Metro | 20 | Sept 28, 2005 by QSaltLake Magazine

Utah’s Gay and Lesbian Biweekly Newspaper Volume 2 ■ Issue 20 September 28–October 12

Out Gays Being Sent to Combat

Despite ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ and Pentagon Denials

Rocky Signs City Health Benefits City council may water down benefits to unmarried couples

‘Silencing Gay Voices’ Poster Causes Uproar Eagle Forum Collegians bring Evergreen to SLCC

University of Utah to Hold Pride 2005 Theme is ‘Breaking Through’ Kate Kendell Reflects on Progress Made in Utah Ruby in a Dither About ‘Ripples of Hope’ Gay Agenda

News WORLD AND NATIONAL

Military Official Admits Out Gays Sent to Combat by Michael Aaron

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michael@slmetro.com

Santa Barbara, Calif.—An official military spokesperson has acknowledged that the Pentagon is sending openly gay service members into combat in Iraq. Kim Waldron, of the U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort McPherson, said that, “The bottom line is some people are using sexual orientation to avoid deployment. So in this case, with the Reserve and Guard forces, if a soldier ‘tells,’ they still have to go to war and the homosexual issue is postponed until they return to the U.S. and the unit is demobilized.” Waldron’s statements were reported in the Sept. 23 edition of the Washington Blade. Waldron’s comments follow the discovery of a controversial regulation halting the discharge of gay soldiers in units that are about to be mobilized. That regulation, contained in a 1999 “Reserve Component Unit Commander’s Handbook” and still in effect, states that if a discharge for homosexual conduct is requested “prior to the unit’s receipt of alert notification, discharge isn’t authorized. Member will enter AD [active duty] with the unit.” The 1999 document was obtained by researchers at the Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military, a think tank at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Although the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy remains in effect, Waldron’s acknowledgement appears to confirm that in some cases, the Pentagon ignores the law by retaining service members who say that they are gay. Statistics confirm that during the present war, as has been the case in every war since World War II, gay discharges have fallen during the conflict and then increased during peacetime. However, prior to Waldron’s acknowledgement, official spokespersons often denied that the military intentionally sends gays to fight despite the existence of a gay ban. According to Aaron Belkin, director of the CSSMM, “The military has claimed for years that allowing openly gay and lesbian service members to serve in uniform would undermine unit cohesion. During wartime, however, when cohesion is most important, the Pentagon retains gays and lesbians.” Gay soldiers and legal groups have reported for years that known gays are sent into combat and then discharged when the conflicts end. Discharge statistics corroborate a pattern of rising expulsions during peacetime and plummeting rates during military conflicts, and Pentagon

statistics confirm that, as has been the case in every war since World War II, gay discharges have declined during the current conflict in the Middle East. But the Pentagon has consistently denied that it sends gays to fight despite the existence of a gay ban and some observers have insisted there is no evidence of such a practice. During the first Gulf War, Pentagon spokesman, Bill Caldwell, said the military would “absolutely not” send gays to war and discharge them when the conflict ends. “The policy on gays continues that homosexuality is incompatible with military service,” he said. Shortly after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, a Pentagon spokesman said that the military was not modifying its regulations on gay troops. “There is no policy that would generate a change in the standards or in the administrative due process for [Pentagon] programs,” said James Turner, “including the department’s management of homosexual conduct policies as prescribed in law.” And a May, 2005 study by the Congressional Research Service says that although gay discharges do decline during wartime, the decrease is the result of “random fluctuations in the data,” not an intentional Pentagon policy of retaining gays during wars. The co-author of that report, David Burrelli, testified before Congress in 1993 that the Congressional Research Service “has been unable to confirm or deny” that known gays were sent to the Persian Gulf, and that the military has “taken the approach of excluding all admitted homosexuals.” The discovered handbook regulations and Waldron’s acknowledgement contradict all of these pronouncements. Bridget Wilson, an expert on military law, said the handbook shows “how arbitrary and capricious the law is.” The policy says that if gay troops reveal their sexual orientation, they must be fired. But these regulations say that if someone comes out as gay, a commander “can discount that statement in one context and not in another.” He can “choose to ignore that statement as being said solely to avoid duty and send that person on. But he wouldn’t have to make a finding that the statement was false, only that the person said it to avoid duty.” Thus it is fully possible that avowed gays would be sent to active duty. “If you’re knowingly sending gay people into a war zone,” said Wilson, “doesn’t that vitiate your policy?”

Gay Iranian Escapes Death After Flogging by Benjamin Cohen A 22 year-old Iranian, known only as Amir, has escaped his home country after being subjected to 100 lashes that left his back covered in huge, bloody welts. The state’s religious police identified him as being gay following an undercover investigation. Officers posed as gay men on an Internet chatroom and lured Amir to meet for a date. They promptly arrested him and he was summarily convicted of homosexuality and sentenced to 100 lashes, which were carried out privately in prison. On release, Amir was placed under surveillance and he alleges was threatened with death by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Brett Lock, a spokesperson for OutRage! said, “This is a further example of the violent homophobia of Iran’s Islamic fundamentalist regime. OutRage! is appalled that large sections of liberal and left opinion in the West shows little concern regarding the murderous brutality of the clerical fascist regime in Tehran.” Lock went on to say that OutRage! deplored the gullibility of many gay, left and human rights groups concerning the abuse of LGBT human rights in Iran. “Too many are willing to believe the smears and slurs of the Iranian government and state-approved newspapers like Qods,” he said. “When two young men were executed for same-sex acts in the Iranian city of Mashad in July, some left and human rights organizations accepted at face value claims by the state-controlled media that the youths were hanged for rape. Similar gullibility has been shown by some left-

wingers. They have long swallowed Iran’s homophobic propaganda.” Iran, led by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has executed an estimated 3000 gay men since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

Shaq Assists in Arrest of Miami Gay Basher by Ross von Metzke Miami Beach, Fla.—Miami Heat center Shaquille O’Neal is getting high praise for an assist off the courts after tracking a suspect which led to the arrest of an alleged gay basher over the weekend. The 7-foot-1 basketball and film star, who is currently in training to become a Miami Beach reserve officer, was driving through South Beach about 3:00 A.M. Sunday when he saw the suspect, a passenger in a silver Honda, yell anti-gay slurs at a gay couple, said Bobby Hernandez, spokesman for the Miami Beach Police Department. The suspect, 18-year old Michael Gonzalez, then got out of the car and threw a bottle, hitting one of the pedestrians, who was not seriously hurt. The man then got back in the car and sped off, but O’Neal followed. “He flagged down the Miami Beach officer on duty there, and the officer was able to apprehend the subject,” Hernandez said. Gonzalez was arrested on charges of aggravated assault and assault with a deadly weapon. The Honda’s driver was not charged. O’Neal, who hopes to be a police chief or county sheriff one day, was already being fitted for his Miami Beach police uniform before the incident.

Oregon High School Forced to New York’s Gay Penguins Cancel Matthew Shepard Play Call it Quits After Six Years Portland, Ore.—A Portland, Ore. high school principal has canceled a community meeting scheduled to discuss her decision to pull the plug on a school production of The Laramie Project, which has been performed at schools across the United States in the years following the murder of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard. Southridge High School Principal Amy Gordon said Wednesday’s meeting was called off to give herself and the rest of the school’s staff a chance to review the play and its implications. “We need time to review things in a timely manner,” Gordon said. The Laramie Project chronicles the true story of Matthew Shepard, the 21-yearold gay college student who was severely beaten, abused and subsequently died in Laramie, Wyoming seven years ago. Gordon said she called off the play last week because of growing concerns over the use of profanity and sexual content. Wednesday’s meeting was scheduled to allow the community to air their grievances over the play’s cancellation. Gordon said that instead of the meeting, she will form a review committee, comprised of students, teachers and local residents. The production pieces together the events surrounding the killing through the reactions of numerous residents of Laramie and has been used as an educational tool in high schools and colleges across the country. Locally, Plan B Theatre Company produced a successful run of The Laramie Project in 2001—RVM

New York, NY—First Brad and Jen, then Renee and Kenny. And now, one of New York City’s best-known gay couples is calling it quits after a six-year union. Silo and Roy, two male chinstrap penguins who have been living together and have been studied by scientists and scholars from around the world, have ended their six years living together as husband and husband. Zoologists first took notice of their relationship in 1999 when the pair were attempting to incubate a rock as if it were their own chick. Later, when zookeepers found an egg that had been abandoned by its mother, Silo and Roy were given the egg to look over. The pair successfully hatched and raised their adopted chick and have since inspired six other gay penguin couples to “come out” at New York’s Central Park Zoo. However, in recent months, Silo’s eye has wandered to Scrappy, a single female who arrived earlier this year from San Diego’s Sea World. Last month, Silo moved out of his and Roy’s nest and moved in with Scrappy. In 2002, inspired by worldwide news coverage of Silo and Roy’s romance, a zoo in Amsterdam began conducting gay tours where visitors could see all of the zoo’s gay animals up close. Zookeepers have yet to discuss whether a divorce settlement has been reached. —RVM

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News LOCAL AND REGIONAL

by JoSelle Vanderhooft joselle@slmetro.com

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Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson signed an executive order Sept. 21 making the city the first Utah government to extend insurance benefits to city employees’ domestic partners—gay and straight. “This order is in effect now,” he said at the public signing. “Our staff will now work with the insurance administrator to get benefits in place.” The insurance administrator in question is the Public Employees Health Program (PEHP), which provides insurance benefits to state and Salt Lake County employees. One day before the signing, the organization withdrew its support after working closely with the city for months to develop the plan. According to PEHP representatives, the organization now wants to wait for a judge to rule on the legality of the plan before proceeding. “We felt like it was a contract issue, it was only a matter of amending our current con-

tract,” Jodi Langford, city benefits administrator, told the Salt Lake Tribune on September 21. But when the mayor’s signing of the bill seemed eminent, Langford said she received a call from PEHP’s attorney. According to her, the attorney said, “Based on articles from the paper, we have received pressures from individuals, so we just think it’s in our best interest to seek this [court] opinion.” At the signing, Anderson called PEHP’s decision to back out “frustrating.” “I think they got spooked by some of the news stories from some legislators and Amendment 3 proponents that are seeking to renege on promises they made during the campaign,” he said. Though Jeffrey Jensen, PEHP’s deputy director, told the Tribune that he did not know of any direct pressure, he said that Rep. LaVar Christensen’s mention of “certain interpretations of certain laws” had “caused us to pause.” The Draper Republican has called the mayor’s plan illegal in several

MICHAEL AARON

Anderson Signs Domestic Partner Benefits Order Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson (seated) surrounded by press and gay and lesbian advocates after signing an executive order extending health care benefits to gay and nongay unmarried city employee couples.

interviews. The state constitution was amended in 2004 to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman and to prohibit the state from recognizing or giving legal effect “to any law creating any legal status, rights, benefits or duties that are substantially equivalent” to those provided to married couples. “The current law is so clear and sufficient it’s flagrant for [Anderson] to violate known public policy,” Christensen said. In the past, he has also said that the legislature may consider passing legislation to block the benefits if Anderson’s order went through. Still, Anderson said he is confident the legislature will not make such a move. “I think our legislators would think twice about passing some kind of legislation that was punitive and discriminatory,” he said. “I doubt they would want to backtrack to try to deprive cities the opportunity to extend benefits equally to their employees.” Attorneys from Salt Lake City and County have said that the mayor’s proposal is legal. In August, Anderson said he wanted to have the benefits program in place by November. Recent estimates, including those reached by the PEHP, have indicated that extending the benefits may cost as much as $113,000. Questions about who can access the benefits have also surfaced. When asked if anyone could add their “best buddy” to the health insurance policy, Anderson said the new benefits would be limited to domestic partners only. “There are criteria on the forms that you will need to sign,” he said. “One of the criterion is that you must show that you are in a committed, long-term relationship with joint ownership of certain types of property, such as a mortgage.” “You must have proof that you have been living together for a minimum of six months,” he added.

Utah State Marriage Law 30-1-4.1. MARRIAGE RECOGNITION POLICY. (1) (a) It is the policy of this state to recognize as marriage only the legal union of a man and a woman as provided in this chapter. (b) Except for the relationship of marriage between a man and a woman recognized pursuant to this chapter, this state will not recognize, enforce, or give legal effect to any law creating any legal status, rights, benefits, or duties that are substantially equivalent to those pro-

Anderson also disagreed with criticism that his order would weaken the institution of marriage. “It actually strengthens [it],” he said. “It is interesting that in Vermont, where they have domestic partnerships, most people polled support it. Before the partnerships were offered, most didn’t support them. I think it is a fear of change, but once made and the obstacles overcome, people realize that it doesn’t change their personal relationships. It doesn’t affect their lives in any negative way. It allows us as a society to move forward with greater dignity and awareness.”

Governor Has No Plans to Extend Benefits Statewide In his monthly press conference, Utah Governor Jon Huntsman said he is not considering offering health benefits to the state’s unmarried workers, as Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson has done in the capital city. “I have no plans on issuing an executive order of my own,” he said in the Sept. 22 conference hosted by KUED Television. His stated reason, when pressed, was that the state needs to address the escalating costs of existing benefits to state workers before addressing expanding those benefits to unmarried couples. “It really comes down to cost, and what I want to get right are the costs that are now on the table associated with benefits that we’re making available to all of our employees,” Huntsman said. “We’re still working hard on getting that dimension right.” He said he believes Anderson’s executive order has many “legal hurdles” to clear before it can take effect. He, however, will not be leading any charge to place more of those hurdles in the way. “I’m not going to launch any legal effort of my own,” he said. He noted that it is the job of the Utah Attorney General to decide what the state will challenge in court.—MA vided under Utah law to a man and a woman because they are married. (2) Nothing in Subsection (1) impairs any contract or other rights, benefits, or duties that are enforceable independently of this section.

UTAH STATE CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT 3 (1) Marriage consists only of the legal union between a man and a woman. (2) No other domestic union, however denominated, may be recognized as a marriage or given the same or substantially equivalent legal effect.

Quotes ANDERSON SIGNS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER EXTENDING INSURANCE BENEFITS TO PARTNERS OF CITY EMPLOYEES “’K, it’s done.” —Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson after signing the order.

“Rocky doesn’t have a right to extend those benefits. He is creating domestic partners. He’s used that term. It says in our legislation you can’t do that.” —Sen. Chris Buttars, Deseret News Sept. 23 “Based on current law what he proposes to do is illegal and therefore has no effect. It’s tantamount to the San Francisco mayor performing same-sex marriages.” —Rep. LaVar Christensen, Deseret Morning News, Sept. 21 “Philosophically, politically, morally, we are not one way on this thing. The last thing we can do is violate the law when we’re on notice that it might be illegal to do something.” —Dan Andersen, Public Employee Health Plan’s legal counsel on why PEHP will not administer the benefits until a court rules on the issue. Salt Lake Tribune, Sept. 22

“[Anderson is] trying to create his own marriage and divorce laws within the city limits. Just because you’re mayor doesn’t mean you can pick up your pen and ignore state law.” —Utah State Rep. LaVar Christensen, Salt Lake Tribune, Sept. 22 “Why not include the world? What’s wrong with covering the whole neighborhood? The whole ward?” asked Anderson. “Cover everybody you know who can’t get insurance.” —Anderson on a Salt Lake City Council proposal to include parents, siblings and friends in a similar benefits package.

“Watching Anderson sign the executive order, I was proud to be a resident of Salt Lake City. It’s like being an important part of history.” Equality Utah Chair Jane Marquardt.

“This is a great and historic day.” —Gordon Storrs, president of Utah Log Cabin Republicans

“My partner and I have been together for 25 years. The mayor has taken a brave step towards equality in recognizing that the ‘one size fits all’ mentality is set aside for the betterment of the community.” —Anonymous Salt Lake City worker in a letter delivered to GLBTCCU.

“I hope that this action won’t be something that causes punitive action by others.” —Salt Lake City Council Member Jill Remington Love, Deseret Morning News, Sept. 21

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News LOCAL AND REGIONAL

‘Silencing Gay Voices’ Poster Causes Uproar by Jesse Dolcé A poster featuring the slogan “Silencing Gay Voices,” for a September 9 “ex-gay” presentation at Salt Lake Community College and sponsored by the college’s Eagle Forum Collegians, angered many of the college’s students. Dave Pruden, executive director of Evergreen International, was the invited speaker and apologized before and during his speech, saying he did not make the poster or approve of it. “Controversy was not the desired response,” Pruden said. Collegians placed posters around the different SLCC campuses announcing his speech about how same gender attraction can be overcome “contrary to the myth perpetuated by the radical homosexual movement.” Collegians representative Corey Seegmiller tried to explain the poster was not meant to be hurtful. He acknowledged there had

been controversy about the message, but pointed out that a “disclaimer” was added to the sign. He said the disclaimer was intended to highlight the lack of a forum for individuals who are seeking therapy for same gender attraction. “This is a forum for individuals to overcome their unwanted samesex attraction. This is not a place for us to come and try to figure Dave Pruden out how to silence gays or the gay community at large,” Seegmiller said. He said the purpose for his club is to promote family values and constitutional principles and things that are “conservative in nature.” Members of SLCC’s Coloring Outside

the Lines—a club for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender students and straight allies—were among the majority of people in attendance at the forum. “The sign was so hurtful and caused lack of ease and fear,” said Gordon Storrs, faculty advisor for Coloring Outside the Lines. He believed the poster expressing the need to silence a group was in poor taste. He said he felt the Collegians were trying to hurt gay people. “The apologies and disclaimers didn’t take away from the ugliness,” Storrs said. He hopes to sit down with the members of both clubs. “It is hard to understand how the two clubs can be on the same campus,” said Storrs. Terri Busch, who works in the social work department in health and wellness, told Pruden the poster should have been checked. “You as a speaker should have known how you were to be presented. I believe it is offensive and ask that it be taken down,” Busch said. Pruden turned the poster around out of view. “It didn’t occur to me to check the poster; I am not controversial,” Pruden said. He went on to say that he only represents Evergreen International, that he was invited to speak at the forum and that the Collegians were responsible for the poster. Pruden expressed that the mission statement at Evergreen International is very simple and not meant to cause controversy. The mission statement on their website reads, “Evergreen is a nonprofit organization that helps people who want to diminish same-sex attractions and overcome homosexual behavior. It is also a resource to their loved ones, professional counsel-

ors, religious leaders, and friends.” Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who felt they had samegender attraction feelings formed Evergreen International 15 years ago. The group formed because they wanted to follow the doctrines of the LDS church, which teaches that it is not proper to act on same-sex feelings. “If I get a call I am under the assumption that the caller is LDS and gay. I try to let the caller decide what the individual should do,” said Pruden. “I am a 23 year-old lesbian and convert to the LDS church. I came out to my church and was accepted,” said Jess Theobald, president of Coloring Outside the Lines. He urged Pruden to tell his callers there are millions of gays and lesbians living healthy spiritual lives. “The presentation is highly controversial and considered unethical practice by the American Psychological Association,” said Jackie Farnsworth, director of health and wellness at SLCC. She passed out information before the forum started and said it was important to present information about gay-affirming therapies. “It is very possible to live, as hundreds of thousands of gay people do, as gay people,” she said. “I have been asked to speak in many different cities in our nation, but I have never been asked to speak in this state,” Pruden said. He believes more dialogue about same gender attraction is needed in our society. Coloring Outside the Lines meets Wednesday nights at 7p.m. at the Redwood Road campus in the Student Center room 225, 2nd Floor, Presidents Room. Students can also view the club’s website, groups.myspace.com/cotl.

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PhD Speaks About Same-Sex Attraction by Jesse Dolcé On Sept. 16, the health and wellness division of Salt Lake Community College sponsored a seminar called “Honoring the Gay Voice” where Dr. Lee Beckstead spoke to SLCC students about his personal struggle with integrating spiritual, sexual and social identities. The seminar was to raise awareness for group therapy for same-sex attraction for individuals in conflict and came one week after a seminar held by Eagle Forum Collegians of SLCC entitled “Silencing the Gay Voice.” Beckstead is a group facilitator who works for Aspen Grove Counseling. He works with individuals to resolve their distress or concerns about their sexual orientation and religious and social conflicts. Beckstead said that discussion allows people to sort out their thoughts and feelings, enhance self-worth, develop relationships, consolidate a positive self-identity, and find comfort within their lives. “I dealt with same-sex attractions for years,” said Beckstead, who grew up in Murray as a member of the LDS church. When he was a young man taking part in the passing of the sacrament at church, Beckstead says, he thought to himself how another boy passing the sacrament was cute. He dealt with his feelings and the conflict they created with his religion by suppressing them. He calls the same-sex attraction only a “piece” of his life. He had a “gay piece” and a “spiritual piece.” As a young man he went on a mission and did everything within his faith to suppress the “gay

piece.” At 21, after returning home, he went to Evergreen International to help him deal with the “gay piece.” Evergreen is a group that uses conversion therapy for people to overcome same-sex attraction. They provide information and guidance in order to overcome homosexual desires and reduce same-sex attraction. Evergreen sustains the beliefs of the doctrines of the LDS church, but is not affiliated with the church. From age 21–27, Beckstead tried to live the lifestyle that Evergreen outlined for him. He found that the longer he suppressed his same-sex attraction the harder it became for him to have any type of sexuality. He was not happy but felt like this was the only way for him to deal with the “gay piece” and his “spiritual piece” together. “I was in a place where sissy boys could learn to play sports,” said Beckstead. At Evergreen, boys were taught how to play sports like basketball and baseball. Women were taught how to apply make-up and to cook. “Many people feel suicide is their only option,” said Beckstead. He warned that harm can occur from conversion or reparative therapy due to being misinformed about realistic outcomes or being misled with unsubstantiated theories and treatments. SLCC Students struggling with the process of sexual reorientation can contact Health and Wellness, in the Student Center, at 957-4268 or visit slcc.edu/hw Dr. Beckstead can be reached at Aspen Grove Counseling, 1400 S. Foothill Drive, Suite 24, leebeckst@yahoo.com, or at 581-0422.

Utah Cyber Sluts Ruby Ridge, Sofonda Men and Beverley Heels display one of dozens of Nick & Willy’s pizzas, donated by Salt Lake Metro, at Camp Pinecliff’s annual retreat for people with HIV/AIDS and their care providers, Sept. 24–25.

Community Briefs Poinsettias for PWACU

Trax to Try-Angles & Todd’s

Believe it or not, it’s time to think about ordering your Christmas flowers. The People With AIDS Coalition of Utah has begun their annual poinsettia fundraiser. Plants may be pre-ordered before Oct. 20 for $10 per plant, or $75 for eight. Each plant averages five blooms, is between 15 and 19 inches tall and 15 inches wide in a red satin-covered six-inch pot. The plants are shipped directly from the growers on your choice of one of seven days between Nov. 23 and Dec. 16. To order, or for more details, call 484-2205 or go to pwacu.org

Customers of two of Salt Lake’s watering holes have a new option to get there. Utah Transit Authority opened a new Trax station at 900 South and 200 West, a mere half block from Club Try-Angles and less than three blocks from Todd’s Bar and Grill. The station went live Sept. 19, but has been in the planning stages for several years. “We’ve been waiting for it since the day we opened,” said Gene Gieber, owner of Club Try-Angles. “We’ve been placing bets on when it would finally happen. It’s been cause for a lot of celebration since it opened.” The station will be named simply “900 South,” making it the only station without an alternate moniker. “Yeah, not too creative,” UTA spokesman Justin Jones quipped. “We took years to come up with that.” Gieber told UTA he’d be happy to take care of painting the station in beautiful rainbow colors if they would call it the “TryAngles Station.” UTA apparently declined the offer.

UAF Golf Tournament The Fourth Annual “Fun on the Fairway” golf tournament to benefit the Utah AIDS Foundation takes place Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Stonebridge Golf Course in West Valley City. Participants may golf for a fee of $100 or gather a team of four golfers for $340. The tournament has a shotgun start of 8:30 A.M. Stonebridge is located at approximately 2100 South and Bangerter Hwy. If interested, contact Teresa Hyatt at 487-2323 or teresa@utahiads.org before Friday, Sept. 30.

Calling All Souper Spelers:

Mon.–Thurs. Friday, Saturday Sunday

11:43pm 1:49am 9:33pm

11:12pm 12:42am 7:57pm

SALT LAKE METRO GRAPHIC

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How long has it been since you competed in a spelling bee? Queertestants and queertators alike will have a side-splitting good time at the University of Utah LGBT Resource Center’s Queer Spelling Bee. Those who were in attendance last fall have never felt the same about gorgonzola! Salt Lake Metro feature writer and proofreader Nicholas Rupp was last year’s winner, after he successfully spelled “cootchiesnortcher.” This year’s event will be held at the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Community Center of Utah’s multipurpose room from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. There is a $5.00 suggested donation at the door for queertators. Queertestants and students are free with ID. Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners and refreshments will be available.

LAST TRAIN LEAVES Southbound Northbound

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News LOCAL

UofU Pride 2005 Breaks Through

by Kim Burgess kim@slmetro.com

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In conjunction with National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, the University of Utah Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center will present PRIDE 2005, a series of lectures, activities and performances running from Oct. 11–22. With the theme “Breaking Through,” the events explore what it means to be queer in today’s world. “Breaking Through” refers to the coming out process, combating stereotypes and recognizing sections of the queer community that are being left out. In keeping with the theme, PRIDE cochairs Kellie Foreman and Charles Milne made a conscious effort to represent the experiences of queers from across the spectrum. PRIDE’s diverse offerings include a panel discussion titled “Breaking Through the Queer Entity: What it Means to Be Gay,” screenings of films such as Normal and Boys Don’t Cry, a queer spelling bee and queer comedy with Jerry Callum and Alan Walker. “We’re showing all the varieties of people and identities that are associated with the queer community,” Milne said. “There are all these differences in our community, but because of those differences, we’re so much stronger.” Foreman echoed this sentiment. “We all work as pieces of the puzzle together. We can’t ignore each other. We all need to work together instead of ostracizing and setting apart. We need to open up a dialogue.” She went on to say that the queer community should do a better job of communicating with the straight community. “We have to start seeing ourselves as a cultural group.” Though PRIDE 2005 is held at the University of Utah and has a more academic approach than June’s downtown festivities, Milne and Foreman stressed that community support and attendance is essential. “The community helps this [event] happen,” Milne said. “And also what’s

Jewish Community 7pm, License to Kill Center, 2 North Medical documentary screening Drive. $65 at 587-7973 in conjunction with the Jessica Lange and Tom YWCA’s Week Without Wilkinson. OCTOBER 19 Violence and the Salt UofU Post Theater, free 12noon, Lecture—Ending SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Lake Film Center 6pm, ”Boy’s don’t Gender Stereotypes: OCTOBER 11 Salt Lake City Main Cry”starring Hillary A New Path to Full 12:00 noon, PD(q)DI— Library, free Swank Equality, Riki Wilchins, Pseudo Drag queen UofU Post Theater, free executive director of the OCTOBER 21 Dash Invitational. Gender Public Advocacy 7pm, Queer Comedy 101 OCTOBER 18 Between the Student w/ comedians Jerry Coalition 12:00 noon, Brown Bag Services Building and Marriott Library Gould Callum, Alan Walker. the Marriott Library, free Lunch Series—What’s Rose Wagner Theatre. Auditorium, free Love Got to Do With It OCTOBER 15 UofU Women’s Resource OCTOBER 20 OCTOBER 22 6pm, Queer Spelling Bee. Center, free The Center Multipurpose 6pm, Breaking Through— 1:30pm, Panel—Breaking 1:30pm, Ma Vie En Rose Through the Queer (My Life in Pink) w/ the Room, 351 N. 300 5th Annual University Salt Lake Film Center Entity: What It Is To Be West, $5 of Utah LGBT Resource Salt Lake City Main Gay Center PRIDE Gala Orson Spencer Hall Library, free Dinner. Auditorium, free

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UNIVERSITY OF UTAH LGBT RESOURCE CENTER

happening at the [University of Utah] flows out into the community and helps create changes in the community.” In addition to its educational goals, PRIDE also has an important fundraising component for the LGBT Resource Center. The Oct. 18 Gala Dinner typically generates $25,000 for the office budget. “That dinner helps support us, paying stipends for our interns. It supports buying paper for our printer. Things that are as simple as that,” Milne said. “Our office is primarily funded by individual and corporate contributions. There’s not very much programmatic funding from the university.” Money from fundraising may also go toward scholarships for queer students, which Milne hopes to create in the future. This year’s Gala Dinner will feature transgender activist and executive director of Gender PAC Riki Wilchins, with openly queer performing artist Sacha Sacket. Sacket describes his music as “post-millennial Nick Drake.” Tickets for the dinner are $65 per person or $650 per table of 10. It will be held at the Jewish Community Center, 2 North Medical Drive. The Jewish Community Center also served as an organizational partner for PRIDE 2005, along with six other organizations including the Center, the Utah AIDS Foundation and the Salt Lake Film Center. Milne said he felt the partnerships signal that PRIDE’s message is reaching people. “There are all these organizations that are wanting to do whatever they can to help support affirming identities and celebrating equality. We’re now getting organizations coming to us asking what they can do to help. It’s great.” PRIDE 2005 will take place Oct. 11–22. Volunteer opportunities are available. PRIDE is also seeking corporate sponsors and donors to provide silent auction items. Cash donations are also welcome. Donors can pay online at www.sa.utah.edu/lgbt.

PRIDE 2005

OCTOBER 16 2pm, Normal, starring

MATT AUNE

Salt Lake City Council candidate Leslie Reynolds-Benns talks with local constituents.

City Council Candidate Supports Hate Crimes Bill, Partner Benefits by JoSelle Vanderhooft joselle@slmetro.com

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Leslie Reynolds-Benns’ bid for a city council seat began after a funeral. While standing at local civil rights leader Alberta Henry’s grave in May, she entered into a conversation with Equality Utah board member Boyer Jarvis. At the time, she was writing a letter to Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson about joining his newly-formed human rights commission. “I mentioned that to Boyer and he looked me straight in the face and said ‘No! You need to run for city council! Your district needs you and your council needs you!’” laughs Benns, a Democrat. “I started walking [campaigning door to door] that night.” A therapist, author and political activist, Benns will run against Republican incumbent Carlton Christianson in 2006 for his District 1 seat—the seat representing the city’s northwest quadrant bounded by North Temple and 900 West. While the election is still months away, she’s got plenty of ideas for improving her district, which she loosely terms “Rose Park and beyond.” These include working to end prejudice against the area’s Spanish-speaking population, revitalizing North Temple (the sprawling businesses of which she terms “an eyesore”) and recruiting more people to join the neighborhood watch. She also hopes she can make a difference in the lives of District 1’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender residents. Her campaign website, electlesliebenns.com, reads: “We are a welcoming community, one that is transformed and strengthened by the diversity of its residents. All families, whatever their configurations, need to be connected to the neighborhoods and communities in which they live.” The statement, she says, is aimed partly toward the gay and lesbian community. “I’m just going to be an advocate for them. I don’t know what else to say,” she continues. “In my book, Confession is Good for More Than the Soul, I talk about a commitment to having a world that works for everyone. That’s what guides my day.” As part of creating such a world, Benns says she believes “gay partners should have the same rights as non-gay partners.” This position has led her to support two bids for domestic partner benefits in Utah—Salt Lake County’s attempt to offer benefits for

county employees in July and Anderson’s recent executive order. The first failed by one vote while Anderson signed his controversial order on Sept. 21. “It’s not a problem for me at all,” she says. “I’m strongly in favor of [offering benefits to gay and lesbian partners], particularly because I think we’re punishing the children by not giving them. The thing that comes to mind for me is we’re making innocent children suffer for something that’s not their fault at all.” She also says she’s in favor of the creation of a domestic partner registry—though she says she needs to learn more about what such registries can do for gay and lesbian couples. In most cities, domestic partner registries merely offer a way for same-sex couples to make a public declaration of their unions. They do not confer the legal status, benefits or rights akin to marriage. Further, Benns says she’s a “big supporter of the hate crimes bill,” which certain Utah legislators have been pushing for the past nine years. A recent version of the bill sponsored by State Senator Karen Hale (DSalt Lake City), was defeated in a 3-4 vote last February. A second bill, sponsored by Representative David Litvak (D-Salt Lake City) died in committee the same month. When the bills were still being considered, Benns says she sent “emails like mad” to everyone she knew, encouraging them to write their legislators in support of the legislation. She also said she voted against Amendment 3, the constitutional amendment which defined marriage as the union between a man and a woman. Utah voters overwhelmingly approved the controversial legislation in November 2004. Benns says she’d like gays and lesbians to feel at home in her district, despite its reputation as being a rough part of the city. “I believe Rose Park is very welcoming,” she says. “I’ve been walking the district since May and I haven’t heard a single slur about gays and lesbians.” Overall, she wants to help the district become known for what she sees as its strength in diversity. “I want to change the rep of the area. It’s a wonderful neighborhood and I believe we should tout it as the next Sugar House, where young couples will move in to start their families. That’s how it was built initially and that’s how it should be.”

News LOCAL

Man Claims HIV Discrimination by Provo Surgical Center by Matthew Gerber matthew@slmetro.com

“People with HIV are not treated here.” It’s something one would expect to hear in 1984, not 2004, but that is the alleged reason given to Spanish Fork resident Daniel S. Richardson, 42, as to why his routine surgery was cancelled in December of last year. Richardson’s primary care physician, Dr. Ryan Rushton, referred him to the HealthSouth Provo Surgical Center for surgery on an ulcerated toe. Upon receipt of the referral, a staff member of HealthSouth allegedly called Dr. Rushton’s office at the Parkway Center of the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics in Orem and indicated they would not perform the surgery because Mr. Richardson is HIV-positive. When Richardson himself phoned HealthSouth to check on the surgery, he was told that one had not been scheduled because a referral had never been received. He then

called Dr. Rushton’s nurse and informed her of what he had been told. Dr. Rushton in turn phoned Dr. Michael D. Taylor of HealthSouth for some clarification. Taylor indicated that it was the policy of HealthSouth Provo Surgical Center not to accept HIV-positive patients and that no scrub techs would assist in the procedure. On August 26, Richardson filed suit in U.S. District Court against the center, as well as former owner Gary H. Ashby and Dr. Michael D. Taylor, claiming the center violated the Americans with Disabilities Act in canceling his surgery because of his HIV-status. His attorney, Marlin G. Criddle of Salt Lake City, describes the case as “egregious and straightforward” and an obvious violation of the ADA. While Criddle has long provided legal services for people living with HIV, he has never worked on a discrimination case such as this before. He has, however, heard of suits filed in Utah that alleged discrimi-

nation based on one’s HIV-status, including a current case being handled by another attorney. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is very broad in its protections of not just people living with HIV/AIDS, but even those who are merely perceived to have HIV or those who are known to associate with people who are HIV-positive. The protections of the ADA are extended beyond healthcare and employment to prevent discrimination by public accommodations as well. Public accommodations include restaurants, hotels, theaters, doctor and dentist’s offices, hospitals, retail stores, health clubs, museums, libraries, and schools. The Department of Justice is very clear that in almost every instance, a public accommodation cannot exclude a person with HIV/AIDS because that person allegedly poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others. Healthcare providers are required to treat all patients as if they have an infectious disease, such as HIV, through adherence to universal precautions, such as rubber gloves, a mask, goggles, and the proper disposal of needles and other biohazardous waste. A business such as a tattoo parlor cannot turn someone away simply because they are HIV-positive, as the artist should use universal precautions to prevent transmission of HIV, regardless of a customer’s status. Such precautions have long been proven to prevent transmission of HIV and other infectious diseases. Additional information, including specific examples, on how the ADA protects people living with HIV/AIDS can be found online at www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/pubs/hivqanda.txt.

Free HIV Counseling Services Available Cornerstone Counseling Center recently received a grant from the Utah Department of Health to provide HIV prevention case management services. This grant allows licensed therapists at Cornerstone to provide therapy to qualifying clients free of charge. The purpose of the grant is to provide free service to individuals who are injecting drugs and who are struggling with HIV risk reduction issues, with a special focus on those in the gay male community. Prevention case management concentrates on preventing HIV and/or delaying the onset of symptoms of HIV by working with clients to explore barriers to condom use and issues of substance dependence, self-esteem, depression/anxiety, unresolved grief, sex and relationships. The counseling center is working in collaboration with the Interethnic Health Alliance to provide culturally competent ethnic minority service as well. Cornerstone is a charitable nonprofit agency that provides professional substance abuse, domestic violence and mental health treatment and prevention services that promote long-lasting improvements in individuals and families. A central part of their mission is to serve a broad diversity of cultural groups and underserved members of the community, regardless of their ability to pay. More information on Cornerstone can be found at cornerstoneslc.com

Health Department Announces New 2005 Flu Shot Clinics Health officials hope to provide 12,000 vaccinations in three days

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SALT LAKE METRO ■ SEPTEMBER 29, 2005

The Salt Lake Valley Health Department has announced a new flu shot clinic schedule for the year. This season, the SLVHD will offer flu vaccinations only during three flu vaccination clinics scheduled for three Saturdays: Oct. 15 and 29, and Nov. 5, all from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Salt Lake County Government Center at 2001 S. State Street. The cost for the flu shot this year is $20 and may be covered by Medicare.

The first clinic on Oct. 15 will be for high-risk individuals, including people with weakened immune systems (such as those with HIV/AIDS), children 6-23 months of age, those 65 or older, residents of long-term care facilities, people with chronic health problems, women who will be pregnant during the flu season, healthcare workers, and household contacts and out-of-home caretakers of infants six months and younger. “The October 29th and November 5th clinics are for the general public—anyone who wishes to receive the vaccine,” explains Sue Nicodemus, Immunizations Coordinator. “Also this year, residents need to remember that flu shots will not be available in any of the regular SLVHD public health clinics.” Those people who do not have any contraindications to receiving the live virus vaccine should take advantage of obtaining FluMist—a nasal flu vaccine licensed for healthy people between five and 49 years of age. FluMist is available in SLVHD public health clinics now at a cost of $29. SLVHD health officials also recommend those clients who are in a high-risk category receive the pneumonia vaccination. The cost of the pneumonia shot is $29. For information concerning the flu vaccine or the new 2005 flu clinic schedule, visit the SLVHD website at slvheath.org or call 468-2086. Residents can also call the Utah Immunization Hotline number at 1-800-275-0659 to find other locations where flu vaccines may be available.

LOVE'S MYSTERY: RELATIONSHIP AS A SPIRITUAL PATH

MICHAEL AARON

A Workshop with Dawn Menken, Ph.D., author of

Speak Out!: Talking About Love, Sex, and Eternity October 15 & 16, 2005 in Salt Lake City

Mike Thompson addressing the Equality Utah Allies Dinner

Mike Thompson Works to Put Equality Utah on the Offensive (OutStanding People is a new Salt Lake Metro column profiling interesting and prominent people in Utah’s GLBT community) by Joel Shoemaker joel@slmetro.com

For more information, contact: Martha Hales at 532-3567 or radical_healing@xmission.com

SEPTEMBER 29, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 11

Standing at a podium with his own image projected on three giant monitors in front of about 800 people, Mike Thompson told attendees of Equality Utah’s Sept. 21 Allies Dinner that each person can make “a ripple” of change. Referencing a local conservative radio talk show host and others who stood up for equality, Thompson encouraged the crowd to make their own ripples of change in their lives. Thompson is hoping to make a few ripples of his own in Utah. Less than two months on the job as the new executive director for Utah’s preeminent political action committee, Thompson says he wants to help EU grow from a reactive organization to being more proactive. He says for the first four years of its existence, EU found itself mainly reacting and responding to the latest political firestorms. Now, the organization needs to work more aggressively to promote its own agenda. “Behind the scenes right now, we’re focused on examining the organization and asking, ‘How can we be more focused on our approach to state, county and city government, instead of promoting a broad message of equality?’” Thompson says in an interview a few days before the event. EU has been good at getting some gay and gay-friendly people into office, he says, but they could be better at continuing an open line of communication with the officeholder after he or she is elected. In addition, he says the organization needs to be better at communicating with the gay and lesbian community about what EU is and how people can get involved. Thompson brings to the task a breadth

of experience, ranging from non-profit management and fundraising to corporate marketing. He’s worked for major oil companies, a special needs school and numerous non-profits, including the Don’t Amend Alliance during 2004’s campaign against Amendment 3. “What I hope to bring is strategic thinking on how to build this organization’s infrastructure, which will help further their activities,” he says. But it’s his personal attributes, particularly his spirituality, which may help Thompson the most as he maneuvers through the murky political waters of Utah, where religion and politics bleed together. Thompson grew up in a Southern Baptist environment and says he spent a long time reconciling religion with his sexuality. At about age 30, Thompson left his corporate marketing job to attend a bible study school, immersing himself in a period of inner reflection. “I thought my calling was to serve people as a minister. What I learned was that my calling was to serve people, just not religiously,” he says. He sees his job at EU as part of that mission of service. Thompson hopes to reach out to all parts of the queer community, helping make the fight for equality a collaborative effort between organizations. “For the Allies Dinner, I’ve tried to contact as many organizations as I can—sWerve, Utah Bear Alliance, Utah Progressive Network, others—and invite them personally to the dinner.” He counts building bridges within the community as one of the major challenges facing EU. “What I want most from my life is meaning. What I invest my time in is going to impact someone’s life,” he says. “I remember hearing in cub scouts ‘you leave the campground better than you found it.’ That’s what Equality Utah is doing—saying to the community, ‘Hey, you are valuable and have something to contribute in this effort.’”

Together we’ll explore ways to grow from our relationships— whether with lovers, family, friends, community, or the divine.

Executive Editor Michael Aaron Arts Editor Eric J. Tierney Proofreader Nicholas Rupp

Opinion

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From the Editor

Anderson on Tack. Council Is Not. Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson made a bold move Wednesday, Sept. 21 by signing an executive order extending health benefits to gay and nongay domestic partners of city employees. Salt Lake City Council members are looking to provide similar benefits but, as is their style, they are trying to water down the notion of extending rights to gay men and lesbians. The city council of 1997, a much more leftleaning council, passed an ordinance that protected employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation. Months later, the first item of business after the election of a much more conservative group of council members was to repeal the ordinance and replace it with an emasculated version that required hiring and firing be made solely on “job-based criteria.” One of the first actions Anderson made upon his election was to, in effect, replace the nondiscrimination ordinance with an order that specifically enumerated “sexual orientation” as one of the protected classes. Conservative lawmakers love to pretend that they are being inclusive and fair and come up with creative ways to make it look like they are doing just that. Take the Utah hate crime law as an example. To show their compassion for all citizens, state lawmakers passed what they called a hate crime law that made it a felony to “intimidate or terrorize another person.” This approach allowed them to claim they passed a hate crime law without having to

say the loath words “sexual orientation.” The law, however, is unenforceable. It has no teeth, is overly broad and has yet to be successfully used. Worse, it has been used for the last seven years to quell any attempt at passage of a real hate crime law. It makes one wonder if that was the intent all along. The day before Anderson was to sign the health benefits order, conservative Council Member Dave Buhler floated in the press the idea of extending health benefits to parents, siblings and friends, saying, “we should be more inclusive than exclusive.” That sounds all warm and fuzzy, but we all know such benefits would be too expensive and a huge burden on an already-shrinking employee benefits package. The benefits will ultimately have to be repealed. It makes one wonder if that was the intent all along. Salt Lake Metro feels that the council’s effort to overshadow Anderson’s order is either misguided or an outright attempt to thwart the progress of gay and lesbian Utahns in our efforts to obtain equal civil rights. We encourage our readers to call their city council members and ask them to abandon their attempts to over-extend health benefits and to work instead on extending equal bereavement- and dependent-leave benefits to the city’s unmarried couples. Mayor Anderson’s tack was right five years ago and is right again today.

I love summer. I live in Utah largely because of the summer, simply existing through winter as I wait for summer to come back. I hate when summer begins to fade. It’s like being on vacation and realizing it’s only a day or so before you have to go back home. It means it’s gonna start getting cold. No more driving in a topless Jeep. No more outdoor festivals. No more tooling around in Utah’s mountains and deserts. No more lying around on a Sunday morning, naked on the deck with a cup of coffee and the newspaper. It strikes me that my life is mirroring the change in the seasons. As you read in a single paragraph story last issue, Jere Keys has left his role as editor of Salt Lake Metro for the glamour and fame ... and money ... of the Sundance Film Festival. So ends another ‘season’ in our offices. And so begins a new one. I’d known we were likely to lose Jere for several weeks before his announcement. I then had to decide how we were to move on. I decided that I would become editor. This isn’t anything too new to me. I’ve been editor of a couple earlier gay Utah publications. What is new to me is that this one has legs and appears to be on track for being a permanent part of Utah’s fabric. I decided to reorganize my life. Pull out the dusty old Palm Pilot, clean the office, file things where they are supposed to be, and make promises to myself and those in my life that I will allocate personal time. Work smarter, not harder. (Ugh—those ‘You Can Be All That You Can Be and Much Much More But Your Boss Won’t Have to Pay You More’ seminars I was forced to attend in the 90s appear to have wormed their way permanently into my brain after all.) It also means I get to take a small paycheck. Yaay! I was happiest in my life when I was Mr. Organization. I woke up at a set time. I got into the office at a set time. My first half hour was spent organizing my day. I managed the day of 14 people, a $3.2 million project and the friction of relationships between computer programmers and creative folks. I marveled that it was even possible. I more marveled that it was me that was doing it. I’m giddy at the thought of returning to what those days were to me. I won’t be making the six figures of back then, but I really don’t think that was what made me happy. It was me doing what I thought impossible of myself. I look forward to the next several months— the next season—of my life. I’ll get to see what I can do. And, it’s time to pull out the long sleeve shirts, the cute sweaters, and the layered look. It’s time to drive through the canyons to see the leaves. It’s time to abandon the outdoor projects that never had a prayer of being finished to work on the indoor projects that don’t have a prayer of being finished. It’s time to see the new arts season and rehearse for a fall concert with the Salt Lake Men’s Choir. It’s time to dust out the fireplace for those ‘stay at home and cuddle with a movie’ nights. I love fall.

Letters Viva La Radicals Editor, You put your finger on something I have felt for a while. Thank God we now have lots of homo institutions that are (more or less) accepted and even respected by the larger community. The decline of individual self-appointed spokespersons and the rise of the gay institution to represent the community has been the big story of the last ten years. We are better off for it. On the other hand, why do we need to ALL be quiet and respectful, full of deference and duly concerned with our image in the larger community? Wouldn’t it be great if there were a balancing group or two in our community that was unafraid to confront the powers that be? A group whose first inclination at hatred was to throw a noisy, ugly demonstration instead of a new legislative proposal? While Equality Utah and the Center have brought respect and continuity to the community, let’s hope these organizations never forget they stand on holy ground prepared for them by courageous Utah activists who ripped down closet doors—often at great personal sacrifice—while others in the community suggested persuasion would eventually cause the doors to quietly crumble. Had the activists not been there, I fear we would still be waiting for the closet doors to fall. Viva la radicals! Where do we sign up?

Jim Dabakis Salt Lake City

GOP Must Include, Defend Gays Editor, The great conservative icon Ronald Reagan understood that gay people deserve to be treated with basic fairness and common de-

Guns and Rape cency. In 1978, Calif. State Sen. John Briggs proposed a statewide ballot initiative to prevent gay and lesbian people from teaching in public schools. His vicious campaign to “defend your children from homosexual teachers” seemed headed for victory until [then California Governor] Reagan announced his opposition and helped defeat the initiative. From this pivotal campaign, Log Cabin Republicans were born. Log Cabin is the nation’s largest organization of Republicans who support fairness, freedom, and equality for gay and lesbian Americans. The misleading rhetoric used in California 27 years ago is eerily reminiscent to the voices of some leaders in today’s Republican Party. In the United States, some Republicans have consistently fought against basic fairness for gays and lesbians. They are trying to make sure gay and lesbian families are denied health care benefits and other basic protections. Although voters last year approved several constitutional amendments to ban civil marriage equality, most Americans didn’t intend for their votes to marginalize gay and lesbian families. In the 19th century, the first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, built our party on a foundation of equality. In the 20th century, President Ronald Reagan strengthened that foundation with a hopeful vision of freedom for all people, and liberated hundreds of millions of people— including gay people—across the globe. Now at the dawn of the 21st century, GOP leaders must either embrace those values and create a stronger and more inclusive Republican Party or choose the politics of division and fear.

Matthew Veritas Tsien Florida Log Cabin Republicans South Florida

Guest Editorial Change in the Wind

West Virginia Supreme Court awarded custody of a child to a lesbian, ruling that a “psychological parent” can intervene in custody battles and defining “psychological parent” as a person who fulfills a child’s psychological and physical needs and provides emotional and financial support. These rulings combined are a tremendous victory for children, for parental responsibility, and for common sense. The National Center for Lesbian Rights, along with colleagues at the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, and Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, are bringing cases, one by one, on behalf of LGBT-headed families in courts throughout the country. In one sense the fact that we are winning so many of these challenges is a small miracle. Our adversaries are so much better funded: the largest antigay group in the country has an annual budget of $130 million, while the combined annual budgets of the leading 12 national LGBT organizations, including NCLR, barely break $50 million. We have our work cut out for us. In California, two proposed constitutional amendments would not only forbid lesbian and gay couples any right to legally marry but would also repeal our hard-won and expansive domestic-partner protections. But in yet another miracle, first the California state senate last week, and then

David Nelson Salt Lake City the assembly this week, in historic votes, became the first legislative bodies in the country to vote in favor of the basic right of lesbian and gay couples to marry. Actually, this miracle, like the court victories, was the result of much hard work and commitment. Mark Leno, the assemblyman who authored the bill, never gave up believing that such a vote was possible, and California’s statewide LGBT lobbying group, Equality California, worked tirelessly to make the vote happen. But against this very encouraging backdrop several states are considering legislation to bar LGBT people from adopting, and there are more anti–gay marriage constitutional amendments on the way in other states. But make no mistake—the tide is turning. Between legal cases, talks with legislators, and conversations at the water cooler, we are moving hearts and opening minds. The only way to win full equality is to engage in the hard work of making our lives real to everyone we know. The faces of LGBT families are the faces of every family. In the days and weeks ahead, many of us will be called upon to tell the stories of our own families. This is the time to show courage. There’s no turning us back. Kendell is executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. For more information go to http://www.nclrights.org.

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by Kate Kendell I grew up in Utah as a Mormon and received my law degree from the University of Utah College of Law in 1988. It was in Utah that I began my life as a lesbian advocate. For all sorts of reasons, I’ve returned to Utah often since I left for San Francisco nearly 12 years ago. But I found myself there last week for a reason I had never anticipated: I am arguing before the Utah Supreme Court. It’s an out-of-body experience. It feels like a dream. I am in a courtroom filled to standing-room-only capacity. I am arguing an important parenting case. My client is a lesbian mother. Her former partner, who no longer identifies as a lesbian, is refusing to let her see their little girl. A lawyer affiliated with the ardently antigay Alliance Defense Fund is representing my client’s former partner. I look up and see the faces of the justices seated on the court and begin my argument. I am not dreaming.

I was also not dreaming when the California Supreme Court issued opinions in three lesbian parenting cases in mid-August. In one of those opinions the court wrote, “We perceive no reason why both parents of a child cannot be women.” The court added, “A person who actively participates in bringing children into the world, takes the children into her home and holds them out as her own, and receives and enjoys the benefits of parenthood should be responsible for the support of those children—regardless of her gender or sexual orientation.” In all three cases the court ruled that the co-parents were legal parents and entitled to all the rights and subjected to all the obligations that legal parenthood demands. All across the country, the battle for family recognition is going our way. The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a gay father, holding that he must be given an opportunity to challenge a custody restriction that prohibits him from living with his partner. The Virginia Supreme Court held that the Department of Vital Records must comply with a state law requiring that new birth certificates be issued to all adopted children—after the department had refused to issue birth certificates listing two same-sex parents. A divided

Editor, I’m confused. If Burt Angel believes that “statistics can prove nearly anything” (“Stats Can Prove Anything You Wish,” Letters, Salt Lake Metro, Sept. 15), I wonder whether he considered my statistics about the self-defense use of firearms as valid as his rebuttal statistics, or that both sets were equally flawed. I’ll presume he meant the former. Angel’s statement that “[W]omen were [in 1998] 101 times more likely to be murdered with a handgun” than to use firearms in self defense was first published by the Washington-based gun-control lobby Violence Policy Center when its staff analyzed some evidence published in the 1998 FBI Supplementary Homicide Report. Their analysis included the violent attacks of 1,221 women victims, 1,209 of whom didn’t use firearms and were killed by their attackers. The other 12 possessed and used firearms when they were attacked, and survived. Simple, but not a valid comparison; at least not for the reasons he appears to believe. Angel’s statement fails to include the contextual part of the VPC analysis that was first published by the Washington-based gun-control lobby Police Foundation and shows that 6.6 percent of women (80 of the 1,221 victims) owned firearms in 1996. This context is paramount in understanding the validity of the extraordinary suggestion that self-defense use of firearms is “101 times” more deadly than no such use. Since the analysis sought to determine the efficacy of such use, it’s false to include the 1,209 of the 1,221 attacks where the victims didn’t use firearms when they were attacked. So let’s examine the remaining 12 attacks where the victims did possess and use firearms when they were attacked: • All 12 victims possessed and used firearms for self-defense when they were attacked.

• All 12 victims survived their attacks. • All 12 victims’ attackers were killed. As cited earlier, 80 of the victims probably owned firearms. The exact number of these victims with concealed-firearm permits is difficult to know, but if the 2.5 percent of Utahns with CFPs is an accurate average (it’s probably higher), we can estimate that two of these victims had CFPs. Probably fewer still actually possessed their firearms when they were attacked. But wait—something else occurred. Angel and the VPC claim that “only” 12 victims possessed and used firearms for self-defense when they were attacked, and subsequently survived their attacks, when only two would be expected. The idea that people who are attacked violently are more likely to survive with firearms than without them seems to be confirmed and validated by the very people who spill a glass and call it half-full. Furthermore, Angel states correctly that 2.4 percent of Utah rapists possess firearms at the time of their attacks. This also confirms and validates the idea that potential rape victims who possess and use firearms when their attackers don’t are at an advantage not only to survive, but to prevent the attack from continuing past the point where the rapist knows he or she is outgunned. Angel’s fear that victims might possess “a gun that can be turned against them” is silly. I wonder if Angel would agree to a test of this myth: I’ll aim my firearm at him and he can try to take it away from me. And finally, Angel states that 86.2 percent of rape victims are legally too young to own or possess firearms, making their self-defense use something he “fails to see [regarding] Utah’s rape problem.” I have an inkling that some of the other 13.2 percent disagree with him.

AberRant Mental Porn Erects Only Barriers by Laurie Mecham laurie@slmetro.com

Editor’s Note: Laurie was in her U-Haul with her wife this week. Does that sound like a lesbian? Enjoy a reprint of an earlier article.

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