QSaltLake Magazine - 144 - Dec. 23, 2009

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People of the Decade

AND THE 4OP 3TORIES OF THE 'AY #OMMUNITY OF THE $ECADE PHOTO: DAVID NEWKIRK

Ben McAdams Replaces Sen. Scott McCoy

Prop 8: The Mormon Proposition at Sundance

A PFLAG Chapter Starts in Ogden

Sundance Gay Film Guide Preview

Staff Box publisher/editor

Michael Aaron assistant editor

In This Issue

JoSelle Vanderhooft arts & entertainment editor

Tony Hobday

ISSUE 144 • December 23, 2009

graphic designer

Christian Allred

A&E People of the Year. 22 Views The Decade Creep of Week. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 in Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Snaps & Slaps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Ruby Ridge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 News Lambda Lore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 National . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Local. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

The Straight Line. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Gay Geeks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Gay Agenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Crossword, Cryptogram. . . . . . . . . . 42 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Qdoku. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Anagram. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 QScene. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Jacin Tales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Puzzle Answers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 The Back Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

contributors

Chris Azzopardi Turner Bitton Dave Brousseau Mike E. Ellis Greg Fox Tony Hobday Keith Orr Anthony Paull Ruby Ridge A.E. Storm Ben Williams D’Anne Witkowski

Lynn Beltran Miles Broadhead Brad Di Iorio Chef Drew Ellswroth Bob Henline Christopher Katis Petunia Pap-Smear Steven Petrow Ryan Shattuck JoSelle Vanderhooft Troy Williams Rex Wockner

contributing photographers

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I received the RE/MAX Executive Club Award in 2006

ASSOCIATES

David Daniels Laurie Kaufman

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sales manager

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publisher

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editor@qsaltlake.com QSaltLake is a trademark of Salt Lick Publishing, LLC. Copyright © 2009, Salt Lick Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted or reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Copies of QSaltLake are distributed free of charge in 200 locations across Utah and in Idaho and Nevada. Free copies are limited to one per person. For additional copies, contact us at 801-649-6663. It is a crime to destroy or dispose of current issues or otherwise interfere with the distribution of this newsmagazine. Publication of the name or photograph of any individual or organization in articles or advertising in QSaltLake is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons.

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Dece mber 23 , 20 09 | issue 1 4 4 | QSa lt L a k e | 3

News — National Briefs BY REX WOCKNER

DC Legalizes Gay Marriage

The Washington, D.C., Council voted 11-2 Dec. 15 to legalize same-sex marriage.

Mayor Adrian Fenty signed the bill into law Dec. 18, which sent it to Congress for a 30-day “review” period.

Congress is not expected to block the law, multiple sources said.

Gay couples should be able to begin marrying in D.C. once the review period’s 30 “legislative” days pass.

“As a D.C. resident, I am personally proud of the council for standing so strongly for fairness and affirming the common humanity that bonds each of us,” said National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey.

“It’s a huge victory,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “(It) means a great deal coming after marriage equality losses in New York and Maine.”

Solmonese said it will be important to remain “vigilant” even after the weddings begin in D.C. “The U.S. Congress can choose to intervene and overturn the law at any time — a loophole the radical right is bound to try to exploit,” he said.

In addition, anti-gay activists are in Superior Court battling a decision by the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics not to give residents an opportunity to veto the law at the ballot box.

At present, D.C. grants full recognition to same-sex marriages that took place elsewhere.

Same-sex matrimony is legal in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont and, starting in January, New Hampshire. It also was legalized in California and Maine, but voters later re-banned it.

Internationally, same-sex couples can marry in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain and Sweden.

Houston elects lesbian mayor Voters in Houston, the fourth-largest city in the United States, elected an openly lesbian mayor Dec. 12.

City Controller Annise Parker captured 53.6 percent of the vote in an election that saw a turnout of fewer than 17 percent of registered voters.

“I know what this win means to many of us who never thought we could achieve high office,” Parker, 53, said in her victory speech, with her partner of 19 years, Kathy Hubbard, and their three children at her side.

“This election has changed the world for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community,” she said.

Some analysts suggested Parker’s victory margin came at the hands of white liberals and gay and lesbian voters.

In the final weeks of the campaign, anti-gay activists gay-baited Parker with mailers and e-mail blasts.

“I wish you could be here right now,” Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund President Chuck Wolfe e-mailed from Parker’s victory celebration.

“This is an important milestone for our country, but it’s equally important to know voters in Houston chose Annise even after a flurry of anti-gay campaigns designed to divide and distract voters. This time the extremists failed.”

“It’s hard to describe how happy everyone is here,” Wolfe said. “After so much depressing news lately regarding LGBT equality, it’s nice to be able to smile this wide.”

The Victory Fund supported Parker all six times she was elected to the City Council and in her successful campaign for city controller.

Other cities that have had openly gay mayors include San Diego; Providence, R.I.; Portland, Ore.; Chula Vista, Calif.; and Cambridge, Mass.

— but Houston, population 2.2 million, is the largest.

Springsteen: Legalize gay marriage in NJ Rock legend Bruce Springsteen has come out in support of same-sex marriage.

He lives in New Jersey, where the Legislature is considering a bill to legalize gay matrimony.

“I’ve been following the progress of the marriage-equality legislation currently being considered in Trenton,” Springsteen wrote on his Web site.

“I’ve long believed in and have always spoken out for the rights of same-sex couples and fully agree with Governor (Jon) Corzine when he writes that ‘The marriage-equality issue should be recognized for what it truly is — a civil rights issue that must be approved to assure that every citizen is treated equally under the law.’”

Springsteen urged “those who support equal treatment for our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters to let their voices be heard now.”

Actress Meredith Baxter comes out Actress Meredith Baxter came out in an interview on NBC Dec. 2.

“I’m a lesbian. It was a later-in-life recognition of that fact,” she said. “I got involved with someone I never expected to get involved with and it was that kind of awakening and I never fought it because it was like, ‘Oh, I understand why I had the issues I had early in my life.’”

Baxter said she always “had a great deal of difficulty connecting with men in relationships.”

“Sometimes, I assumed I was a bad picker, which I was indeed, but I also was involved with people who made me

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Quips & Quotes ❝❝

It’s going to be exceptionally difficult because Democrats have us outnumbered by large amounts. Nevertheless, we’re going to try.”

—Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz, promising he will fight Washington, D.C.’s legalization of same-sex marriage, as quoted in The Salt Lake Tribune

❝❝

think, ‘Oh, they’re the problem,’ because there were problems with the people I chose. It never occurred to me to think, ‘Oh, it’s me.’”

She said she hopes her coming out will encourage people to stop voting against LGBT people at the ballot box.

“If anybody knows someone who’s gay or lesbian, then when they are addressing gay or lesbian issues, political issues, that affect their rights, they are less likely to vote against them, to take away their rights,” Baxter said. “So ... if I can be that lesbian you know now, ‘OK, well, if I vote this way, then that actually might affect this person I know, that Meredith.’”

Baxter, 62, starred in the TV shows Family and Family Ties.

EQCA’s Kors: Do not support politicians who oppose gay marriage The head of Equality California, Geoff Kors, is encouraging LGBT people to refuse to support any politician who opposes same-sex marriage.

“We have to support only candidates who are 100 percent for equality ... and this includes support for marriage equality and for coverage for transition-related health care for transgender people,” he wrote at lgbtpov.com. “We must help to advance those candidates who support us all the way, and refuse to give to those candidates who do not.”

“Legislators must know that if they backpedal on or do not vote for our rights, it will impact them when election time rolls around again,” Kors said. “These legislators risk their endorsements and campaign donations when they cave in to pressure from our opponents. In some districts, these legislators are putting their re-election on the line.”

This takes away the rights and freedom of one group of people and gives them to another.”

—Salt Lake City resident Laura Banks writing to The Salt Lake Tribune about Salt Lake City’s new gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender-inclusive housing and employment nondiscrimination ordinances

❝❝

People of faith and their religious institutions have a right in a free country to express their opinions about matters that affect their religious freedom. Salt Lake City’s nondiscrimination ordinances clearly infringe on religious freedom. Were it not so, there would be no need for the religious exemption. It is only ‘fair and reasonable’ to preserve these same protections for all people of faith in Utah.”

—Paul Mero, president of conservative think tank The Sutherland Institute, in a speech stating that members of all faiths should be able to opt out of Salt Lake City’s new gay and transgender-inclusive nondiscrimination housing and employment ordinances

❝❝

Eagle Forum leader Gayle Ruzicka is asking for a ‘gay rights free’ legislative session. Santa is delivering an embossed copy of the LDS Church’s statement of support for Salt Lake City’s nondiscrimination policies, along with a complete DVD movie collection, including Brokeback Mountain, Milk and The Birdcage.”

—Deseret News columnists Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb in a cheeky column about whether or not Santa will grant Utahns their Christmas wishes.

Dece mber 23 , 20 09 | issue 1 4 4 | QSa lt L a k e | 5

News Delegates Tap McAdams to Replace McCoy

Q mmunity 8: The Mormon Proposition Sundance Screenings 8: The Mormon Proposition, Reed Cowan’s controversial documentary about the LDS Church’s role in the passage of Proposition 8, will screen during the Sundance Film Festival at the following times: Jan. 24, 2:15 p.m., Racquet Club, Park City (1200 Little Kate Rd.) Jan. 25, 5:30 p.m. Library Center Theatre, Park City (1225 Park Ave.) Jan. 27, 6:00 p.m. Tower Theatre, Salt Lake City (876 E. 900 South) Jan. 29, noon Temple Theatre, Park City (3700 N. Brookside Ct.) Jan. 30, 9:00 p.m. Screening Room, Sundance Resort (North Fork, Provo Canyon) INFO: To purchase tickets, visit festival.sundance.org/2010

Senate District 2’s Democratic delegates picked a former aide to Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker to replace Sen. Scott McCoy, who resigned earlier this month.

The 35-year-old McAdams is a graduate of Columbia Law School and has served internships with the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics in the Utah Legislature and in Washington, D.C.. during Bill Clinton’s presidency. During his tenure in Becker’s office he worked on developing a number of ordinances for the city, most notably last year’s Mutual Commitments Registry, which same and opposite-sex unmarried partners can use to prove financial dependency when applying for domestic-partner benefits with private employers.

At the end of the delegate meeting, McAdams had secured 69 percent of the 107 delegate votes. Arlyn Bradshaw, an administrative assistant to Salt Lake County Councilman Joe Hatch and another hopeful for the Senate seat, received 25 percent of the vote. The other 6 percent of the vote went to candidates Mark Towner and Brian Moss.

Although Bradshaw, who is openly gay, received the support of many on the Salt Lake County Council and openly lesbian Rep. Jackie Biskupski, D-Salt Lake City, he said it took him a week to decide whether “it was even realistic for me to run for this race.”

“That lag time was really detrimental.

I was playing catch-up the entire time,” he said, noting that McAdams had a Facebook page advertising his campaign on the day McCoy resigned.

Former Sen. Scott McCoy casting his ballot in the special elections called to replace him.

EVE This year, Salt Lake City’s New Year’s Eve celebration, First Night, has been replaced with EVE, three days of ringing in the new year that include live music, parties, ski and snowboard competitions, film screenings, art exhibitions, storytelling and a number of other activities for people of all ages.

When: Dec. 29–31 Where: Various Salt Lake City locations.

Tickets: $15 Info: eveslc.com

Stress Management Workshops Ben McAdams shortly after being elected by Democratic Senate 2 delegates to replace Sen. Scott McCoy, who announced he was leaving the Utah State Senate.

In the week leading up to the delegate meeting, Bradshaw said he spoke to delegates about his reasons for running and what he could bring to Senate District 2 as its representative. Although he said that he thought an openly gay Senator would have been helpful in continuing to change conservative legislators’ perceptions about the gay and transgender community, he said that he was convinced McAdams would be a strong ally for the community nonetheless.

“I think the difference between having allies in the Senate and having the Republicans work with a minority of any kind causes greater exposure for [Republican leadership], and I think it does cause them to think twice before saying things on the Senate floor,” he said. “But I do think Ben will represent us well on that regard, and call people out if they need to be.”

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“Ben’s displayed that he’s supportive of our issues and he has a lot of support among the LGBT community,” Bradshaw continued. “I am disappointed I didn’t receive more support myself from the gay community, but I think Ben will be a good senator for us on the hill.”

Bradshaw thanked Biskupski and Salt Lake County government members Joe Hatch, Jenny Wilson and Mayor Peter Coroon for their support. “I definitely wouldn’t have done it without their strong support behind me,” he said.

McCoy told The Salt Lake Tribune that he was also confident in McAdams’ selection.

“I know he’ll do an excellent job and the overall vote of the delegates shows they trust he’ll do an excellent job as well,” he said.

McAdams’ final appointment rests with Gov. Gary Herbert.

The topic of the Utah Pride Center’s next empowerment workshop will be “Adding to Your Coping Strategies: Finding Dry Land During Stormy Weather,” and will cover stress management as well as coping skills for anxiety, depression, relationship stress and feelings of guilt. The six-week workshop will be facilitated by Deanna Rosen, LCSW, and Julia Mackaronis of the University of Utah’s Psychology Department. It was created by therapist Lee Beckstead and the U of U professor Jordan Rullo. The workshop is open to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

When: Jan. 4, 11, 25 and Feb. 1, 8, 22, 6–7:30 p.m.

Where: Utah Pride Center, middle meeting room, 361 N. 300 West.

Cost: $15 for first or second three-week module (scholarships available) Info: Julia.mackaronis@psych. utah.edu or Deanna Rosen at 801288-1062.

An Interview with Ben McAdams

Shortly before an overwhelming majority of Senate District 2’s Democratic delegates chose Ben McAdams as Scott McCoy’s replacement, McAdams answered questions from QSaltLake publisher and editor Michael Aaron about his thoughts on the upcoming legislative session, plus gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people’s rights and what his leadership style would look like.

Michael Aaron: What do you think the most important issues are that will be addressed by the Utah Senate in this upcoming session and in the next few years?

Ben McAdams: The biggest issue facing the people of our district during the 2010 session will be the state’s budget. None of us are immune to the challenging economic conditions we face. With declining tax revenues, the Legislature will need to evaluate whether to raise taxes to cover the projected shortfalls, cut services and other expenditures, or a combination of these approaches.

Already, some in the State Senate are pushing for a pledge that they will not raise taxes of any type. Others are pushing for an increase in the sales tax on groceries. The budgetary decisions made during the next session will impact the quality of life for many in Utah.

The Legislature should move slowly and deliberately, and resist taking dogmatic positions that would limit their ability to approach the budget with dexterity.

However, from the outset, I believe that increasing the sales tax on groceries is not an option. We can’t saddle our state’s budget fix disproportionately on the backs of those who are least capable of absorbing the increase. I grew up in a family that lived paycheck to paycheck and benefited from time to time from important social

programs including reduced cost school lunch. I know what a $30 increase in our family’s monthly grocery bill would have meant for my parents, who were struggling to pay bills and put food on the table. Increasing the sales tax on food, especially in these tough economic times, is not the right answer.

Reducing government spending is the best place to start, but cuts should be made with a scalpel and not an axe. I believe that much of the budget gap can be bridged through targeted cuts. However, we must find a way to maintain our commitment to priorities that can’t sustain another significant budget reduction. We must maintain our commitment to public education, higher education and important social safety nets like Meals on Wheels.

MA: How would your style be similar to Scott McCoy’s and how would it differ?

BM: Scott McCoy and I share many of the same values. We also, I think, have a similar style for problem-solving. Senator McCoy was incredibly adept in his ability to passionately speak out for progressive issues and sharply focus legislative debates in a way that brought much discomfort to his opponents at the Legislature. At the same time, he was able to maintain the admiration and respect of his Republican and Democratic colleagues as an intelligent and reasonable partner in the Legislature, which gave him the ability to roll up his sleeves and work side-by-side with his Senate colleagues to solve complex problems.

In my experience advocating on behalf of Salt Lake City at the Legislature, there were many times when I found myself in passionate disagreement with legislators, and in the same meeting, we were discussing ways to solve important problems which we agreed needed to be addressed. For example, shortly after Mayor Becker implemented his Domestic Partnership Registry in 2008, I led the effort

to stop a legislative move to preempt the ordinance. After many hours of intense and passionate discussions and heated disagreements with many in the Legislature, we were able to work out a compromise with the Senate whereby we agreed to change the name of our ordinance to the “Mutual Commitment Registry” (a name we like better anyway because of the more loving, personal nature of the words), and the Legislature backed down from threats to stop our registry.

In the midst of the debate over the registry, we were also engaged trying to find $35 million in revenue from the state to allow the airport light rail line to proceed. Some suggested that we should back away from our advocacy on the registry so as to not jeopardize the light rail funding. We disagreed. Intense negotiations and creative thinking ensued. On the last night of the 2008 legislative session, current House Speaker Dave Clark carried legislation sending $35 million to Salt Lake City for the construction of the airport rail line.

Sen. McCoy has shown that, at the Legislature, it is possible to be an outspoken critic and still maintain his ability to contribute constructively to legislative problem-solving. As I stated before, I share Scott’s values and his commitment to fair-mindedness and equity in all matters and believe that I can bring a similar agility as a progressive voice in the Utah Senate.

MA: What do you think of running a Utah ENDA-type bill, and one that addresses LGBT housing discrimination?

BM: As Mayor Becker’s lead for developing legislative and community support for Salt Lake City’s recently-enacted housing and employment non-discrimination ordinances, I have spent many hours discussing discrimination in Utah with legislators and interested advocacy groups.

A window has opened at the Legis-

lature where the possibility of passing a statewide housing and employment nondiscrimination law is real. I will be an advocate for a Utah employment and housing nondiscrimination law if chosen to serve in the Utah Senate. I believe that the rapport I have developed with legislators, most recently during my discussions on the Salt Lake City nondiscrimination ordinances will be valuable as an advocate for a statewide nondiscrimination law.

MA: Do you have any comments on McCoy’s departure and his time in office?

BM: Sen. McCoy will leave a void in the Utah Legislature. I hope to see him nominated for a federal judgeship, or that he will consider seeking elected office in the future. Scott gave voice to the issues of LGBTQ equality in our community and undoubtedly will continue to be a force for positive change in Utah. Scott has been a good friend and mentor to me and I hope to continue to receive advice and perspective from him for many years. I wish Scott and [partner] Mark [Barr] the best in their future endeavors.

MA: What do you want to say to Senate 2’s gay community members?

BM: I grew up in a family where opportunity didn’t find me; I had to find it on my own. Because of my background and life experiences, I strongly believe that all individuals have a right to equal protections under the law. The civil rights movement for LGBTQ equality is gaining incredible momentum, and I am proud to be a part of this profound progress. I hope that Senate 2’s gay and transgender community will give me an opportunity to be their ally and voice in the Utah State Senate to carry forward the torch of equality.

I would love to hear from them and welcome their thoughts and advice by e-mail or telephone at benmcadams@gmail.com and 801-618-1946. I would love to hear from your readers. Q

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Anti-Gay Group Proposes to ‘Strengthen’ SLC’s New Nondiscrimination Ordinances Salt Lake City’s new ordinances prohibiting housing and employment discrimination against gay and transgender people still need some work — at least according to a conservative think tank known for its antigay views.

On Dec. 10, leaders of the Salt Lake City-based Sutherland Institute called upon the State Legislature to “strengthen” and “perfect” the ordinances (which the Salt Lake City

Sutherland Institute Executive Director Paul Mero

Council unanimously passed in November) during the group’s Religious Freedom Forum. Invoking the United States’ historical separation of church and state, the institute’s president Paul Mero argued that the ordinances’ exemptions for religions should be extended to all members of religions.

“Salt Lake City’s nondiscrimination ordinances clearly infringe on religious freedom,” said Mero. “Were it not so, there would be no need for the religious exemption. It is only ‘fair and reasonable’ to preserve these same protections for all people of faith in Utah.”

Both ordinances specify that religious-owned businesses need not hire gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender employees, and that housing owned by religious groups need not rent to them.

The exemptions also apply to businesses with fewer than 15 employees and to landlords renting four or fewer units.

Additionally, Mero said that the ordinances needed to be changed in order to prevent gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender tenants from “unilaterally invok[ing] the protections of these ordinances, unconditionally.” “[I]t is only fair and reasonable that

a person of faith should be allowed to unilaterally invoke the same laws’ protections, unconditionally, just as that person’s church is allowed to do,” he said.

In his speech, Mero said that he and other Sutherland staff members met with Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker earlier this year to discuss the proposed ordinances. At that time they recommended that the mayor “might choose to propose non-binding” resolutions that would have worked much like the state’s hate crimes law, which leaves enhancements for crimes of bias in the hands of individual prosecutors to pursue and individual judges to mete out.

“It passed unanimously and was a win-win for everyone involved,” said Mero.

In the wake of the ordinances’ passage, state legislators have considered several courses of action. Some have talked of presenting a bill to forbid municipalities in the state from passing such laws while others (including anti-gay West Jordan Republican Sen. Chris Buttars) have said that Utah should pass a statewide nondiscrimination law including gay and transgender people.

Brandie Balken, executive director of statewide gay and transgender rights group Equality Utah, said that Mero’s call for “strengthening” the ordinances was unnecessary.

“If we were to allow an opt-out for people based on an adherence to religious doctrine it would completely gut the ordinances,” she said. “How would we feel as a society if we asked people to do the same thing based on ability or age or pregnancy? Would that feel right to us as a community? What we’re talking about is basic protection to all residents.”

“There’s an entire chapter in the ordinances for religious exemptions,” Balken continued. “We feel that the exemptions that Salt Lake City made were appropriate in protecting the First Amendment, which is very important, and Equality Utah is, of course, a supporter of First Amendment rights.”

In previous months, the Sutherland Institute has also criticized the ordinances and a number of other pieces of proposed legislation that sought to protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination and in contractual arrangements as incremental steps towards legalizing same-sex marriage in Utah.

Utah voters overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in 2004.

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Protests, Events Planned for Prop. 8 Documentary at Sundance In less than a month, 8: The Mormon Proposition, Reed Cowan’s documentary film about the LDS Church’s involvement in the passage of Proposition 8 and the effect its passage had on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. And a number of local activists want to make sure that you are there not only for the screenings, but for the protests that will surely follow.

“Several of the anti-gay groups (like the Westboro Baptists) from around the country are coming here to protest the movie and spread their hate and bigotry with their ‘God Hates Fags’ signs and slogans,” wrote Eric Ethington, co-founder of Pride In Your Community, a community service group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Utahns and their straight allies. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I will not be quiet and let them pass!”

Ethington and local activists Misty Fowler and Jacob Whipple are in the process of organizing teams of volunteers to counter these protests. The three are planning a number of marches to be held during the Sundance Film Festival to “help stir the activist spirit in the film ... capture the attention of the worldwide media and [serve as] a counterpoint to all those protesting the film,” said Whipple in a Facebook message sent to QSaltLake.

Volunteers will be asked to hold signs advertising 8: The Mormon Proposition, pass out swag bags to festival attendees and hand out press releases to media covering the festival.

“You’ll be putting a face to the message of the stories in the documentary,” said Whipple.

Currently, marches are scheduled for the following days and locations.

Jan. 21 Park City: Eccles Theatre, 5–6:30 pm and 9–10 pm Egyptian Theatre, 7–9 pm Park City Mountain Resort, 10:30 pm– Midnight

Jan. 22 Salt Lake City: Rose Wagner Theatre, 6–7:30 pm and 9:30 pm–Midnight

Jan. 24 Park City: Racquet Club Theater, 1:30–4:30 pm

Jan. 25 Park City: Library Center Theater, 4:45–7:40 pm

Jan. 26 Park City: Holiday Village III, 2:05–2:45 pm

Jan. 27 Salt Lake City: Tower Theater, 5:10–8:30 pm

Jan. 29 Park City: Temple Theater, 11:30 a.m.–2:40 pm

Jan. 30 Sundance Resort, 8:30–9:05 pm

Those interested in participating are asked to send the following information to AllForOneInitiative@yahoo.com: Name, phone number, e-mail contact, whether or not they can carpool or need a ride, and the marches they can commit to attending.

Jam Clears Last City Hurdle, But No Licenses Left After a lengthy discussion, the Salt Lake City Planning Commission overwhelmingly voted to approve a conditional use permit for Jam, a gay bar located in the Marmalade District, paving the way for the club owners to approach the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverages for a coveted liquor license.

But the club was among 10 others that did not receive the sole license issued at the DABC meeting Dec. 22.

Much of the discussion at the city meeting centered around traffic and parking issues, which the planning commission staff had drafted a plan to mitigate involving closing parking lot egress onto Reed Avenue, a narrow, mostly-residential street.

Commission member Prescott Muir, who is also the director of the University of Utah’s School of Architecture, went so far as to suggest a complete redesign of the site layout, including moving the bar’s patio, landscaping, fence and parking access. Muir voted against the permit, saying afterward that it was because of the parking issues.

Jam has worked for over two years with Salt Lake City planners to develop the site to accommodate a myriad of laws regulating bars and businesses, and owners bristled in exasperation at the suggested changes.

Dozens of supporters packed the chambers, as well as Reed Avenue residents and some members of the Capitol Hill Neighborhood Council, who were against extending the permit.

Jam is located in an up-and-coming, and very gay, neighborhood. The closest neighbors, however, are polygamist families who oppose the bar. While the building was being renovated for the bar, these families canvassed the neighborhood seeking signatures on a petition to ban the bar, saying it was to be a Hip Hop bar and would draw unwanted elements to the area.

The DABC meets again in January, but until a new license comes up through a club closing or change in population estimates, no more licenses will be available.

UAF Launches 360° Magazine for Gay, Bi Latino Men A new gay publication has arrived in Salt Lake City.

Sponsored by the Utah AIDS Foundation and put together by Hermanos de Luna y Sol (Brothers of the Moon and Sun), its outreach program to gay and bisexual Spanish-speaking Latino men, 360° Magazine is a monthly Spanish language publication written by and for the program’s members featuring articles on topics as widespread as music, fashion, entertainment and, of course, HIV prevention and queer men’s health.

Alex Moya, the foundation’s Hispanic Outreach specialist, said he and Hermanos de Luna y Sol’s members began the magazine in December in order to help bring Utah’s Latino population together.

“I noticed it’s hard to connect [Latino people] through the internet,” said Moya, noting that many Latinos, particularly those who are recent immigrants, often lack ready and consistent access to the internet where many resources for gay and bisexual men can be found. “I thought it would be cool to have a little publication, a magazine or a ‘zine, but it wasn’t until now that

people were participating in Hermanos that were willing to work and excited about it.”

The publication’s staff consists of Moya, who edits, and four writers who trade off each month “depending on who writes and takes pictures” for that issue.

“That way it feels very much like a community [project],” said Moya.

So far, Moya expects that 360° Magazine’s issues will be 15 pages with a color cover and black and white pages.

“We have news relevant to Latinos that has to do with HIV or immigration or gay issues, and an interview every month of Latinos in the community who are doing something important or who we decided would be fun to interview,” said Moya. Each issue will also include a calendar of community events and such things as movie and book recommendations, articles on safer sex, information about HIV testing at the foundation, pictures of Hermanos de Luna y Sol members having fun at parties or other events, and even horoscopes.

“One of the guys does the cards and reads them [the horoscopes],” said Moya.

Each issue will also have a theme. “This month was about sadness, how one gets blue during the holidays,” said Moya. “And next month’s will be resolutions for the new year.”

As of now, 360° Magazine will have a circulation of 100 copies which will be available at the Utah AIDS Foundation’s 1408 S. 1100 East office, Club Edge at 615 N. 400 West and Klub Karamba, 1051 E. 2100 South. Both clubs frequently play Latin music or feature bands from Latin America and South America.

However, Moya hopes that the publication can expand through donations and ad sales (advertising space in the magazine starts at a $12 donation). When donating to the Utah AIDS Foundation, individuals can also indicate that they want the money set aside for the magazine.

Although all of the magazine’s articles are currently written in Spanish, Moya said he hopes that the publication can someday become “bior multi-lingual.”

Currently, 360° Magazine is looking for submissions of photography and stories by

gay, bisexual and transgender (female to male) men who identify as Latino. For more information or to submit, contact Alex Moya at hermanos@utahaids.org.

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News An Interview with PFLAG Ogden Founder Allison Black

by Turner Bitton

Allison Black manages to seamlessly mesh her life as a pharmaceutical representative, devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and more recently, Ogden Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians and Gays’ founder and president. Allison and Bruce, her husband of 28 years, have successfully raised three sons and a daughter. Whether Allison is teaching her primary class, scrap booking, or working to help Utah’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, she displays exemplary charisma and drive and is the kind of voice that every organization yearns to find. Her inspiration came in the form of her son Joshua, who came out after high school. She also has a son on a mission for the LDS Church and displays the same pride in all of her children.

I recently had the pleasure to get a more in depth look at the enthusiast that is Allison Black.

TURNER BITTON: If you could give advice to parents of GLBT individuals, what would you tell them? allIsON BlaCK: Embrace your children for who they are, their sexuality is only a small part of their identity. Try to open and learn all you can about this part of them. Homosexuality is not a choice, support your children by going to their activities such as PFLAG to increase your understanding and dispel some of the rumors and misconceptions that blur the relationship you have with your child. Learning to understand not only helps your child succeed and lead a happy life, it also helps to silence lingering fears and sadness you have about your child’s lifestyle.

Parents & Friends of Gays & Lesbians Ogden founder Allison Black, in green, surrounded by members of the group in their first meeting. PHOTO: TURNER BITTON TB: Being LDS and having a son on a mission and another who is gay, how do you reconcile these two conflicting aspects of your life? aB: My husband and I have learned to compromise. We love both of our sons equally and feel a deep sense of pride in all of our children. When our son came out we were taken aback, but we started to read more and educate ourselves. We also stayed very involved in his life and have kept in constant communication with him. We have learned much from our son and over time have grown to a sense of strength and understanding we never thought possible. We have also learned the power of communication with members more removed from our family; we are not afraid to discuss homosexuality with church leaders, friends, or neighbors.

TB: What piece of advice did you give your son as he was beginning to acknowledge his sexuality? aB: I knew from a young age that my son was gay. When he finally came out my biggest concern was that I would

lose him to AIDS. I counseled him on the dangers of AIDS and other issues.

I also made sure he heard my concerns and listened to him when he began to comfort me about them. I also told him to practice safe sex, exactly as I would counsel my other children.

For those of you out there who have a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender family member, friend, or acquaintance, remember that you are not alone.

If at any time you begin to feel you are, resources and help are available for you. Organizations such as PFLAG are more than willing to help and always willing to listen to concerns.

Allison Black created PFLAG Ogden to build community awareness, help

prevent the isolation of parents of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals, and to educate people in the Ogden area and help them become more educated on issues facing Utah’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population. The organization is committed to its members, associates and community. PFLAG also has several dedicated LDS members who are willing to give advice to other LDS Church members who feel they cannot reconcile their religious beliefs and the issues facing their personal lives.

PFLAG Ogden meets at Christian Church Disciples of Christ, 705 E. 23rd St. More information is available by e-mailing ogdenpflag@q. com.

SUU Adds Sexual Orientation to Nondiscrimination Policy Southern Utah University’s board of trustees unanimously voted, Dec. 4, to add sexual orientation to its antidiscrimination student policy. Until then, the policy offered equal protection and opportunities to students regardless of race, sex, religion, national origin, disability veteran or marital status.

Until the vote, SUU and Brigham Young University were the only two universities in Utah that did not have protections for gay, lesbian and bisexual students.

The move came a month to the day after SUU’s student senate approved a resolution that encouraged adding sexual orientation to the list of antidiscrimination protections. The Spectrum reported earlier this month that the school’s faculty senate is currently considering weighing in on a proposal to add sexual orientation to the staff and faculty’s nondiscrimination policy.

Gay, lesbian and transgender students attending Southern Utah University will now be protected from discrimination after a unanimous decision made Friday by the school’s board of trustees to add that classification to its Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct policies and procedures handbook.

Although The Spectrum reported that the policy would cover students who are gay, lesbian and transgender, the policy nonetheless speaks only of sexual orientation and makes no reference to gender identity. SUU vice president of student services Donna Eddleman was unavailable for comment when QSaltLake phoned to seek clarification.

Previously, she had told The Spectrum that the policy change meant “we are not going to discriminate against a student for his or her sexuality.”

10 | QSa lt L a k e | issue 1 4 4 | Dece mber 23 , 20 09

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News eBay Asks Utahns to “eBay it Forward” in 2010 One of Utah’s most gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender-friendly employers is organizing a unique charity event to coincide with downtown Salt Lake City’s New Year’s celebration.

During the three nights of EVE (Dec. 29–31), Utahns are asked to bring an item to The Gateway in the Depot Grand Hall, 400 W. South Temple, to be auctioned for Family Promise – Salt Lake, an organization which helps families facing homelessness. Only, Salt Lake City’s eBay office which is sponsoring the event called “eBay it Forward,” is asking that people not bring just any old thing from the basement or the thrift store pile.

“Many of us have an item or possession that created joy, comfort or happiness for us in what was probably a tough 2009,” said Scott Murray, vice president of marketplaces North America customer service, at eBay Salt Lake City.

“Passing these items on to someone who might benefit from them in 2010 is a generous way to ‘pay it forward,’ both to the future recipient and the charity benefiting from the sale.”

For example, J.D. Norton, employee and community events manager, North America Customer Support, is bringing a stuffed toy that he found stowed away in a bin after his uncle passed away earlier this year.

“It’s an old Mickey Mouse doll that I’d gotten on a vacation I went on when my little brother was born in 1978,” said Norton. “It reminded me of my uncle and all the good times I had with him, so I’m going to be paying that forward.

Maybe someone else can create similar memories with it.”

Cherished items like Norton’s Mickey Mouse doll will be placed in an art exhibit-like display at the Gateway Center starting Dec. 28. Those interested in contributing may bring items from 12–8 p.m. on any of EVE’s days and are asked to include a short story detailing why the item had special significance for them during 2009.

“People can look at them, read the stories and see that all these stories kind of correspond,” said Norton. “No matter what segment of the community they’re part of, someone had something that helped them get through the year.

Stories help sell items, and the more money we can make for this charity, the better.”

According to Norton, the idea for “eBay it Forward” came about because eBay wanted to do something to help families in need, and because Family Promise and the Salt Lake City Downtown Alliance, which is co-sponsoring the event, told the auction Web site that the city has few events during the winter months.

“We have a budget and wanted to do

something in the community for the winter,” he said.

Norton added that this is the first event of its kind in eBay or Salt Lake City’s history.

“Actually, it’s the first time that we know of that a project like this has been done anywhere,” he said. “Salt Lake is kind of like a test market. Everyone I’ve told in our San Jose office [eBay’s corporate office in California] loves this idea, and if it’s successful, we could take it nationwide.”

The only restricted items, Norton added, are those that cannot be sold on eBay, including perishable items (food), alcohol, firearms or “anything that’s hate-related.”

“If you have to second guess it, it probably wouldn’t work,” he said.

Beginning Jan. 4, the collected items will go up for auction on eBay.com through the site’s charitable outreach, eBay Giving Works. eBay employs 1,500 people in Salt Lake City and is one of Utah and the United States’ most gay and transgender-friendly employers. It has received a 100 ranking on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.

A rank of 100 means that a company has nondiscrimination policies, diversity training and employee groups that include sexual orientation and gender identity, offers benefits to employees’ same-sex partners and offers marketing and public support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. It was one of 259 U.S. businesses (including 130 Fortune 500 companies) to receive this ranking in 2009.

RCGSE Raises $1,000 for Matthew Shepard Foundation Despite a sluggish economy and increased need among all strata of society, the International Court System managed to raise nearly $90,000 for the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

And Salt Lake City’s own Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire was part of that effort.

The RCGSE is one of many social and community service organizations under the umbrella of the International Court System, an organization begun in 1965 that sought to meld community outreach with the camp drag performances the founders enjoyed. Today, the organization boasts chapters in six Canadian provinces, Tijuana, Mexico and 25 U.S. states, including two in Utah: The RSCSE and the Ogden-based Imperial Rainbow Court of Northern Utah.

The effort to raise funds for the Matthew Shepard Foundation, founded

by Shepard’s family in memory of their murdered son to “Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion & Acceptance” through a number of educational, outreach and advocacy programs, was this court system’s national fundraising campaign for 2009, said Alan C. Anderson, the RCGSE’s Emperor VIII and the International Court System’s treasurer.

RCGSE raised their $1,000 in June when Matthew Shepard’s mother Judy was in town briefly, he said.

“She let me know she was in town, and that’s how we did it,” he said.

Other courts, he added, held their fundraisers throughout the year, despite the fact that the Interational Court’s Executive Director, Nicole the Great, Queen Mother of the Americas,

12 | QSa lt L a k e | issue 1 4 4 | Dece mber 23 , 20 09

had proclaimed October as Matthew Shepard Month.

“Everybody wasn’t able to do a fundraiser in October,” he explained.

For 2010’s charity, Anderson said the International Court System has chosen the fledgling Harvey Milk Foundation.

Anderson said the court’s members chose this foundation because it is an international organization, a fact which enables Canadian Courts and Tijuana’s Court to fundraise for it.

“It’s international, and Canada can support it,” he said. “[Courts in] Canada couldn’t send the Matthew Shepard Found money because it’s not based in Canada. The organization’s nonprofit, and Canadian law says groups can’t send money for nonprofits out of the country.” Rather than sending money to the foundation this year, Anderson said that the Canadian Courts raised funds for “something in their community that was of like mind,” as did a handful of U.S. courts whose bylaws forbid them from sending money out of their local communities.

Fundraising efforts for the Harvey Milk Foundation will begin in January, 2010.

At press time, the International Court System had raised $87,000 for the Matthew Shepard Foundation with more money continuing to come in. Anderson said that a few individual courts were planning some charitable events for the end of the year that would raise the total further.

The coming year will also be the International Court system’s 45th anniversary. This event will be celebrated in Lexington, Ky., June 6 at the Imperial Court of Kentucky’s Coronation.

LGBTQ Cultural Competence Training The Utah Pride Center will offer a four-part training series about issues relevant to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer/ questioning people in 2010 for businesspeople and all who work with non-straight non cisgender clientele. The first workshop (101/ introductory level) will be held in January and is a prerequisite for the rest.

WhEN: Jan. 26, 9 a.m.–noon.

WhERE: Utah Pride Center, 355 N. 300 West.

COsT: $35 per person INFO: Jenny@utahpridecenter.org or 801-539-8800 ex. 29.

Utah Gay Ski Week Although this event was cancelled in 2009, West Hollywood, Calif. entrepreneur John Harriot has offered a schedule of events on the company’s Web site for the last year. The site details packages from three-day to five-night stays, a shared condo option and a schedule of the week, to be announced on the day of each event, as well as a phone number to call the day of the event to find the location. Local Ski OUT Utah is in contact with the Los Angeles gay and lesbian ski group and will plan a meet-n-greet to be announced at a later date on their Web site.

WhEN: Jan. 6–10 INFO: gayskiing.org.

Exploring Queer Magick: A Retreat in Santa Fe This five day retreat for men who identify as queer, gay, bi, two-spirit, will explore the gifts, medicine, communion and power of the queer soul/spirit and facilitate a process of diving deep into what it means today to be a Queer Spiritual Warrior. Harry’s invitation is profoundly important today as we cope with a world wind of queer politics and conflicts. Now is the time for us to gather in community, explore the “who” and “what” we are in the eyes of Creator and Spirit. To own passionately the magic that is inherently ours as queer men.

WhEN: March 11–15 WhERE: Santa Fe, N.M. COsT: $600 INFO: queerspirit.org

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Letters Gay and Gray Editor: In his recent article “Gay and Gray,” Ed Kosmicki quotes me accurately about the presence of older gay people who live in Utah. Allow me to add the following observation about the current struggle for same-sex marriage. In his article, Kosmicki describes the touching and public commitment that Chad Smith and Dell Larsen have made to each other.

However, that ceremony, powerful as it was, leaves the couple with little protection when it comes to the critical reasons gay people are seeking marriage rights. Further, although the battle is often being waged in public by young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists, it is the elderly who potentially suffer most without these rights.

All too often, it is during the last part of one’s life that the protection of marriage means most. How can one guarantee that the home a couple has shared will not be lost because one partner is in need of long-term care? Who gets to say what means will be made to prolong life when a distant family arrives to take over? After the death of a partner, what protections are in place to protect the survivor? It is true that a lawyer can prepare documents to protect couples; however, there are far too many policy restrictions in place that threaten basic protection for the survivor. Just one example comes to mind: The income of

a pension and Social Security are lost or at risk upon the death of a partner.

These are the concerns that trouble many older gay people.

Senior Advocacy in a Gay Environment, a group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender seniors, has initiated

a movement through the Utah Pride Center. The purpose is to begin taking control of the aging experience on many fronts. Perhaps the most painful reality is that because of the isolation of far too many elderly gay people in our state, we are about the business of

growing our own empowered old. If you can contribute to the work of SAGE, check us out at the Pride Center’s Web site, utahpridecenter.org. Join us in this work for ourselves.

David Turner

Salt Lake City

Q on the Street ❝ ❝What is the best thing that

happened to Utah’s gay community this year?”

David Grodsky

Stephen Gillies

Mark Swonson

Lee Castillo

Nathan Treanor

Salt Lake City passing the anti-discrimination ordinance floored me. The fact the LDS church had to issue an approving statement BEFORE it would passed still pissed me off though.

Every year more liberal and excepting people move to salt lake city. Only by gaining more votes can we truely change anything in Utah.

The LDS Church finally recognizes the GLBT community as a community, our families, and we as indviduals as human beings.

Salt Lake City & Park City’s anti-discrimination policy which includes the work place and housing protection for GLBT people. The fact that the LDS Church actually stood behind this ordinance is a huge present! Recognizing that GLBT people have the right to persue happiness by working in a place free of harrassment or discrimination and living free of the fear of eviction because their landlord finds out they are GLBT. A little closer than we were to equality.

Stan P. & the NonDiscrimination Ord. Two HUGE wins for the community!

Blake Sarlo Stan P. being elected as the first openly gay councilman.

1 4 | QSa lt L a k e | issue 1 4 4 | Dece mber 23 , 20 09

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H olidays , kittens ! I t ’ s over at Box Turtle Bulletin. I wonder almost the New Year and, as how many mainstream news sources you know, every blogger, crit- (including my personal hero Rachael ic and pundit is assembling Maddow) got their information on the their year in review lists. I’ve never Ugandan “Kill the Gays” bill and its done one before, but I feel that if a cul- connection to American Evangelical tural juggernaut like Entertainment leaders from the Box Turtle Bulletin Tonight can throw one together, then I Web site. Take my advice, muffins, and really am sort of obligated. bookmark Box Turtle. Their coverage After mulling the possible categories I decided my inaugural Year in Review of Mormon issues, “ex-gay” ministries list should be the Top 10 Religious and reparative therapy frauds is outDouche Nozzle stories of 2009. Because standing. Likewise, during the Maine let’s face it, cherubs, for Religious marriage equality debacle and the refDouche Nozzles this was a banner year! erendum in Washington State, some of the best information on the ground They are in no particular order: 1. LDS Security and the Main Street was coming from Pam’s House Blend.

Plaza for July’s gay kiss debacle.

This site has everything you could ever 2. Uganda’s “Kill the Gays” Bill and want in a blog: politics, transgender isthe American Evangelicals pushing for sues, minority issues and loads and it. loads of angry (but very organized) 3. Elder Bruce Hafen and the “there’s lesbians! For me, Pam’s House Blend is no such thing as gay DNA” speech at the equivalent of catnip! It’s definitely the Evergreen Conference. worth checking out when you get a 4. Elder Dallin Oaks “I was born a poor black child”* speech at BYU Idaho spare minute.

Another of my fave bloggers is Joe (*with apologies to Steve Martin).

5. The Boy Scouts of America whin- Jervis over at Joe.My.God. JMG has a ing about declining membership while definite New York-centric point of view, excluding gays, atheists and anyone re- but it’s informative and really entertaining. He is an aficionado of bad 80’s motely non-Mormon looking.

6. Catholics in Maine spending mil- dance music, a cat and bear lover, and lions on defeating gay marriage equal- he can throw down some of the snarkiity while shuttering and closing down est but truest commentaries out there their local parishes for financial rea- (in fact, I think Joe Jervis may have sons. popularized the term “douche nozzle”).

7. Catholic leaders in D.C. threaten- Anyway, his site is absolutely worth a ing to close soup kitchens and homeless read! shelters if gay marriage is approved by My final fave is Andrew Sullivan’s the D.C. City Council. blog over at the Atlantic Monthly. Now, 8. Slavic immigrants and Russianspeaking Evangelicals using intimida- I know my editor Michael doesn’t like tion tactics and deliberate lies during Andrew Sullivan and his conservative/ Washington State’s Referendum 71 libertarian views, and I confess I was drawn to Sullivan for purely (or imcampaign.

9. Religion-based reparative therapy purely) self-serving sexual reasons ... groups and their equivalent of snipe namely the fact that he’s adorable. But hunting ... the “ex-gay movement” (se- aside from his cute English accent and riously darlings, these tortured and his bearish demeanor, his commentarconflicted folks could fill a Top 20 list ies offer a slightly skewed point of view all by themselves).

— and I of all people completely respect 10. Lohra Miller and the Salt Lake that! I have the same physical attracCounty DA’s office refusing to prostion to another conservative: my BFF ecute D.J. Bell and Dan Fair’s attackCarl Wimmer. But at least with Andrew ers. OK, technically not a “religious” Sullivan I wouldn’t have to use a ball douche nozzle story, but overwhelming gag, if you know what I mean. in its sheer douche nozzlery!

Anyway, pumpkins, enjoy your holiI would be remiss if I didn’t mention days.

I will see you all relaxed, rested, the bloggers who are doing the really difficult work of researching and fer- bright-eyed and bushy tailed in the New reting out most of these stories. My Year.

Ciao! Q personal favorites are the good folks Dece mber 23 , 20 09 | issue 1 4 4 | QSa lt L a k e | 15 appy

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Creep of the Week Harry Jackson

by D’Anne Witkowski

I

f wasHington, d.c. starts allowing

gays and lesbians to get married, then we as a nation are doomed.

Even more specifically, the National Cathedral is doomed. In fact, true Christians ought to set fire to it right now lest the gays start marrying in it and/or turn it into a combination bathhouse/dance club/24-hour gym/Asian fusion bistro.

Or such is the fear/fantasy (it’s so hard to tell the difference sometimes) of Bishop Harry Jackson, a man who has devoted his life to making sure gays are not treated equally in our nation’s capital, lest that send some kind of ungodly message to the rest of the country. Ever since the D.C. Council voted to let gays wed there, Jackson has been in No Homo mode.

Jackson was a recent guest on Wash-

ington Watch Radio, a program hosted by the Family Research Council’s Tony “I love black people so long as they hate like me� Perkins.

During the show, Perkins lamented the fact that Jackson’s fight to get an anti-gay, one-man-one-woman proposal passed in D.C. wasn’t netting the same levels of national media coverage as the Tiger Woods sex scandal. “Now this has not gotten much attention outside of Washington, D.C. with the exception of some groups focused on marriage who talk about it,� Perkins said. “But as far as the press, the media, they have not paid any attention to the battle that is raging here in the nation’s capital over same-sex marriage. This is more than a symbolic issue, this has significance for the whole marriage debate going forward.�

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One reason for the lack of national attention could be because there really isn’t a “battle� over same-sex marriage “raging� in D.C. unless you’re one of the key players in the debate. Maybe for everyone else, the D.C. marriage debate is largely a non-issue. They obviously didn’t read the part in the Bible that says two dudes marrying or two ladies feeding each other cake is a sign of the Rapture.

And that’s why folks like Jackson want to make sure that gays don’t get the same rights as everyone else. “It is a national issue,� Jackson said during the program. “Imagine, Tony, two men coming out of the National Cathedral, rice coming down, them embracing and kissing, on the front page of USA Today. That will lift the

‘Imagine two men coming out of the National Cathedral, rice coming down, them embracing and kissing, on the front page of Usa Today.’ spirits of pro-same-sex marriage advocates around the country.�

Will it? Really? I think that it will depend largely on what the grooms are wearing. Also, throwing rice is so passĂŠ. I expect one of those simultaneous releasings of live butterflies or even doves.

In any case, making sure that gay spirits aren’t lifted is part of Jackson’s job as a Bishop, apparently. I’m pretty sure that’s what Christians are all about. Jesus, after all, pretty much hated everybody and would throw a fit if he even so much as saw one of his apostles talking to a leper or a prostitute. He’d be all, “Paul, OMG! WTF? WWJD?�

WWJD standing for “What would Jackson do?� That’s Harry Jackson, if you’re nasty. Q D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps of the world she reviews rock and roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister and teaches writing at the University of Michigan.

Snaps & Slaps SNAP: Scott McCoy The cascade of praise for former State Senator Scott McCoy’s work on a number of issues — including environmental quality, liberalized liquor laws, legislative ethics reform and, of course, gay and transgender rights — has been overwhelming in these last two weeks, and probably tedious to read. But we’re going to add to it, anyway. McCoy came into the Senate at a pivotal time for gay and transgender rights in Utah — shortly after the passage of our constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, a charge against which he had lead just months before his election to Paula Julander’s vacated seat. And without his tireless work on and off the Senate floor, Utah would not be at the pivotal place in gay and transgender rights in which it finds itself today. For dealing patiently with the likes of Sen. Chris Buttars and former Representative LaVar Christensen for nearly half a decade, he deserves some kind of medal for valor. For insisting on being treated as any other Senator with a family and a personal life, he deserves our thanks.

SLAP: SUU Oh, you might think we’d be congratulating Southern Utah University for extending nondiscrimination protections to gay, lesbian and bisexual students. But we think they, like a lot of Utah’s schools, are forgetting a letter in LGBT. Nationally and locally, policy and lawmakers often seem reticent to add “gender identity� to nondiscrimination laws, policies and ordinances, to the detriment of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and the community at large. Transgender people have to fight even harder for equal and fair treatment than their non-transgender counterparts. It’s wrong. We urge all fair-minded faculty, staff and student at the school to remind the board of trustees of that.

SNAP: 8 at Sundance In a move that probably surprised no one, even the anti-gay groups now grinding their teeth, 8: The Mormon Proposition, Reed Cowan’s documentary about the LDS Church’s involvement in California’s most shameful referendum in recent history, has been accepted into the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. We look forward to the premiere.

Q Health Start the New Year in Good Health

by Lynn Beltram

I

2010 is almost here! I still remember all the ballyhoo surrounding the great millennium, Y2K; the excitement of getting ready for our computers and all of our utility systems to crash. Would it happen or would it not?!

I never really bought into that hype, so my most vivid memory of New Year’s 2000 is going out for a nice dinner on New Year’s Eve and eating way too much, so I couldn’t make it to a party as planned, or even stay awake until midnight. I was, however, pleased when I woke up the next morning and discovered that the lights had turned on, the refrigerator was still running and life as I had known it was pretty much the same.

So what can we expect in 2010? As you have probably already assumed from the title, I am mostly speaking about your health — or as I like to refer to it, your well-being, and your sexual health in particular. Here is a bit of what we do know on that front: All of the sexually transmitted infections the health department tracks have been increasing for several years. These include HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. We do not expect these rates to slow down in 2010. This means, simply, that your pool of potential sexual partners is more likely to be infected with an STI than they were in say, Y2K. In some cases, rate increases are so great that we can say someone is twice as likely to have an STI in 2010 as they were in 2000.

Part of the reason for the increase is technology. We can now get on Web sites, chat rooms and other internet sites and make arrangements to meet someone for sex without having to know a name or anything else about them. In fact, the last decade brought about an entirely new term, “sexting.�

Within the gay community, sex parties are incredibly common. And we all have certainly not lost the ability to have a little too much to drink at a bar or a party, and go home with someone we will never see or hear from again.

Although the latter is not part of a new social paradigm, having random “hookups� has become much more socially acceptable than in decades past.

Gone are the days of the walk of shame, as we often called leaving in the morning after a sexual encounter when I was in college. This truly is the new social paradigm that surrounds our sexual well-being.

I want to find ways for all of us to live t is Hard to Believe tHat

within this new social paradigm and still remain sexually healthy. I am certainly not here to preach abstinence, or to preach monogamy if that is not what you choose. I would, however, like to encourage a social paradigm where people value their sexual well-being by making informed decisions.

When speaking with my gay patients, I hear these two things most often: 1) I always ask my partners if they are HIV positive and 2) I get tested every six months. I know I have written articles on both of these topics before, so I am just going to make a few quick comments about them now. HIV positive individuals often lie. In fact, I have had many patients try to report men to the police for lying about their HIV status. However, Utah law currently does not require an HIV positive individual to disclose HIV status to their sexual partners. Keep in mind that contracting HIV is assumed risk that goes along with unprotected sex.

I have found that the new social paradigm within the gay community is to protect knowledge about one HIV positive status out of a fear that men will likely not want to be sexually active with someone who has the virus. It is also very likely that many men do not know that they are HIV positive. What often happens is that they get tested every six to 12 months and do not consider all of the exposures after their last test that may negate the fact that the test was negative. Getting an HIV test regularly will not prevent you from getting HIV. It will just allow you to find out when you become HIV positive sooner.

Basically, if you received a negative test but engaged in unprotected sex in the three months that preceded that test, or anytime afterward, then you cannot truly say that you do not have HIV. It is that simple.

But I wanted to focus on being sexually healthy in the New Year, so let’s get back to that! If you know that you are someone who has multiple sexual partners, even within a closed sexual network, the only way to protect your health is to use condoms at all times during rectal sex. I also recommend using lubricant with condoms because it greatly reduces the potential for the condom slipping or breaking. Try different condoms to find out which ones you like, because they really are made to feel differently: some are meant to fit more snugly, some are meant to have a looser fit. They also come in various

Dece mber 23 , 20 09 | issue 1 4 4 | QSa lt L a k e | 17

textures to increase pleasure. If you meet someone and you decide you want to be monogamous, use condoms until you have both been tested and both receive a clean bill of health.

Some bacterial infections that are transmitted sexually are site-specific.

This means that if you are engaging in oral sex, you can get chlamydia or gonorrhea in your throat, and the only way to detect it is by swabbing your throat.

Also, if you have ever been the bottom during rectal sex, you may only be infected rectally, so doing a urine test will not detect the infection.

It can get very complicated. In order to maintain good sexual health, I encourage everyone to be informed. Get tested regularly for all STIs and make sure you ask your doctor what tests are performed. Don’t assume that you were tested for everything because you went

to the doctor and they took some blood and urine. Most of the time doctors don’t do STI testing unless you specifically request it. Take the opportunity to sit down and have a one-on-one Q-and-A with a clinician or health educator so you can be informed about your individual risks.

And that’s the main thing to do for 2010: be informed! It is worth it, because if you end up with an infection you will have for the rest of your life, that infection will change your quality of life and your outlook. You don’t get a do-over because you discovered that the reality of having something like HIV is actually harder than you thought it would be. Q To meet with an STD/HIV counselor call the Salt Lake Valley Health Department at 801534-4666.

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Views

Lamba Lore Oh My Gay Lord!

by Ben Williams

W

all know how t h e­ Fundamentalist Christian Taliban hates Santa Claus.

After all, Santa is an anagram for Satan, and we all know Old Scratch has claws! But I suspect that the real reason they hate the jolly old elf is that he’s a big fat bear fairy. But I put it to you: Is he the ultimate fairy in Christendom? As a disclaimer for the PC crowd, be prepared to have the Christ put back into Christmas.

Is it just me, or have you noticed how e

buff Jesus is getting among his far right devotees? He certainly isn’t my father’s Jesus. When I was a youngster, all the pictures of Jesus were portraits of a serene, peaceful and slightly frail, beautiful man with transcendental qualities.

But not anymore. What we have today is a “manly” Jesus. Jesus the butch.

Dare I suggest that a conspiracy is at work?

It’s so fun to mess with the Christian Reich, and it’s so easy. If you want to see a rainbow of colors on their faces

reader survey or go online: qsaltlake.com/survey

Who are you? What do you want to see in QSaltLake? Our inquiring minds want to know! Here is your chance to tell us what you really think of us. Get this back to us by Dec. 31 and you will be entered to win two free tickets on the BIG GAY FUN BUS to West Wendover, Nevada!

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I LOVE:  WHO’S YOUR DADDY  RUBY RIDGE  BULLSHATTUCK  JACIN TALES  GAY GEEKS  STRAIGHT LINE  PETUNIA PAP-SMEAR  CREEP OF THE WEEK  LAMBDA LORE  CROSSWORD  WORD PUZZLES  SUDOKU  COMICS  QUEER GNOSIS  DATING DIET  GAY AGENDA  RESTAURANT REVIEWS

GET RID OF:  WHO’S YOUR DADDY  RUBY RIDGE  BULLSHATTUCK  JACIN TALES  GAY GEEKS  STRAIGHT LINE  PETUNIA PAP-SMEAR  CREEP OF THE WEEK  LAMBDA LORE  CROSSWORD  WORD PUZZLES  SUDOKU  COMICS  QUEER GNOSIS  DATING DIET  GAY AGENDA  RESTAURANT REVIEWS

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— mostly red to purple — just tell them that Jesus was gay. Then watch out! Either run as fast as the hell you can, or call the paramedics.

Jesus gay? What the Jesus H. (the h is for homosexual) Christ is that all about? Well, you know that I am not one of those deconstructionists who see every historical figure as gay — but I am open to the possibility. I mean, after all, if there can be a black Jesus, a white Jesus, a Third World Jesus, a feminist Jesus, a Christian Jesus and a Mormon Jesus, why can’t there be a gay Jesus?

Now, for the record, before someone’s inner or outer homophobia causes them apoplexy, my personal views are that no one before the 20th century was gay per se — which doesn’t mean that there wasn’t a lot of same-sex affection and fooling around before then. I’d like to remind everyone that there is not a single word in Biblical Hebrew or Greek for homosexuality. Anytime you see the word homosexual in any modern Bible, it is a doctrinal translation error to perpetuate bigotry. The word homosexual (invented before the word heterosexual, I might add) was coined by the 19th century psychoanalytical movement in its drive to become a pseudo-science.

But that’s another story.

Back to the Son of God. Evidently, some theologians and historians make a tantalizing, or blasphemous, case depending on which way you swish, that if Jesus was not gay, then at the very least he had gay sensibilities.

Now by Talmudic Law, Jewish priests and rabbis are required to be married and Jesus was not. However, an apocryphal view among the Christian Reich is that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, and of course non-official LDS teachings have for years stated that Jesus was not only a married man, but a polygamous one to boot. Modern nationalist fertility cults all have a need to believe Jesus is a breeding hetero.

But was he? Not according to Morton Smith, a former Biblical scholar at Columbia University. Smith claimed to have found a fragment of a manuscript at the Mar Saba monastery near Jerusalem in 1958 which showed a passage of St. Mark’s Gospel about the resurrection of Lazarus that is not included in today’s text of Chapter 10: 31–35. The implication of the discovered passage is that Jesus and Lazarus were more than friends. (Wink! Wink!)

“And the youth, looking upon him [Jesus], loved him and beseeched that he might remain with him. And going out of the tomb, they went into the house

of the youth, for he was rich. And after six days, Jesus instructed him and, at evening, the youth came to him wearing a linen cloth over his naked body.

And he remained with him that night, for Jesus taught him the mystery of the Kingdom of God.” So, what’s the big deal? Well, apparently the radical right fundamentalists have gone bonkers trying to discredit Smith, the passage and everything about it, due to its homoerotic implications. Additionally, the monastery archives where Smith found the manuscript have been mysteriously closed ever since so no one can take a peek at what the scholar viewed.

Smith, who died in 1993, was, of course, discredited among scholars when his sexual orientation revealed that he wasn’t kosher. And of course, no straight male scholar is going to go where no straight male scholar has gone before and seriously investigate whether the Son of God was gay.

Still, anyone who has ever taken the time to read the four Gospels knows that Jesus never listed “same-sex love” among the practices he spoke out against, like D-IV-O-R-C-E. But what does that prove?

Well, for one thing, homosexuality was widespread in the ancient Near East, and even thrived in Egyptian and Hellene cultures. It’s not like Jesus was ignorant of it anymore then a teenager is watching Glee. Some even argue that the Roman Centurion’s “boy” that Jesus healed because of the Gentile’s faith was not the man’s son, but his young lover.

We know that the apostle John was called “the beloved,” a very intimate appellation, and we know Jesus entrusted the care of Mother Mary to him. We also know that this John, who was in his teens, snuggled up to Jesus at the Last Supper, and another young man (who may have been Mark) was with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and was so scantily draped that when a Roman went to grab him, the youth fled away naked. It also makes you wonder if the Crucifixion was the ultimate gay bashing.

So, does this prove Jesus was gay?

Probably not. Then again, what do I know? I just wonder if it could be that Jesus is a reflection of ourselves and that God, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder?

Forgive them, Father. They know not what they do.

Merry Christmas. And God bless us, every one. Q

State epidemiologist Craig Nichols refused to print the safe sex guidelines

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2

The Straight Line 2009 in Review

by Bob Henline

009 Has Been a roller coaster year for issues related to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer equality. As the year comes to a close Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut recognize the validity of same-sex marriages. The District of Columbia recently passed a measure to do the same and New Hampshireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recognition statute will take effect Jan. 1, 2010.

These successes, of course, have been tempered with a number of disappointments and setbacks. California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8 and Maine voters rejected a same-sex marriage law. At the federal level, the Defense of Marriage Act and Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Ask, Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Tell are still in effect, but there is a renewed push to extend benefits to partners of federal employees.

Utahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s year has been a microcosm of this national picture. Not a single piece of the Common Ground Initiative made it out of committee at the 2009 Legislature, but Salt Lake City passed non-discrimination ordinances that may now serve as the model for ordinances in other cities and counties; Park City and Salt Lake County are currently considering similar or-

dinances. The LDS Church (love it or hate it, they have a great influence on Utah politics and policy) took a PR beating after the Proposition 8 battle and the detention and (alleged) assault of a gay couple on the Main Street Plaza, but then remarkably endorsed the Salt Lake City ordinances. Yeah, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been one hell of a year.

As we head into 2010 I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important that we remember the successes and setbacks of 2009, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more important to focus on the future.

As debates continue across the country about same-sex marriage, nondiscrimination, partner benefits and other issues related to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer equality, the most important thing to realize is that the debates are continuing. As people continue to discuss these issues, awareness increases. With increased awareness comes more understanding, and with understanding, success.

It is unfortunate that so many people in this nation of ours still refuse to recognize the rights of people with different gender identities and sexual orientations. What a wonderful world it will be when we can embrace our brothers

itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important that we remember the successes and setbacks of 2009, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more important to focus on the future

and sisters openly and respect those differences, understanding that it is our diversity that makes us a stronger people. That day, although not yet here, is definitely coming. The work of activists around the nation and the world to provide a greater understanding about these issues is making that change in minds and hearts across the globe happen.

2010 can be a banner year for equality if we all come together and work toward a greater understanding of all peoples, all beliefs and all lifestyles.

This community needs to continue to stand together, showing Utah, the United States and the world that we are all equal and are all entitled to the same rights, liberties and protections.

I salute everyone who has worked toward understanding and equality in 2009 and in years past, and I look forward to standing with you all to continue that work in 2010. Happy New Year. Q

Bob Henlineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blog, The Nonpartisan, can be read at nonpart.org.

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Dece mber 23 , 20 09 | issue 1 4 4 | QSa lt L a k e | 19

Views

Bullshattuck 2009 Year in Review

by Ryan Shattuck

C

ongratulations!

you Have Just survived the most difficult year in the history of humankind!

Now sure, you may think that past years have been more difficult, but what this year lacked in difficulty, it made up for in hyperbole.

The year 2009 had everything: the inauguration of the first African-American president, sex scandals, debates over gay marriage, sex scandals, the rise of the Tea Party movement, sex scandals, a balloon boy, sex scandals, celebrity deaths and even a few sex scandals. Yes, this year truly had it all.

After pouring over my calendar, as well as my spotty memory, I compiled a list of the most memorable events of 2009.

Please enjoy: The 2009 Year in Review.

January • Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 success-

fully made an emergency landing in the Hudson River in New York City, after the plane struck a flock of Canada Geese.

This heroic feat won admiration for Captain Sullenberger, and an embargo on all geese from Canada.

• Barack Obama made history by becoming the first U.S. president in history to have a Chia Pet modeled after him.

• Nadya Suleman, a 33-year-old woman in California, gave birth to eight babies after receiving in-vitro fertilization treatments. While the rumor that her eighth baby walked out of her womb is simply a lie, it did however ride out on a tricycle.

• Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was impeached and replaced by his lieutenant governor, Pat Quinn. With his new free time, Blagojevich announced that he would begin working on a “f****** gold” script for a film version of The Sopranos.

• In response to Democrats electing

Gay Geeks Sparkly Vampires are Funny

by JoSelle Vanderhooft i’m going to spend cHristmas Greene, who is just too cute and nearly in Florida with my beautiful, everything I like about femme girls. talented and equally-geeky But that’s probably TMI. girlfriend. We have a lot of fun Since we first picked up Twilight things to do on our agenda including a year ago after watching a mutual long walks on the beach, marathon- friend eviscerate the book in a set of ing Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials, side-splitting blog posts, Kim and I cooking pasta (her father’s side of the have spent hours laughing at the series’ family is Italian) and killing plenty of cellophane-thin characters, blunt force bugs on World of Warcraft. We also dialogue and its persistent confusion have a pretty intense movie schedule of long, lingering looks and hormonal planned: The Princess and the Frog, outbursts with an actual plot. Hours we The Fantastic Mr. Fox and New Moon, will never get back, even though we’d the latest installment in the franchise probably just waste them by making of the vampire and werewolf romance LOLCat image macros. series Twilight.

And then the first movie came out, Yes, geeky ones. We’re going to the and we paid actual money to see it. trashy sparkly vampire movie, which Upon exiting the theatre that rainy Deis, of course, still in theaters and still cember evening wondering how many raking in something like Luxembourg’s takes it took for Pattinson to say “and gross domestic product every five min- so the lion fell in love with the lamb” utes. In our (already highly question- without cracking up or heading to the able) defense, we’re not going to oogle Kraft Services table to find more vodka, Robert Pattinson’s chiseled (as in lit- we came to a shocking realization. erally like marble) features or Taylor We had both just willingly paid actuLautner’s washboard abs, despite both al money to see a movie of a book that of us being proud bisexuals — though we hated, and a movie that was even I will probably end up drooling at worse than its source material. And in Kristen Stewart and especially Ashley doing so, we had just become a part of

S

o,

20 | QSa lt L a k e | issue 1 4 4 | Dece mber 23 , 20 09

the first African-American man as U.S. president, Republicans made history by choosing Michael Steele as the first African-American man of the U.S. Republican National Committee. Check.

And mate.

February • USA Swimming suspended Michael Phelps from competition for three months upon the discovery of a photo of Phelps smoking marijuana. USA Swimming stated they would reinstate him once he started doing drugs that were more becoming of professional athletes, like steroids.

• The Peanut Corporation of America filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Then, to make matters worse, it began paying its shareholders in ... well ... one of its exports.

• General Motors and Chrysler asked the federal government for 21.6 billion more dollars. The federal government agreed to give the two automobile companies the money, because it was their 10th punch on their punch card.

• The film Slumdog Millionaire won Best Picture at the 2009 Academy Awards, for accurately depicting a day in the life of socialite Kim Kardashian.

suicide attempt.

• President Obama lifted George W. Bush’s restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, causing people from around the world with Lou Gehrig’s disease to whisper with joy.

• For throwing his shoes at former President George W. Bush in December 2008, Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi was sentenced to three years in prison, and two years community service at a Payless Shoe Source.

March • The Dow Jones fell below 7,000 points for the first time since 1997, in a failed

April • Iowa’s Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage. Two days later, all of Iowa’s crops were destroyed by a plague of locusts, which had been unleashed by the wrath of an angry and vengeful god.

• Vermont became yet another state in New England to legalize same-sex marriage, after it was passed by the General Assembly. The move infuriated critics of same-sex marriage, who claimed “the Bible says Ben and Eve, not Ben and Jerry.”

• Susan Boyle appeared as a contestant on Britain’s Got Talent, and surprised the audience with her amazing voice when she sang “I Dreamed a Dream.”

Eager to cash in on the trend, Hollywood unleashed a wave of dowdy, frumpilydressed middle aged woman imitators —Continued on next page

Twilight fandom in a peculiar way.

You see, Twilight is unique among fan-followings (known as fandoms) because it attracts two sets of people: those who love it and those who love to hate it. Those in the first camp we’ll call “Twihards.” With a few exceptions (like a few gay men, let’s say, or straight/bi guys whose girlfriends turned them on to the fandom), this faction consists of girls under 18 and women in their 20s to 50s who think that vampires who sparkle in sunlight and who sneak into teenage girls’ rooms while they sleep rival Pride and Prejudice’s Mr. Darcy as the Most Romantic Character of All Time. Those in the love-to-hate-it camp we’ll call “Twihaters” — again mostly females who look upon the franchise as one might a train wreck or a particularly loud fart during a cocktail party, unable to believe what they’ve just seen.

And then the next thing they see. And then the next, and the next, until the vampires are playing baseball during a thunderstorm. Even more confusing, some fans can belong to both camps, viewing the series as a guilty pleasure even as they mock it. As you can imagine, skirmishes between the two camps online and off can become anything from ridiculous to seriously unfunny in roughly the amount of time it takes Ashley Greene’s pixie haircut to turn a girl from straight to questioning.

Arrgh! Why do we do it, geeky ones?

Why can’t “Twihaters” like Kim and me just look away from the catastrophe already and find something else to

mock? Why is Twilight such a whirlpool of suck? Is it because humans are just obsessed with disaster, or because watching the heights of ridiculousness that Twilight fandom provokes (i.e. teenagers asking poor Pattinson if he’ll bite them) works like a feedback loop?

Are we masochists? Do we need to get off the internet and get a life already?

Probably, yes. All I know, though, is that sparkly vampires are fucking funny, just like B-horror movies are fucking funny. Moreover, Twilight lends itself so easily to parody and camp with all those beefy bods and purply protestations of love, as upstanding queer citizens, we can’t possibly stay away. Could Twilight be the internet generation’s Ed Wood oeuvre, or even our Whatever Happened to Baby Jane or Valley of the Dolls? (“But ya are, Edward! Ya are!). I certainly hope so!

And because Kim and I like the funny, we intend to keep laughing until Summit Entertainment gets off the gravy train and calmly walks to the exit — which we hope it won’t do until Breaking Dawn is filmed. I mean, if you thought vampires playing baseball is funny, wait until you see vampires hunting for deer while wearing cocktail dresses and heels, and a vampire baby clawing its way out of an unsuspecting woman’s womb.

In case I don’t see you ’til 2010 (which I won’t, seeing as this is our last issue of 2009), have a Happy New Year, geeky ones! And a sparkly one, too. Q

in the months that followed.

• Millions of participants across the United States participated in Tax Day Tea Party protests against the government, outraged that the income tax rate had risen from 35 percent in 2008 to 35 percent in 2009.

• China’s government discovered 2,390 more miles of the Great Wall of China. It was hiding behind 1.3 billion people.

• Bea Arthur, who isn’t Michael Jackson, died at the age of 86.

• The United States declared a public health emergency over the outbreak of the swine flu, which was later renamed H1N1 after complaints from Miss Piggy.

• Senator Arlen Specter announced that he was switching from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party.

Later, just to further confuse his constituents, he announced he was becoming a woman.

• President Obama celebrated his 100th day of the most difficult job ever by logging on to Monster.com and looking for a new job.

May • Maine legalized same-sex marriage although, by November, this would prove to be little more than a six-month long cock tease for Maine’s gay couples.

Pun absolutely not intended.

• Kris Allen won the eighth season of the hit reality show American Idol, and then was never seen again.

• The Supreme Court of California upheld Proposition 8, the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. So, no plagues for California.

• President Obama nominated Federal Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the U.S. Supreme Court. However, several critics attacked her for having a surname that was “difficult” and “un-American,” with the loudest of these critics being Senator Zebediah Asfrynkthpbbbbtlzinskiro.

• Time Warner terminated their merger with AOL, although it took over three hours to do so, due to AOL’s slow dial up connection.

June • Conan O’Brien became the new host of the 55-year-old The Tonight Show, and promised to continue Jay Leno’s long tradition of not making America laugh.

• New Hampshire legalized same-sex marriage. Two days later, all the citizens of New Hampshire became inflicted with a plague of lice, which had been unleashed by the wrath of an angry and vengeful god.

• David Carradine, who isn’t Michael Jackson, died at the age of 72.

• Carrie Prejean was dethroned as Miss California for breach of contract, after a mob of the proletariat revolted and stormed her palace. Prejean was later found guilty of black magic, beheaded and replaced by a more benevolent ruler.

• Jon and Kate Gosselin, stars of TLC’s Jon and Kate Plus 8, announced they were filing for divorce, which lead many

viewers to think “at least Mark and Jenny Sanford’s marriage is solid.”

• Ed McMahon, who isn’t Michael Jackson, died at the age of 86.

• Jenny Sanford, wife of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, found herself wishing for the first time in her life that her husband had actually been hiking the Appalachian Trail in the nude.

• Farrah Fawcett, who isn’t Michael Jackson, died at the age of 62.

• Michael Jackson, the King of Pop and Prince of Peace, passed away at the age of 50. You can stop reading after this point, because life essentially stopped having meaning anyway.

• Billy Mays, who also isn’t Michael Jackson, died at the age of 50.

• Bernie Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison for running a $65 billion Ponzi scheme. Always the optimist, Madoff stated that with exercise and the right diet, he looked forward to seeing his grandchildren in the year 2159.

July • Alaska Governor Sarah Palin announced she would resign at the end of the month, after having weathered a barrage of “criticisms” and “obligations.”

• One person died in a monorail collision at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., prompting the Disney company to change the park’s moniker from “The Happiest Place on Earth” to “A Place on Earth.”

• Al Franken was sworn in as senator, giving the Democratic Party a filibusterproof majority. Unfortunately, all the Democratic Party accomplished with their Senate majority was to take all the good donuts from the Senate breakroom on Donut Fridays.

• The “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009” was introduced, although it would later be renamed “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2073” to reflect the amount of time it would take Congress to pass it.

• The Catholic Church praised the film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which was surprising to many, considering that the church originally accused the Harry Potter book series of promoting witchcraft. Even more surprising, was that the Church gave the film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra only two stars.

• The tallest building in the United States, the Sears Tower, was renamed the Willis Tower by a London-based insurance company, because “What you talkin’ about Sears” wasn’t as funny.

• Walter Cronkite, who isn’t Michael Jackson, died at the age of 92.

• President Obama hosted a “Beer Summit” at the White House, in response to the controversy surrounding the arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates. The Beer Summit was proved to be a success, as Obama finally brokered a peace treaty between the warring nations of Budweiser and Coors.

August • Former U.S. President Bill Clinton arrived in Pyongyang, North Korea to

bring two American journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, back to the United States, and more specifically, back to Bill Clinton’s house.

• Senator Ted Kennedy, who isn’t Michael Jackson, died at the age of 77.

• The children’s show Reading Rainbow ended its 26-year run, proving to children that reading books cannot save a beloved children’s television show, that their puppy will someday die, and that when parents get divorced, it is always the fault of the child.

• Disney acquired Marvel Entertainment in a deal worth $4 billion. To add insult, Disney also announced their plans to purchase the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunn, and Santa Claus from Time Warner Inc.

mist.

• President Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, narrowly beating out Meryl Streep for her role in the acclaimed film Doubt.

• President Obama announces the end of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell at a fundraising dinner for the Human Rights Campaign in Washington. Some later pointed out that he never told when he would end the policy, as nobody had asked him.

• Some kid was in a weather balloon and then he wasn’t and then his parents tried to have a reality TV show and then the kid was on CNN and admitted he was hiding in the attic and then the parents were investigated for fooling the media and God bless America.

September • U.S. Representative Joe Wilson interrupted President Obama’s address to Congress about health care by shouting “You lie!” Then he texted Kanye West, saying “OMG, I totally just did it! You owe me $20 bucks.”

• Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift on live national television at the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards, as she received the award for Best Female Video. Then he texted Rep. Joe Wilson, saying “Lol, I just did it too! You owe me $20 bucks too.”

• Patrick Swayze, who isn’t Michael Jackson, died at the age of 57.

• Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke announced that the recession had ended. Congratulations everybody, we did it!

• The final episode of Guiding Light aired, after being on the air for 72 years.

Then it was taken behind the barn, given a sugar cube, and put out of its misery.

• Roman Polanski was arrested in Zurich on a 31-year-old U.S. arrest warrant, for committing sexual assault on a 13-year-old girl in 1977. Although the Oscar-winning director was grateful, he decided to decline the nomination to go to jail, saying that more talented directors deserved the honor for their work.

November • Michael Bloomberg won a third term as New York City mayor, proving that money can buy happiness, friendship, admiration, respect, a third term in office and a solid gold toilet.

• The voters of Maine passed Proposition 1, rejecting same-sex marriage. So, no plagues for Maine.

• Germany marked the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down with a large cake that had been split into two. One half of the cake was filled with an oppressive socialist state, while the other half was filled with chocolate.

• The United States opened its first marijuana café in Portland, Ore. For some reason, it opened four hours late.

• Sarah Palin’s memoir, Going Rogue, was released nationwide into the public, although scientists vowed to find a cure.

• Oprah Winfrey announced she will end her talk show in 2011. Her critics immediately accused her of setting a timetable for withdrawal from Chicago.

October • David Letterman announced on his show that he had sex with a number of female employees over the years. The next day, Conan O’Brien, fearing his competing late night show would be outpaced in the ratings, announced that he was a transvestite prostitute.

• The International Olympic Committee awarded the 2016 Summer Olympics to Rio de Janeiro after Chicago had a disappointing performance in the swimsuit competition.

• The United States Federal Trade Commission issued specific regulations for writers for blogs, which I believe is fair and just. In fact, I, for one, welcome our new internet overlords.

• Another ring around Saturn was discovered by scientists at the U.S. Space Agency Observatory, leading researchers to believe that Saturn — with its many rings — may secretly be a polygaDecember 23 ,

December • President Obama announced he would send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan.

• Then President Obama accepted the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Still not satisfied that he was the most ironic man alive, Obama grew a moustache, moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, joined an indie rock band, bought a pair of skinny jeans and became a hipster.

• Houston elected Annise Parker as mayor, thus making history as the largest U.S. city to elect an openly lesbian mayor. Parker announced that her goals as mayor were to put a Home Depot on every corner, require all women to wear plaid shirts and to eliminate offensive stereotypes about lesbians.

• Tiger Woods announced he was taking an indefinite break from golf to spend more time with the ladies.

• A meteor hit the Earth, destroying all life and inhabitants. Except for the cockroaches, and Walmarts.

Happy New Year’s, everybody! Q 20 09 | issue 1 4 4 | QSa lt L a k e | 21

People of the Decade When LDS Temple security detained a gay couple who shared a chaste kiss on the “Little Bit of Paris” plaza adjacent to the downtown temple, Deeda Seed knew she had to do something.

“I was horrified, literally horrified. I was like, ‘Wait this can’t have happened!’” said Seed, who voted against selling the plaza (initially a part of Main Street) to the LDS Church in 1999.

As it turned out, that “something” was hugging and locking lips. Shortly after the incident, Seed put out a call on her Facebook page to hold a “Kiss-In” on the sidewalk outside the plaza.

She was joined on July 13 by roughly 200 Utahns of all ages and sexual orientations who hugged, held hands and kissed each other as church security looked on.

“We’re giving a visual demonstration of the power of love,” Seed told the Deseret News at the time, “And saying that it should be OK for people to show affections regardless of their sexual orientation or age.”

“I don’t know where the idea of a kiss-in came into my head but it came into a lot of people’s heads. It was sort of an organic thing,” Seed recalled five months later, noting that she found that someone else was working on the same idea shortly after she made her Facebook post. “We actually started to coordinate a time, and it just kind of took off. I think what that reflected was sort of an organic outpouring of concern about what had happened to Derek Jones and Matthew Aune [the couple who were harassed for kissng], and the symbolism of it was profound.”

But little did Seed know that her kiss-in would have a profound effect on Utah politics for the rest of the year. Shortly after the kiss-in, Seed received a call from an LDS Salt Lake City Councilman who expressed concern and discomfort about the kiss-in. Realizing that both Mormons and the gay community were upset over events surrounding the kiss on the plaza, Seed then called her friend and current Salt Lake City Councilman Carlton Christensen, who is also LDS. “I said, ‘This really feels awful. It feels like something in the community is going massively awry. Is there a way we could bring LGBT people together with a representative from the LDS Church? Is that at all possible?’”

“He said he would make some calls,” Seed continued. And as many Utahns know, those calls eventually resulted in meetings between LDS Church representatives, Christensen and Seed, and the “gang of five,” high-profile leaders in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community who included Equality Utah’s Executive Director Brandie Balken and former Utah Pride Center board member Jim Dabakis.

“This was a big step for them,” said Seed. “Here I was the person who had caused them a lot of trouble. But it was a good meeting and that meeting then lead to another meeting.”

Eventually, those meetings also lead to the LDS Church backing Salt Lake City’s ordinances, which gave protections to gay and transgender people in employment and housing.

“It’s sort of a story about the power of conversation and relationships,” said Seed of the chain of events that lead, perhaps, to greater understanding between Utah’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and the leaders of the state’s dominant religion.

Of course, the kiss-in and its aftermath is not the only time that Seed has stood up for Salt Lake City’s gay and transgender population. In December 1997, she spearheaded an ordinance which protected city employees from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. However, just one month later several new Councilmembers had taken office who were bent on repealing what they called “this abomination of an ordinance.”

“The council chamber was packed,” she remembered. “It was so emotional. People on both sides of the issue spoke, and some people who wanted the ordinance repealed said some very hateful things. That memory is with me today.”

But now, the current Council has passed an ordinance that exceeded Seed’s wildest hopes 11 years ago.

“It gives me hope for humanity,” she said. Q

22 | QSa lt L a k e | issue 1 4 4 | Dece mber 23 , 20 09

PHOTO: DAVID NEWKIRK

Deeda Seed

Feature

Decade in Review Our People of the Decade: Fabulous Councilwomen

W

ven though 2009 got off to a politically rocky start with

hen the ball drops on Times Square just eight days after this issue of QSaltLake hits the streets, the first decade of the 21st century will come to a close and with it an era of unprecedented gains in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights across the world — and, of course, some terrible losses. Here are some of the highlights, including a few you may have missed at the time.

the failure of Equality Utah’s Common Ground bills,

2000

E

Utah’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community nonetheless had many political gains, chiefly

Salt Lake City’s gay and transgender-inclusive employment and housing nondiscrimination ordinances. Given that other municipalities, Park City and Salt Lake County, are considering identical ordinances, and some State Legislators are even talking of extending Salt Lake City’s ordinances across Utah, it has been a very good year, indeed.

Of course, as a community we always owe our successes to the tireless efforts of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender activists who write their legislators, lobby ceaselessly and show up for rallies in the blistering heat and the freezing snow alike.

However, we could not have achieved 2009’s legislative gains without the equally tireless work of a number of straight allies, including Mayor Ralph Becker, then-mayoral aide Ben McAd-

The United Kingdom ends its prohibitions on openly gay people serving in the military.

The U.S. Census Bureau begins collecting data on same-sex couples.

Vermont becomes the first U.S. State to recognize civil unions for same-sex couples.

New York Democratic Congressman Jerry Nadler introduces the Permanent Partners Immigration Act for the first time. The act, which would allow the same-sex partners of U.S. residents to immigrate to the United States in the same way spouses currently can, will be re-introduced during each congressional session for the rest of the decade.

California adopts Proposition 22 (known as the Knight Initiative after its author, anti-gay state Sen. William Knight) which forbids the state from recognizing same-sex marriage, including marriages performed in other states or countries.

(The state Supreme Court strikes it down in 2008).

ams, and, of course, the three fabulous women QSaltLake has picked for our persons of the year. Through tireless and creative advocacy, Salt Lake County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson, Salt Lake City Councilwoman Jill Remington Love and former Salt Lake City Councilwoman Deeda Seed have stood shoulder-toshoulder with Utah’s queer population in our fight for equality, and their efforts along with ours have produced results.

Nearly 70,000 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender

rally in the United States’ capital during the Millennium March on Washington.

President Bill Clinton declares June to be Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.

The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the Boy Scouts of America may prohibit gay men from being troop leaders.

The Taiwan Gay Hotline becomes the first gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender group to register with the country’s Ministry of Interior Affairs. The government also recognizes The Taiwan Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Association and the Taipei Association for the Promotion of Gay Rights later that year.

Romania outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation — two years before the country legalizes homosexuality.

Israel lowers the age of consent for homosexual sex from 18 to 16 — the same age as the age of consent for heterosexual sex.

2001 The Netherlands becomes the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

The Chinese Society of Psychiatry (the equivalent of the United States’ American Psychiatry Association) rules that homosexuality should not be considered a mental illness.

Germany legalizes domestic partnerships for same-sex couples (and expands rights under these partnerships in 2004).

Finnish same-sex couples receive some rights under

the country’s registered partnership law.

The destruction of the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11 by Al-Quaeda terrorists will remain for many the most unforgettable event of this year. Among the nearly 2,800 who died during the attack were several gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people including victim 0001, Fr. Mychal Judge, a Catholic chaplain for the New York Fire Department. In death many gay Catholics have dubbed him “the Saint of 9/11” and many have argued that the Vatican should consider him for sainthood.

In 9/11’s aftermath, Rev. Jerry Falwell and evangelist Pat Robertson blame the attacks on pagans, abortionists, feminists, the ACLU, People for the American Way and gays and lesbians on the 700 Club. Both later apologize for their remarks.

Egypt sentences 23 men arrested in 2000 on the Queen Boat, a gay disco ship, to serve prison sentences of one to five years for homosexuality, despite homosexuality being legal in Egypt. Twenty-nine other men are acquitted.

Namibia’s Supreme Court overturns a ruling from a lower court that allowed gays and lesbians to confer permanent residency on their same-sex partners. Shortly after the ruling President

Dece mber 23 , 20 09 | issue 1 4 4 | QSa lt L a k e | 23

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Decade in Review Samuel Nujoma states that gays and lesbians can be arrested, imprisoned and deported.

Unity Utah (later Equality Utah) is founded.

2002 The U.S. military dismisses six Arabic translators for being gay, despite a shortage of linguists.

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Actress and talk show host Rosie Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donnell comes out as lesbian.

Providence, R.I., elects David Cicilline as mayor and becomes the first U.S. capital city to be lead by an openly gay man.

New York City outlaws discrimination against transgender people, becoming the largest U.S. jurisdiction to do so.

New York Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Senate passes a law that mandates insurance companies to provide spousal benefits for gays and lesbians whose partners died in the Sept. 11 World Trade Center attack.

The law benefits roughly 20 survivors. Later Congress passes the landmark Father Mychal Judge Police and Fire Chaplains Public Safety Officers Benefit Act, which allows the U.S. government to extend benefits to survivors who lost same-sex partners who were firefighters, police officers and other public safety workers during the attacks.

The United Statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; largest defense contractor, Lockheed Martin Corp., includes sexual orientation in its antidiscrimination policy and extends health benefits to the same-sex partners of employees.

The American Academy of Pediatrics announces its support for adoptions by gays and lesbians.

Former NFL star Esera Tuaolo comes out as gay.

Buenos Aires and four other Argentine cities legalize civil unions for same-sex couples.

The Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Republic of China and Mongolia decriminalize homosexuality.

Sweden allows same-sex couples to adopt children.

Finland allows registered partnerships for same-sex couples.

The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah (later the Utah Pride Center) takes over the Utah Pride Festival.

2003 In one of the most important rulings for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in U.S. history, the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down all sodomy laws in Lawrence v. Texas. These laws made sex between people of the same sex illegal and were used to jail and harass queer people, although police in several states enforced these laws haphazardly or seldomly.

The Episcopal Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diocese of New Hampshire elects V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay priest, as its bishop. The move touches off a schism in the worldwide Anglican Community, of which the church is a part, over the ordination of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender clergy and the blessing of same-sex unions.

The Federal Marriage Amendment, which seeks a constitutional ban on same-

sex marriages, is introduced in Congress for the first time

by Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, a Colorado Republican.

Despite gaining 108 sponsors and the support of President George W. Bush, it fails to pass.

Walmart adds sexual orientation to its nondiscrimination policy.

Then-New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson signs into law the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hate crimes act, which includes crimes against people based on perceived or actual sexual orientation.

Gay rights and HIV/AIDS activist Cleve Jones is fired from the NAMES Project Foundation, which he founded in 1987. The foundation is the entity behind the AIDS Memorial Quilt.

Bob Ross, founder of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender newspaper Bay Area Reporter dies.

Belgium legalizes samesex marriage.

Ontario becomes the first Canadian province to legalize same-sex marriage.

The U.K repeals its controversial Section 28, a 1988 law forbidding local governments from â&#x20AC;&#x153;promotingâ&#x20AC;? homosexuality by funding any literature or films that portrayed homosexuality as positive.

Istanbul holds its first public gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Pride march.

2004

Massachusetts becomes the first U.S. state to legalize gay marriage.

However, voters in eleven states approve constitutional same-sex marriage bans: Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon and Utah.

In defiance of state law banning same-sex marriages, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom orders the city clerkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office to issue marriage certificates to gay and lesbian couples.

Roughly 4,000 marriages are performed between Feb. 14 and March 11, when the state Supreme Court calls a halt to the practice. The marriages are annulled in August.

The mayor of New Paltz,

26â&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; QSa lt L a k eâ&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; issue 1 4 4â&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; Dece mber 23 , 20 09

People of the Decade

Roughly a decade after the Salt Lake City Council struck down Seed’s attempt to provide protections to gay and transgender city employees, the seven-member Council unanimously voted to protect all of the city’s gay and transgender tenants and employees.

“I said that night it was a proud moment for me because there wasn’t even a contrary word,” said Love.

“Everyone was clear this is absolutely what we should be doing.”

But Love isn’t just a familiar and beloved politician to many in Utah’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community because she voted yes on these ordinances.

During her time in office, she worked with fellow Councilmember Eric Jergensen to create the city’s Human Rights Commission — the entity that prompted the ordinances’ creation in August by publishing a report about discrimination within the city.

“We did that at the request of the board of Equality Utah, who came to us and said other cities have this and we think Salt Lake City could benefit from it,” recalled Love. “At the time we didn’t know what direction the commission would take, but we sponsored the legislation and told them to go work and tell us where there were problems.”

After that, Love and then-Councilman David Buhler began crafting legislation to give health benefits to unmarried domestic partners of Salt Lake City’s employees. Love and Buhler’s legislation was similar to a proposal made by then-Mayor Rocky Anderson, but unlike the Mayor’s proposal sought to extend benefits to other adult dependents including siblings, parents and longterm roommates. In 2006, their bill went into effect.

“Dave and I worked very hard at the Legislature to assure legislators that what we had sponsored wouldn’t be overturned, that they wouldn’t take away local government’s rights to sponsor that kind of legislation,” she remembered. “That was very meaningful to me. People with faces that work for Salt Lake City benefited from [the adult designee program], and we got really poignant e-mails about how helpful it had been for employees.”

Love also played a substantial role in the city’s 2008 attempt to create a domestic partner registry for adults living with unmarried partners. When Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, proposed a bill to prevent the city from enacting the registry, Love spoke in favor of the registry during a two-hour hearing on Capitol Hill.

She has called all of this work “an honor to serve the gay community.”

“I just think for most of my adult life I have considered [gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights] to be the civil rights issue or human rights issue of our generation,” she said. “I don’t remember a specific incident [that convinced me of this], just that many people who I love are gay. I know their stories and I know the discrimination is real, and I think there’s a lot of strange misconceptions and notions about being gay.”

Overall, Love said she is glad to work with a mayor and a City Council who are progressive and who won’t let those misconceptions stand.

“The sky is the limit on what we can do,” she said. Q

PHOTO: DAVID NEWKIRK

Jill Remington Love

Jenny Wilson

N C b s fi n t m i r

O

course , u taH ’ s Queer population Has advocates outside of Salt Lake City. One of the most notable is Salt Lake County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson, who has spent much of her tenure — and much of 2009 — making life easier for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender residents of Magna, Copperton, Kearns, the Millcreek Township and all of the smaller unincorporated areas that make up Salt Lake County.

Like Seed and Love, Wilson said that gay and transgender rights has been something she has fought for since an early age. “[Discrimination against gay and transgender people] has always bothered me, so I think I came to office with an interest in creating a fairer system,” she said.

“I came in thinking I may not be able to do it all but I could at least do something.”

In her time in office, Wilson has actually done several somethings. After two years of fighting to extend Salt Lake City-style adult designee benefits to county employees, Wilson was victorious on Feb. 17 when the Democratic majority council voted 6-3 (with one Republican vote) in favor of the resolution. Before it passed, Wilson said she was frustrated that the county wasn’t offering equal protections to its employees, despite having forbidden employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the 1990s.

This December, Wilson has also found herself on the cusp of another shift in Salt Lake County policy. A few weeks before Christmas, the council voted unanimously and without fanfare to enact a housing and employment nondiscrimination ordinance similar to the ones Salt Lake City passed in November. Although the council must vote on the ordinance again in January before it can pass, Wilson said that she is optimistic that it will become law in February — two months before the city’s ordinances go into effect.

“I think we’ve come a long way in the state of Utah and clearly in Salt Lake County over the last decade and I’m happy to be a part of it,” she said. “I think anyone who has either come out because they feel it’s the right time or who has joined in to support [has helped us get here]. It’s all mattering, it’s all adding up. There is no one action in this movement that is going to be revolutionary. It’s going to be a series of little steps along the way.”

Sadly, some of those little steps will be taken without her to guide them. This month, Wilson announced that she will not seek re-election in 2010; her term of service will come to end roughly a year from now.

“I really feel like my career is moving me toward something that is a little more structured,” said Wilson. “The legislative role I’ve had at the county has been very interesting and enlightening and great in personal development, but I miss the days when I put on the suit and went out the door and put in a day’s work.”

But she insisted that the march toward full equality for Utah’s gay and transgender people would go forward, no matter who occupies the seats on the state’s municipal governments.

“This is really a collective effort. I really do believe we’re seeing progress,” she said. “If you look back at other civil rights movements, [you’ll know] there’s going to be challenges along the way, and sometimes we’ll be frustrated. But I think we need to celebrate the successes.” Q f

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28 | QSa lt L a k e | issue 1 4 4 | Dece mber 23 , 20 09

PHOTO: DAVID NEWKIRK

T s a t p n r h t p n a l

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Decade in Review New York and Multnomah County, Oregon’s four-member council decide to follow suit. The mayor is hit with a fine and the marriages annulled while the 2004 constitutional ban stops same-sex marriages from going forward in Multnomah County and the rest of Oregon.

Similarly, a county clerk in Sandoval County, New Mexico issues marriage certificates to same-sex couples because New Mexico’s constitution does not forbid the practice. The state attorney general annuls the 66 marriages on the same day.

After watching television footage of San Francisco’s same-sex weddings, Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihanouk expresses support for legalizing same-sex marriage in his country. He also says that transvestites should be “accepted and well-treated in our national community.”

The Federal Marriage Amendment dies in a Senate cloture vote.

Brazil legalizes civil unions for same-sex couples.

Germany opens second parent adoptions (the adoption of an individual’s child by his or her partner or spouse) to same-sex couples.

The Gender Recognition Act of 2004 allows transgender people in the U.K. to change their legal gender.

Conservative Rhea County, Tennessee’s county commission unanimously approves a resolution asking the state to charge gay and lesbian people with crimes against nature. It also toys with a resolution that would ban homosexuals from living in the county. The resolution prompts a public outcry and national news coverage, and is withdrawn a few days later.

Salt Lake Metro, QSaltLake’s previous incarnation, is founded.

2005

Spain legalizes same-sex marriage and becomes the only country in which same-sex couples enjoy all the rights of marriage. South Africa also legalizes samesex marriage.

Same-sex marriage is legalized throughout Canada.

World Pride 2005 is scheduled to take place in Jerusalem, and receives criticism from Jewish, Christian and Muslim groups and clergy. The event is later cancelled.

Still reeling from revelations in 2002 that U.S. Catholic bishops and archbishops covered up several cases of child sex abuse committed by priests, the Vatican moves to ban all gay men from the clergy. It also blames the epidemic of sexual abuse on gay priests.

Meanwhile, several evangelical groups including Repent America blame Hurricane Katrina on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans.

The Centers for Disease Control estimate that over 1 million U.S. Americans are now living with HIV/AIDS. The National Coalition for LGBT Health reports that crystal meth use is on the rise among gay and bisexual men in the United States.

Several states, including Utah, enact campaigns designed to educate queer men about the health risks of using the drug.

Additionally, The New York Times reports that a strain of “super HIV” (in other words, one that is treatmentresistant) is circulating among sexually active gay men in the city. The story later proves to have been a false alarm triggered by one case of HIV in a New York man who had several sexual partners and a record of extensive crystal meth use.

“Gay cowboy” movie Brokeback Mountain (actually about two sheepherders) breaks box office records and ushers in a new era of gay, lesbian, bisexual

and transgender cinema.

Utah billionaire Larry H. Miller bans the film from his Sandy Megaplex theatre leading the film’s distributor to threaten a lawsuit. Miller later apologizes for his decision.

2006 New Jersey legalizes samesex civil unions.

The Czech Republic allows same-sex couples some of the same rights afforded to heterosexual married couples under its registered partnership law. Slovenia also recognizes registered partnerships for same-sex couples.

Dancer, choreographer and drag performer Willi Ninja (who inspired Madonna’s Vogue and appeared in the documentary Paris Is Burning) dies of complications due to AIDS. Brokeback Mountain and Transamerica receive attention at the Oscars and Golden Globe Awards.

Felicity Huffman wins Best Actress at the latter for her portrayal of a transgender woman in Transamerica.

Russian officials ban the first Moscow Gay Pride Festival and encourage violence against any who show up. Protesters take to the streets are violently attacked by counter-protestors, including a number of anti-gay skinheads. Police do nothing to protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender protesters and a number of people are injured.

AIDS turns 25.

Israel recognizes samesex marriages performed in other countries.

South Africa allows gay men who have not had sex in the past six months to donate blood.

Scotland legalizes adoptions by gay and lesbian couples.

Seven states pass constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage: Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. A proposed amendment in Arizona fails, however.

The Federal Marriage Amendment fails in another Senate vote.

Republican Congressional

Dece mber 23 , 20 09 | issue 1 4 4 | QSa lt L a k e | 29

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Decade in Review Rep. Mark Foley is embroiled in scandal after his propositioning of underage male congressional pages comes to light.

Evangelist Ted Haggard admits to taking crystal meth and soliciting a male prostitute for sex. He resigns from leading the National Association of Evangelicals and undergoes ex-gay therapy, after which he is pronounced “completely heterosexual.”

California allows domestic partners to file joint state income taxes.

Will & Grace, a groundbreaking sitcom about two best friends, a straight woman and a gay man, ends its nine season run.

2007 Colorado and Iowa ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and Vermont amends its laws to add gender identity to its list of employment nondiscrimination protections.

Anti-gay Idaho Sen. Larry Craig is arrested in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on suspicion of trying to solicit an undercover officer for sex in a men’s restroom. The scandal leads to Craig’s resignation and dominates headlines for months.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad famously tells an audience at Columbia University that his country has no gay people.

Iran, however, has executed men for having sex with other men. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission condemns these executions this year as well.

Soulforce, a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender social justice group, buses several activists under age 30 across the country to visit schools with anti-gay policies. Four Utahns are part of the ride, and one of them, a transgender man named Kourt Osborn, is arrested for trespassing at BYU, when he and his mother enter campus to deliver documentation about the suffering of gay BYU students under the school’s anti-gay honor code to school administrators. The ride also visits BYU-Idaho.

A few months after the riders’ visit, the school relaxes its policy on homosexuality to punish only gay and lesbian sexual and romantic behavior, not students who have gay and lesbian orientations.

The U.S. House of Representatives passes an Employment Nondiscrimination Act which covers sexual orientation but not gender identity.

Transgender activists — and several non-transgender gay, lesbian and bisexual activists — decry it.

Hungary legalizes civil partnerships for same-sex couples and Switzerland’s registry for same-sex couples takes effect. Uruguay also legalizes civil unions for same-sex couples.

Global Gay Solidarity Day is founded on Aug. 4.

2008 Oregon allows domestic partnerships for same-sex couples and Washington expands its domestic partner legislation to give more benefits to such couples.

Massachusetts opens up marriage to out of state same-sex couple.

Nicaragua and Panama legalize homosexual sex.

Norway legalizes samesex marriage and Ecuador legalizes civil unions for same-sex couples.

Australia’s parliament considers a bill to extend health care, workers compensation and veteran’s benefits to same-sex couples.

California’s Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage in May. Opponents of same-sex marriage bring forth a ballot measure to re-ban it, which will later become known as Proposition 8. Some 18,000 couples marry in the five and a half months same-sex marriage is legal in the state.

California voters narrowly pass Proposition 8. The move touches off protests around the country including one around the LDS Church headquarters in Salt Lake City which draws between 3,000 and 5,000 people. Some activists dub this resurgence in activism “Stonewall 2.0.”

On the same night Proposition 8 passes, the United States elects Barack

Obama as president.

Thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender volunteers worked for Obama’s campaign.

Allan Speer, the United States’ first openly gay politician, and lesbian activist Del Martin both die.

Colorado elects an openly gay man, Jared Polis, to Congress.

Connecticut and Iowa legalize same-sex marriage.

The Coquille Indian Tribe (in Oregon) legalizes samesex marriage.

Florida’s courts strike down the state’s ban on same-sex couples adopting children.

Burundi’s Parliament votes to make gay sex illegal.

A Pride event in Budapest turns violent when hundreds of protestors attack attendees with acid, rocks and Molotov cocktails. Forty-five people are injured, including several police officers.

Meanwhile, Pride events in London and Madrid draw hundreds of thousands and go off without a hitch. The Indian cities of Delhi and Bangalore also see their first Pride marches.

2009 This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots which touched off the U.S. gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights movement as we know it today.

By presidential proclamation, President Barack Obama declares June to be LGBT Pride Month, in honor of the Stonewall Riots’ anniversary.

Congress passes a federal hate crimes law that includes sexual orientation and gender identity.

California’s Supreme Court upholds Proposition 8.

New York State rejects a bill seeking to legalize samesex marriage. Meanwhile, Washington, D.C. legalizes gay marriage.

Maine’s legislature passes a bill legalizing gay marriage, but Maine’s citizens vote in November to strike down the law.

During the Utah Pride Festival, activist Cleve Jones calls for a national march on Washington, D.C. to demand equal treatment for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens. Nearly 200,000 people attend.

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2009 In Review The first decade of the 21st century closed with some surprising gains and some sad losses for Utah’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, as well as some weird antics by everyone’s favorite anti-gay bigot, Sen. Chris Buttars. Here are some of the highlights.

January Equality Utah drafts four bills for the 2009 Legislative Session. Called the Common Ground Initiative, they seek to extend a number of rights to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Utahns including: housing and employment nondiscrimination protections; inheritance rights; the ability to join in a wrongful death suit if a same-sex partner dies from negligence or medical malpractice; and the deletion of the controversial part of Utah’s constitutional marriage ban that prohibits civil unions.

February Although all of the Common Ground bills get assigned to committees, they are defeated before reaching debate on the Senate or House floors. However, Equality Utah announces that it will look to city and municipal governments to help enact protections similar to what the initiative addressed.

Anti-gay Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, draws criticism and worldwide attention during an interview with filmmaker Reed Cowan (for Cowan’s documentary about the LDS Church’s involvement in Proposition 8’s passage) in which he compares gays and lesbians to terrorists and says that they have no morals. Although Buttars’ party removes him from the two committees he chairs, Buttars is reinstated on both during the summer. Gov. John Huntsman surprises fellow Republicans and gay and transgender rights activists alike when he announces that he supports civil unions. Anti-gay group America Forever promptly lambastes the governor and Equality Utah in full page advertisements placed in

The Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News. Salt Lake County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson announces that she will again pursue a resolution that would extend adult designee benefits to county employees, which would allow employees to put a housemate, adult dependant or same-sex partner on their health insurance.

March A number of Utah businesses, most prominently Golden Braid Books, Oasis Café and Faustina Restaurant, announce their support for the Common Ground Initiative.

Californians Against Hate calls off a boycott against Ken Garff motors begun over a Garff family member’s donation to the Yes on 8 campaign after CEO John Garff meets with leader Fred Karger and local gay philanthropist Bruce Bastian.

April Sandy City Councilman Scott Cowdell says that he would like the council to consider extending adult designee insurance benefits to city employees who have samesex partners or who are living with dependent adults. Alan Anderson, Emperor VIII of the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire, announces that he will run for treasurer of the Salt Lake County Democratic Party. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender activists hold a “General Service Weekend” during LDS General Conference, in which they perform a number of charitable acts for the Salt Lake City community.

May Southern Utah University students and members of Cedar City’s community protest LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson’s speech during the school’s graduation exercises. Equality Utah’s Executive Director Mike Thompson announces that he is resigning to pursue an employment opportunity in California. Huntsman also announces his resignation after President Barack Obama appoints him U.S. Ambassador to China. Utahns Chloe Noble and Jill Hartman set off on Homeless Youth Pride Walk 2009, what will be a seven-

month, cross-country journey in which the two live on the streets of several U.S. cities and document the problems faced by homeless youth, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender homeless youth in particular.

June During the Utah Pride Festival, Grand Marshal Cleve Jones calls for a march on Washington, D.C. in October to demand federal protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans. Ogdenites Wil Phillips and Whitney Goich, a gay man and a lesbian respectively, are the victims of two separate anti-gay attacks. Christopher Vonnegut Allen is arrested on the charges of attacking both youth. The University of Utah announces GUS, a survey seeking to collect responses from 1,000 gay and bisexual Utah men about their sexual practices and health risks.

July Chad Hardy, the creator of the controversial beefcake calendar ‘Men on a Mission’ featuring shirtless LDS returned missionaries, announces something for the lesbians: ‘Hot Mormon Muffins,’ a cheesecake calendar featuring Mormon mothers. Team Try-Angles raises $8,500 for the National MS Society during the annual Harmons Best Dam Bike Ride. Gena Edvalson loses visitation rights to the son she had with her former partner Jana Dickson (the child’s biological mother) even though the former couple had a co-parenting agreement. Edvalson’s lawyer, Lauren Barros, says she no longer recommends such agreements for her gay and lesbian clients.

August

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker proposes an ordinance that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the city’s housing and employment nondiscrimination law. The announcement came after the publication of a report by the city’s Human Rights Commission, which found that the largest number of discrimination complaints in the city is of discrimination

based on race, sexual orientation and gender identity. Stan Penfold announces that he will seek election to the Salt Lake City Council.

September The Utah AIDS Foundation’s annual Walk for Life adds an additional event for cyclists, Bike for Life. Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard, visits Salt Lake City to promote her memoir The Meaning of Matthew.

Affirmation Gay and Lesbian Mormons, a support group for gay Mormons and their friends and allies, holds its annual conference in Salt Lake City. On the same day, Evergreen International, an

“ex-gay” group that works primarily with LDS clients, holds its annual conference.

LDS Elder Bruce C. Hafen’s remarks at the Evergreen conference, which include “If you are faithful, on resurrection morning — and maybe even before then — you will rise with normal attractions for the opposite sex,” touch off a firestorm of criticism from gay and transgender groups across the state. D.J. Bell is acquitted of charges that he attempted to kidnap two neighbor children on July 4, 2008.

October In a press conference a few days after his trial, D.J. Bell

and his lawyers announce their intent to pursue a civil suit against the family who beat him and his partner Dan Fair shortly after finding their children at the couple’s house. Several Utahns attend the march on Washington, D.C. Lt. Dan Choi, an infantryman dishonorably discharged from the military after coming out as gay, is the keynote speaker for the University of Utah’s Pride Week. The Southern Utah AIDS Walk raises $3,000 for the Tri-State HIV/AIDS Task Force, money the task force needed to provide testing for residents of Southern Utah and parts of Nevada and Arizona.

To benefit QCares Foundation, supporting Utah gay and lesbian nonprofit organizations

Friday, January 22 Doors 9pm

Eddie will be signing his new book after the show:

JAM

751 N 300 West

TICKETS: brownpapertickets.com/event/93043

November The Utah Pride Center holds Transgender Awareness Month and a mini-conference Un(packing) Gender. Stan Penfold wins his bid for a seat on the Salt Lake City Council. Members of the Foundation for Reconciliation push a handcart from the This is The Place Monument to LDS Church headquarters to deliver a petition asking the church to seek reconciliation with the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members its teachings have hurt. The Salt Lake City Council approves ordinances adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the

city’s nondiscrimination housing and employment laws. In a surprise move, the LDS Church speaks in support of their passage.

In another surprise move, Sen. Buttars says he may support legislation extending the ordinances’ protections statewide. Hotel Monaco’s annual Red Party raises $26,000 for the Utah AIDS Foundation. Equality Utah’s Manager of Public Policy Will Carlson departs for a job in the Salt Lake City prosecutor’s office.

December Reed Cowan’s finished documentary 8: The Mormon Proposition is accepted into

the Sundance Film Festival.

Local gay and transgender activists begin preparations to support the film and to counter protestors who will show up to speak against its message. Openly gay Sen. Scott McCoy, D-Salt Lake City, resigns. Democrats in his district elect Ben McAdams, an advisor to Mayor Ralph Becker, to take his place.

Park City announces that it will pass a similar ordinance to Salt Lake City’s gay and transgender-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances, and an identical ordinance to Salt Lake City’s passes the first round of voting in the Salt Lake County Council’s chambers. Q

Arts & Entertainment

Gay Agenda Happy Birthday to Me

by Tony Hobday

I was born at 9:37 p.m. on New Year’s Eve 1969. So I missed out on truckloads of Gerber strained peas, baby body suits emblazoned with peace symbols and Big Jim action figure dolls (that’s the one that hurts the most.). Just like that night, I’m always in a hurry to get where I don’t know where I’m going. So this year, as I turn 40, I’m going to kick it at home with several jars of Gerber strained peas and play with my Fox Mulder action figure doll, and hopefully regain my youth.

24

DEREK DYER See Dec. 13

thursday — Screenings of the 1946 classic Holiday movie It’s A Wonderful Life will be shown downtown through Christmas Day. Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed lead this charming and inspiring film about a family man who’s given an eye-opening look at life without him in it by his guardian angel.

3pm today and 7:30pm Christmas Day, Broadway Centre Cinemas, 111 E. Broadway.

Regular ticket prices, saltlakefilmsociety. org.

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saturday — The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangzi River in China is a massive project entwined in controversy, as it’s the world’s largest generator of hydro-electric power.

However, the dam has displaced more than one million people and destroyed more than one thousand towns and villages. In the exhibit Displacement: The Three Gorges Dam and Contemporary Chinese Art, four of China’s leading contemporary artists — Chen Qiulin, Yun-Fei Ji, Liu Xiaodong, and Zhuang Hui — respond to the building of the dam.

Regular gallery hours, through Feb. 27, Salt Lake Art Center, 20 S. West Temple. Free, 801-328-4201 or slartcenter.org.

QQ It’s the day after Christmas, are you ready to party? I will be after I take a Liverite. Anyhoo, check out I’ll be Homo for the Holidays at JAM. Personally I’m homo 365 ... well, except on Feb. 30. Get your homo on tonight at this festive party.

9pm, Club JAM, 751 N. 300 West. Free, jamslc.com.

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tuesday — First Night not only has expanded this year to a three-day event, but has also changed it’s name to EVE. Today through New Year’s Eve, the days and nights will be filled with fine arts performances, live local music, dance parties, ski and snowboard action sports competitions, DJs, film screenings, laser shows, art installations, world music, activities for kids and pet lovers, interactive resolutions, story telling and a spectacular midnight fireworks show. Phew!

Events hours and venues vary through Dec. 31. Three-day pass $15, eveslc.com.

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thursday — Today is my boofday and I’m turning 33. Yeah, right! Anyhoo, the classic Tony award-winning play The Importance of Being Earnest, by gay playwright Oscar Wilde, is being staged. This comedy of mistaken identity smartly glistens with brilliant tongue-in-cheek humor. Set in England during the late Victorian era, the play’s humor derives in part

32 | QSa lt L a k e | issue 1 4 4 | Dece mber 23 , 20 09

from characters maintaining fictitious identities to escape unwelcome social obligations.

7:30pm, through Feb. 6, Hale Centre Theatre, 3333 S. Decker Lake Dr. Tickets $15–26, 801-984-9000 or halecentretheatre.org.

QQ According to David Yancey: “Rufus is a God. And by God I mean I would explode in orgiastic pleasure if I ever got the chance to meet him. He is a being of pure talent and beauty.

Not only would I have his man babies, I would pleasure him for days on end while listening to his songs and weeping in joy.” This poor boy needs to get laid I think! Anyhoo, spend New Year’s Eve with Rufus Wainwright and family ... it’ll be orgiastic!

8pm, Eccles Center, 1750 Kearns Blvd., Park City. Tickets $25–125, 435-655-3114 or ecclescenter.org.

2

saturday — Michael Aaron and I went to Super Diamond last year and it was totally awesome for a Neil Diamond tribute band. If you’re around 25 years younger than Michael Aaron (the majority of the community is) then you may not know of Neil Diamond. He is a pop superstar with a bad hairstyle and star-studded shirts ... how fabulous!

8pm, The Depot, 400 W. South Temple. Tickets $10/adv–15/day of show, 801-467-8499 or smithstix.com.

6

wednesday — It’s time again for the Utah Gay & Lesbian Ski Week. Actually, I don’t remember if they did it last year ... hmmm! I don’t ski or snowboard because I always fall down even when I use the kiddie tow-rope. But if you do, the week includes several parties, food, fun and a helluva lot of snow.

Hours and venues vary, through Jan. 10, Park City. To register or for more information visit gayskiing.org.

Q Executive Director of Utah Arts Alliance, dEREK dYER, is exhibiting his Earth People collection during the month of January. The series is a continuation in the evolution of Dyer’s popular photographic series’ that spans over a decade. In this newest work, ideas of the connectedness between humans and our environment is explored. The subject is covered in the earthy elements that surround them.

7

thursday — Edward v.

Jacob — whatever, I’d tap both of ’em ... or at least watch them tap each other. Anyhoo, TWI-lITE: I Was a TEENaGE VaMPIRE is a spoof created

by Desert Star Theatres. High school geek Seth has the hots for cheerleader Chelsea, but she has the hots for a fictional vampire ... Edward? Seth pretends he’s a vampire to woo her. Then a real vampire appears ... Dracula? and challenges Seth to a blood-thirsty duel.

Times vary, through Mar. 13, Desert Star Theatres, 4861 S. State St. Tickets $8.95– 17.95, 801-266-2600 or deseertstar.biz.

uPCOMInG eVents JaN. 21 FEB. 23

MaR. 31 aPR. 5

Howie Day, The State Room Sarah Bettens, The State Room Michael Bublé, E Center Muse, E Center

Save the Date December 31 New Year’s Eve w/ Rufus Wainwright ecclescenter.org January 6–10 Utah Gay & Lesbian Ski Week, gayskiing.org January 17 Her HRC, Celebrating the Female utah.hrc.org January 21–31 Sundance Film Festival, Park City sundance.org

April 10 Queer Prom utahpridecenter. org April 16 Day of Silence dayofsilence.org May 8 HRC Utah Gala utah.hrc.org June 4–6 Utah Pride utahpride.org August 7–8 Park City Arts Festival kimballartcenter.org August 22 Utah Pride Center Golf Classic utahpridecenter. org

September 28 February 2–7 Equality Utah Super SkiOut Utah Allies Dinner Friends Weekend equalityutah.org skioututah.com October 9 February 12–14 National Coming QUAC Ski-N-Swim Out Day quacquac.org utahpridecenter.org

Review

A Magnificent ‘Man’ Queer couture designer Tom Ford fashions beautiful, heartbreaking film

by Chris Azzopardi

T

His is How you know a gay

fashion designer made A Single Man: It looks great.

And this poetic beauty, in all its chic come-to-life contrast, is what makes Tom Ford’s dynamic directorial debut, where color dances about the funereal monochromatic scheme to represent life’s vigor, an eye-gasm that only sometimes swallows its own story.

Based on Christopher Isherwood’s heralded 1964 novel about an empty, closeted gay man whose zeal for living dies when his partner of 16 years, Jim (a charming Matthew Goode), actually does, A Single Man is essentially a tale of sadness, loneliness and love, all oozing in the bleakest of tones in its artful cinematic translation.

Only intermittently does gay English professor George Falconer (Colin Firth in a career-best performance), living in L.A. during the ’60s, come alive — and when he does, the onscreen palette bursts into brightness like a rainbow after a storm. It befits the sullen-but-sometimes-funny script (keenly written by Ford and David Scearce), which is a day-long look into the life of George as he plans his suicide. But can the people around him help him fight his fate?

There’s the pity party with his complex best friend Charley, aced by a spirited Julianne Moore — especially as she gets increasingly playful with each tonic concoction she sucks down. A hot hooker makes George feel wanted. The neighbors juxtapose his sorrowful state as they bubbly blast through life with unshakeable smiles.

In them, he sees the possibility of restoring what he lost — happiness and hope.

He finds that in Kenny (Nicholas Hoult of About a Boy fame), an analytical intellectual, and one of George’s students, who challenges and charms the pants off his teacher. Literally, as they doff their duds and skinny dip in the lake — a scene that’s simplistically beautiful and awash with magical morose-parting optimism. Hoult,

a pretty boy with the most gorgeous ocean-colored eyes, perfectly plays the inquisitive kid who suspects George’s isolation.

But the eloquent film belongs to Firth, giving an Oscar-caliber interpretation of a man clouded with dashed hopes, all the more heartbreaking when he sees his lover Jim in black-and-white flashbacks and we gradually realize what a pair they were.

Barely an iota of it is translated in the scheming mainstream-beguiling trailer, a flashy image montage that implies only a hetero hookup between

Charley and George — one that’s obviously important to A Single Man, but hardly the crux of Ford’s film, which is unabashedly queer. Two men even kiss. On the lips.

Sexuality, though, has little to do with what George is experiencing — the most universal of human conditions: to feel, to lose, to suffer. Color can help translate that, as it does splendidly here, but Firth’s wounded performance does that just fine on its own. Q A Single Man opens Jan. 8 at the Broadway Centre Cinemas, 111 E. 300 South.

FEBRUARY 2-7 • CAPITOL THEATRE AT ARTTIX.ORG OR 801-355-ARTS

Arts & Entertainment Festival Roundup To help you prepare your choice of films to see at this year’s Sundance and Slamdance film festivals, we have provided a list of gay-themed movies (titles in pink), films featuring out cast members such as David Hyde Pierce and Joel Schumacher, plus a few films that arts editor Tony Hobday found interesting enough to recommend. We will feature the full line-up of movies, showtimes and special events of the festivals in the Jan. 8 issue of QSaltLake.

SUNDANCE FEATURES 8: The Mormon Proposition / USA

SpoTlight Documentary

An examination of the relationship between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the promotion and passage of California’s Proposition 8 denying marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples.

12th & Delaware / USA World Premiere Documentary

The abortion battle continues to rage in unexpected ways on an unassuming corner in America.

A Prophet (Un Prophete) /FRA SpoTlight film series

An engaging examination of a seedy, gangsterdriven underworld set in a French prison. Cast: Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup, Adel Bencherif, Hichem Yacoubi, Reda Kateb.

Animal Kingdom / AUS World Premiere

After the death of his mother, a seventeen year-old boy is thrust precariously between an explosive criminal family and a detective who thinks he can save him. Cast: Guy Pearce, Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Luke Ford, Jacki Weaver, James Frecheville.

A fortune teller lives and works in and old house crowded with ghosts. When a mysterious light appears in the woods, the ghosts realize they are trapped and begin to rebel. Cast: Angela Bettis.

All That I Love / POL North american premiere

In 1981, during the growing Polish Solidarity movement, four small-town teenagers form a punk rock band with the hope of playing at a local festival. Cast: Mateusz Kościukiewicz, Jakub Gierszał, Mateusz Banasiuk, Olga Frycz, Igor Obłoza.

World Premiere

A mysterious, anarchical trickster descends on the lives of a family struggling to deal with a painful loss.

Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Natalie Portman, Rainn Wilson, Devin Brochu, Piper Laurie, John Carroll Lynch.

Holy Rollers / USA

World Premiere

A young Hasidic man, seduced by money, power and opportunity, becomes an international Ecstasy smuggler. Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Bartha, Danny A. Abeckaser, Ari Graynor, Jason Fuchs.

Buried / USA, Spain Park city at midnight A U.S. contractor working in Iraq awakes to find he is buried alive inside a coffin.

With only a lighter and a cell phone it’s a race against time to escape this claustrophobic death trap. Cast: Ryan Reynolds.

An unusual ghost story set on the Peruvian seaside, a married fisherman struggles to reconcile his devotion to his male lover within his town’s rigid traditions. Cast: Cristian Mercado, Manolo Cardona, Tatiana Astengo.

Frozen / USA

park city at midnight

Three skiers are mistakenly stranded on a chairlift, forced to make life-or-death choices that prove more perilous than staying put and freezing to death. Cast: Emma Bell, Shawn Ashmore, Kevin Zegers.

Get Low / USA

SLC GALA FILM

A film spun out of equal parts folk tale, fable and real-life legend about a mysterious, 1930s Tennessee hermit who plans his own

One Too Many Mornings / USA next (<=>) film series

Two damaged young men recover their high school friendship by awkwardly revealing to each other just how messed up they’ve become. Cast: Anthony Deptula, Stephen Hale, Tina Kapousis.

Poison / USA from the collection The Grand Jury Prize Winner at the 1991 Sundance Film Festival consists of three stories inspired by the French novelist, writer, dramatist and convicted felon, Jean Genet. Cast: Edith Meeks, Larry Maxwell, Susan Gayle Norman, Scott Renderer, James Lyons.

Space Tourists / Switzerland documentary

World Premiere

A complex portrait of an American marriage, Blue Valentine charts the evolution of a relationship over time. Cast: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Mike Vogel, John Doman.

PER North american PREMIERE

New Frontier Film series

Hesher / USA

Blue Valentine / USA

Contracorriente (Undertow) / COL, FRA, GER,

All My Friends Are Funeral Singers / USA

rollicking funeral party... while still alive. Cast: Robert Duvall, Bill Murray.

Howl / USA

World Premiere

A nonfiction drama about the young Allen Ginsberg finding his voice, the creation of his groundbreaking poem HOWL, and the landmark obscenity trial that followed. Cast: James Franco, David Strathairn, Jon Hamm, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeff Daniels.

Sympathy for Delicious / USA World Premiere

A newly paralyzed DJ gets more than he bargained for when he seeks out the world of faith healing.

Cast: Orlando Bloom, Mark Ruffalo, Juliette Lewis, Laura Linney, John Carroll Lynch.

World Premiere Documentary

Kick in Iran / GER documentary

The first female professional Taekwondo fighter from Iran to qualify for the Olympic Games struggles for recognition in a society where women still play a subordinate role.

Nuummioq / GRL

World Premiere

A young man’s journey through the exquisite natural landscape of Greenland allows him to piece together elements of his past and move on with his life. Cast: Lars Rosing, Angunnguaq Larsen, Julie Berthelsen, Morten Rose, Makka Kleist, Mariu Olsen.

3 4 | QSa lt L a k e | issue 1 4 4 | Dece mber 23 , 20 09

The Perfect Host / USA park city at midnight

A criminal on the run cons his way into the wrong dinner party where the host is anything but ordinary. Cast: David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford, Helen Reddy, Nathaniel Parker.

The Taqwacores / USA next (<=>) film series

When a Pakistani-Muslim engineering student moves into a house with punk Muslims of all stripes in Buffalo, New York, his ideologies are challenged to the core. Cast: Noureen DeWulf, Dominic Rains, Rasika Mathur, Tony Yalda, Anne Marie Leighton.

A humorous and laconic view of the way billionaires depart our planet earth to travel into outer space for fun.

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work / USA A rare, brutally honest glimpse into the comedic process and private dramas of legendary comedian and pop icon Joan Rivers as she fights tooth and nail to keep her American dream alive.

polite and well liked, until he starts killing people. Cast: Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Simon Baker, Elias Koteas.

world priemere

A U.S. soldier returning home from war struggles to reconcile his experiences abroad with the life and family he left in Texas. Cast: America Ferrera, Wilmer Valderrama, Ethan Suplee, June Diane Raphael, Melissa Leo.

The Kids Are Alright / USA world priemere

Two children conceived by artificial insemination bring their birth father into their family life. Cast: Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson, Mark Ruffalo, Annette Bening.

The Killer Inside Me / USA World Premiere

Deputy Sheriff Lou Ford is a pillar of the community in his small Texan town; patient,

Animated Short

Bill the bunny is a struggling novelist, who has never actually written anything, much to the chagrin of his perfectionist life partner, Gary the frog. Thad the bear is a hopeless romantic who can’t find the right words to express his feelings for the scandalous and alluring Lucy the goat. And Leon the hippopotamus, one the coolest and hippest guys in town, has struck up a unlikely friendship with a downon-his-luck high school sociology teacher, Pedro the mouse.

Raw Love / ARG The story of two friends at the end of high school, and a secret love that is threatened by the closing of the school year.

The Armoire / CAN

Twelve / USA

Closing night film

Gay director Joel Schumacher chronicles the highs and lows of privileged kids on Manhattan’s Upper East Side involving sex, drugs and murder. Cast: Chace Crawford, Emma Roberts, Kiefer Sutherland, 50 Cent, Zoë Kravitz.

SUNDANCE SHORTS The Dry Land / USA

One Square Mile of Earth / USA

Birthday / POL, SWE Sara loves her wife Katarina.

For her 40th birthday, Sara wants to surprise her wife, not knowing Katarina also holds a surprise for this memorable day.

Fiddlestixx / USA Fiddlestixx is about a monkey. A very special monkey.

Herbert White / USA Based on the poem by the same name, a man struggles with his inner demons while trying to live a normal family life.

Last Address / USA

documentary

A composition of exterior images from the last residential addresses of a group of New York City artists who died of AIDS.

11-year-old Aaron plays a game of hide-and-seek in which his friend Tony is never found. The mystery of their relationship — and of their queer attachment to the armoire in Aaron’s bedroom — can only be revealed, it turns out, through hypnosis.

TUB / USA It’s just your typical story about a guy who can’t commit to his girlfriend ... who then jerks off in the shower ... and accidentally impregnates his tub.

SLAMDANCE FILMS The Four-Faced Liar / USA When small town couple, Molly and Greg, meets best friends Trip and Bridget, unexpected sparks fly. As friendship slides into passion, Molly must choose between a guy she took for granted, and the girl she can’t resist. Cast: Emily Peck, Marja-Lewis Ryan, Todd Kubrak.

William Burroughs: A Man Within / USA documentary

A tender portrait of the Beat author and American icon, whose works at once savaged conservative ideals, spawned vibrant countercultural movements and reconfigured 20th century culture.

With David Cronenberg, Gus Van Sant, Peter Weller, Iggy Pop, Laurie Anderson.

A DIVISION OF DREW ELLSWORTH CULINARY CONCEPTS

Outfest to Hold 12th Queer Brunch at Sundance

For the past 12 years, the oldest gay and lesbian film festival in the country has had an unusual presence at the Sundance Film Festival — one that involves scrambled eggs, pastries and French toast.

Since 1997, Outfest has held a brunch at Utah’s premiere independent film festival for filmmakers and other industry professionals to meet up.

“It’s largely opportunity,” said Kerri Stoughton-Jackson, director of operations for the 28-year-old film festival which also sponsors Fusion Los Angeles LGBT People of Color Film Festival. “We use this brunch primarily as an opportunity to connect with queer filmmakers that have been accepted into Sundance and who are attending Sundance as a welcoming and networking moment.”

At this year’s brunch, StoughtonJackson said that Outfest will announce that it is partnering with Here Media, the company that owns Gay.com, The Advocate and Out magazines and Here TV, to produce “an online short film competition.” It will also announce its

partnership with University of California, Los Angeles in a program called the Legacy Project, which endeavors to conserve works by and about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, many of which were filmed on unstable mediums like 35mm film.

“Since most gay and lesbian filmmakers are independent primarily, their films tend to get stored in places like garages, so we lose our history because the film deteriorates [in these environments],” said Stoughton-Jackson.

This year’s brunch is sponsored by Here Media and Absolut. Although the brunch has not been widely advertised in the past, members of the public may attend by sending an e-mail to rsvp@ outfest.org. It will be held Jan. 24, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Grub Steak Restaurant, 2200 Sidewinder Dr. in Park City, and is free.

“We’re incredibly grateful that Sundance allows us to host this brunch and we’re really grateful to use this as a networking opportunity for our festival,” said Stoughton-Jackson.

Ecole DijonCooking School

COOKING CLASSES SUNDAY NIGHT FOOD & WINE PAIRINGS

Learn about great wines and great food Wine taught by Wasatch Academy of Wine’s Sheral Schowe, and staff Food taught by Chef Drew Ellsworth, Certified Executive Chef Sunday, January 10, 6pm

UNUSUAL GRAPES/UNUSUAL WINES AND GREAT FOOD

Treat yourself or a loved one to cooking classes with Chef Drew Ellsworth, 34-year chef, wine manager of the Third West Wine Store, QSaltLake’s Restaurant reviewer.

With small groups of no more than 8 students, Ecole Dijon gives you the opportunity to watch and interact with a professional chef preparing foods in an exciting and expeditious way.

The atmosphere is very casual and warm and students can freely move around to see what the chef is doing. “Hands on” training is available when possible.

Classes are only $45 or 3 for $115.

Wine classes have a $15 wine fee.

Open Mon-Sat 11:30am–2pm 5:30 – 9:30pm Fri & Sat til 10:30pm 1394 South West Temple

801.485.2055

www.MeditrinaSLC.com

Learn about and taste Torrontes, Viognier, Carignane, Carmenere and more… — French Potato Leek Soup, Yankee Pot Roast with Popovers, Cucumber Salad — Bananas Flambé Sunday, February 21, 6pm

ITALIAN WINES, COMMON AND UNCOMMON + GREAT FOOD

Learn about and taste Fiano, Greco do Tufo, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, and Primitivo and more… — Garlicky/Cheesy Foccacia and anti-pasti Salad — Italian Beef with Pasta — Gelato with Italian Cookies

MONDAY NIGHT COMFORT FOODS & FRENCH PASTRIES Learn how to make fresh bread and pastries in every class!

Monday, January 18

MARTIN LUTHER KING PARTY WITH AMERICAN SOUL FOOD

Macaroni & Cheese with a French Twist — Real Southern Biscuits — Drew’s Ribs and BBQ Sauce and Simple White Beans, Collard Greens — Pecan Pie Monday February 15

Chef Drew will even hold classes at your home for as little as $40 per person.

See the Web site for details.

PRESIDENT’S DAY PARTY WITH EARLY AMERICAN FOODS

Poached Whole Chicken with New Potatoes and Peas in Cream Sauce — Carrot Slaw — White Milk Bread Apple Pie with Home-made Ice Cream

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CLASSES CATERING AND CULINARY PARTIES: www.EcoleDijonCookingSchool.com chefdrewe@aol.com 801-278-1039

Dece mber 23 , 20 09 | issue 1 4 4 | QSa lt L a k e | 35

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Restaurant Review Thai Garden & Noodle House

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tHai garden and noodle house is in the 9th and 9th district of downtown Salt Lake City and is situated in an old brick storefront full of charm and atmosphere. The owner, Vipada Chitratont, who goes by Ben is a Thai native who has been in Salt Lake for 14 years.

I went to Thai Garden for lunch in early December with my boss, Davy Paul.

The first thing you notice about the Thai Garden is understatement. All the surroundings are completely simple and even Spartan. The few Asian art pieces on the wall do not take away from the simplicity of the dĂŠcor.

Ben is fascinating to talk to. It was almost a religious experience to listen to his stories of living in the Thai countryside where farmers raise their own food, pick it and take it into their houses for cooking and eating. Vipada calls his restaurant Thai Garden because of the He

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belief that fresh vegetables, lightly cooked and minimally seasoned, reflect the gardens behind peoplesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; homes in Thailand. I was blown away by his devotion to these principals â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it is rare to find a chef so committed to authenticity and simple, Asian homecooking. In fact, no chef has ever convinced me of his total immersion in a style of cuisine the way Ben did!

Throughout the world, Thai food lovers know and enjoy the two great soups Tom Yum and Tom Kha. Davy and I had to try them both and we were not disappointed. Tom Yum is a spicy, hot and sour soup full of mushrooms and crisp veggies in a delicate, yet peppery broth.

The soup is garnished incredibly stimulating and completely with fresh chunks of tomato and cilan- contrasted the foodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other simple flatro and has lots of woody stems of lem- vors. Davy who, I think knows more ongrass you have to chew on and suck about Asian food than perhaps I do, on. (You know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re eating authentic doctored up his food using the condifood when you have to pull seasonings ment tray and was very happy. I was so out of your mouth.) interested in Benâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s religious adherence The Tom Kha was equally exciting. to rural recipes that I just really wanted This is a delicate coconut broth, also to savor and analyzed this cuisine. seasoned with lemongrass and kaffir Perhaps the most unusual dessert Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve lime leaf. The broth was so interesting ever eaten was served to me that day at at first I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know if I liked it, but the Thai Garden. When Ben brought as my wine palate took over, I began out our Thai custard at first we werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t to sense all the great layers of flavor sure it was a sweet. It looked sort of like and the beauty and simplicity of it all. a greenish omelet placed atop a bed of There were tender chicken chunks, black beans â&#x20AC;&#x201D; very unusual and stunmushrooms and pure elegance. At first ning at the same time. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;beansâ&#x20AC;?

I preferred the spicy soup, but as I ad- turned out to be black rice, cooked to justed to the coconut broth, Davy and perfection into pudding with sugar and I switched bowls and I slurped down coconut milk â&#x20AC;&#x201D; smooth, creamy and every drop of the Tom Kha. succulent. The custard on top was made Ben explained to us that Thai Gar- from eggs and coconut milk baked and den food is deliberately created with flavored by a green leaf which Ben had only the most basic flavor enhancers difficulty explaining to us. The cusâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; which to most Americans is almost tard was garnished with sesame seeds bland. However, each table, and a simple syrup made of in true Thai tradition, has Thai Garden & reduced coconut milk and a tray of condiments so you Noodle House sugar which had a gorgeous can add the flavorings you 868 East 900 South texture and buttery quality want to please your own Salt Lake City that so added to the dish. It taste buds. Four little crocks (801) 355-8899 was really good! with lids contain sugar, rice DREWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S RATING: While eating this food, I vinegar, hot chili flakes and 90/100 thought about how odd most the most fragrant soy sauce Americans would find it.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever had. Ben told us Utahns in particular would think this they only use Golden Mountain Soy cuisine flavorless; this food has no adSauce, and on my way home, I stopped ditives, no artificial bases, no chemical at an Asian market and got some for enhancers, almost no fat and no thickmyself! eners. I just found it totally beautiful We enjoyed another soup, this time and pure. with rice noodles in it, called Guay Tew Ben has a great lunch deal on the Senlek Num, and we also had a stir fry menu for $8.00 and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth a trip to that was so fresh is was more like a sal- 9th and 9th to try it. But some advice: ad. This one was called Pad Kee Mao. Use the condiment tray!

Both of these dishes were laced with I rate the Thai Garden and Noodle wilted leaves of Thai basil, which were House 90 points.

Q

3 6 | QSa lt L a k e | issue 1 4 4 | Dece mber 23 , 20 09

Meditrina Small Plates & Wine Bar Encouraging gastronimic exploring in tapas tradition 1394 S West Temple Salt Lake City 801-485-2055

ACME Burger Salt Lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most imaginary burger joint, Sun. brunch.

275 S 200 West Salt Lake City 801-257-5700 Bambara Restaurant New American Bistro menu w/ a â&#x20AC;&#x153;World of Flavorsâ&#x20AC;?

202 S Main St Salt Lake City 801-363-5454 Elevation Caffe Taking coffee and weenies to new heights 1337 S Main St Franckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s American food with a French twist 6263 S Holladay Blvd 801-274-6264 J. Wongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Asian Bistro Authentic Chinese & Thai cuisine 163 W 200 S, SLC 801-350-0888

Mestizo Coffeehouse Coffee, art, jam sessions, free gallery West Side 631 W North Temple Suite 700, SLC 801-596-0500 The New Yorker The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;grand patriarch of Downtown SLC restaurantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; - Zagat 60 Market St, SLC 801-363-0166 Off Trax Internet CafĂŠ Coffee, Wifi and Pool 259 W 900 S 801-364-4307

Omarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rawtopia Restaurant Organic Live Food Market Street Grill 2148 Highland Dr 801-486-0332 Salt Lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest seafood restaurant Red Iguana with a great brunch.

Best home-made 2985 E 6580 S, SLC 801-942-8860 48 W Market St, SLC 801-322-4668 10702 S River Front Pkwy, S. Jordan 801-302-2262 260 S 1300 E, SLC 801-583-8808 Market Street Oyster Bar Salt Lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s showcase for dining, conversation, fresh oysters 2985 E 6850 S, SLC 801-942-8870 54 W Market St, SLC 801-322-4668

moles and chile verdes in town 736 W North Temple, SLC 801-322-1489 Rice Fusion Cuisine and Sushi Bar 1158 S State St Salt Lake City 801-328-3888 Sapa Sushi Bar & Asian Grill A gateway to Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dining crossroads 722 S State St Salt Lake City 801-363-7272

Squatterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pub Brewery Utahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite microbrewery, great pub menu 147 W 300 S Salt Lake City 801-363-2739 Takashi Contemporary Japanese dining 18 W Market St Salt Lake City 801-519-9595 The Metropolitan Handcrafted new American cuisine 173 W Broadway Salt Lake City 801-364-3472

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Tin Angel Cafe Mediterranean bistro style 365 W 400 South Salt Lake City 801-328-4155 Toasters Deli Eat like you mean it 30 E 300 South Salt Lake City 801-746-4444 Trolley Wing Company Wings and beer Trolley Square 801-538-0745 Vinto Pizzeria Best pizza on earth 418 E 200 S, SLC 801-539-9999 The Wild Grape Bistro Eat where the locals eat 481 E South Temple

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To get listed in this section, please call 801-649-6663 and ask for brad or email brad@qsaltlake.com

Dece mber 23 , 20 09 | issue 1 4 4 | QSa lt L a k e | 3 7

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Gay Ski Weeks 2010, Part 1

by Brad Di Iorio

As the Wasatch wintertime continues into the new decade, several gay and lesbian ski and snowboard festivals will be in full swing for winter sports connoisseurs, even though the economy is taking its time to recover.

Many travel agencies and for-profit adventure companies are involved with financing these weeks and weekends, banking on bookings to turn a profit for their winter business. Also, some of the annual ski and snowboard events are donating proceeds to non-profit organizations in their geographical

Anagram An anagram is a word or phrase that can be made using the letters from another word or phrase.

Rearrange the letters below to answer: Who was named the winner of So You Think You Can Dance on Dec. 16?

frogs sneer lulus _______ ________ PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ARE ON PAGE 47

Q Zeak doku 1

Howling with Wolves, Running With Dogs

Dec. 27, 2009–Jan. 2, 2010, Ely, Minn.

Adventures in Good Company, a lesbianowned Baltimore adventure travel company, is offering a women-only winter week excursion with dogsledding, crosscountry skiing, snowshoeing and a visit to the Minnesota’s International Wolf Center. Participants can learn about wolves and their close cousins, sled dogs, with a trip to Ely, which will start from Minneapolis. The seven-day excursion includes six nights of lodging in private rooms, experienced guides for three full days of dogsledding, meals and roundtrip transportation from Minneapolis to Ely, as well as the fun of meeting women from around the country. Attendees are responsible for travel to and from Minneapolis, but a gay-friendly travel agency can assist in airfare. Cost: $2170. Web site: adventuresingoodcompany.com ;WY^ IkZeak fkppb[ ^Wi W kd_gk[ iebkj_ed m^_Y^ YWd X[ h[WY^[Z Each Sudoku puzzle has a unique solution which can be reached be]_YWbbo m_j^ekj ]k[ii_d]$ ;dj[h Z_]_ji ' j^hek]^ / _dje j^[ logically without guessing. Enter digits 1 through 9 into the blank XbWda ifWY[i$ ;l[ho hem ckij YedjW_d ed[ e\ [WY^ Z_]_j" Wi ckij spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit, as must each [WY^ Yebkcd WdZ [WY^ )n) igkWh[$ GZeak _i WYjkWbbo \_l[ column and each 3x3 square. Qdoku is actually five seperate, i[fWhWj[" Xkj Yedd[Yj[Z" IkZeak fkppb[i$ but connected, Sudoku puzzles.

B[l[b0 ;Wio Level: Medium

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areas. Many of these businesses also cater to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender demographic throughout the rest of the year, so their motivation and intent is to provide travelers an opportunity to meet other like-minded winter aficionados at some of the world’s best ski resorts.

7

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Utah Gay Ski Week Jan. 6–10, 2010

Although this event was cancelled in 2009, West Hollywood, Calif. entrepreneur John Harriot, who owns his own travel agency and is associated with Southern California men’s club C-MEN, has offered a schedule of events on the company’s Web site for the last year.

The site details packages from threeday to five-night stays, a shared condo option and a schedule of the week, to be announced on the day of each event, as well as a phone number to call the day of the event to find the location.

Rumor has it that the Los Angeles and San Diego gay and lesbian ski clubs are making plans to attend the event this year, but Harriot has not contacted local sports clubs or gay businesses, and e-mails to the site had not been answered at press time. The 877 phone line for the week leads to an answering service that says it will relay messages to Community Visions and someone will be in contact. Local Ski OUT Utah is in contact with the Los Angeles gay and lesbian ski group and will plan a meet-n-greet to be announced at a later date on their Web site. For more information go to gayskiing.org.

Fire and Ice Aspen Gay Ski Week

Vail Gay Ski Week, Jan. 27–31, 2010

After this ski week took a hiatus last year, Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals will take over the event in Vail, Colo., which supports Denver-based The Center as its principal non-profit organization. This year, Vail Gay Ski Week hopes to raise $10,000 for purchasing and renovating a new building for The Center. The largest fundraiser during the five-day ski week will be the Angel Wings Benefit Dinner, Friday, Jan. 29, the proceeds of which will benefit The Center’s programs like Rainbow Alley, a drop-in space that serves 6,000 Denver-area youth every year. Vail Gay Ski Week offers Platinum Party Packages if you buy before Dec. 31, which include entrance to Après ski socials, Thursday’s drink discounts at the Vail Passport Night Out, Friday’s Beer Bust, two breakfast passes, and Saturday’s Vail Splash Competition at the pool.

Keep in mind, though, that this pass does not include admission to the Angel Wings Benefit Dinner, discounts for ski tickets, or admission to the Closing Party on Sunday. For more information, visit vailgayskiweek.com or glbtcolorado.org.

Jan. 17–24, 2010

SuperSkiOutUtah ‘Friends’ Weekend

An event which benefits the Roaring Fork Gay and Lesbian Community Fund, this 33-year-old Colorado ski week has a lot of local support from fellow Coloradoans who can easily travel to Aspen. Hotel Jerome will kick off an opening party, with the theme “Into The Woods,” on Sunday, Jan. 17, and the annual parties and events during the week allow visiting and local gays and lesbians to mingle and support the Colorado community. Wednesday is gay ski week day at The Aspen Club with discounts and special offers to anyone who mentions ‘GSW,’ followed by Aspen Gay Ski Week Boutique Night, a retail support shopping event at local boutiques, followed by a cowboy party at Kemo Sabe.

Thursday will bring two events: comedy night at the historic Wheeler Opera House and the Demented Divas drag show followed by DJ Irene, spinning the tunes at Belly Up Aspen. Friday will see the annual Downhill Costume Contest with $1,000 in prizes, followed by the Bud Light-sponsored ‘Into The Woods’ dance party at Aspen Meadows, featuring Australian DJ Dan Murphy.

Sunday will include the wet-and-wild pool party, where having a drink in the pool is encouraged. For more information go to gayskiweek.com and rfglcf. com.

Utah’s only gay and lesbian ski and snowboard club will host their first ever ‘friends’ ski weekend over four days starting with skiing and snowboarding at Park City Mountain on Thursday, Snowbird on Friday, The Canyons on Saturday, and Deer Valley on Sunday.

The non-profit winter social club has grown in the last two years, and has been planning to host a national gay and lesbian ski week or weekend. It will test the waters for an event like this in February by inviting friends locally and from across the country, including several national gay and lesbian ski clubs, for a long weekend of socializing and winter sports. Since many Ski Out Utah members have homes and condos at or near the base of Utah’s ski and snowboard ski resorts, parties will include invites to Ski Out Utah member’s homes for drinks, food and hot tubbing after the day on the hill. Local bars will also host parties for the group to attend.

A huge party will be hosted by Jeff Ottman at his Park City condo in Bear Hollow on Super Bowl Sunday. Look for more information on skioututah. com and sign up for e-mails and blasts at your favorite social networking site that Ski Out Utah uses. For more information check out skioututah.com.

Feb. 4–8, 2010

3 8 | QSa lt L a k e | issue 1 4 4 | Dece mber 23 , 20 09

QUAC Ski-n-Swim Feb. 12–14, 2010

This year, the Queer Utah Aquatic Club is planning its annual skiing and snowboarding event on Sunday, Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, instead of having it on Saturday as they did in 2009. The swim tournament will be held at Steiner Aquatic Center in the Salt Lake City Sports Complex, while Snowbird will

again host the day of skiing and snowboarding. Anyone who would like to rent ski or snowboard equipment can get up to a 25 percent discount for gear at Utah Ski & Golf locations in Salt Lake City and Park City by mentioning Skin-Swim 2010. Included in the discount price Snowbird is offering Ski-n-Swim registrants a buffet lunch at the Cliff Lodge. All proceeds support QUAC, who will be raising funds to send swimmers and the polo team to Gay Games Cologne, happening July 31 thru Aug. 7, 2010. QUAC will also offer the buffet lunch separately from the skiing or snowboarding package, if you just want to support QUAC and make the drive up to Snowbird. Registration for skiing or snowboarding and all Ski-n-Swim events will be available soon on ski-nswim.org or quacquac.org.

In Part II of gay ski weeks, look for more details on these events: Telluride Gay Ski Week, Feb. 20–27, 2010, Southern Colorado, telluridegayskiweek.com Winter Pride, March 1–8, 2010, Whistler, BC, Canada, gaywhistler.com Elevation Mammoth 2010, Eighth Annual Mammoth Gay Ski Week, March 17–21, Mammoth Mountain, Calif., mammothgayski.com The European Gay Ski Week, March 20–27, French Alps, Tignes, France, europeangayskiweek.co.uk

Dece mber 23 , 20 09 | issue 1 4 4 | QSa lt L a k e | 39

Q Nightlife W E E K LY B A R E V E N T S

SU N DAYS

MO N DAYS

T U E SDAYS

W E D N E SDAYS

T H U R SDAYS

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Wii, Pool $1 drafts, CLUB TRY-ANGLES 251 W. 900 South • D M N Beer-Soaked Beer-soaked $1 drafts Tournament DJ D or BoyToy 801-364-3203 • clubtry-angles.com Weenies weenies Dance!

GOSSIP @ SOUND 579 W. 200 South • D M T X Nova’s Platinum 801-328-0255 • myspace.com/gossipslc

Pussy Review $1 drafts Superstar Acoustic Fix at Jam JAM 751 N. 300 W • D M N & Dogs Karaoke Live DJ:K 801-891-1162 • jamslc.com Live@Jam with Brian G DJ Mike BabbitT

Pachanga KLUB KARAMBA 1051 E 2100 South • D M T X Gay Latin 801-637-9197 • myspace.com/manuel_arano Night

Free pool $3 Coronas Karaoke Top 40 Dance PAPER MOON 3737 S State St • D K L all day Closed Karaoke 8pm Free pool 8-Close All Night 801-713-0678 • thepapermoon.info $1 Drafts $3 Coronas $2 Wells $1 Drafts Sexy Female DJs Blues Blues Jam Texas Porch Pounders Live Tango Speakeasy 63 W 100 South • M & Jazz Hold-em w/Bad Brad Music Practice 801-521-7000 Jam Wheeler/krcl 7–9p $1 drafts $1 drafts $1 drafts Dueling Dueling TAVERNACLE 201 E. 300 South • K X Karaoke Oldies Karaoke Dueling pianos pianos pianos 801-519-8800 • tavernacle.com 9p Night 9p 9p 9p 9p Karaoke Hot new THE TRAPP 102 S 600 West • B N D K M w/Kenneth DJ Wayne 801-531-8727

9pm Outdoor patio

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Cocktail Chatter All About Absinthe

By Camper English

Despite sampling nearly every brand of absinthe available for sale in the United States, I have yet to see any green fairies outside of the LGBT contingent at the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. This much maligned spirit has many unique qualities, but the rumored instant dementia is just not one of them.

In the late 1800’s in Europe when absinthe was extremely popular, people were largely not running around in circles screaming either. The absinthe serving ritual was and is a way to relax over a slow drink with a long preparation. Cold water drips from a table-top fountain onto a sugar cube resting atop a slotted spoon above a glass of absinthe, slowly sweetening and diluting the spirit. Eventually the liquid turns cloudy as oils in the alcohol come out of solution. It is more like a tea-time ritual than a 30-second run to Starbucks for an espresso shot.

Absinthe’s hallucinogenic hype is based on one of its ingredients — the grand wormwood plant that contains the chemical thujone.

Thujone quantity in absinthe is now regulated, but probably it wasn’t the problem in the first place.

Most absinthe is nearly two-thirds stronger than vodka and other spirits, and the high alcohol content is likely the cause of the erratic behavior associated with it. Absinthe was thought to be addictive and it was certainly being abused by alcoholics in a time when people drank a lot of everything, so a social backlash and temperance movement formed with absinthe as the main target.

The catalyst required for its outright banning came in the form of a sensational court case involving a Swiss man who murdered his family after drinking two glasses of absinthe in 1905. His lawyers argued that the man suffered from absinthe madness, but he had also consumed nearly 20 other glasses of alcohol that day. Regardless, soon thereafter many countries around the world banned the production and sale of absinthe.

Fast-forward about 90 years and absinthe is back on shelves as the U.S. government allowed bottles with a legally negligible and safe amount of thujone from grand wormwood to be sold as absinthe again.

Interestingly, new chemical analysis of old absinthes suggest there wasn’t that much more thujone in absinthe of the 1800’s than is allowed by law now. It’s the real thing, baby.

As absinthe has been illegal for most of the past hundred years, most of us don’t know how it is supposed to taste. The short answer is: like black jelly beans. Most absinthe is flavored with the trinity of bitter grand wormwood and soothing fennel and anise. It can be herbaceous, creamy-sweet, spicy, or bitter, but most brands of absinthe have a dominant anise quality. If you like ouzo or pastis, chances are you’ll like absinthe.

If not, please do not force feed it to yourself with the expectation that you will hallucinate.

You won’t, and that’s not classy. If you want to see a green fairy, just pour yourself your usual drink, dress appropriately, and look in the mirror.

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Q Puzzle

Holiday Update Across 1 Tonto’s erection 6 Seaman 9 Like Fannie Flagg’s green tomatoes 14 A bit, informally 15 Bonheur’s island 16 Also-ran 17 Ship speed units 18 Rocky top 19 Stud stakes 20 Holiday greeting in which “Happy” is updated 23 Nonrecreational mouth-to-mouth 25 Bridge bid, briefly 26 Busy mo. for the IRS 29 One with a gifted tongue 32 Took five 35 Margaret Mead interviewees 37 Verbena variety 38 Start of a holiday song lyric in which “White” is updated 40 Dry as a bone 41 Cattrall of Sex and the City 42 Computer company’s erection?

44 ATM entry 45 More of the song lyric 49 Hosp. area 50 Cup holder 52 Gets back at 54 End of the song lyric

58 Race in a regatta 61 Allergy season sound 62 Fashion line?

66 Hathaway of Brokeback Mountain 67 Hanker (for) 68 Bear that may be a minor 69 Fig part over a private part 70 Stravinsky string 71 Dawn direction Down 1 Cluck of condescension 2 Many, many moons 3 Computer geek’s job 4 Kett of the comics 5 Cole Porter’s “You’d Be So ___ to Love” 6 Tennessee tight end, e.g.

7 What Garbo “vanted” to be 8 The L Word episode, e.g.

9 Antiaircraft fire 10 First name in gossip 11 “Do tell!”

12 Wide size 13 J. Kildare, and others 21 Lena played Glinda in The Wiz 22 Islam’s sacred text 23 Comedian Bill, briefly 24 Setting for Cather’s My Ántonia 27 What sorry people do

28 Five fruits a day, e.g. (abbr.)

30 Fashion designer Oldham 31 Water sports accessory 33 Lang. of Shakespeare 34 Put away for later 36 Samurai sip this 37 Life partner 39 Lots of secs 40 Manhunt alert (abbr.)

43 Director Van Sant 45 Gay Games cry 46 Decks out 47 Donny of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 48 Agency under FDR 51 Head of Bernstein’s staff?

53 Particular Advocate, e.g.

55 Thespian rapper 56 Author Rednour 57 Scroll for the cut 58 Mineo of movies 59 One, for James M. Barrie 60 Pinch opening?

63 Age of Aquarius, perhaps 64 It comes after kick or kiss 65 Where wrestlers lie together answers on p. 47

Cryptogram

A cryptogram is a puzzle where one letter in the puzzle is substituted with another. For example: ECOLVGNCYXW YCR EQYIIRZNBZN YZU PSZ! Has the solution: CRYPTOGRAMS ARE CHALLENGING AND FUN! In the above example Es are all replaced by Cs. The puzzle is solved by recognizing letter patterns in words and successively substituting letters until the solution is reached.

This week’s hint: X = C Theme: Quote by actor Colin Firth about his gay character in the new flick A Single Man.

On’h tsy j vmnntz kmz. Goz gsmxi on pn? On isnht’y inwbtn obdhnxw pz obh hnamjxbyz. On’h yss hnrmln.

__’_ ___ _ ______ ___. ___ _____ __ __? __ _____’_ ______ _______ __ ___ _________. __’_ ___ ______.

42 | QSa lt L a k e | issue 1 4 4 | Dece mber 23 , 20 09

Homoscopes The Sun moves into Capricorn now. All festivities hit a high note when anything and everything is possible... or at least seems that way. Don’t take “no” for an answer, unless the question is “Have you had enough?”

e

ARIES (Mar 21 - Apr 20) Gay Rams are biting at the bit to do something spectacular and successful in their career to cap off the year. Your dreams of glory can come to fruition. But have you put in the sweat to gain your equity? Before this zesty quest moves on and your energy dissipates, put your shoulder to the wheel, your nose to the grindstone and your mettle to the pedal.

Oh such a sight!!

r

TAURUS (Apr 21 - May 21) If you find that you ache to see the world, pack your bags and explore the globe’s nooks and crannies. You never know who and what you will find this holiday time. Queer Bulls who get out of their comfort zone get bitten by the travel bug.

If money is tight, corrupt your hard drive by cruising the internet. Now is the time to get to the bottom of things. No names, please.

t

GEMINI (May 22 - Jum 21) Ignite your pilot light and start cooking. Use the next holiday weeks to cultivate a spicier palate, pink Twin. As you stew in your own gravy, remember that lurid passion alone cannot get you to where you want to be in a relationship. A little introspection and self-work helps. However if you are not interested in long drawn-out meals, lurid passion alone will now do the trick!

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CANCER (JUN 22 - JUL 23) What will get you to the next step in a particular relationship, gay Crab? Get some answers now. An opportunity beckons and leads you to homey times. Will you heed the call? Perhaps the best thing to do now is to weigh and measure exactly what you are looking for in a partner and see if you have it. If you have it, flaunt it. If not, continue to window shop.

u

LEO (Jul 24 - Aug 23) Job and health issues are highlighted and optimized for the next few weeks. It is a very productive and energetic time for you. So don’t put off until tomorrow what you can accomplish today.

You get out from under anything that life tosses you and feel in top form doing it.

Hmm, how about not getting out from under and feeling that top form doing it??

i

VIRGO (Aug 24 - Sep 23) Fun goes to the top of your to-do list. Capture the essence of the holiday season and make it your own scent. There is nothing stopping you from expanding your creative vision and getting into all sorts of mischief. Good thing too, queer Virgin: Life was getting to staid and

predictable. Now is the time to shake things up and get the old juices going.

Start squeezing, pal.

o

LIBRA (Sep 24 - Oct 23) There is excitement brewing at home as many domestic elements in need of repair vie for your attention.

What do you have to attend to first this week? Home, hearth and family all make their demands. Before you become overwhelmed with the size of the task, learn to divide it into bite sized pieces. Heck, more than a mouthful is wasted anyway.

p

SCORPIO (Oct 24 - Nov 22) There is so much to say and not enough time to say it this week.

Shout it Out, queer Scorp, while you have the both the great ideas and the momentum. This week you also have the eloquence and expression. Give yourself free reign while you draft your personal manifesto. Your brutal honesty will be overcome by your flair. At least let’s hope so ... Ho ho ho.

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SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 - Dec 22) Do a little end-of-the-year calculation and see how you wind up tax-wise and overall money-wise. Have you been wise, gay Archer? You may need to change your personal perspective to maximize profits.. But what is mere cash when you can change the entire tenor of your life now through sacrifice, compromise and hard work. On second thought, maybe just take the cash.

]

CAPRICORN (Dec 23 - Jan 20) The sky is the limit, pink Cap. Use the next weeks into the new year to expand your vision and make necessary changes in your life path. Plant a few idea seeds and watch them sprout in the spring. You are a social magnet who attracts all sorts of interesting types now.

How attractive are you, compadre? Get Out and about as you meet and greet and be the judge for yourself.

q

AQUEERIUS (Jan 21 - Feb 19) What is going on in your head?

Aqueerians are imbued with a glorious spirituality and other -worldliness now. Your intuition is in top form so go with your gut. If your closet is still stuffed with junk, this is an excellent time to empty it out and trash the contents. I know that there are some who are into trash but not this pile, buster.

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PISCES (Feb 20 - Mar 20) What does the the month have in store for Guppies? I suspect it has a great deal to do with friendships and the way you interact in a crowd. It is time to get more involved in the group dynamic through clubs and organizations. Not only will you help move the group in a new direction, you might also take yourself to a new mindset or space. Let’s hope that space has a view.

Dece mber 23 , 20 09 | issue 1 4 4 | QSa lt L a k e | 43

VOTED UTAH’S BEST GAY CLUB 2009

NEW YEARS EVE 2010 DJs Tag Teaming @ 9pm

Sat, Dec 26 "I'll be Homo for the Holidays!"

Maybe you'll get exactly what you wanted this holiday..

Fri, Jan 22

Eddie Sarfaty benefit comedy Jam 9pm Sponsored by: Now serving food!

Open Tuesday – Saturday at 5pm No Cover – No Membership — 21+ 751 North 300 West - In The Gayborhood www.JAMslc.com

Q Scene

Killer New Year’s

by Mike E. Ellis

W

ell folks, this year is coming to a close and

I must say it was one hell of a party. Between a new president, some heated protests and one or two wars between the bars, it was sure a 2009 we won’t soon forget. I have no doubt that 2010 will be a new era in many ways. The upcoming weekend will undoubtedly be the perfect way to ring the New Year, which is guaranteed to be filled with plenty of new scandals, excitement and probably a hot new hookup (or two?).

This New Year’s Eve weekend will be a non-stop party and will be the perfect kick off to the upcoming year. Club Püre has arrived, and it will be holding its grand opening event on Thursday, Dec. 31.

As I have mentioned before, this is the new 18-and-over hangout on Friday nights, and Thursday night’s event will be the perfect way to open up this killer new venue.

If you didn’t know, Püre will be held at the Rail Event Center, 235 N. 500 West. The venue is normally geared toward concerts, but it will be an excellent new hot spot for us to hang out and find a boy and dance so hard the floor may crack. Eric Turner (who, based on a recent dream I had, makes a super-hot Batman) and Nova Starr have prepared a mega hit night, and from what I’ve been told they have some big stars and hot bods headed our way.

Don’t worry, if Püre doesn’t sound like it’s up your alley, then JAM, one of the new ‘heavy weights’ in the nightlife world, is also throwing a big New Year’s Eve bash. This is guaranteed to be a night in the Marmalade to remember! Jam’s two smoking-hot DJs, DJ:K and DJ TiDY, will be

4 4 | QSa lt L a k e | issue 1 4 4 | Dece mber 23 , 20 09

spinning us into the New Year. That’s right, folks — two DJs, one night. Separately, the two mastermind spin masters have provided hot tracks and pumping beats. Combined — well, you can only imagine what gems will be unveiled.

This swanky bar has quickly become one of the ‘it’ places to be, both during the weeknights and during the weekend. And based on previous events and parties, New Year’s Eve will be nothing but sensational! Brian and Todd, the owners, have transformed a regular bar into a place where every person who enters is treated like family.

They have built an environment where people can come together, support the community and enjoy some great company. You can find Club JAM at 751 N. 300 West.

Wow! Long weekend, huh? Well, I hope you still have time for one more party. After you’ve taken your ibuprofen, had some greasy food and chased your hangovers into submission, throw your dancing shoes back on and be prepared for yet another smokin’ hot night.

Babylon will be hosting DJ Seth Cooper, who will be spinning the night away. If you don’t know who he is, be sure to check his Web site out at djsethcooper.com. I just recently discovered him; his mixes are going to knock the night out of the ballpark. And as an added bonus, he is hot, hot, hot! Please note, I have already proposed, and he said yes. Hey, I can have my fantasy husband(s), too!

Each party going on this New Year’s weekend is going to be awesome and will definitely be the perfect ending to an excellent year. I am planning to attend all of these sensational events and I hope to see every one of you out at least one. A big thank you goes out to all of QSaltLake readers, bar supporters, promoters and everyone else involved in making this a killer year, and in keeping Salt Lake City’s nightlife thriving. Happy New Year! Q

David Daniels made it to the SimplySocial Christmas and Ugly Sweater Contest. SimplySocial! is a group of gay men dedicated to building a strong and vibrant community through friendship and brotherhood found on Facebook atfacebook.com/pages/SimplySocial/192759524527

Q Fitness

Five Rules of Performance Nutrition

by Laimis There are some simple truths about eating and exercise that people seem to regularly overlook. To meet the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nutritional needs, I propose the following five rules. They apply to everyone: sedentary or active, young or old, in or out of shape.

RUlE ONE: Always eat at least five times a day. Two or three meals are simply not enough.

It is permissible to regard two of these meals as â&#x20AC;&#x153;snacks,â&#x20AC;? provided that they contain sufficient calories to get you to your next meal, and that they have the appropriate ratio of macronutrients as described in Rule Two. Do this and your blood sugar and insulin levels will be controlled (and thus, so will your energy level), you will get protein in small amounts throughout the day to support growth and recovery, and (most importantly) your body will not store fat, but mobilize it as an energy source. By providing your body with a consistent and frequent supply of just the right number of calories, its need to store fat will be reduced.

Conversely, when you eat infrequently, your body recognizes this as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;famineâ&#x20AC;? situation, and your entire endocrine system (powerful hormones produced inside your body that control how you grow, recover and produce energy) is thrown for a loop. In this situation, too much of the food you consume is stored as body fat in preparation for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;famineâ&#x20AC;? to come.

RUlE TWO: In planning each of your daily meals (or snacks), a caloric ratio of approximately one part fat, two parts protein and three parts carbohydrate is a good place to begin. However, as you will see in Rule Three, this is merely an estimate for average people.

Depending on the severity of your daily work routine and training protocol, you may need more or fewer carbohydrates for energy.

Fat is essential for maintaining good health and is needed to manufacture many important hormones, so do not attempt to eliminate fat from your diet. Just try to ensure that you keep saturated fat (from animal sources) low, and that the unsaturated fats (for example, canola oil or olive oil) predominate. Also, you must consume enough protein to support growth and recovery and consume carbohydrates.

For the most part, choose low glycemic index carbohydrates. These are converted to blood sugar slowly, which will help you control your insulin levels. Remember, carbohydrates are your bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s preferred energy fuel source, although fats work well, too â&#x20AC;&#x201D; particularly during aerobic training (provided that you keep the ratio of fats, protein and carbohydrates within the recommended â&#x20AC;&#x153;zoneâ&#x20AC;?). Protein and carbohydrates both have four calories per gram, while fat has nine calories per gram.

RUlE ThREE: When you sit down to eat, ask yourself, â&#x20AC;&#x153;What am I going to be doing for the next three hours?â&#x20AC;? If you are going to nap, eat foods with fewer carbohydrates; if you plan to train, eat more carbohydrates. In other words, adjust your carbohydrates up or down depending upon anticipated energy output.

Remember, your pre-workout carbohydrates should be low glycemic.

RUlE FOUR: You cannot lose fat quickly and efficiently unless you are in a negative calorie balance â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that is, taking in fewer calories than you are burning. Neither can you gain muscle tissue quickly and efficiently unless you are

in a positive calorie balance: taking in more calories than you would need to maintain your current weight. So, how can you gain muscle and lose fat at the same time?

This paradox is easily explained. Clearly, you cannot lose fat and gain muscle at the same time, so you must alternate periods of negative calorie balance with periods of positive calorie balance. It does not matter if you are trying to lose total body weight, stay at the same weight, or gain weight. This alteration will 1) readjust your basal metabolic rate (the rate at which your body burns calories when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re inactive all day) upward, making it easier to keep fat off, and 2) support recovery and lean tissue building through insulin and glucagon control.

RUlE FIVE: It is almost impossible to get all of the nutrients your body needs to remain healthy and active from food alone, particularly if you are on a diet. Therefore, it is important to supplement your diet with vitamins, minerals and other carefully-selected substances to ensure maximum progress toward your fitness, health, muscle-building and fat-loss goals. Also, no matter how hard you try, no matter if you are a good cook, and no matter where you buy your food, you need to keep these things in mind: â&#x20AC;˘ You cannot always eat ďŹ ve or six times daily. â&#x20AC;˘ There are many instances when your body either requires or can make good use of certain micronutrients in greater amounts than what can be derived from food alone. â&#x20AC;˘ Soil depletion, toxins in the food chain, over-processing, overcooking, free-radical formation in the body, and a host of other (sometimes medically-related) factors can all interact to make food less than totally nutritious. â&#x20AC;˘ Periods of high-stress training require a higher intake of many nutrients without a proportionate increase in caloric needs. â&#x20AC;˘ Periods of high-stress training create a situation in which various benefits can be derived from substances not normally found in food or created in the body in sufficient quantities, but which are easily derived from botanical sources. â&#x20AC;˘ Humankindâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s genius has allowed us to improve Mother Natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original work in many areas. One area is in the nutritional supplement industry. â&#x20AC;˘ There are some great supplements for serious sports competition training or fitness training that are not available in nature. But remember: *Always consult your doctor before and while you are on a supplement program.* *Additional Tips on Sound Nutrition:* â&#x20AC;˘ Eliminate junk food. Most fast foods, along with most pastries and processed foods, contain high amounts of fat, sodium and sugar (usually simple sugars). None of these are beneficial to any athlete. Consuming these foods does little for your energy, except promote a rise and then subsequent drop in your blood sugar levels. â&#x20AC;˘ Drink eight to ten glasses of water each day. This will ensure that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re replacing fluids lost during exercise. You need not wait until you are thirsty. By then you are already dehydrated. Drink these glasses of water throughout the day, not all at once. â&#x20AC;˘ Determine your daily protein requirements. As you already know, small amounts

Dece mber 23 , 20 09 | issue 1 4 4 | QSa lt L a k e | 45

of protein should be available for your muscle tissue throughout the day for optimum growth and recovery. Proteins that include the essential amino acids (those your body does not manufacture) are of utmost importance.

Protein powder provides a great means of obtaining additional quality protein. The Hatfield Estimate Procedure for Determining Daily Protein Requirements will help you figure out how much protein your body needs. â&#x20AC;˘ Consume high-ďŹ ber foods. Not only does a fiber-rich diet help reduce cholesterol, it also lowers the glycemic response of your meals and promotes efficient digestion. Fiber will be discussed later in this installment. â&#x20AC;˘ Increase your lean body weight through resistance training. The more lean weight you have, the more efficient your body moves and the higher your metabolism becomes. Your bones will become denser and your muscles, tendons and ligaments will strengthen. The great side effect is that it will be easier to avoid gaining excess body fat. Remember, bigger muscles burn more calories than little ones.

Substances to Avoid The following substances should not be part of anyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lifestyle. alCOhOl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Although small amounts of alcohol have been shown to increase muscular endurance and strength output, these benefits are very short-lived. After approximately 20 minutes, problems begin to occur.

The numerous negative side effects of alcohol outweigh its possible benefits to anyone.

Since alcohol is a toxin, a host of physical abnormalities can arise when you drink it. These

abnormalities can reduce your strength, endurance, recovery capabilities, aerobic capacity, ability to metabolize fat and muscle growth.

Alcohol can also adversely affect your nervous system and brain.

NICOTINE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; People who smoke may not realize the harmful effects of their habit. In fact, smoking can seriously inhibit your chances of success in any athletic endeavor. The active ingredient in tobacco is nicotine. Although this substance stimulates the adrenal glands for increased energy, the long-term negative side effects far outweigh any possible benefits.

If you need help about nutrition or any fitness goals, you can find me at Laimis Your â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tough Loveâ&#x20AC;? Personal Trainer, King Studio, 1400 Foothill Dr. (above Stein Mart). I can be reached at 801-815-7725 or laimis914@gmail. com. Buy a gift certificate for yourself, your family, your friends in December and save $300 on your personal training sessions!

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Come get Hunky with Ben Every Sunday night at The Tav

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SUNDAYS AND TUESDAYS DOLLAR DRAFTS Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays OLDIES Mondays DUELING PIANOS Wednesdays through Saturdays

Non-Smoking

Corner of 3rd South and 2nd East for 7 years 801-519-8900 www.tavernacle.com A Private Club for Members

Q Tales

Jacin Tales

Episode 23 - The Final Episode

These businesses brought you this issue of QSaltLake.

Make sure to thank them with your patronage.

By A.E. Storm

“L

ittle

pings

softly

needled at my heart during the weeks leading to today, unraveling forgotten times 20 years in the making; some were good and some not so much. But as they stirred around in my head they released a sort of forgotten warmth ... like a small fire’s breath on a blanket.

“As you can see, this celebration has welled up joyous tears in me that are glimmering with elation ... that are smiling at peace.

“To be honest, I live for moments like this. I take pride ... like a mother feeding her hungry newborn ... in sharing in the unequivocal happiness of other people — even complete strangers, but especially in those I feel a deep love for ... like, and foremost my dear friends, Jacin and George.

“Don’t misunderstand, I want that same happiness for myself ... that same charge that radiates from within Jacin and George whenever they look at each other or when they kiss or even when they bicker over a hand of Canasta.

“They are inspiration ... they are hope ... they are Love 101. So for the time being, and forever if it is so, I will gladly carry with me their inspiration, their hope and their love.

“Here’s to Jacin and George. Congratulations to you both on this, your wedding day! And may you continue to inspire us all.” Eddie lifted his glass of champagne in toast. The modest and elated crowd joined in with him.

It had been a long, bumpy road to

Puzzle Solutions

Jacin and George’s wedding: They had met while Jacin was in a ‘marriage of convenience’ with Jody, and at first their relationship was, as Jacin described, a “friends with benefits” situation. Jacin kept his union to Jody from George for the first few years of their courtship, leaning on the belief that theirs was a “friends with benefits” situation.

Eventually though the truth came out by accident and George’s impending proposal to Jacin stopped dead, with little chance of being revived.

One night thereafter a tragic accident, while saving the life of a little girl’s, had left Jacin in a coma just as he was readying to gift George with the divorce papers.

Fearful of losing Jacin all together, George proposed to Jacin on their 9th anniversary. Yet, Jacin refused, not fully reacquainted with himself. With his memories askew, Jacin decided to move back home with his parents in hope of regaining some order to his life before he could even consider the possibility of marrying George.

One hot summer evening a vivid and pivotal memory came back to Jacin. He was 16 years old, he was in a hospital room and his father had just had heart surgery. Jacin came out to them that day resulting in mixed emotions by his parents.

His mother’s feelings shared with his father changed Jacin’s mind: “This is who he is and I want him to be happy. I know it’s not the life either of us hoped he’d have, and he probably won’t give us grandchildren, which is

Cryptogram: He’s not a queeny guy. Why would he be? He doesn’t define himself by his sexuality. He’s too secure.

Anagram: Russell Ferguson

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a shame because he’d make a great father. But he’ll be happy ... hopefully, and if we support him, that happiness is going to be more likely to happen.

I don’t want our son to be alone, I want him to find someone to love and be with, I don’t care with whom anymore, do you?”

Jacin realized he was happy, that George made him happy, even during his time of rehabilitation. So Jacin earnestly accepted George’s proposal.

On December 24, 2009, Jacin and George had a small intimate ceremony at the Loews Lake Resort in Las Vegas (the city in which their loving relationship had blossomed nearly 10 years earlier). The were married outdoors on the property’s Lotus Court — chic and contemporary, perched on the skirt of Lake Las Vegas, with trickling fountains and endless blue skies.

Over the following five years, Jody and Kat, on a beach in San Diego, had too married and subsequently had moved to Phoenix. They occasionally return to Salt Lake to visit Jacin and George. Eddie moved in with Gabe, but their relationship has been strained, but difficult for Eddie to fully realize. He hasn’t seen or spoken with his longtime friends in over a year. Leticia found the man of her dreams has had two gorgeous — as is common in many mulattos — children with him out of wedlock. Shortly after his boyfriend Mark’s death in a car accident, Josh lost his job to alcoholism and has been in and out of rehab ever since.

Jacin and George bought a larger home to accommodate 8-year-old Jessie — Mark’s daughter, the little girl that Jacin had saved on the Trax platform four years earlier. On Jacin and George’s wedding night, Mark had asked the couple if they would be Jessie’s god parents, and they humbly agreed. Little did they know in such a short period of time, if at all really, that they would become full-time parents to Jessie. They did so with insurmountable love and support. Q Look for the new fiction column, The Climacteric, by A.E. Storm in January.

Dece mber 23 , 20 09 | issue 1 4 4 | QSa lt L a k e | 47

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