QSaltLake March 1, 2006

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Utah’s Gay and Lesbian Newspaper March 1, 2006

SLC Council Overrides Rocky’s Veto Benefits ruling not forthcoming

Hate Crime Bill Passes House Rep. Christianson working deals in pre-campaign politicking

Anti-Gay Clubs Bill Passes Senate Apologies made for divisive rhetoric, Gov. suggests veto

Utah Native Vindicated in Celebrated 70s Gay Porn Scandal Dies

Legislative Session Bill Tracker Laurie Mecham wonders WTFWJD? Ruby Ridge — Mountain Meadow Mascara Memorial to Sara Hamblin Q Agenda

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W O R L D A N D N AT I O N A L

Missouri Judge Overturns Gay Foster Parent Ban

by Angela D’Amboise

angela.damboise@qsaltlake.com

Kansas City, Mo.—A judge has ruled that the Missouri Department of Social Services improperly denied a woman’s application to become a foster parent because she is a lesbian.

The denial had been challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union, acting on behalf of Lisa Johnston. Jackson County Circuit Judge Sandra C. Midkiff upheld the challenge after hearing testimony in November.

“Ms. Johnston’s sexual orientation should not be the endpoint of the Agency’s consideration of her application for a foster care license,” Midkiff wrote in her 15-page ruling.

Johnson, 40, of Kansas City, had filed the application to become a foster parent in 2003. She said she hoped to foster a child with her partner, Dawn Roginski. She had already begun training when her application was turned down under what the ACLU said was an unwritten policy against gays and

lesbians becoming foster parents.

“We’re really relieved that the court has recognized that banning lesbian and gay people from being foster parents is bad for Missouri’s foster children,” Johnston said in an ACLU release announcing the judge’s decision. “We were saddened when we found out that our loving each other was the only reason the state had for denying us the opportunity to give a child a home.”

In the case, Social Services had argued that a child raised by a same-sex couple might face social disapproval, a position that Midkiff’s ruling said “is unsupported by competent and substantial evidence, and is arbitrary and capricious.”

Johnston holds a degree in human and family development from the University of Kansas, with an emphasis on child development.

Midkiff ordered the agency to resume training for Johnston and Roginski, and to grant Johnston’s license if she passes. Q

Gay Adoption Next Big Hurdle Say Analysts

by Danny McCoy danny.mccoy@qsaltlake.com

Washington D.C. — Media analysts are predicting that the issue of gay adoption is the next big hurdle for the queer community, as efforts to ban gays and lesbians from adopting children are emerging across the country.

At least 15 states are moving to pass laws or secure November ballot initiatives that would take into consideration the issue of gay adoption, according to a recent article in USA Today. Some of those states, including Ohio, Georgia and Kentucky, approved constitutional amendments in 2004 banning gay marriage.

“Now that we’ve defined what marriage is, we need to take that further and say children deserve to be in that relationship,” says Greg Quinlan of Ohio’s Pro-Family Network, an ultraconservative Christian group.

In Florida, gays and lesbians have been banned from adopting since 1977, although they can be foster parents. Court challenges and a campaign by entertainer Rosie O’Donnell to overturn the law have failed.

A pending bill would allow state judges to grant exceptions.

Mississippi bans adoption by gay couples, but gay and lesbian singles can adopt. Utah bans all unmarried couples, regardless of sexual orientation, from adoption.

Bills to restrict gay adoption are in the works in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Indiana, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia. Five of those states also are discussing ballot initiatives.

In Massachusetts, Roman Catholic bishops are asking for an exemption from state anti-discrimination laws to allow the church to ban gays and lesbians from adopting through its social service agencies.

Meanwhile, a judge in Missouri ruled last week that it was unconstitutional for the state to deny a foster care license to a lesbian couple on the basis of sexual preference.

Patrick Guerriero, president of Log Cabin Republicans, a gay political group that opposes limiting marriage and adoption to heterosexuals, calls the strategy to ban gay adoption the next step by conservatives.

“The game plan was first to go to states where it was easy to pass anti-marriage amendments and then launch a second round of attacks on gay adoption,” he said. Q

Veterans Kick Off Nationwide Tour to Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

by Danny McCoy

danny.mccoy@qsaltlake.com

Cambridge, Mass. — On Presidents’ Day a group of gay and lesbian veterans launched a nationwide campaign at Harvard to push for a repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

The seven-week speaking tour will feature seven former service members who argue that the discriminatory law keeps able-bodied Americans from serving in the military at a time when the war in Iraq makes America desperate for troops.

“A lot of people have never known a gay or lesbian person and, as a result, have all sorts of misconceptions about what gays and lesbians are like, and no idea what impact ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ has had on national security,” said Alex Nicholson, an Army veteran and founder and director of the “Call to

Duty Tour.”

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” dates back to 1993, when President Bill Clinton suspended a Department of Defense policy banning gays and lesbians from the military.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff and influential members of Congress, however, opposed Clinton’s attempt to permanently lift the ban.

The compromise was “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” under which the military was not to inquire about the sexual orientation of prospective service members, and gays and lesbians were not to reveal their sexual orientation.

Under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” those who did or were “found out” would be subject to dismissal. In her autobiography Living History, Hillary Clinton called it the worst compromise she or her husband had ever been forced to make. Q

Johnny Weir and Press Face Off On Inevitable Gay Question

by Ross von Metzke Turin, Italy — The questions have been a long time coming, but fresh off a lousy skate that ruined his chances at an Olympic medal, reporters pressed 21-year-old figure skater Johnny Weir with questions about his sexuality, including references to a Chicago Tribune poll that discussed his sexual orientation.

“I think it’s funny that people care,” Weir said before ultimately placing fourth. “I don’t have a problem with people saying anything. People could be saying, ‘Oh, let’s poll about Bode Miller. Let’s poll about Michelle Kwan being a lesbian.’ It’s not a big deal. Who I sleep with doesn’t affect what I’m doing on the ice or what I’m doing in a press conference.”

Earlier in the week, the Tribune interviewed Rudy Galindo, a former U.S. champion and one of the only openly gay figure skaters in the business. Galindo complained that the media was not confronting Weir about whether he is gay.

“He’s drinking tea with his pinkie finger in the air, and he’s so over-the-top and feminine, why is everybody asking him about his style and not just ask him if he’s gay?”

Galindo told the Tribune. “It’s the funniest thing to watch.”

Weir has never publicly discussed rumors that he is gay, though according to the Tribune, at nationals he said he had been through a tumultuous personal relationship recently that had had a negative impact on his skating. When asked to further discuss that issue again at the Olympics, he declined.

In past news conferences, Weir has described himself as a “diva” and called himself “princess-y,” making sure to point out that he is not a jock, but an athlete dressed in rhinestones and sequins.

Then, when asked about the subject on his personal Web site, Weir replied: “People talk. Figure skating is thought of as a female sport, something that only girly men compete in. I don’t feel the need to express my sexual being because it’s not part of my sport and it’s private. I can sleep with whomever I choose.”

According to the Tribune’s poll, the public agrees. Of the more than 4,000 people who responded to Thursday night’s poll question about whether they care if Weir is gay, 92.5 percent said no. Q

New Research Furthers Debate on Gay Genetics they actually require only one and routinely inactivate the other, Bocklandt said.

“That way, both men and women have basically one functional X chromosome,” he added.

Men have both an X and Y chromosome, but the Y chromosome plays a much smaller role, he said.

In Bocklandt’s study, researchers looked at 97 mothers of gay sons and 103 mothers without gay sons to see if there was any difference in how they handled their X chromosomes. The findings appear in the February issue of the journal Human Genetics.

“When we looked at women who have gay kids, in those with more than one gay son we saw a quarter of them inactivate the same X in virtually every cell we checked,” Bocklandt said. “That’s extremely unusual.”

And while researchers aren’t ready to say what exactly this means, Bocklandt said he thinks he and his colleagues are moving closer to understanding the origins of sexual orientation.

“What’s really remarkable and very novel about this is that you see something in the bodies of women that is linked to a behavioral trait in their sons,” he said. “That’s new, that’s unheard of.” Q

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by Angela D’Amboise Washington D.C.—New research reported in Forbes magazine has added a twist to the debate on the origins of sexual orientation, suggesting that the genetics of mothers with multiple gay sons act differently than those of other women. Scientists have reported that in nearly one-fourth of mothers with more than one gay son, X chromosomes were processed in their bodies in the same way. Normally, women randomly process the chromosomes in one of two ways—half go one way, half go the other.

According to Forbes, the research “confirms that there is a strong genetic basis for sexual orientation, and that for some gay men, genes on the X chromosome are involved,” according to the study’s coauthor, Sven Bocklandt, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California at Los Angeles.

Scientists have been debating the issue of genetics and sexual orientation for more than a decade, as a few scientists have tried to find genes that might make people gay or straight. In the new study, Bocklandt and colleagues examined a phenomenon called “X-chromosome inactivation.”

While females have two X chromosomes,

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Gay Professor Fired Then Exonerated in 70s Gay Porn Scandal Dies at 87 LOCAL AND REGIONAL

BYU Professor Invents Compound that May Stop HIV

by Matthew Gerber

matthew.gerber@qsaltlake.com

A cure for AIDS: many worldwide have hoped for that very thing since the disease first made its mark on the world 25 years ago. While many have hoped, few have realized the answer may lie just around the corner, in the form of a compound invented by Dr. Paul Savage, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Brigham Young University.

The compound CSA-54, part of a new class called Ceragenins, or CSAs, has shown in laboratory tests strong antiviral activity against multiple strains of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. Dr. Savage and other researchers were aware that CSAs had a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, but it was only about a year ago that scientists discovered the antiviral properties of CSAs. Subsequently, Dr. Derya Unumatz began testing several CSAs in his laboratory at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN for their ability to kill HIV. The results were staggering.

“We found that CSA-54 potently inhibits HIV infection of primary human CD4+ T cells, the virus’s in vivo targets, and was not toxic to epithelial cells at concentrations significantly higher than those required to kill the virus,” Dr. Unumatz says. CSA-54 is entirely unique in the way it targets HIV. The research “indicates that CSA-54 likely attacks the viral membrane and disrupts the virus from interacting with its target

cells… This is particularly important as a compound that targets the viral membrane is likely to be effective against all strains of the virus, regardless of mutations as the viral membrane remains unchanged.”

“Given the potent activity of CSA-54 against all strains of HIV tested, we plan on exploring the use of this compound in both topical and systemic applications for HIV therapy,” says Steven Porter, CEO of Ceragenix, the company that exclusively licenses the CSAs. The researchers are cautiously optimistic about the compound’s potential as the wonder drug that could finally end the AIDS pandemic, noting that all studies were conducted in test tubes in a laboratory. The results would need to be independently repeated in other labs before researchers would begin animal, then eventually human, testing.

Despite the fact that preliminary data is only from experiments conducted in test tubes, the results give hope, particularly to those who are currently living with HIV or AIDS. It is estimated that over 40 million people worldwide are living with the virus— a million alone in the United States—while millions have already died. Even under the best of circumstances, CSA-54 cannot be brought to market for the better part of a decade while its safety and efficacy is tested in clinical trials. If the compound were found to work well and safely in humans, it would likely obtain fast-track approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Q

San Francisco — Utah native Joel Dorius, one of three professors of literature caught in a gay pornography scandal and forced out

by Smith College in 1960—only to be exonerated in a celebrated case of sexual McCarthyism, died Feb. 21 at his home in San Francisco at the age of 87.

The cause was bone marrow cancer, said a friend, the Rev. Paul G. Crowley. In an academic career that spanned five decades, Mr. Dorius Joel Dorius taught Shakespeare, Elizabethan drama and the classics of English literature at Harvard, Yale, Smith and other colleges; he retired in 1984 after 20 years on the faculty of San Francisco State University.

But his life at Smith, in Northampton, Mass., crashed on Sept. 2, 1960, when three state troopers, a local police officer and a United States postal inspector raided the home of a colleague, Newton Arvin, 60, and found boxes of “beefcake” magazines and pictures of men—illegal pornography then, but much of it like today’s Calvin Klein underwear ads—and diaries detailing 20 years of his closeted gay life.

Under interrogation, Mr. Arvin—a professor of American literature at Smith, winner of the 1951 National Book Award for his biography of Herman Melville, a friend of the critics Edmund Wilson and Malcolm Crowley, and a former lover of Truman Capote—named names, including those of Mr. Dorius and Edward Spofford, both untenured Smith professors. Their homes were raided, too—Mr. Dorius was away at the time—and the investigators found more materials deemed pornographic.

The raids were part of a crackdown on obscenity in the mails by President Eisenhower’s postmaster general, Arthur E. Summerfield, whose ban on Lady Chatterley’s Lover was overturned by the courts. The authorities raided warehouses, seized publications and then went after people on the mailing lists.

In an era when homosexuality was widely viewed as an abomination—criminal, sinful and a mental disease—but accepted on many college campuses as long as it did not surface publicly, the arrests crossed the line, and Smith suspended the three professors. Mr. Arvin was later allowed to retire at half-pay, but, despite faculty protests, the contracts of Mr. Dorius and Mr. Spofford were not renewed.

All three, and four other men named by Mr. Arvin, were charged with possessing pornography, and Mr. Arvin was charged with being lewd and lascivious. Under pressure by the prosecution, Mr. Arvin testified against the others and received a one-year suspended sentence. He suffered a

breakdown, committed himself to a mental hospital and died in 1963.

Mr. Dorius and Mr. Spofford, under a quirk of Massachusetts law, accepted the court’s guilty verdict, without presentation of evidence, to preserve their right to appeal.

In 1963, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court overturned the convictions of all three professors, ruling that search warrants for the raids were unconstitutional because they had failed to define obscene materials.

In 1964, Mr. Dorius, who had worked in New York as an editor and taught at Hamburg University in West Germany while his appeal was pending, joined the faculty of San Francisco State. After his retirement, he wrote a memoir, My Four Lives, which appeared in 2004. Mr. Spofford, who taught for many years at Stanford University and retired in 1988, lives in Palo Alto.

Raymond Joel Dorius, who never used his first name, was born in Salt Lake City on Jan. 4, 1919, and graduated from the University of Utah. He taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology during World War II and later earned a doctorate and taught at Harvard. He taught at Yale from 1949 to 1958, when he joined the Smith faculty.

He is survived by a sister-in-law, two nieces and a nephew.

While the scandal was all but forgotten for decades, interest was revived in recent years by a book, Barry Werth’s The Scarlet Professor—Newton Arvin: A Literary Life Shattered

by Scandal (Doubleday, 2001); a television documentary, The Great Pink Scare, by Tug Yourgrau; and articles in The New Yorker, Out and other publications.

In 2002, Smith, the nation’s largest liberal arts college for women, acknowledged a wrong from four decades earlier by creating a lecture series and a small scholarship—the $100,000 Dorius/Spofford Fund for the Study of Civil Liberties and Freedom of Expression, and the Newton Arvin Prize in American Studies, a $500 annual stipend. But despite faculty appeals, there was no apology.

Mr. Dorius and Mr. Spofford did not return to Smith for the occasion. But Father Crowley, a Jesuit priest who is chairman of the religious studies department at Santa Clara University in California, said that both felt relieved and vindicated by the gesture.

“Joel was deeply touched,” he said. “It really did bring this whole ordeal to a close, and freed him to enter his final years.”

The case also spoke much about a changing America, Father Crowley said, recalling an era when civil liberties were trampled and careers ruined by hard laws and public attitudes toward gay people. “Younger folks can’t imagine how different the world was not so long ago, and the price people paid,” he said. “Joel and his generation suffered ignominies, but have made life easier for those who follow after them.” Q

AIDS Foundation to Hold Sixteenth Oscar Gala The Utah AIDS Foundation hopes for a big turnout this Sunday, March 5 at its sixteenth annual Oscar Night America Gala. One of the Foundation’s major annual fundraisers, the gala is expected to fill the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center to capacity.

This year, Bambara will cater the entrée buffets and Gastronomy will provide dessert for the hundreds of men and women in everything from leather to black tie. Guests are invited to browse the deals up for silent auction, mingle in the lively crowd, or simply relax and watch the Oscar telecast on the big screen.

The queer community is especially interested in this year’s Oscar night as queerrelevant films Brokeback Mountain, Capote and Transamerica are up for many of the evening’s biggest awards.

For a place at the buffet, individual tickets

are still available at $100 each, or patrons can guarantee a seat near friends with a tenperson “friends and family” table for $1,200.

Corporate tables are $1,500.

The Joe Muscolino Band will open the evening, and ABC4 News personalities Randall Carlisle, Barbara Smith, Chris Vanocur and Buddy Blankenfield will host. Also in attendance will be the Utah CyberSluts, further enlivening an already notoriously outrageous party, as well as local favorites the Disco Drippers, who will perform at a buzz-worthy after-party—a new addition to this year’s celebration.

Money raised at the event supports the many services of the Utah AIDS Foundation, which is celebrating its twenty-first year serving the needs of those affected by HIV and AIDS. Q

Salt Lake Battles over Benefits High School Students Lobby against Gay-Straight Alliance Bills

by Darren Tucker

darren@qsaltlake.com

by JoSelle Vanderhooft

Joselle.vanderhooft@qsaltlake.com

Brandon Monson knows all about getting involved in his school and his community. A senior at Hunter High School, he’s a member of the Russian Club, the captain of the debate team and a member of West Valley City’s Youth Advisory Council. Along with several other high school students, he’s also lobbying against HB 393 and SB 97 two bills that would disband the gay-straight alliance at his school.

Even though Monson, who identifies as straight, is not a member of Hunter’s GSA, he thinks such clubs are an important student and community resources.

“I’ve gotten on my soap box the last month a million times and I can’t stress enough that all GSAs do is promote a safe place for teenagers not only in the school but in the community,” said Monson. “They give them a safe place to go on public property where they won’t be threatened or injured when they don’t feel safe at home, in or at school in general. I wish every single school had a GSA, I really do.”

An active participant in politics who regularly contacts his representatives and has lobbied the legislature to increase funding for education, Monson said he first learned about the two bills while browsing the Utah legislature’s website. When he looked at the webpage for Senator Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, he was alarmed to learn the senator had sponsored SB 97. Titled “Student Club Amendments,” this bill would eliminate student clubs that promote bigotry, encourage law-breaking or “engaging in sexual activity outside of legally recognized marriage.”

“I saw that one and thought, oh wow, that’s odd. That would eliminate GSAs, I think,” said Monson. After discussing the bill with Hal Newman, his history teacher and Hunter’s GSA advisor, Monson and a few other students drove to the capitol building to lobby against the legislation. By that time, they’d learned Rep. Aaron Tilton, R-Springville, had introduced HB 393 “Public Education Club Amendments.” a nearly identical bill, in the House of Representatives.

Though most legislators seemed willing to listen to him and the other students, Monson said he received a frosty reception from a few, including Tilton himself.

“Every time he would come out [of the chamber] and see it was me who wanted to talk to him and I had my Equality button on, he would turn right back around and walk back in,” said Monson. But after several

more tries the representative finally agreed to speak to them.

“He didn’t seem very receptive,” Monson remembers. “He kind of nodded his head and said ‘um-hmm, yeah’ just standard responses of someone who seems like they weren’t paying attention.” Monson said he got similar responses from LaVar Christensen, Ron Bigelow and Eagle Forum president Gail Ruzicka.

Monson said he thinks Tilton and others who favor the bills are misinformed about GSAs, especially when they say such clubs discuss sexuality.

“I’ve dropped in on a couple GSA meetings out of the blue. Not once have I ever heard any conversation of sexual activity, sexual coercing kids if you will to try and come out of the closet or trying to turn kids gay,” he said.

“Going a bit further I think it’s extremely irresponsible for a lawmaker, someone who is in an elected position, to not be enlightened on a certain subject and want to regulate that subject or organization,” he continued. “I think it’s severely irresponsible of both Mr. Tilton and Mr. Buttars to sponsor this legislation not knowing anything but second hand stories and I would argue even less than that.”

Though SB 97 passed in the Senate Education Committee on February 23 and has since been reintroduced with a few amendments, Monson says the campaign against it and HB 393 is “far from over.” He and other students have begun a campaign to email legislators and have plans to lobby again on Monday February 27.

He encouraged teens and young adults to get involved in the legislative process, even if they disagree with his position.

“When we went up to testify in front of the House Education Committee [against HB 393], everyone who testified for the bill was an adult,” he said. “Half of those opposed to the bill half of them were teenagers. It’s really important that legislators hear our opinions.”

He also said it’s important to stand up for Utah’s LGBT citizens.

“I feel like they’re not given the same liberties they deserve or the same basic civil rights that everyone else has in America,” he said. “That’s why I’m involved.”

The war over queer rights heats up. Major battles rage across Utah’s Capitol Hill. Samesex marriage, Gay-Straight Alliances; it seems the gay, bisexual and lesbian community couldn’t be getting more press — good and bad — these days.

And just down the hill, in Salt Lake’s city hall, the Salt Lake City Council has just dropped what will probably be the last bomb in an on-going war with Mayor Rocky Anderson over benefits for domestic partners of city employees.

And, in a final, ironic twist, the mayor’s fight with the council may Salt Lake City Council Member mean absolutely Jill Remington Love nothing if state lawmakers on the hill ban benefits for anyone but spouses forever.

The fight started when Anderson, long a supporter of gay rights, issued an executive order giving benefits to the domestic partners of city employees, matching what the city does for its married employees.

The city council, some say in an attempt to punish the mayor for making an end run around their authority, almost immediately came up with a plan of their own. The plan would allow people to choose “adult designees” to receive benefits. The employee would have to prove they intended to live with the designee long term, and that they are financially dependent on each other.

Information issued by the city says 58 to 96 city employees could use the council’s plan, at a total cost of anywhere from $140,000 to $225,000 for taxpayers. The mayor’s plan would benefit 10 to 22 employees and cost $17,000 to $63,000.

Married city employees would not be able to use the council’s plan for full coverage for another adult because they can already get insurance for their spouses. City employees largely condemned the plan because of that limitation — a married couple trying to care for a sick parent living with them would not be able to get insurance for them.

Mayor Anderson fired the next shot in the battle — a two-pronged attack on the council’s plan including a veto and a “statement of objections.”

The statement condemns the council plan, calling it “blatantly discriminatory” and claiming it would “undermine parity between employees with spouses and those with spousal-like relations.”

He claimed it was an attempt by the city council to avoid treating same-sex couples the same way they treat married couples.

“The so-called ‘adult designee’ benefit does not guarantee parity between spousal and spousal-like relationships,” his statement said. “In fact it provides for unequal treatment of married employees and those who are not married.”

Regardless of opposition by the mayor or city employees, the council voted unanimously to override the mayor’s veto and make their plan the official policy of the city.

Almost as an aside in the battle, several Salt Lake residents and an out-of-state religious law group from sued Anderson over his now-defunct plan, claiming it violated Amendment 3 to the Utah Constitution, which defines marriage as between and man and a woman.

And now, with a bill before the Utah State Legislature that would ban cities and counties from offering benefits to anyone except legally defined spouses and children of employees, it seems as if the whole fight may have been nothing more than a tempest in a tea pot – just another battle in the war for gay, lesbian and bisexual rights. Q

Students interested in lobbying against HB 393 and SB 97 can email Brandon Monson at brandude4@msn.com. They can also contact Equality Utah at 355-3479.

Utah Pride Day Call for Entertainers are three stages running throughout the event, the Festival (or Main) stage, which hosts larger bands and regional or national acts; the Acoustic stage, which promotes soloists and smaller sized bands with an “unplugged” feel; and the Political stage, where invited guests speak out about issues of importance to festivalgoers.

This year, Utah Pride will be booking acts for the Festival and Acoustic stages. We will be accepting promo packs until March 17th.

In your promo pack please include current photos, press releases, a demo CD or DVD, and a written statement of 100 words or less on why you hope to perform at Pride 2006.

Mail Promo Packs To: Utah Pride c/o The GLBT Community Center of Utah 355 N. 300 West Salt Lake City, Utah 84103 Please do not call or e-mail. If you are selected we will contact you. All materials submitted become the property of Utah Pride/the GLBTCCU and will not be returned.

Contestants of last year’s Mr. Utah Bear and Cub Contest

Hunting Bear The 2006 Mr. Utah Bear and Cub Contest, hosted by the Utah Bear Alliance, has grown into a weekend-long event, spanning from March 10–12 at Club Try-Angles.

Friday night kicks off the event with a meet-and-greet starting at 10:00 p.m. The contest will be held Saturday night beginning at 9:30 p.m., and a victory brunch at the Golden Corral in Midvale will cap off the weekend on Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m.

Contestants will compete for the titles of Mr. Utah Bear and Mr. Utah Cub. Title winners will have the opportunity to compete at the International Bear Rendezvous for the titles of International Bear Cub, International Daddy Bear, International Grizzly Bear, and the overall title of International Mr. Bear.

IBR is an annual gathering of bears and bear-lovers held in San Francisco and hosted by the Bears of San Francisco. Over

$290,000 has been donated to charity organizations since the first Rendezvous in 1995.

In July, the Utah Bear Alliance will host the UBA Ruckus 2006, a weekend camping trip in McCammon, Idaho. Volleyball, horseshoes, a bar night at Charlie’s in Pocatello, a hike and river rafting will round out the weekend. Oh, and how could we forget the barbecue? Tickets range from $40 to $60, which includes camping and food.

The Utah Bear Alliance was organized in 2004 as a social and service organization focusing on men who consider themselves bears and those who appreciate them. Typically, bears are gay men of all shapes and sizes who are hairy or who maintain facial hair. The UBA has raised money for the Youth Activity Center at the GLBTCCU, the Utah AIDS Foundation and other charities.

For more information about these events and the Utah Bear Alliance, visit their website at utahbears.com

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Calling all Performers. Utah Pride is looking for performers for the 2006 celebration. So, dust off your guitars, get the band together, and come show the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight-allied community your talent and support.

“This year our goal is to really stretch the boundaries of our Festival entertainment” comment Jere Keys, pride coordinator. “We want to put together a program of eclectic musicians and performers who reflect the diverse tastes of our community.”

Entertainers of all styles are encouraged to apply. Utah Pride is especially interested in upbeat, fast-paced music fitting with our atmosphere of celebration. Last year’s Festival highlighted such acts as The Butchies, Laura Love, Salsa Brava, The Spazmatics, and many more.

The 2006 Utah Pride Festival will take place on Sunday, June 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Washington and Library Squares in downtown Salt Lake City. This year’s theme is “Pride, Not Prejudice.” There

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Gay Men’s Support Group A weekly meeting of gay men to discuss issues that are relevant to our being the healthiest gay men we can be will be held at The Center For Human Potential. This professionally facilitated group will address various topics including: coming out/being out, family issues, relationships, coping skills, dating, self-esteem, aging and more. Group size will be limited to 10.

Start date: April 5, 2006 Meeting time: Wednesdays, 6:00 – 7:15 PM Place: The Center For Human Potential 2237 S 600 East, Salt Lake City Cost: $25.00/session Pre-registration is required. Please call George J Limberakis, LPC at The Center For Human Potential 487-4298 to register or for additional information.

Christensen in Sheep’s Clothing

GLBT Community Center of Utah March 1–15 2006 Events Wed Mar 1st Lavender Tribe MultiPurpose Room (7:30 pm) You can make a difference in your life and in your community in only 16 hours a year. Tonight, we welcome Mike Piccardi, who will help unite us and teach us how to make a stand against the Gale Ruzika’s in our life in a positive way.

Mon March 6th Drop in Photography Course Center Space (7-8:30pm) Join Terry Marasco, Fine Art Nature Photographer, for Monday evening drop-in courses (beginner to intermediate everyday user) on photography with focus on the following: Developing your personal style, Manipulating light to achieve your personal style, Composition & Equipment discussion - which Thurs Mar 2nd Armed Forces Support Group way to go? This class is offered for four Mondays only, so don’t Multi-Purpose Room (6pm) Have you served in the armed miss your chance. forces or are currently serving? Tues Mar 7th This group is for you. Reoccurs FREE Cyber Center classes the 1st Thursday of every Center Space (6-9pm) month. Contact Karla for more Come check out our brand spanking new computers from info: (801) 643-4550. the David Bohnett Foundation Sun March 5th and get personalized help Neighborhood Potluck with all your computer needs.

Socials Participants welcome on a Various Locations (1pm) drop in basis. Class if offered Do you ever wonder where all Tuesdays through March only. the GLBT people are in your Wed Mar 8th neighborhood? Now is your Lavender Tribe chance. Bring a dish to share MultiPurpose Room (7:30 pm) and meet your neighbors. This Marcus will be speaking about program is for adults looking his amazing gift of being able to socialize with other GLBTQ to see beyond the veil. His work people in their area. To find the is gaining popularity throughout location of the potluck in your the Salt Lake valley as he area at puts on group sessions called glbtccu.org/PotluckCaptains.pdf “Crossing Over�. In these meet-

ings he is able to communicate with those on the other side to facilitate healing, direction, and love for those of us looking for comfort and peace. You have to see it to believe it.

individuals. Come down to the Center this month and pick up educational fats sheets on issues such as hepatitis, breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, smoking, domestic violence, genital warts, mental health, and more. There Thurs Mar 9th are facts sheets for gay men, Bisexual Discussion Group bisexuals, lesbians and trans Multi Purpose Room (7pm) Now meeting the 2nd Thursday men and women. of every month.. Are you bi? Do The Center also has a list of you identify as queer? Come to GLBT friendly and competent health car providers – contact this group and lets talk about jennfer@glbtccu.org for access it. This group is for anyone 18 and up to connect to others and to this list, or to recommend a provider. dialogue about bisexual and Don’t forget – every 2nd and 4th queer life in the City of Salt.

Wednesday you can get tested Friday Mar 10th for free for HIV here at the Gay Bingo Center from 6-8pm.

Multi-purpose Room (7pm) $5 Wed Mar 15th Bingo is back for March with Lavender Tribe the Cyber Sluts. $5 gets you your game board and an entire MultiPurpose Room (7:30 pm) Allisone Weiss will be sharing evening of entertainment and her experiential Spiritual prizes. Don’t miss it.

Midwifery practice. All of us March 12–18 is already have everything we need National GLBT Health to be perfect beings within, we Awareness Week. sometimes need the help of a This year’s theme is Own midwife as we birth ourselves your Health. Get Checked into this being.

Out. As GLBT individuals it is imperative that we take responsibility GLBTCU CENTER 361 N. 300 West for ensuring that we get the Salt Lake City, UT best health care possible and 539-8800 to educate ourselves about thecenter@glbtccu.org health risk pertinent to us as

This year’s legislative session will end the night QSaltLake’s first issue hits the streets.

On that night, we will learn the fate of many of the pieces of anti-gay legislation and the hate crime bill sponsored by Rep. David Litvak, D-Salt Lake.

We will also see the end of the first setup for Rep. Lavar Christensen in his bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah.

Rep. Christensen’s back-room finaglry of the hate crime bill is most likely an attempt to make him look more like a moderate than a right-wingnut. The rest of the Republican Party is likely complicit in this effort, as they would love nothing more than see a GOP sweep of representatives in this reddest of red states.

But wearing the clothes of a moderate does not a moderate make. Rep. Christiansen has never seen an anti-gay bill he didn’t like (to paraphrase our own Ruby Ridge).

He scours court decisions and public policy for ways gay people have for years patched together a semblance of legal rights and protections, only to find ways to quash them.

The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund has bestowed its highest rank on him. Utah Grass Roots ranks him among

QSaltLake is published twice monthly the Wednesday on or before the 1st and 16th by

Salt Lick Publishing, LLC PO Box 511247 Salt Lake City, UT 84151-1247

(800) 806-7357

Editor Michael Aaron Arts Editor Tony Hobday Proofreader Nicholas Rupp Office Mgr. Tony Hobday Distribution Courtney Moser

Shane Sim

the top ten Utah representatives “commited to the principles of limited government, the State and U.S. Constitutions, representive government, participatory democracy, a free market economy, separation of powers, and family.� (Interestingly, Sen. Scott McCoy ranks dead last in this group’s rankings in the Utah Senate.)

Accountability in Utah ranks Rep. Christensen in the bottom six representatives to “hold their government accountable, and to secure — for every man, woman, and child — a future of freedom.�

Gay and lesbian people were largely absent from Rep. Matheson’s last race because of his support for a federal “defense of marriage� act. Matheson won with 56 percent of the vote — a fairly comfortable margin in a district where only 33 percent of the voters voted against Bush.

The community may have to rethink that plan if Christensen begins to promote a race against Matheson as a race between moderates.

More importantly, Christensen should never claim any hate crime legislation victory his own simply for tinkering with the wording to propel his own political agenda.

Copyright Š 2006 Salt Lick Publishing, LLC. ontributors C rights reserved. No part of this publicaKim Burgess, Angela D’Amboise, All tion may be reproduced in any manner, Matthew Gerber, Tony Hobday, including electronic retrieval systems, without the prior written permission of the Jere Keys, Danny McCoy, Laurie Mecham, Ross von Metzke, publisher. One copy of this publication is of charge to any individual. Additional William H. Munk, David Nelson, free copies may be purchased for $1. Anyone Paul E. Pratt, Ruby Ridge, Kim taking or destroying multiple copies may Russo, Joel Shoemaker, Darren be prosecuted for theft at the sole discretion of the publisher. Reward offered Tucker, JoSelle Vanderhooft, for information that leads to the arrest of Ben Williams any individual willfully stealing, destroying

Display Ad Daniel Camp

Sales 864-5316

Megan Wilson

or trashing multiple copies. QSaltLake is a trademark of Salt Lick Publishing, LLC. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers or staff.

706-7971

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Hip Hop, Trance, Rock en Espñol, Alternative Rock & More

Studio 801.359.9191 RadioActive 801.303.6050 KRCL 90.9 fm serves the community through diverse, independent, and progressive public affairs and music programming Listen along the Wasatch Front at 90.9 FM or anywhere in the world as www.krcl.or

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Well, things have changed a bit around here. Did you notice?

Long story short (and drama-free) I determined it was in the best interest of maintaining the quality newspaper that the writers, photographers and I created to move away from the Metro Publishing offices and start anew.

For the record, an attempt I had made to buy Salt Lake Metro and any debts that it might have was thwarted using what I believe to be legal tricks. But, that’s all I can say about that. My former business partner is one of the most litigious people I have ever met. ’Nuf said.

I have always considered Salt Lake Metro a huge success in many ways. The writing was smart, clever, interesting, and on topics of importance. It looked good. We put on some great events that otherwise wouldn’t have happened.

And the community responded. Friendly waves and honking of horns greeted me as I drove down the street in my Metro logo-emblazoned Jeep. I’ve been bought drinks at bars and dessert at restaurants.

(Hmmm… better make sure that ends up on my tax forms now that I’ve spread that around.) People stopped me to express the importance of what we were doing. I’ve received numerous complementary emails and letters as well.

It really hit home how important Salt Lake Metro was when I went to Eric Tierney’s services at the Rose Wagner a few weeks ago. Eric was our arts editor and wrote the Gay Agenda and EarPiece columns. His pride and his friends’ and family’s pride in him for being a published columnist brought Metro’s importance to a new level in me.

So, when it became obvious that my only option was to move on, I had to decide whether to keep publishing or find a job in the real world. How could I not decide to keep going?

When I started working on Salt Lake Metro in December 2003, I envisioned a newspaper on par with those of other, larger cities. I wanted it to look and feel like a professional newspaper. I wanted it to have paid writers — ones that made at least a part of their living actually writing.

5:30

Variety

michael.aaron@qsaltlake.com

KRCL 90.9 FM PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

African

by Michael Aaron

I wanted a sales team that would comb the valley for gay-friendly businesses and fill the newspaper with great ads so that we could grow to 40 pages, then 60, then maybe even go weekly. I wanted an editorial team that gave the newspaper an edge, its own voice.

Most of all, I wanted to do my part in growing and maturing the gay and lesbian community in Utah as I’ve seen other publications do in other cities.

Some of those things happened, some did not.

Welcome to QSaltLake. You are holding in your hands a beginning, not an end.

I’m immensely proud of our sales staff, writers and photographers for doing the impossible — starting a brand new newspaper in eight days.

Little has changed from my original vision for the newspaper. I have made some decisions for QSaltLake that I believe will help draw the community together a bit more. We plan on providing much more news about what local organizations are doing. We plan on having a much higher profile in sponsoring events. I have spoken with Todd at the Pillar and we are planning some joint projects. I’m also working with the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Community Center of Utah and the Utah AIDS Foundation in helping put together a Hepatitis immunization awareness project — the importance of which became very clear after Eric’s death.

A lot of what we will be doing is more of the same because it was immensely popular.

So, I’m asking that you forgive us for any drama that might have leaked out during this transition.

I’m also asking you to consider if you are the salesperson we are looking for.

Ground floor opportunities come only once in a long while. One that can give you a great reason to wake up, look in the mirror, and say, “hey – I’m doing something important with my life,” may only come once in a lifetime.

Lastly, I’m asking for you to get more involved. Write letters to the editor. Submit story ideas. If you write, send us a sample.

If you have a community group, send us your events and pictures.

We have created the QGuide of community groups. Take a look at it towards the back. Make sure your group is listed and that all contact info is correct. Listings are free.

We are looking forward with new zeal in meeting the needs of the community.

Variety

Here’s to a Brighter Future

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Empress 30 Krystyna Shaylee along with the

ROYAL COURT OF THE GOLDEN SPIKE EMPIRE Present:

“Cancer Awareness Week” Saturday March 4th, 8:30pm “Pink Party” at the Trapp Door*, $5.

This event hosted by Empress 29 Syren Vaughn, Princess Royale 26 Kyra Faye Prespentte, and Princess Royale 30 Kennedy Cartier

Sunday March 5th, 4–7pm “Feed for a Cure” Dinner at the Trapp*, $5.

This event hosted by Empress 28 Heidi Ho West Waters and Princess Royale 22 Makayla.

Tuesday March 7th, 7:30pm Court Meeting at HeadsUp*

After court Meeting Dinner and a Movie. Co-hosted with Lady to Empress 30 Legacy B Hinckley

Thursday March 9th, 7:30pm “Breast Dialogues” Short Stories of Cancer Survivors $7(includes refreshments/light finger foods).

Co-Hosted with Prince Royale 29 Michael Canham

Friday March 10th, 9pm “Crowns Gowns and Jewels” at HeadsUp*, $5

Co-Hosted with Princess Royale 30 Kennedy Cartier and Crown Princess 30 Kaycee P. IvanLee

Friday March 10th, 11pm Paper Moon’s annual Bra Auction at the Paper Moon* Saturday March 11th, 8:30pm All Male show “It’s Raining Men” at Trapp Door $5 Co-hosted with Emperor 28 Mark Thrash

Sunday March 12th at 10am–8pm Wendover Bus Trip bus leaves the Trapp*/Trapp Door* Parking lots at 10am, $17 (includes free buffet, $7 cash, free drink, free coffee and chance to win a stay in Vegas) Co-Hosted with Michael Aaron and QSaltLake

Sunday March 12th at 9pm “Decades of Love” at the Trapp Door*, $5 co-hosted with Empress 20 Shaneka Christie

Friday March 17th at 9pm “Pot of Gold” Solid Gold 70’s show at HeadsUp* Saturday March 18th at 8:30pm “Pretty in Pink” 80’s show at MoDiggity’s* co-hosted with Princess Royale 26 Kyra Faye Prespentte

Sunday March 19th, 7pm “Live for Life Show” at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 7pm. Co-hosted with Charles Black, Emperor 20 Peter Christie, and Empress 29 Syren Vaughn.

More info at rcgse.org *private clubs for members

Things that Make Ya Go WTF?

by Laurie Mecham

laurie.mecham@qsaltlake.com

There are a number of things lately that are making me shake my head so hard I no longer need to blow dry, and I don’t even know how to make sense of them all. I thought I’d just hurl them all out on the page and see if some kind of pattern emerges. Perhaps, when viewed with the proper perspective, there will be a pattern or a symbol or a chart. Maybe it will render the clues to finding lost treasure, or reveal a map of the Republican genome, or an encoded version of the long-lost title to that old Datsun I had in the early 80s.

Surgical six-pack. I saw this on the teevee. Some plastic surgeon has developed a surgical method of liposuctioning belly fat with some precision that allows him to leave dents on the victim’s stomach outlining a “six-pack.”

That’s what proponents say, but the program showed a guy who had had it done, and it looked to me like he’d been in an accident with an industrialstrength waffle iron.

Along the same lines of people doing freaky shit to their bodies to conform to some plasticene, injection-molded ideal of identi-beauty, there are also plastic surgeons who are cutting away sections of women’s labia. That’s right girls, apparently some people think that there is one — one kind of perfect flower, and that all other petals are inferior. How effed up is that? We’re going to put Mattel out of business, because there will be a real life Perfect Pussy Barbie on every block.

Bush Slogan Update. Seems that the White House analysts have found that the phrase “War on Terror” has lost some of its zing. It is becoming increasingly unpopular. Baffling, ain’t it? And unfortunate, because Dubya has learned to pronunciate it so well. They’ve decided to change the product name. The oval office deejays are now going to spin this as, (drum roll, please) “The Long War.” No, I’m not kidding. They actually think this is better. And perhaps it is somewhat of an improvement, as this is the first twinkle of honesty to emerge from the current administration. For complete transparency, however, it should be named “The Intentionally Manufactured, Unprovoked, Money-Driven, Soul Raping, InnocentsMurdering Monstrosity of an Unforgivably, Utterly Unnecessarily Long-Ass War.” But that wouldn’t fit on the label — plus all the syllables.

It’s Hard Being New. Back to me now, and my personal life. Not only am I The New Guy at my job, but I’m also new in town.

I have … had … lived in Salt Lake since before many of you were born. I know people in town through dozens of avenues, from being married to a musician to acting on stage to being a gay activist. These relationships gave richness to my life. I recognize this most acutely now, having been removed from the immediacy of those connections. I miss my friends. I emailed some former coworkers recently because I was really feeling the loss of our lunchtime verbal jousting, where there was plenty of sarcasm and we cracked each other up regularly.

Some plastic surgeon has developed a surgical method of liposuctioning belly fat with some precision that allows him to leave dents on the victim’s stomach outlining a “six‑pack.”

The Utah Legislature. Funny that it has never occurred to me to mention them before, but holy God, how out of touch is it even possible for people to be? At the time of this writing, there is a bill pending that would make selling a violent video game to a minor a felony. This brought to you by the same folks who don’t want a loving gay parent (or straight grandparent guardian) to have any legal rights in the upbringing of a child. It should be okay, however, to let kids have guns and shoot animals at any random age. We should relax all the standards around child abuse by a parent, because hey, parents — the straight ones anyway — always act in their child’s best interest. So what do you do if a parent works at a store that sells video games and sells a violent game to their own child? Here’s the bottom line.

When Utah kids get messed up, it’s always somebody else’s fault. Blame the gays, the school teachers, or the liberals. It’s never the parents, unless the parents drink alcohol or love someone of the same sex.

Excuse me; I need a minute to go gnaw off my own foot.

L: WHERE ARE MY PEEPS? I have only ONE gay man in my office to be mean with. This will never do.

M: Laurel, You are going to have to bring someone else “into the fold” of your meanness. I am sure that you can find someone around the office or in your building. It will be like grade school all over again and deciding whether or not to include that one girl in your game of hopscotch.

L: You’re so right! Being mean is just like being gay, or Mormon, or both! All I have to do is recruit!

C: sorry, i can’t possibly move within a 200-mile radius of my in-laws. i can be mean from here, though. and mean i shall be. did you hear about chris buttars? he’s off the hill because of some serious undisclosed illness. i don’t want to hope for the guy to die or anything but it would make me happy to find out that he has some sort of nasty STD, preferably from an affair, a gay affair, possibly an affair with a gay horse, even better an affair with a gay female horse resulting in the creation of a human/horse hybrid love child which would be categorized as a new species, thus eliminating any credibility he might have had in the fields of both evolution and gay rights. that would be cool.

Laurie Mecham feels a little better now.

New and the Same

by Ruby Ridge

ruby.ridge@qsaltlake.com

Hola, kittens! Welcome to the new, but not necessarily improved, Ruby Ridge column here at QSaltLake newspaper. I don’t know about you kids, but for moi, this whole transition to a new newspaper has been really bizarro. It’s like a bad episode of that sci-fi show Sliders where I have been sucked through a portal into an alternate, but vaguely familiar, universe and John Rhys-Davies has just landed on me (which may or may not be a bad thing now that I think about it!). On one hand, all of the people that I usually deal with are here at Q, like the other writers and my editor — who is always riding my case for being past deadline and having to apologize to the pissed off people, religious sects, and small countries that I have offended. So in most ways, my little corner of the world hasn’t really changed that much.

But after two years of columns and your countless e-mails and letters, I feel as if I

All I know is that if I use my original column’s title in the new publication, Johnnie Cochran will come back to life and ram a court injunction up my butt wearing OJ’s gloves.

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 enduring too many irritating, self important GLBT documentaries shot in black and white with jerky hand held cameras documenting the political and social plight of lesbian coffee bean pickers in Nicaragua. At this point I’d rather see “Father of the Bride 6” in 3D at the nearest Larry Miller Hate-Plex.

251 West 900 South, SLC, UT Fri, March 10 - Meet and Greet w/ Contestants 10 PM DJ Ruckus, Raffle w/ Utah Cyber Sluts, Food Sat, March 11 - Contest at 9:30 PM Contest hosted by Ruby Ridge, entertainment by the Utah Cyber Sluts, DJ Mike Babbitt, Raffle, Silent Auction, Food, and more Sun, March 12 - Celebration Brunch 10 am Golden Corral, 7200 South 700 East

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know you all so well, pumpkins. Like Yoda feeling a fluctuation in the force, I sense that you are just bursting with all-consuming questions about the new newspaper, the fate of the old newspaper, and will Paris Hilton ever find a nice man, settle down and eat food again? I feel the pain and the torment of your curiosity petals, but to be frank, I just don’t know enough about the back story and politics to make an informed and fair report … and being informed, fair, losing 15 pounds and shaving my back more frequently were some of my Chinese New Year resolutions that I intend to keep. All I know is that if I use my original column’s title in the new publication, Johnnie Cochran will come back to life and ram a court injunction up my butt wearing OJ’s gloves. So, for the sake of the children, let’s all move on shall we? Yes … let’s do!

On a happier note, did you go to the Winterfest Gala? Several of the Sluts went as guests of Beano Solomon, who put the shindig together, and we had a really marvelous time. We were amazed at the high turnout and support for the gala’s inaugural year, which was encouraging considering how long it usually takes events to take hold in our community. You probably know Beano for her battle to get the word “gay” approved on state-issued license plates. Her BMW with the “GAYSROK” license plate was on display at the entrance to the gala (is it a breach of manners and totally evil of me to point out that she is getting more mileage out of the license plate than the beamer?

Oh I kid, I kid). We are so fortunate to have

determined allies like Beano who can tackle discrimination and homophobia head on.

A big heart-felt thanks to her and all of the volunteers who worked so hard to make the event such a success. We will be there next year … and probably with bells on. Ciao Cherubs!

S

jere@qsaltlake.com

pring in Utah can be an unpredictable thing.

One day it may seem like time to pack away the bulky sweaters and start showing off those muscles, and the next could be cold and wet. A short drive can take you to perfect sunbathing weather, or fresh powder for snowboarding.

The one thing we can always count on (other than a glut of anti-gay legislation taking effect as the lawmakers finish up on Capitol Hill) is a dynamic and exciting calendar of arts events. Our guide is by no means comprehensive, but it calls out some of the most exciting and anticipated dates to mark on your calendar.

Musical Theater

Let’s start with that old staple of queer life, musical theater! This season offers a great mix of classic gems and exciting new works for many tastes. The renown Broadway in Utah series, which brings professional touring productions to the Beehive State, will be performing the unofficial musical of Utah, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, from March 21-26 at the Capitol Theatre, and Hairspray, possibly the most queer musical of the season, makes a stop AIDA at Kingman Hall May 9-14.

Currently, the Elton John/Tim Rice hit Aida is playing at the Hale Center Theatre in West Valley City, exploring themes of loyalty, slavery, power and love in Egyptian culture.

Musical theater options aren’t limited to Salt Lake City.

Another ongoing hit is The Full Monty at the Egyptian Theatre in Park City, based on the movie of the same name. The Egyptian Theatre is the first company in Utah to present this gay-positive crowd-pleaser which has no shortage of teasing male flesh. From April 13-22, you can also take a trip up to the Utah State University campus to catch a production of West Side Story, by Arthur Laurents,

o f U t a h

Tony Kushner Directed by L.L. West

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Leonard Bernstein, and Stephen Sondheim.

Down south, Southern Utah University is mounting an April production of Seussical, the Musical in the Randall Jones Theatre, singing and dancing out the stories of some of the most beloved characters from the books of Dr. Seuss.

Theater

If people spontaneously bursting into song and dance doesn’t appeal to you (and what kind of queer are you if so?), there are many great theatrical productions which won’t put such a strain on your ability to suspend your disbelief.

Angels in America

SYmphony

Or maybe avant-garde isn’t your style at all. Maybe you need something a bit more classical. Well, not to fear! The Utah Symphony continues its usual whirlwind schedule with numerous performance throughout the spring.

Concerts this spring will highlight music from Handel, Vivaldi, Mozart, Stravinsky and Shumann, among many others. With a different concert at least once a week, bookmark their performance schedule at utahsymphony.org to keep up.

Opera

If opera is your thing, the Utah Opera is presenting two of the most famous and beloved works in the history of the form.

The Magic Flute, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, tells a rousing story of adventure and love, but the real star of this opera is Mozart’s superb score. The opera will be performed in German, but English supertitles will help even a novice opera-goer to follow the story. The Magic Flue plays March 11-19 at the Capitol Theatre.

The Magic Flute

If the only thing you know about opera comes from old Looney-Toon cartoons, you’re in for a treat when Utah Opera performs The Barber of Seville May 13-21. A pair of young lovers, Count Almaviva and Rosina, must outwit Don Bartolo (Rosina’s benefactor) if they wish to wed, and only the barber, Figaro, can bring about a happy ending in this wellknown comedy.

Ballet

Not enough of the most famous works of high culture to curb your addiction?

Well, then look out for Ballet West’s production of Swan Lake April 14-22, the most famous piece of ballet ever written. With music by Tchaikovsky, the tale of a young princess turned into a swan by an evil wizard has been told and retold a thousand times over because of its beauty, grace, drama and artistry… and I’m not just talking about the guys with their firm, muscular butts covered continued on page 14

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Beginning this week, Angels in America: Perestroika—the second part of Tony Kushner’s award winning opus on AIDS, queer identity and 80s politics—will be performed at the University of Utah’s Babcock Theatre as directed by Larry West. The first half of this definitive work of art was produced in spring last year to critical acclaim, and the conclusion will certainly be just as moving and entertaining.

Local theatre groups are offering many pieces this spring which are certain to provoke thought and conversation.

This month, look for Plan B Theatre’s Amerika by Utah’s own Aden Ross at the Studio Theatre in the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, a play that has grown up under the programs of Plan B to a moving piece about how different types of Americans react to terrifying situations. In April and May, Pygmalion tackles topics sure to be banned in public schools with The Sex Habits of American Women, written by Julie Marie Myatt and directed by Fran Pruyn. This multimedia piece used video documentary and live actors to contrast the story of a respected male psychotherapist who, in the 1950s, decided to write the definitive handbook on female sexuality and the life of contemporary single mother and feisty daughter of the women’s lib revolution.

Not to be outdone (as if!), Tooth and Nail Theatre presents Far Away in April and May, an apocalyptic fairy tale be Caryl Churchill and directed by Rodney Cuellar. How does everyday apathy lead to people standing by during the most outrageous political evils? And what does a parade of hats have to do with it?

Don’t miss Tooth and Nail’s one-night only fundraiser Shhh…Burlesque on March 11. When else in Utah will you be entertained by the likes of Dirty Martini, the World Famous “Bob,” Julie Atlas Muz, and Salt Lake’s own burlesque legend Dee Milo? And keep an eye out for information on the return of Project Fabulocity in June, created in collaboration with local queer youth.

Maybe as you’re reading though this, you’re thinking, “yeah, yeah, he says those shows tackle edgy topics, but they all sound so mainstream.” Rest assured little art-hippie/new-age/rebel-artist/emo-

kid, there is no shortage of experimental and unusual performance art in the spring season. Take, for example, Half Moon Rising by Jerry Gardner, an original Butoh dance/theatrical production.

Butoh is an art form originating in PostWorld War II Japan combining modern theatre techniques with traditional Japanese forms. Body paint, stylized storytelling and a newly evolving art form, Half Moon Rising will be performed at the University of Utah this week.

Another traditional experiment in performing art comes in the Plan B Company’s third annual SLAM! This year an all-female cast will perform five 10minute plays that were created, rehearsed and performed in only 24 hours! One night only, May 20.

continued from page 13

in nothing but skin-tight dance skins.

Later, from May 26-June 3, Ballet West will delight audiences again with An Swan Lake

April 19–May 7

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Studio Theatre • Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center Tickets through ArtTix at 801-355-ARTS, arttix.org

Evening of Ballets, a showcase night that is sure to impress you with the range and talent of the company. The evening will include Hans van Manen’s In and Out, the Utah premiere of Antony Tudor’s heart-wrenching Echoing of Trumpets and George Balanchine’s masterful Theme and Variations.

CHOIR

We certainly wouldn’t want to forget about the spring concert from the Salt Lake Men’s Choir, which is predominantly made up of gay men. This year, they’ll be delighting audiences with Anthem, songs to rouse your soul. From patriotic national anthems, to rock anthems, to cultural anthems, the program selection is sure to kindle that special feeling of pride we feel when we belong to a community. The only question is, which gen-

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Spring Arts Guide

Anthems for Spring Salt Lake Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choir Rose Wagner Perf. Arts Ctr March 19 Tickets: $10â&#x20AC;&#x201C;15; 355â&#x20AC;&#x2018;ARTS or www.arttix.com The Barber of Seville Utah Opera Capitol Theatre May 13â&#x20AC;&#x201C;21.

Tickets: $12â&#x20AC;&#x201C;60, tickets.com or utahopera.org

An Evening of Ballets Ballet West Capitol Theatre May 26â&#x20AC;&#x201C;June 3 Tickets: TBA; 355â&#x20AC;&#x2018;ARTS or balletwest.org Far Away Tooth and Nail Theatre Rose Wagner Perf. Arts Ctr April 20â&#x20AC;&#x201C;May 7 Tickets: $15; www.arttix.com The Full Monty Egyptian Theatre, Park City February 10â&#x20AC;&#x201C;March 11 Tickets: $16â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$32; 435â&#x20AC;&#x2018;649â&#x20AC;&#x2018;9371 or egyptiantheatrecompany.org Hairspray Broadway in Utah Kingsbury Hall May 9â&#x20AC;&#x201C;14, 2006 Tickets: $30 and up; kingsburyevents.com Half Moon Rising University of Utah The Lab Theatre/Studio 115, Performing Arts Building March 2â&#x20AC;&#x201C;5 Tickets: $7 ($5 students); 581â&#x20AC;&#x2018;7100 or www.Kingtix.com

eration of gay anthem will they chooseâ&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rainbow Connection,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Raining Men,â&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oops, I Did it Againâ&#x20AC;??

GALLERIES

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the type who would rather not get your art while sitting in a dimly lit theatre or auditorium, you might prefer to check out the numerous gallery shows and exhibits happening this spring.

First, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll want to check out â&#x20AC;&#x153;Paper and Tape,â&#x20AC;? an exhibit featuring the work of Eugene Tachinni, an openly gay, Mormon Navajo man whose layered photography and art mirrors the contradictions within his own upbringing and identity.

The exhibit can be seen now through March 9 at the Alvin Gittins Gallery in the Art and Architecture Building at the University of Utah.

To make an evening of experiencing the visual arts, grab a jacket (cause it might still get cold) and plan a night with the Gallery Stroll. This monthly event involves several participating galleries and is always free. Some sponsors even offer discounts to Gallery Stroll participants.

The next Stroll takes place Friday, Mar. 17 from 6â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9 p.m. Visit gallerystoll.org for updated times and dates throughout the rest of the spring.

Concerts

Finally, with too many spring rock and pop concerts to even begin to describe, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have to settle for mentioning the ones which we think will be hot tickets for the queer community: David Gray (Kingsbury Hall, Mar. 14), Beth Orton (In the Venue, Mar. 20), James Blunt (The Depot, Mar. 31), and Black Eyed Peas (E Center, May 20). Q Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Broadway in Utah Capitol Theatre March 21â&#x20AC;&#x201C;26, 2006 Tickets: $30 and up; tickets.com The Magic Flute Utah Opera Capitol Theatre March 11â&#x20AC;&#x201C;19 Tickets: $12â&#x20AC;&#x201C;60, tickets.com or utahopera.org Seussical, The Musical Southern Utah University Randall Jones Theatre April 13â&#x20AC;&#x201C;21 Tickets: prices TBA; 435â&#x20AC;&#x2018;586â&#x20AC;&#x2018;7878 The Sex Habits of American Women Pygmalion Productions Rose Wagner Perf. Arts Ctr April 21â&#x20AC;&#x201C;May 13 Tickets: $18 ($12 students); 355â&#x20AC;&#x2018;ARTS or www.arttix.com Shhhâ&#x20AC;ŚBurlesque Tooth and Nail Theatre Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center March 11 Tickets: $40â&#x20AC;&#x201C;75; www.arttix.com or toothandnailtheatre.com

SLAM! Plan B Theatre Company Rose Wagner Perf. Arts Ctr May 20 Tickets: $15; 355â&#x20AC;&#x2018;ARTS or planbtheatrecompany.org Swan Lake Ballet West Capitol Theatre April 14â&#x20AC;&#x2018;22 Tickets: $17â&#x20AC;&#x201C;65; 355â&#x20AC;&#x2018;ARTS or balletwest.org Utah Symphony Various locations, primarily Abravanel Hall Multiple concerts Tickets: 433â&#x20AC;&#x2018;ARTS, www.arttix.com or utahsymphony.org The Water Project Salt Lake Acting Company 168 W. 500 North Apr 4 - Apr 30 Tickets $13-31 355-ARTS or srttix.org West Side Story Utah State Univ. Theatre Dept Morgan Theatre April 13â&#x20AC;&#x201C;22 Tickets: prices TBA; 435â&#x20AC;&#x2018;797â&#x20AC;&#x2018;1500

Rent Now on DVD

by Ross von Metzke

ross.von.metzke@qsaltlake.com

All right, I’ll admit it. In high school, I was something of a Renthead. I grew up in San Diego, the first place Rent played when it started setting up shop in theatres across the country. And while I wasn’t one of those people who took my mattress to the theatre and camped out for tickets overnight, I did love the play—I paid to see it twice, and another two times on Broadway. I knew the soundtrack by heart … and I even played Roger in our senior show.

So it was with mixed feelings that I went into Rent in movie theatres. On the one hand, I was stoked that this beautiful piece of theatre would now be seen by the masses.

On the other hand, I was quite scared of what Jonathan Larson’s masterpiece might become in the hands of the man who directed Home Alone.

And, as I predicted, I left the theatre with mixed emotions. Yes, the music and the story still moved me, and some of the cinematography was indeed stunning. And, oddly, while I was worried about Rosario Dawson coming across believably as drug-addicted club-kid Mimi Marquez, she not only held her own, she practically stole the movie right out from under her able-bodied costars.

Which was my first problem. The original Broadway cast, while talented and deserving of the opportunity to recreate their roles on film, all of the cast (with the exception of Anthony Rapp as Mark and Idina Menzel,

still sassy as ever as Maureen) looked way too old to be playing these roles. Secondly, Columbus directs segments of the film like he might a Bon Jovi video, opting for montages and pantomimed role-playing over actual acting. Segments of his Rent look like experimental early MTV fare, and that is so not a compliment.

On video, I’m glad to say, everything works much better. While I still question a number of Chris Columbus’ choices (he destroys “Santa Fe” by inexplicably placing Roger on a sand dune in New Mexico and having him sing to rolling tumbleweeds—for a play that is so immersed in New York culture, it destroys the flow), the cozy setting of a flat screen TV helps resuscitate the intimate and often hauntingly lonely vibe of Larson’s original creation.

And the extras are killer. Rentheads, newbies and anyone who admires what it takes to mount a Broadway show will be enthralled by the feature length documentary No Day But Today, which tracks Rent’s progression from off-Broadway readings to opening night, and plays tribute to Jonathon Larson, the late, great creator of Rent. The cast commentary is particularly compelling considering half of these people have been with the show for a decade.

As it stands, Rent continues to be one of the most important contributions to the AIDS awareness and gay rights movement.

And while Larson’s memory is honored with a beautiful film, I can only imagine what it might have been had he lived long enough to contribute. Q

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DIABLO BALLET See Saturday, March 4

2THURSDAY

3FRIDAY

Q Utah Regional Ballet, the resident ballet company at Utah Valley State College in Orem presents a full length, two act Ballet, LEGEND OF TIMPANOGOS, depicting the Utah legend of the Nez Perce Indian tribal and the naming of the Timpanogos Mountain Range.

Q “Not only does he sound like God on a good day, but he’s intensely imaginative and adventurous, navigating repertoire that would make most singers creep into the wings and weep.” Now THAT is a review. Baritone Stephen Salter will join with the Utah Symphony to perform HANDEL’S WATER MUSIC CLASSICAL SERIES C.

7:30pm Thursday and Friday, Jeanne Wagner Theatre, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. Broadway. Tickets $18 at arttix.org or 355-ARTS.

8pm Friday and Saturday, Abravanel Hall, 123 S. West Temple. 7:15 pre-concert lecture.

Tickets $12-42 at arttix.org or 355-ARTS.

awaits you as Utah Jobs with Justice and KRCL bring us nationally known folk artist, singer/story teller UTAH PHILLIPS. Nominat-

UTAH PHILLIPS ed for a Grammy Award for a collaboration with Ani Difranco.

4SATURDAY Q The power of the Eagle Forum isn’t at its strongest during the legislative sessions. It’s at the precinct caucus and county and state conventions. THAT is where most candidates are elected to office ... only to be ratified by the voters in November. Learn how to get involved in this extremely important part of our political process as quality Utah presents a DELEGATE TRAINING SESSION. 9–11am, Orson Spencer Hall Auditorium, Univ. of Utah campus. RSVP at 355-3479 or melissa@equalityutah.org. Free.

Q The edgy and innovative DIABLO BALLET will travel from Walnut Creek, Calif. to Park City to perform their daring and beautiful dance pieces. The troupe attracts some highly sought-after dancers from around the world because of its wonderful blend of modern and classical dance.

7:30pm, Eccles Center for the Performing Arts, 1750 Kearns Blvd., Park City. Tickets $15-50 at arttix.org or 355-ARTS

5SUNDAY Q It’s gay Super Bowl time as the award shows of all award shows hits the small screen — or in the case of the Rose Wagner, the BIG screen — the Academy Awards. OSCAR NIGHT AMERICA, hosted by the Utah AIDS Foundation for its 16th time, promises to be even more edge-ofyour-seat this year, not because you want to know who’s wearing what horrid dress (but of course you still do), but you want to know if Heath Ledger will get an award for showing his tush and kissing Jake Gyllenhaal and if Felicity Huffman will get to fondle a gold statuette

7TUESDAY Q He describes himself as the Golden Voice of the Great Southwest. Others say he’s a true eclectic, archivist, historian, activist, philosopher, hobo, tramp, member of the IWW, and just about everything in between. A wide ranging wealth of lore VIENNA BOYS’ CHOIR

8pm, Jeanne Wager Theater, 138 W. Broadway. Tickets $15 at Arttix.org or 355-ARTS.

8WEDNESDAY

Q OUTREACH OGDEN is open Wednesdays as a safe, comfortable, nonjudgmental place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or youths questioning their gender/sexuality and their friends ages 14 to 17, to meet and socialize, regardless of race, ethnic background, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation. Look for a rainbow flag at 24th and Porter and a banner in front of the Suite. Snacks and treats, beverages, Sudoku and Poker along with other games (Pictionary, Jenga, chess, checkers, backgammon, cribbage, etc.) This is a great opportunity for gay and lesbian youth in Weber County to meet others in a nonconfrontive atmosphere. Come for an hour or the whole evening 5:30-8:30pm, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, 536 24th Street, Ogden.

Q On a high note of the week, the Wiener Sängerknaben, better known locally as the VIENNA BOYS’ CHOIR, is on a grueling world-wide tour of over 300 performances. Actually, the 100 choristers are divided into four touring groups, but I checked the schedule and, ohmygawd. They’ll be in Grand Junction, Colo. on the 4th, Cedar City on the 6th, Logan on the 8th and 9th, Pocatello on the 10th and on and on.

7:30pm, Ellen Eccles Theater, 43 S. Main Street, Logan. Tickets $15–25 @ arttix.com

9THURSDAY Q The Babcock Performing Readers presents CHORAL READINGS, literature from ancient Greece to present day radio, directed and adapted by Joyce Skidmore.

7:30 pm in the LINCO auditorium on the U of U campus. More information at 232-0762.

10FRIDAY Q The Utah Bear Alliance is hosting its second annual MR. UTAH BEAR AND CUB CONTEST at Club Try-Angles this weekend.

Tonight is the meet and greet with the contestants that will be voted on Satur-

day. The Cyber Sluts have found an excuse to get all dolled up to fondle the men and DJ Ruckus will be spinning the tunes.

And, of course, this is a bear event so there will be food.

10pm, Club Try-Angles, a private club for members, 251 W. 900 South.

11Saturday Q Tooth & Nail Theatre’s annual fundraising extravaganza, SHHH...Burlesque! starring internationally renowned burlesque artists, Dirty Martini, The World Famous *BOB*, and Julie Atlas Muz, with a special appearance by Burlesque Legend, Salt Lake City’s own Dee Milo. This year’s party will reference the decadent cabaret era of the

reach his beloved. Mozart fills this magical journey with romance, fun, intrigue, and some of his most exquisite music.

7:30pm March 11, 13, 15, 17, 2pm March 19, Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South. Tickets $12–60 through ArtTix at 355-ARTS or artix.org

Q The Mr. Utah Bear and Cub Contest hits full swing as our own Ruby Ridge hosts the contest to determine who will represent Utah in the coveted titles. DJ Mike Babbitt spins and there is a raffle, silent auction and ... food.

10pm, Club Try-Angles, a private club for members, 251 W. 900 South.

12Sunday Q Hop on the magical mystery bus ... wait, that’s not right. But close. Another Fabulous Fun Bus to Wendover benefitting the Royal Court’s Cancer Fund heads out for an afternoon of craps, blackjack, bingo and other vices not allowed in our fair state.

Bus leaves at 10am sharp from the Trapp, returning by 8pm. Tickets $17 at qsaltlake. com or at most Royal Court functions.

Q What is a Bear Weekend without a brunch? Join the group at Golden Corral and pull up a trough.

g

10am, Golden Corral, 665 Fort Union Blvd

SHHH...BURLESQUE! Weimar Republic and will feature the live big-band music of Swing Shift. Catered hors d’oeuvre and cash bar. No one under 21 admitted to this risque affair.

7:30pm, Jeanne Wagner Theatre, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. Broadway.

Tickets available on the web are $75 general admission tables only. To reserve a whole table for you and your friends, e-mail toothandnailtheatre@mac.com. Stage-side tables seat 4 or 6 at $400 or $600 respectively.

Other reserved tables seat 4 or 6 at $340 or $510 respectively. $40 Standing Room tickets at cocktail tables available through ArtTix at 355-2787 or 1-888-451-2787.

Q Utah Opera brings a story abounding in sorceries and adventure, the classical masterpiece The Magic FLute tells of a Prince who is willing to hazard foes and tests of bravery-even walk through fire-to

15Wednesday

Q Shut Up & Dance is Odyssey Dance Theatre’s Spring Repertory Season where the dancers push the choreographic envelope and stretch their artistic muscles. Three totally different programs — the first headlined by Deep Forest, a work that explores the essence of human life — birth, death, coming of age, love, hate, envy, and forgiveness within a tribal culture deep in the forest. The second headlined by a world premiere work called Higher Ground, by Celene Dion choreographer, Mia Michaels set to the music of Stevie Wonder. And the third the popular fulllength Beatle’s Anthology — Let It Be. 8pm, Jeanne Wagner Theatre, 138 W. Broadway. Tickets $25–35 through Arttix at arttix. org or 355-ARTS. Also shows Sat. Mar. 18 at 2pm, Tues. Mar. 21 at 8pm, and Fri. Mar. 24 at 8pm.

Disparate Housewives HBO is set to begin showing Big Love, a series about a Utah man with three wives, on Sunday, March 12. National media outlets and critics are hailing it as “possibly the next cool thing on TV” and “the next Six Feet Under.”

Officials of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however, isn’t so quick to praise the series.

LDS Church spokeswoman Kim Farah released a statement saying, “Polygamy was officially discontinued in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1890. Any Church member adopting the practice today is excommunicated. Those groups which continue the practice in Utah and elsewhere have no association whatever with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and most of their practitioners have never been among our members.”

“The Church has long been concerned about the continued illegal practice of polygamy, and in particular about reports of child and wife abuse emanating from polygamous communities today. It will be regrettable if this program, by making polygamy the subject of entertainment,

minimizes the seriousness of that problem,” the statement continued.

Bill Paxton plays the Viagra-popping husband and Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin play his three wives who live in three adjacent houses with a shared back yard.

Commentary by the website ldsfilm.com is quick to point out that the series is created by “gay screenwriter” Will Scheffer and Mark Olsen. The site also editorializes, “Although Big Love is ostensibly about polygamy, much of its subject matter and themes are actually a veneer for presenting the non-LDS writers’ GLBT themes and gay apologia.”

HBO has reportedly agreed to run a disclaimer at the end of the episodes that states, “According to a joint report issued by the Utah and Arizona attorney general’s offices, July 2005, ‘approximately 20,000 to 40,000 or more people currently practice polygamy in the United States.’ The Mormon Church officially banned the practice of polygamy in 1890.” Originally set to be shot in Utah, HBO agreed to shoot in California, though the series is set in Salt Lake City.

Big Love will air locally on Sundays at 8:00 p.m. on HBO East. More information can be found at www.hbo.com/biglove.

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17th GLAAD Media Awards Stars Turn Out For Third Named at the Queer Smash Year at Queer Lounge Nominees Lounge in Park City Lounge Duing Sundance Brings Out Celebs from Nick Nolte to Toni Collette; Fest’s Top Prize Goes to Gay Filmmakers Park City — Capping nine days of starstudded parties, packed panel discussions and queer-friendly networking, Queer Lounge wrapped up its third smash year in Park City, Utah celebrating Quinceañera, a breakout film directed by two gay filmmakers that took home the 2006 Sundance Film Festival’s top prizes.

Hailed by the Hollywood Reporter as “ground zero” for the more than 40 queerrelated films screened in Park City, the 2006 Queer Lounge rolled out the red carpet for a revolving door of queer and queer-friendly filmmakers, actors and performers, including Toni Collette, John Waters, Gus Van Sant, Sting, Timothy Hutton, Nick Nolte, Anne Heche, Helena Christensen, Patrick Fugit, Daniela Sea, David LaChapelle, Armistead Maupin, Ruby Dee, and Dave Matthews.

Performers taking the stage at Queer Lounge parties included Liz Phair at the Barclay Butera/Hollywood Life party, the Brazilian Girls at Homos Away from Home, and the East Village Opera Company at Glamdance, Queer Lounge’s opening night party.

Leading the charge of queer-related films was Quinceañera, which was named Best Dramatic Film by both the 2006 Sundance Film Festival jury and audience members.

Set among Hispanic teenagers in East Los Angeles, Quinceañera features a lead gay character and was directed by out filmmakers Wash Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer.

Launched in 2004, Queer Lounge is a hotspot with a year-round mission: building mainstream audiences and boosting box office sales for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender films and filmmakers. The only gay organization sanctioned by the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, Queer Lounge creates queer-friendly hubs at major film festivals where up-and-coming queer filmmakers and artists can connect with industry leaders, audiences, and each other. Queer Lounge will make its international debut in September at the Toronto Film Festival.

“The success of Quinceañera proves that the definition of ‘queer film’ is evolving, expanding, and becoming more universal,” said

Ellen Huang, founder and executive director of Queer Lounge. “This year we saw films portray gay characters and tackle gay issues in exciting, moving, and surprising new ways.

The future looks very bright for gay films in the post-Brokeback Mountain world.”

Contributing to the wild popularity of this year’s Queer Lounge was its expanded new headquarters at the Gateway Center, which was designed and furnished by celebrated interior and lifestyle designer and Queer Lounge sponsor Barclay Butera. Sporting a classic 1940s Hollywood motif, the lounge featured lush sofas, ottomans, and a stunning antler chandelier. Many of the pieces, including a Barclay Butera white leather chair signed by Queer Lounge visitors such as Nick Nolte, Liz Phair and Timothy Hutton, were auctioned off.

According to Huang, other queer-related films making a splash included The Night Listener, based on Armistead Maupin’s dark novel starring Robin Williams and Toni Collette; Puccini for Beginners, a film starring Gretchen Mol by director Maria Maggenti; small town gay bar, a documentary about the patrons of two local gays bars produced

by Kevin Smith (Clerks); Wrestling with Angels, a documentary about playwright Tony Kushner; All Aboard! Rosie’s Family Cruise, which chronicles the first-ever gay and lesbian family cruise chartered by Rosie and Kelli O’Donnell; international feature The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros, about a petty thief’s involvement with a rookie cop; and the short Bugcrush, about the sinister repercussions of a high school crush, which took top honors in the shorts division.

A highlight of Queer Lounge programming was its panel series, which explored individual films, filmmakers, and industry trends.

Participants included Gus Van Sant, Maria Maggenti, Jennie Livingston (Through the Ice), Freida Lee Mock (Wrestling with Angels), and Kirby Dick (This Film is Not Yet Rated).

Panelist Armistead Maupin summed up the success of this year’s Queer Lounge best: “Queer Lounge is like an island of tranquility in a sea of feral children,” he said.

Park City — At a press conference at the Queer Lounge in Park City, Utah, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation announced the nominees for its 17th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, presented by Absolut Vodka. In addition to 113 nominees in 25 categories and 45 Spanish-language nominees in 15 categories, GLAAD also announced that it will present a Special Recognition award to Bright Eyes and John Cameron Mitchell for including gay and lesbian couples in the music video for the hit single “First Day of My Life” from the album I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning.

For the second consecutive year, the GLAAD Media Awards will be televised on Logo, MTV Networks’ cable channel for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender viewers and their allies on April 15. VH1 will air the program this year for the first time, on April 16.

The GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies will

17th ANNUAL GLAAD AWARDS NOMINEES OUTSTANDING FILM — WIDE RELEASE

Brokeback Mountain (Focus Features) Capote (Sony Pictures Classics) The Family Stone (20th Century Fox) Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Warner Bros.)

Rent (Sony Pictures) OUTSTANDING FILM - LIMITED RELEASE

Beautiful Boxer (Regent Releasing/here!

Films)

Mysterious Skin (TLA Releasing) Saving Face (Sony Pictures Classics) Transamerica (The Weinstein Company) Walk On Water (Samuel Goldwyn Films) OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

Commander in Chief (ABC) The L Word (Showtime) Queer as Folk (Showtime) Six Feet Under (HBO) South of Nowhere (The N) OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

Out of Practice (CBS) Shameless (BBC America) Will & Grace (NBC) OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL EPISODE (in a series without a regular gay character)

“Alien” Law & Order: SVU (NBC) “Best Friends” Cold Case (CBS) “Pilot” My Name Is Earl (NBC) “Someone’s in the Kitchen with Daddy” What I Like About You (The WB)

“Transitions” Without a Trace (CBS) OUTSTANDING TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINI-SERIES

The Long Firm (BBC America) Partner(s) (Lifetime) OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY

American Experience: Kinsey (PBS) Middle Sexes: Redefining He and She (HBO) Same Sex America (Showtime) TransGeneration (The Sundance Channel/Logo)

We Are Dad (Showtime) OUTSTANDING REALITY PROGRAM

The Amazing Race 7 (CBS) America’s Next Top Model 5 (UPN) “Boone Luffey/Gillespie” Wife Swap

OUTSTANDING TV JOURNALISM - NEWS SEGMENT

“Andrew Goldstein” ESPN SportsCenter (ESPN)

“Coming Out” Live From... (CNN) “Peter Hams” ESPN SportsCenter (ESPN) “School Outing” Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN) “Secret Sex Lives” Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN) OUTSTANDING NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

“A House Divided” by Laura Bond (Westword)

be held in New York on Mar. 27 at the New York Marriott Marquis; in Los Angeles on April 8 at the Kodak Theatre; in Miami on May 25 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel; and in San Francisco on June 10 at the San Francisco Marriott.

This year, more than 5,000 people will attend the GLAAD Media Awards in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco, raising more than $3.3 million for the organization’s work. Founded in 1985, GLAAD is the nation’s premiere lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender media advocacy organization, with a staff of 52 and an annual operating budget of $8 million.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

Young Avengers by Allan Heinberg

“Creo que mi hijo es gay” Laura

OUTSTANDING ADVERTISING - ELECTRONIC

“Creo que mi novio es gay” El Show de Cristina (Univision) “Matrimonio de parejas del mismo sexo” El Show de Rocío (Telemundo)

(Marvel)

“Cupid” MTVu “Guy Watcher” Diet Pepsi “New Boyfriend” Orbitz “Signs” MTVu OUTSTANDING ADVERTISING - PRINT

“Partnership Registry” ABC Carpet and Home

“So What’s Cooking in the Kitchen?”

GE Monogram

“The New Radical” by Kim Martineau (The “There’s One.” American Express Hartford Courant)

“Paradise Lost” by Michelle Boorstein (The

OUTSTANDING LOS ANGELES THEATER

(Telemundo)

OUTSTANDING TV JOURNALISM SEGMENT

“Comunidad gay y lésbica” Las Noticias por Adela (Galavision) “Gwen Araujo” Sin Fronteras (Telemundo)

“Transgenerismo” Noticias 14 (Univision) “El Vaticano y los gays” Noticiero Univision (Univision)

Bunbury by Tom Jacobson “The Stewards of Gay Washington” by I Am My Own Wife by Doug Wright Anne Hull (The Washington Post) Porcelain by Chay Yew “When an Employee Switches Gender, A Pebble in My Shoe: The Life and What’s a Company to Do?” by Times of John Shelby Spong by Stephanie Armour (USA Today)

OUTSTANDING NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

OUTSTANDING NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST

“Mamá por partida doble” by Edwin

Washington Post)

Marta Donayre (El Observador) Margery Eagan (Boston Herald) Mark Morford (San Francisco Chronicle) Andy Praschak (The San Juan Star) Deb Price (The Detroit News) OUTSTANDING NEWSPAPER OVERALL COVERAGE

San Francisco Chronicle Seattle Post-Intelligencer USA Today The Washington Post Wisconsin State-Journal

Colin Cox

Pera Palas by Sinan Unel OUTSTANDING NEW YORK THEATER: BROADWAY & OFF - BROADWAY

Border/Clash: A Litany of Desire by Staceyann Chin

OUTSTANDING NEW YORK THEATER: OFF - OFF BROADWAY

Busted Jesus Comix by David Johnston “A Down Low Dirty Shame” by Joshunda Christine Jorgensen Reveals created by “For the Soul of the Church” by Ethan Vesely-Flad (Color Lines)

“The Gay Rodeo Rides Again” by Michael Joseph Gross (Details)

“The Murder of a Boy Named Gwen”

by Bob Moser (Rolling Stone) “What’s in a Name?” by Beth Greenfield (Time Out New York)

Bradford Louryk

Dress Suits to Hire by Holly Hughes

in collaboration with Peggy Shaw and Lois Weaver

Golden Age by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa The Lightning Field by David Ozanich SPECIAL RECOGNITION

“First Day of My Life,” Bright Eyes music video, dir. John Cameron Mitchell

OUTSTANDING MAGAZINE OVERALL COVERAGE

SPANISH-LANGUAGE NOMINEES

AsianWeek Newsweek People Time Time Out New York

Los Sánchez (Azteca América) Señora del Destino (Telemundo) La Tormenta (Telemundo)

OUTSTANDING DIGITAL JOURNALISM ARTICLE

Josefina Villicana (¡Ahora Sí! [Austin, Texas])

“Lucha por enterrar al hombre que fue” by Firuzeh Shokooh Valle (Primera Hora [San Juan, Puerto Rico])

Andrés Martínez Tutek (Hoy [New York])

“Soy diferente porque soy gay, pero merezco el mismo respeto que cualquier otro hombre” by Lupita

Figuereiro (El Mensajero [San Francisco])

The Color Purple book by Marsha Norman, “La vida dentro y fuera del closet” by based on the novel by Alice Walker Silvina Sterin Pensel (El Diario/La Prensa Ghetto Superstar (The Man That I [New York]) Am) by Billy Porter OUTSTANDING NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST Oedipus at Palm Springs by The Five Luis Barrios (El Diario/La Prensa [New Lesbian Brothers York]) Swimming in the Shallows by Adam Bock Adria Cruz (Primera Hora [San Juan,

OUTSTANDING MAGAZINE ARTICLE Sanders (Bitch)

“Dejando de vivir en silencio” by

OUTSTANDING NOVELA

OUTSTANDING VARIETY PROGRAM SEGMENT

Puerto Rico])

Gabriel Lerner (La Opinión [Los Angeles]) Daniel Shoer Roth (El Nuevo Herald [Miami])

Dulce Torres (La Estrella [Fort Worth, Texas])

OUTSTANDING NEWSPAPER OVERALL COVERAGE

Hoy [New York] Primera Hora [San Juan, Puerto Rico] Rumbo [Austin, Texas] OUTSTANDING MAGAZINE ARTICLE

“Entrevista con Cachita” by María Andrea Fridmann (TV Notas)

“Libertad, una grata sorpresa en la telenovela Los Sánchez: se lleva un ‘10’ por su espontaneidad.” by Matilde Obregón (TV Notas)

“Sólo TV Notas acompañó a Cachita a someterse a una triple cirugía: de naríz, implante de senos y cambio de sexo!” by María Andrea Fridmann

“Entrevista con Cachita” Don Francisco Presenta (Univision) (TV Notas) (IntheFray.com) “Mi hijo es gay, ahora qué?” Cada Día “Univision Radio pagará 270 mil Queer Eye (Bravo) “Gender Outlaws” by Emily Alpert con María Antonieta (Telemundo) (IntheFray.com) dólares a un gay que demandó a “Straight/Gay” 30 Days (FX) “The Lowdown on the Downlow” by la empresa OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL EPISODE OUTSTANDING DAILY DRAMA Bruce Dixon (BlackCommentator.com) por sacarlo del clóset en uno de sus (in a series without a regular gay General Hospital (ABC) “Now I Get to be Like Everybody Else” programas en vivo!” by Gustavo Rodas

by Greg Garber (ESPN.com) character) Passions (NBC) (TV Notas) “Turning Off Gays” by Mark Benjamin “Los Colores del Arcoiris” Lo Que OUTSTANDING TALK SHOW EPISODE (Salon.com) OUTSTANDING ADVICE COLUMN Callamos las Mujeres (Azteca América) “Fighting for My Children” Dr. Phil Aconséjame Jai (People en Español) OUTSTANDING MUSIC ARTIST (syndicated) “Identidad Sexual” Mujer Casos de la Consultorio de Rubén Carbajal (TV Antony and the Johnsons, I Am a “Twins: Identical But Different” The Vida Real (Univision) Notas) Bird Now Montel Williams Show (syndicated) “La Reina de la Noche” Decisiones OUTSTANDING MAGAZINE OVERALL Melissa Etheridge, Greatest Hits: The (Telemundo) COVERAGE “When I Knew I Was Gay” The Oprah Road Less Traveled “La Soledad de Soledad” Lo Que People en Español Winfrey Show (syndicated) Girlyman, Little Star Callamos las Mujeres (Azteca América) TV Notas USA “When Your Identical Twin Has a Sex “Todo sea por?” Decisiones (Telemundo) OUTSTANDING DIGITAL JOURNALISM Change” The Oprah Winfrey Show Sharon Isbin, Rodrigo, Villa-Lobos, ARTICLE (syndicated) Ponce: Guitar Concertos OUTSTANDING REALITY PROGRAM Amy Ray, Prom OUTSTANDING TV JOURNALISM La Academia USA/Camino a La Fama “El amor gay en la pantalla” by Ernesto (ABC)

- NEWSMAGAZINE

“Debajo del Arcoiris” by Emily Alpert

OUTSTANDING COMIC BOOK

(Azteca América)

A. Sánchez (Univision.com)

“Homofobia: un mal de nuestro “Becoming Diane” 20/20 (ABC) OUTSTANDING CELEBRITY GOSSIP Gotham Central by Greg Rucka and Ed tiempo” by Ricardo Rocha (TVAzteca.

SHOW SEGMENT “Gay Rodeo” Only In America (Discovery Brubaker (DC Comics) com.mx) Times Channel) “Entrevista con Cachita” El Gordo y la Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore “Lo que se ve, no se pregunta” by Isis (Abstract Studio) “Lady Lions: Alleged Discrimination” Flaca (Univision) Servín (Univision.com) Top Ten: The Forty-Niners by Alan Moore Outside the Lines (ESPN) OUTSTANDING TALK SHOW EPISODE SPECIAL RECOGNITION (ABC Comics/Wildstorm) “Lucky” Dateline NBC (NBC) “Bisexualidad” El Show de Rocío “La Hora Gay” El Mañanero con El Gordo y Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughn Gerardo (KTNQ 1020 AM) “The Mirror” Nightline (ABC) (Telemundo)

by Ross von Metzke

buzz@qsaltlake.com

Say it isn’t so.

Tom and Katie headed for breakup? Well, reps for both Tom and Katie (oh, who are we kidding… Tom fired Katie’s people month ago, so really, reps for the pair) claim the rumors are preposterous, the couple is happy as can be and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their first child in a couple of month.

But that didn’t stop the supermarket rag Life & Style from splashing the word SPLIT over a picture of “TomKat” on the cover of their latest issue, something that could cost the mag if rumors are true that Tom plans to sue, sue, sue. Has anybody ever noticed that’s all Tom seems to know how to do anymore? Sue! Well, that and jump onstage to rap with Kanye West.

Anywho, word on the street is that Tom and Katie are planning to stick it out until Holmes pops that kid out, but before the epidural has a chance to wear off, Katie’s shit’ll be out on the street. Perhaps he caught her in bed with another cock? Maybe she got up for a midnight snack and saw Tom porking his head of security. The possibilities are endless, and true to form, no one’s really talking.

But then again, isn’t that what Hollywood celebs do best? Give you just enough info to get you talking, and then when the press turns bad, shut their mouths and act like they have nothing to say on the matter.

Case in point…

Dick Cheney Shoots a Man…

Does it Get Any Gayer than Johnny Weir?

OK, not even Rudy Galindo was so flamingly obvious as little Olympic skater Johnny Weir.

He’s so flipping gay, I don’t know if I love this little bundle of homosexuality or if I want to strangle him with one of those sequin-encrusted, distressed leotards he’s always wearing.

But kudos to Johnny Weir for at least being himself. Whether he’s officially out or not, when you publicly proclaim you’re a “diva,” declare Christina Aguilera a personal hero, describe a routine as “fierce” and use the words “an icicle on coke” to describe the costume you just wore, you’re GAY! And hell if he isn’t shady to boot. The morning before one of this week’s most highly anticipated performances, he woke up feeling horrible… “like Nick Nolte’s mug shot.” He called a fellow skater’s performance “this whole Vodka, coke thing” and described figure skating as having the ability to take you “from feeling like the lowest scum in the pond… and now I feel like a fucking flower growing out of the pond.”

What a mouth! What a talent! What a queen!

So put your best skate forward, Johnny, and make all us homos proud. We’ll be watching you to see if you’re high as a kite the next time you go for that triple toe loop.

“Hottie of the Week”: Brandon Routh Leave it to homo Superman director Bryan Singer (X Men, The Usual Suspects) to find the hottest thing in blue spandex since, well, Dean Cain porked up.

Brandon Routh was a virtual nobody when Singer plucked him out of oblivion to play the Man of Steel. And this week, it’s the man part that has everyone

talking. Supposedly, Routh’s member is so big, costume designers had to let the crotch out of his tight spandex costume for all his junk to fit. Then, in post-production, the package had to be reduced so as not to scare the living shit out of audience members. I don’t know who those audience members are. Everyone I know would be salivating in front row center. So regardless the size of his cock, when Superman Returns hits theatres, there’s no denying this man’s got it going on!

And that brings us to the end folks.

TO REVIEW: TomKat is still snowing the public, for now; Dick Cheney is indeed a dick—a dick packing heat, no less; Johnny Weir is a big ’ole fucking faggot and we love him; Mariah finally comes to terms with the fact that she’s a big girl; and thank you Bryan Singer for bringing Brandon Routh’s big dick to our attention. ’Til next time! Q

Mariah Comes Clean About Her (ahem) Weight Gain After looking a tad hefty at a slew of recent public appearances (but looking surprisingly thin on the cover of all her singles and albums), Mariah Carey has finally broken her silence about the fact that she’s a good couple dozen pounds thicker than she was in her “Vision of Love” days.

Mariah is currently on newsstands on the cover of two magazines—fashion mag Marie Claire, where her voluptuous figure is played up, and Rolling Stone, where once again, abs and sculpted hip bones have been airbrushed over Mariah’s thick midsection.

Exhibits A and B! But Mariah tells both magazines she isn’t concerned with being thin. In Marie Claire, she admits that her weight yo-yos and that it always has. In Rolling Stone, she says she doesn’t want to be skinny—she has an ass

M A R C H 1 , 2 0 0 6  Q S A LT L A K E  1 9

…and takes FIVE DAYS to apologize for it?

That’s after it took him 18 hours to even report the damn thing.

“It was one of the worst days of my life,” Dick Cheney said Wednesday when he finally granted an interview to conservative FOX News. Yeah, something tells me it might have been a little bit worse for 78-year-old lawyer Harry Whittington, the guy he shot… the one who then suffered a heart attack from the shock of it all—and the birdshot lodged near his heart.

But the shooting isn’t the problem. It sucks and, frankly, I think hunting is a despicable sport, but Cheney’s old as dirt and if someone’s dumb enough to go near the bastard when he’s armed and dangerous, well then…

The problem is, as the Bush administration has handled everything since coming into power, as pretty much any celebrity manages to do when the shit hits the fan, the reaction was way too little, way too late.

Cheney took 18 hours to notify the press that he had shot a man on a hunting trip. He claims he was waiting it out to see what sort of condition Whittington was in. So, had the man died, Cheney would have delivered an 18 hour late tribute to his memory?

No, Dick… you were stalling. Just like you all did on 9/11. Just like you did after Hurricane Katrina. Just like Halle Berry did when she plowed over that woman with her Isuzu Trooper and fled the scene a few years back.

Just like Lindsay Lohan does EVERY TIME she plows her car into someone.

Yet they get away with it over and over again. Cheney is actually defending his decision to wait to comment, and the White House’s official stance is that they’re “moving on.” Whittington isn’t even out of the hospital yet and they’re “moving on.” Nice,

very nice.

Dick Cheney is officially our “Bitch of the Week,” proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that not only can boys be bitches, sometimes the straight ones are the worst of all.

Dear sweet Dick: I know the first place I’d swing by if I had a hunting rifle right about now! Maniacal bastard!

Wanna nominate a “Bitch of the Week”?

Here are the rules. They have to be famous and evil. And you have to let me rake ‘em over the coals. Should someone spring to mind, e-mail me at buzz@qsaltlake.com.

Now, how about something more pleasant?

and she likes it that way.

Okay, alright, Okay. I am officially saying here, and you all can bear witness, that unless Mariah goes on another ice-cream-cartpushing, smashing-plates-over-her-head loony binge, I’m gonna lay off. So she’s a little thicker than she used to be. So she still wears the clothes that were form-fitting five years ago. I can deal. If she keeps singing the way she did at last week’s Grammys, I’ll stare at every last roll of pudge just to hear more of that glorious instrument.

Which brings us round the bend to…

2 0  Q S A LT L A K E  M A R C H 1 , 2 0 0 6

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Sara Hamblin was born on Oct. 15, 1954 in Kanab, Utah to Walter LeGrand (Huck) and Wilda (Billie) Hamblin and she died at her home in Taylorsville on Feb. 21, 2006.

Sara led an interesting and happy life. She was a bit on the quiet side, but her sense of humor and quick wit are what many people remember most about her. Sara was a capable writer and put her humor and experiences in to newspaper columns in high school and later for two women’s publications in Salt Lake.

During her years in Kanab, Sara had many friends. A talented musician, she played piano, organ and saxophone in school, at church and in the community. In her teen years she sometimes played in a band at a bar in Fredonia and she got a kick out of the fact that some of the same people who were at the bar on Saturday night would also be at the local Mormon (‘LDS’) church on Sunday morning.

After high school, Sara dabbled in education at USU in Logan and at the ‘trade tech’ in Orem, but mostly she found joy in life by having fun with her friends.

In 1977 she moved to Salt Lake City and got a position at USF&G insurance, where she worked for the next 17 years. Sara enjoyed the job and her coworkers, some of whom became lifelong friends.

Near the end of her time at USF&G, Sara discovered that the reason she had never found the right man was because she should have been looking for the right woman. She’d had several special friendships with women, but it wasn’t until about 1990 that she finally figured out what that meant.

In 1992 Sara found a life partner, Kathy Worthington, with whom she would spend nearly 14 years. Together they lived a life that was rewarding and exciting in ways that Sara had never imagined. They had adventures that included a music festival, two marches in Washington, D.C., and similar events in New York and San Francisco. They spent many hours volunteering for a variety of organizations and activities.

They worked on a few political campaigns and enjoyed election night parties with the Democrats. For several years they published the “Womyn’s Community News” and they wrote a column for the WCN called “Never a Dull Moment”. Later they got involved in Salt Lake’s exmormon community. Along the way they made many friends.

Sara traveled widely, visiting fourteen countries and most of the U.S. She went on a cruise to the southern Carribbean and made trips to Mexico and Europe. She went for a ride in a hot air balloon and one in a helicopter. Long drives in a convertible through France or Italy were pure joy. Even after three trips to Mexico and two to Italy, Sara still dreamed of returning.

In April of 1993 Sara and Kathy went to a huge march in Washington and they participated in a union ceremony and reception while they were there. Sara came ‘out’ to her family and coworkers by being in Utah news stories about that weekend in Washington.

In 2003 the couple got married in Canada. They dreamed of having their wedding legally recognized in the U.S., but Sara didn’t live long enough to see that happen.

When USF&G downsized in Salt Lake, Sara worked at Unibase and at the Remote Encoding Center, a postal facility in Salt Lake. Sara had learned a love of cars and of driving from her beloved father. She was unable to work for much of 1997, but in 1998 she got a job as a bus operator at UTA and she discovered that it was the kind of

work she should have been doing all her life. She loved being out and about on the roads and she loved being behind the wheel of a UTA bus. To the folks at UTA, Sara sends a message, “It was a great ride.”

Sara touched many people’s lives in her 51 years, including many she met and got to know after her diagnosis with breast cancer in 1995. In 1996 the disease spread to her lungs, then elsewhere, and Sara spent the next nine and a half years putting off the inevitable.

She had help from many people, including the wonderful people at Utah Cancer Specialists and at IHC hospice. She also got help and support from an email group at bcmets.org, which was an important resource over the years. Even while moving from one treatment to another, though, Sara was able to lead a full and rewarding life.

Sara loved cats, had many of them in her life, and she had plans to meet up with them in the afterlife.

Sara is survived by her partner Kathy, her step daughters Lucy and Cristy Juarez, her sister Sherrie and brothers Walt (Connie) and Robert. She was preceded in death by her mother and father and childhood friend Becky.

Renae and Chyrl are two friends who were like sisters to Sara. Kay Jean was a dear friend from Sara’s Kanab and college days.

Sara was thrilled to see Mike G. just when it seemed she would never see him again.

Dianna and Jude know what good friends they have been, as do Annette and Kathy and Mandy and Margie. Many other friends and family were all remembered fondly by Sara. Our appreciation to the many people; coworkers, friends and relatives, who let her know that you cared about her.

Thanks to those of you who took the time to visit her during her final weeks. She really enjoyed learning that she’d had an impact on so many lives. A special thankyou to Karen Heath of the Remote Encoding Center, who knows why she deserves our appreciation.

Sara wanted a simple cremation and there will only be a small, very private service. Her ashes will be scattered in one of the places that she loved so much.

Photos and a guestbook can be viewed at www.geocities.com/kathywut/tribute.html

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