo Ristorante

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

2156 S, HIGHLAND DR./ 466-0961

Rated “Best Thai” 1992–2005 by local and national press.

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

Persian, Greek, Italian, Turkish and Vegetarian in a warm, relaxing atmosphere.

Cafe Pierpont 122 W. Pierpont Ave. / 364-1222 gastronomyinc.com HOURS: M-TH 11:30AM-10PM F-SA 11:30AM-11PM SU Noon-9PM CUISINE: MEXICAN RESERV.: ACCEPTED FOR 8+ PRICE: $$ CARDS: TC AE D DC MC V

Extensive menu of traditional Mexican favorites served in a festive setting. Sunday Brunch

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

fiddlerselbowslc.com

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

Begun by childhood friends Paulo Celeste and Marco Gabrielli of Tuscany.

Nick-N-Willy’s Pizza 4538 S, HIGHLAND DR./ 273-8282

nicknwillyspizza.com HOURS: CUISINE: PRICE:

SU-TH 11AM-10PM F-SA 11AM-12PM PIZZA $ CARDS: AE D MC V

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

Albertsons Shopping Ctr.

Orbit Cafe 540 W. 200 S. / 322-3808 orbitslc.com HOURS: SU-TH 11AM-10PM F-SA 11AM-3AM CUISINE: AMERICAN ECLECTIC PRICE: $ CARDS: TC AE D MC V

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

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

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

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

Voted as Utah’s Best Pizza two years in a row! Great beer selection. Sugarhouse.

32 beers, including Utah’s best selection of microbrews.

123 S. WEST TEMPLE / 484-1804 HOURS: M-TH 11:30AM-9:30PM FR 11AM-3:30AM SA 8AM-3:30AM CUISINE: AMERICAN PRICE: $ CARDS: TC AE D MC V

HOURS:

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

Spice Restaurant

The art of healthy eating. Open late nights on weekends.

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

The Original See our coupon!

Market Street Grill 48 W. Market St. / 322-4668 gastronomyinc.com HOURS: OPEN M-F 6:30AM SA 7AM, SU 9AM CLOSED MO-TH 10PM FR-SA 11PM SU 9:30PM CUISINE: STEAK/SEAFOOD RESERV.: ACCEPTED PRICE: $$ CARDS: TC AE D DC MC V

A well-deserved reputation as Salt Lake’s finest seafood restaurant. Sunday brunch.

1751 S 1100 EAST / 483-2971 HOURS: M-SA 11AM–7PM CUISINE: SANDWICHES PRICE: $ CARDS: TC AE D DC MC V

Now scoopin’ Spotted Dog Creamery Ice Cream.

TC–TRAVELERS CHECKS, AE–AMERICAN EXPRESS, D–DISCOVER, DC–DINER’S CLUB, MC–MASTERCARD, V–VISA ¢=0-$10, $=$11-$20, $$=$21-30, $$$=31-40.

AUGUST 4, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 25

Classifieds 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 463-4828 for an appointment.

FOR SALE BONNEVILLE GARDENS 3 Bedroom 2 Bath Manufactured Homes Starting at $620 per month-1st 3 months Rent Free! 705 South Redwood Rd. Call Steve at 801-973-8987 SUGARHOUSE Bungalow. Remodeled 3 bed, 1 bath with hdwd floors.

Perfect location at 1014 Elm Avenue. Call Dustin 898-0657.

FOR RENT CAPITOL HILL N Main Street. Clean, quiet, 2 bedroom basement apt. Off street parking, laundry, and storage.

No pets, no smoking. $600/month, heat & water included. Call 359-0718.

DONT RENT—BUY! All credit accepted, Connie 801-347-2956 MURRAY Condo, 900 E 4500 S. $835/month.

3 Bdrm, 2 1/2 bath, 1 car garage, A/C, w/d, new carpet/paint. NO PETS, NO SMOKING. Credit/background check. $800 deposit w/1st month rent free.

Call Glen @ 918-8944.

AVENUES ELEGANT restoration. 165 A Street. Main floor of historic home. 1600 sq ft. Formal dining, pantry, fireplace in kitchen, dishwasher, lg laundry with w/d, bathtub/shower stall, patio, offstreet parking.

No Dogs! $1250/mth. All utls pd. 359-7814.

ROOMMATES WANTED PROVO GAY roommate wanted to share an apartment. 1303 N Riverside Ave #32 Provo, 84601.

DOWNTOWN GAY roommate wanted. 2 bdrm, 1 bath condo.

Completely furnished.

HS Internet, cable, A/C, garage, great view. No Smokers/No Drugs! $325/month $150 Dep. Call 355-1762, leave msg.

AIRPORT/DOWNTOWN. Male to share large furnished home.

No smoking, no pets. $350/month Call 6318110.

MIDVALE SHARE 4 bdrm house. 2 rooms available. $400/month plus 1/2 utilities. Call Jamie at 566-2508 or 582-1457.

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.

MISC. STUFF ARE YOU HIV+?

Pride Counseling has restarted a Therapy/ Support Group for men who are HIV infected and seeking support from others in similar situations. For information please call Jerry Buie LCSW at 801-5950666 TIRED OF THE BAR LIFE? Pride Counseling is offering a Gay Men’s Therapy/Support Group. Gay men often find that their options to socialize limited to clubs and bars. Most insurance companies billed, sliding fee scale.

For information please call Jerry Buie LCSW at 801-595-0666.

ADVERTISE IN the Salt Lake Metro Classifieds.

A great value starting at $15 per ad. Call 3239500 for info.

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

Please send me: 13 issues (6 months) / $14.95 26 issues (one year) / $26.95

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*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 801.323-9500. Subscriptions are sent the day of printing via third class mail.

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

Service Guide ATTORNEYS 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

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES MEINEKE CAR Care Center.

2190 W 3500 S WVC 9730860 EOE. Fine service, Fine price. 10% discount with this ad! Exhaust, brakes, a/c, CV joints, oil changes, shocks, etc.

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES 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

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

MASSAGE UNBELIEVABLE MASSAGE Athletic Male Therapists, 440-5851 Contact 641-4009 BEST THERAPISTS, best price, best place, best hours, call 486-5500 Pride Massage 1800 S. West Temple # A224 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

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 GAY WINE GROUP. 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

Comics A COUPLE OF GUYS by Dave Brousseau

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

BITTER GIRL by Joan Hilty

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 harmredux.org NEW IN TOWN or interested in meeting new friends?

Come to sWerve Monthlies, 3rd Saturday of each month, GLBT Center. Info 539-8800 ext. 25 or www.swerveutah. com (join email list!)

ADAM AND ANDY by James Asal

SLMETRO — Join the Salt Lake Metro Yahoo Group at groups.yahoo.com/group/ slmetro

LMT#98212332470

#5608006

RESOURCES DO YOU Work at CONVERGYS? Would you like to meet with some of your GLBT co-workers? Join the GLBT Convergys Yahoo Group!

Go to: http://groups.yahoo. com/group/cvg-glbt/ and sign up. If you have any questions,you may email the group owner at: cvg-glbtowner@yahoogroups.com

AUGUST 4, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 27

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