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July 2016 Issue 257
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2016/2017 MADAME BUTTERFLY november 4–13
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NEWS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 9
july 2016 | issue 257 | gaysaltlake.com
staffbox publisher/editor Michael Aaron
copy editor Tony Hobday designer Christian Allred sales Craig Ogan contributors Diane AndersonMinshall, Chris Azzopardi, Paul Berge, Jeff Berry, Dave Brousseau, Tyson Daley, Mikki Enoch, Jack Fertig, Greg Fox, Charles Lynn Frost, Oriol Gutierrez Jr., Tony Hobday, Christopher Katis, Princess Kennedy, Rock Magen, Sam Mills, Mikey Rox, Gregg Shapiro, Petunia Pap Smear, Steven Petrow, Ed Sikov, Peter Stoker, Marcy Taylor-Rizzi, Ben Williams, D’Anne Witkowski distribution Jason Van Campen, Bradley Jay Crookston, Tad Wada publisher
Salt Lick Publishing LLC 222 S Main St, Ste 500 (by appointment only) Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 tel: 801-649-6663
in this issue 11 39 Utah responds to Orlando
News, stories of the lives of the victims, local and national vigils and quotes from Utah leaders
Pride Photos
A full spread of photos from this year’s Pride
NEWS �������������������������������������������������������������������10 Local reaction to the Orlando massacre Utah LGBT Democrats heading to Philadelphia Utah transman finalist in PETA sexy vegan contest Qmmunity news briefs VIEWS �����������������������������������������������������������������24 We are Orlando Creep of the month: Omar Mateen Charles Lynn Frost on coping with tragedy
Utah hip-hop artists buck bad rap Zigga and Ermiya Faneian talk LGBT-friendly rap and hip-hop music, respond to Orlando
A&E �������������������������������������������������������������������������52 Tony Hobday’s Gay Agenda Damn These Heels LGBT Film Festival
FOOD & DRINK �������������������������������������������58 Dining Guide
LIFESTYLE ���������������������������������������������������������72 The art of warmup in fitness Weaning from social media in the summer Comics and Puzzles
from the publisher
Contact emails: general: info@qsaltlake.com editorial: editor@qsaltlake.com sales: sales@qsaltlake.com
Love over hate, without fear
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QSaltLake Magazine is a trademark of Salt Lick Publishing, LLC. Copyright © 2016, Salt Lick Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted or reproduced without written permission from the publisher. 10,000 copies of QSaltLake Magazine are distributed free of charge at over 300 locations across the Wasatch Front. Free copies are limited to one per person. For additional copies, call 801-649-6663. It is a crime to destroy or dispose of current issues or otherwise interfere with the distribution of this magazine. Publication of the name or photograph of any individual or organization in articles or advertising in QSaltLake Magazine is not to be construed as any indication of the person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Printed in the USA on recycled paper. Please recycle this copy when done.
54
BY MICHAEL AARON
It was
our biggest fear in the eighties and nineties — someone coming into a gay club with a gun or a bomb, ready to take out a whole bunch of fags at once. In the late 80s, early 90s I was running the LGBT Anti-Violence Project, which we called AVP. Much of what we did was talk to the kids — those hanging around Third South and Main Street and Liberty Park and behind the original Sun Tavern — about being aware of their surroundings, keeping an extra eye on new people, and about what to do if they find themselves being attacked. We handed out whistles on which we engraved our phone number to report any attacks. We would then help them, if they wanted, to report the attack to the Salt Lake City Police Department. We worked with a liaison officer who was one of the most friendly, approachable guys you’d ever find on the force. If they didn’t want to
report, we would at least get a police report done as “witnesses” to show a need for better enforcement in the area. We also knew there would be an escalation of attacks at the end of the school year as male teens found themselves with nothing to do, and bashing some fags sounding like a great thrill. But it was White supremacist skinheads in southern Utah we were most worried about. Guns were (and are) readily available in towns like Hurricane and La Verkin. In 2000, the town of Virgin even passed a law mandating that all households have a gun. They also had a thing against fags. They showed up twice to our Pride festivals and just stood there, silently. While we were lucky not to have a problem such as Orlando, we need to recognize, it could have happened anywhere. It could have happened here. But, like Gene Gieber of Try-Angles said, we don’t want to live in a police state and we mustn’t live in fear. We win against those who would do harm to our community when we live our lives openly and proud. With love, not hate. And without fear. Q
10 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | NEWS
news The top things you should know happened last month (Full stories at gaysaltlake.com.) HIV DEATHS, RATE OF INFECTION DOWN UNAIDS, a United Nations agency involved in HIV programs, has good news in the “Global AIDS Update 2016”. 1.1 million AIDSrelated deaths in 2015 were down from a peak of 2 million in 2005 and 1.2 million in 2014. Also 2.1 million new infections were down from 3.4 million in 1998, but up from 2014’s estimate of 2 million. The falling death rate is attributed to anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs — with 17 million people using ARVs. UNAIDS hoped that ARVs would slow the rate of infections, but the rate has been steady since 2000. The percentage of people with HIV using ARVs has risen from 3 percent in 2000 to 46 percent in 2015.
US SENATE APPROVES FIRST OPENLY GAY ARMY SECRETARY The Senate unanimously approved Eric Fanning as Secretary of the Army after his nomination had been held up because Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) was trying to stop the move of Guantanamo Bay detainees into the United States. Roberts said his opposition was about moving the prisoners, not Fanning’s, “character, courage or capability.” Fanning was previously the acting secretary and undersecretary of the Air Force.
IT ISN’T A QUEEN, BUT THE PRINCE WILL DO HRH, Prince William (heir to the British throne) appears on the cover of Attitude magazine, the UK’s best-selling gay magazine. The photo-op for the first
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
hereditary royal to appear on an LGBT publication, willingly, came after the magazine brought a group of young LGBTQ people to meet with the prince at Kensington Palace so that he could “listen to their experiences of bullying and the mental health impact it can have.” The prince, his wife the Duchess of Cambridge and brother Prince Harry have made mental health the main focus of their work. The prince has long championed anti-bullying efforts and shattering stigma surrounding mental health. Prince William said the young people are “truly brave” for speaking out and “give hope to people who are going through terrible bullying right now.”
MUSLIM COUNTRIES: HOLD UNAIDS CONFERENCE WITHOUT LGBT GROUPS
57 Muslim countries have asked to ban 50 LGBT groups from attending a United Nations AIDS conference dedicated to ending the global epidemic. The ban was requested by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, a group that includes Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, protested the decision, noting that the groups “appear to have been chosen for their involvement in LGBTI, transgender or youth advocacy.”
MASS. GOV TO SIGN PRO-LGBT LEGISLATION Massachusetts Republican Governor Charlie Baker says he’ll sign legislation protecting transgender rights which had been stalled in the legislature for several months. Baker was elected in 2014, beating hapless state Attorney General Martha Coakley. “We’ve certainly listened to a variety of points of view from many sides and have said from the beginning that we don’t want people to be discriminated against,” Baker said in a May interview with The Boston Globe. The law will allow people to use the restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity
and would protect transgender people from discrimination in barber shops, malls, libraries, restaurants and other public accommodations. It gives the attorney general authority to prosecute “a predator” who may use the law for nefarious purposes.
ARE CHRISTIAN BOY BANDS HOMO HOT BEDS? In a move described as “brand reinvigoration,” the lead singer of a Christian rock band, Everyday Sunday, Trey Pearson announced he is gay. He joins a flock of Christian (and one Mormon) musicians who have come out as gay or lesbian in recent years. Mr. Pearson is 35 years old, whose 2009 album “Best Night of Our Lives” reached No. 15 on Billboard’s Christian albums chart and No. 187 on the Billboard 200. The band also produced 20 top-10 singles on the Christian rock charts. He said he had spent two decades trying to “make himself straight.” He and his wife have separated and share in parenting, he said. “It’s been a really difficult journey to get this point,” he said. “But I feel like I’ve been set free.” The “old ball and chain” refused to comment.
10%: KINSEY IS ALMOST RIGHT It appears having queer sex, or at least admitting to it, is becoming more popular. A study from the Archives of Sexual Behavior, says the number of American adults who say they’ve had a same-sex experience has doubled. “Between 1990 and 2014, the percentage of men who reported having had sex with at least one man increased from 4.5 to 8.2 percent, and the number of women reporting having had sex with at least one woman increased from 3.6 percent to 8.7 percent.” Reportedly, bisexual activity doubled. The study notes that the acceptance of same-sex relations has skyrocketed to “49 percent of all adults and 63 percent of Millennials.” The report states, “Millennials are more accepting of same-sex behavior than GenX’ers were at the same age.”
This new study falls in line with a 2015 YouGov poll conducted in the UK which found that 50 percent of young (under 62?) people do not identify as exclusively heterosexual. The trend forecasting agency, J. Walter Thompson Innovation Group, reported that 52 percent of Gen Zs (birth years beginning in the mid-1990s) do not identify as exclusively heterosexual.
ANSWER TO A QUESTION UNASKED, TRUMP IS STRAIGHT Roger Stone, erstwhile political adviser and longtime friend to Donald Trump discussed with radio host Alex Jones a Washington Post article which Stone calls a “hit piece” about Trump’s drug use and sex life. Asked about Trump’s drug use, Stone says, “ Donald Trump has never used drugs in his life. The man doesn’t even take aspirin.” As for marital infidelity, Stone obfuscates, “Did he have girlfriends on the side, today or previously? The answer is no. Yes, during the time he was unmarried, he was a ladies man.” Stone said he was asked whether Donald Trump is gay: “Folks, there is no report Donald Trump is gay. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but he is a red-blooded American male and he is most definitely heterosexual.”
BOB “STRAIGHT LINE” HENLINE AWARDED FOR STIRRING THE POT IN MONTANA Erstwhile QSaltLake columnist won two awards from The Montana Newspaper Association. A story on a $1.5 million taxpayerfunded bungle between the city of Libby, Mont. and the local golf course won second place in the enterprise/investigative journalism category. A six-part series he wrote about child sex abuse won first place. The stories appeared in The Western News, a Libby, Mont. newspaper where Bob was the managing editor. He has since left the paper to publish a magazine, Kootenai Country Magazine, dedicated to general tomfoolery.
july 2016 | issue 257 | gaysaltlake.com
NEWS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 11
Gunman kills 49 and hurts over 50 in massacre Many Utahns woke to tweets, texts, Facebook posts and calls the morning of Sunday, June 12 about a mass shooting in Orlando. While we know that mass shootings happen almost daily in this country, this one was different for two reasons — it was the largest mass shooting in America in centuries, and it was at a gay nightclub. At about 2 a.m., Omar Mateen returned to Club Pulse in Orlando, Fla., where he had apparently had an earlier drink. He entered the club from the main entrance and opened fire with both a handgun and a Sig Sauer MCX semi-automatic weapon. (Reports that the gun used was an AR-15 were erroneous, as John Mina of the Orlando Police Department said the gunman’s weapons included a pistol and an “AR15-type assault rifle.”) Club-goers had already begun leaving, as the bar was closing, but the music was still playing. Survivors tell police they thought the sound of gunshots was “part of the show,” but soon realized it wasn’t as they saw people begin to fall to the ground. People fled to the restrooms at the back of the building, behind the bar and under furniture. A bouncer tore down a wall that separated the public area of the club and an staff area outside, allowing dozens of people to run free. A bartender climbed over a crowd of people at one door to unlatch it, allowing others to run. The DJ turned down the music and yelled for everyone to leave the club. Officers arrived within two minutes of the first shot, with two more arriving two minutes later. They exchange fire with Mateen, who runs toward the bathrooms at the back of the building.
Mateen calls 911 and he press, claiming allegiance to ISIS. He talks to police negotiators and says he is an Islamic soldier. He searches the internet for news of his killings, then texts his wife asking if she’s seen any news. Police remove an air conditioning unit from a dressing room to allow people there to escape. Mateen tells police that he is putting explosive vests on four hostages and himself. Police decide to break into the bathroom areas by punching three holes through the walls. Police and Mateen exchange gunfire and Mateen is killed. As details about Mateen are found by national media, people demand the attention be focused on the victims. The city of Orlando sets up a fund, called OneOrlando, to collect donations for support of survivors and the families of the victims. Disney and Comcast/NBC each donate $1 million to the fund. Darden Restaurants (Olive Garden) donates $500,000 and Wells Fargo $300,000. At press time, OneOrlando was at $8.4 million and a GoFundMe campaign started by Equality Florida was at $5.8 million. JetBlue Airways offered free flights to immediate family of the victims and Disney gave free stays at their hotels. Vigils around the world were held in support of the victims, with #WeAreOrlando as the tagline. Thousands gathered outside New York’s Stonewall Inn, the purported birthplace of gay rights. The Eiffel Tower and buildings all over Manhattan were lit up in the colors of the rainbow. Many towns released 49 balloons and bells tolled 49 times for the victims. Utah’s response follows. Q
165 S Main Street, Suite 200 Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
12 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | NEWS
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
Vigils held across Utah for Orlando victims
From Logan to St. George, from Tooele to Salt Lake and Ogden and Provo, people from all across the state held vigils in support of the victims of the mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Thousands showed up at the Salt Lake CityCounty Building as rain poured from the sky to listen to leaders speak on the tragedy. Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski called for a conversation about gun laws and mental healthcare. Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox apologized for has high school past when he didn’t treat kids with the kindness and respect they deserved. Equality Utah Executive Director Troy Williams said, “We are one people, we are one community. Whether you’re Muslim, or your gay, or your Mormon or you’re atheist we are one people and we’re here tonight to be together.” A candlelight vigil was held at the home of a gay activist because city leaders refused their requests to use a city park. Members of the Southern Utah University Allies on Campus held a candlelight vigil in St. George, Utah with a hundred people attending. A vigil near the clock tower at Weber State University in Ogden drew about 75 people. And over 200 people gathered Monday evening, June 13, at Memorial Park in Provo. The theme of the evening was not about guns and hatred, but of love and hope and service, a speaker said. Q
PHOTOS: DAVE CHAPPELL, GAGE CHURCH, MATTHEW LYON, TOSH METZGER, ANDREW QUINTANA
NEWS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 13
july 2016 | issue 257 | gaysaltlake.com
The lives of the victims of the Pulse Orlando Massacre More important than the why, the how, the where; more important than who the killer was; these are the lives of the victims who didn’t live to see another day. These are their stories.
EDWARD SOTOMAYOR JR. 34 years old
Loved traveling, making new friends and black hats. “Eddie was one sweetheart and I will miss talking and working with him. That smile and top hat is burned in my memory,” Nikki Stjames posted.
JUAN RAMON GUERRERO 22 years old
“He was always this amazing person (and) he was like a big brother to me,” his cousin, Robert Guerrero, told CNN affiliate WESH.
PETER O. GONZALEZCRUZ Worked at UPS and is remembered by customers as someone who tried to memorize the names of his regulars. “Such a happy soul, so hilarious, and made anyone’s frown turn upside down,” a friend wrote.
22 years old
STANLEY ALMODOVAR III 23 years old
The pharmacy technician loved his family. And the feeling was mutual. His mother said the last video he posted on social media showed him laughing and singing on the way to the club.
ERIC IVAN ORTIZ-RIVERA
KIMBERLY MORRIS 37 years old
The Pulse nightclub bouncer was known by friends as “KJ.” She played basketball all four years of high school, former Torrington High School Athletic Director Charlie McSpiritt. She was a “scrappy player” who “played the game to her fullest,” McSpiritt said.
LUIS OMAR OCASIO-CAPO 20 years old
The dancer and barista was one of the youngest victims killed in the shooting.
DARRYL ROMAN BURT II 29 years old
A financial aid officer at Keiser University and was passionate about volunteer work. He was a member of the nonprofit organization JCI Florida. “It is with great sadness that I share with you that this tragedy has affected the JCI Florida community not simply because it is an atrocity that occurred in our state, but because this attack took one of our own members,” JCI Florida President Kelly Riggles said in a statement.
30 years old
The accountant texted his mother
ALEJANDRO BARRIOS MARTINEZ 21 years old
Grew up in Cuba and only recently moved to Orlando to live with his father. Sent a text message to his partner: “I don’t have time to tell you I am in a shooting and can’t leave scared with blood I love you don’t doubt it.” Later comes the text no lover wants to see: “My love, I am afraid of dying.”
JEAN CARLOS MENDEZ PEREZ
25 years old
Known as “Dee Dee” or “Deon” to her friends. She was a bartender at Pulse. “If I could describe her in one word: happy. She always had a smile on her face, I
Mendez and his partner, Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, were both killed in the shooting. He was the best salesperson his co-worker had ever met. “He laughed with the people and would make jokes,” said Claudia Agudelo, who worked with Mendez at Perfumania. “He was always happy.” One customer he charmed at the Orlando outlet mall: Wilson-Leon, who became his longtime partner.
FRANKY JIMMY DEJESUS VELAZQUEZ ANTHONY LUIS LAUREANO DISLA
32 years old
EDDIE JAMOLDROY JUSTICE
didn’t deserve it.”
35 years old
DEONKA DEIDRA DRAYTON
36 years old
Moved to Florida from Puerto Rico for a chance at a better life. A friend said he was always willing to help everybody and sacrificed a lot for his family.
remember being able to hear her laugh over the music sometimes. She was a huge part of the LGBT community here in Orlando,” wrote Troy Harper.
22 years old
LUIS S. VIELMA One of the people mourning his death is J.K. Rowling, creator of the Harry Potter book series. The author said Vielma worked on the Harry Potter ride at Universal. “I can’t stop crying,” she tweeted.
from the club. After exchanging messages, including one where he said the gunman was in their bathroom hideout, he suddenly went quiet.
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and had settled in Orlando. Friends described him as “an amazing person,” “a special guy” and a talented dancer. “When I saw your name on that list, my heart sunk,” a friend posted on his Facebook wall. “You
50 years old
Didn’t have children but his nephews and nieces were his everything, his close friend Sara Lopez said. He was a professional dancer, specializing in a traditional folk dance of his native Puerto Rico. “No one is perfect. He was a human being. He was an uncle, he was a son. What we lost was a real person.
14 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | NEWS
AMANDA ALVEAR
LUIS DANIEL WILSON-LEON
A nursing student at the University of South Florida. She was at Pulse with a group of friends and on Snapchat when the gun shots erupted. She looks into the camera then looks away confused. That’s where the video ends. The 25-year-old loved her nieces Bella, 12, and Zatanna, 8, and had gone shopping with them on Saturday, her brother said. “People got caught in her wake. Whatever she was doing, that’s what they were going to do and have fun doing it,” he said.
Grew up in a small town in Puerto Rico and was a shoe store manager. He and his partner, Jean Carlos Mendez Perez were both killed in the shooting. His cousin Siclaly Santiago-Leon said she was heartbroken, devastated and broken. “I love you my love, Dani. I love you my love, Jean,” she wrote. “You are together. Rest in peace. Kisses always.”
25 years old
37 years old
33 years old
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, but had recently moved to Orlando to pursue a degree in pharmacy as a technician. “He was a diligent and extremely hardworking student,” his Spanish professor Carlas Zayas said. “[I’m] thankful for the opportunity to advance his career and hopeful to make his dreams a reality.”
XAVIER EMMANUEL SERRANO ROSADO 35 years old
A dancer at Disney Live! and Norwegian Cruise Line who went by the stage name Eman Valentino. Described as hardworking and friendly, and proud of his son. He most recently worked at Aldo shoe store. An employee there said Xavier had switched over to retail because the hours were more suitable for a parent
ENRIQUE L. MERCEDEZ JR. MARISOL FLORES RIOS, 25 years old 26 years old
MARTIN BENITEZ TORRES
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
A happy girl who had just decided to go out with some of her friends, her father Cesar Flores said. He said he would forgive the gunman. “I forgive the boy because I cannot take that hate in my life. My life is more important than hate. ... It hurts so much,” he said. “She had so many dreams.” Now, the grieving father says he has a message he wants to share: “We must all come together, we must all be at peace, we must all love each other, because this hatred cannot continue for the rest of our lives.”
from Brooklyn, New York, and attended St. Francis College in Brooklyn, where he studied social work. He worked as a coordinator for a home health care agency. “My heart is heavy, we grew up together and now he is gone,” cousin Erick Leon said. “God took someone who was already an angel for so many people.”
Grew up in Peru and studied health care management at the Ana G. Mendez University’s Orlando campus. Worked as a sales associate at Speedway. “We are honored and blessed to have known Gilbert Silva Menendez. He was a truly blessing in our lives and we will miss him forever,” a friend wrote.
SIMON ADRIAN CARRILLO FERNANDEZ
25 years old
30 years old
Lived in Orlando with his family and managed FajitaMex Mexican Catering in Sanford, Florida. His brother, Enrique, wrote on Facebook, “Man I would’ve never thought this would happen to you... I cant face the fact that my Blood Brother is gone. ... Im never going to forget you . May your soul rest in peace Brother.️ I love you so much
31 years old
Worked at McDonald’s, where he brought in birthday cakes for his coworkers. He had just gotten back from a trip to Niagara Falls with his partner, Oscar A AracenaMontero. Last month the couple celebrated purchasing a home together in Orlando. Both died in the attack.
OSCAR A ARACENAMONTERO 26 years old
GILBERTO RAMON SILVA MENENDEZ
MIGUEL ANGEL HONORATO
Last month Oscar and his partner, Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, celebrated purchasing a home together in Orlando. Neither man survived the shooting.
JAVIER JORGEREYES 40 years old
A salesman at Gucci, friends say he was always positive, humble and a lovely friend. A “beautiful soul has left this earth,” friend Sam Gabriel wrote on Facebook. “Miss dancing with you to the music while changing the floor set. I’m still in shock. I’m sad and disgusted that someone could take a life so beautiful.
JONATHAN A. CAMUY VEGA 24 years old
Originally from Puerto Rico where he worked for a Telemundo station in San Juan. He moved to Florida for work with the same network. Upon learning of his passing, “people are devastated” in the small town of Camuy, Puerto Rico, where “everybody knows each other,” a former classmate said.
JOEL RAYON PANIAGUA 32 years old
Joel Rayon Paniagua grew up in Veracruz, Mexico. He lived near Tampa and worked long hours in construction. He “worked day and night to send all his money to his family,” a friend wrote.
JASON BENJAMIN JOSAPHAT 19 years old
A student at Southern Technical College in Orlando. “He was a sweet sweet kid that had a bright future ahead of him,” Southern Technical Admissions Representative Fechete Mundo wrote. “He lit up the gym when he walked through the door. Even in the most intense cheer moments, he had a way of making everyone laugh.
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CORY JAMES CONNELL 21 years old
Was leaving Pulse with his girlfriend when the gunman walked in, his family said. His girlfriend
JUAN P. RIVERA VELAZQUEZ 37 years old
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez was a hairstylist who co-owned D’Magazine Salon and Spa with his partner, Luis Daniel Conde. Neither man survived the attack.
and Spa with his partner, Juan P. Rivera Velazquez. Neither man survived the attack. Conde worked with production company “De Todo un Poco Tv” in 2014 as a hair stylist. “We mourn the loss of our friend…a great human being,” the company posted on Facebook.
a minor in business administration. He was “known during his time on campus for his high intensity personality and impressive singing voice,” the school said in a statement. He lived in Orlando.
survived the attack. Connell was a
SHANE EVAN TOMLINSON
student at Valencia
33 years old
College and hoped to become a firefighter. After his death, the Orlando Fire Department named him an honorary firefighter.
LUIS DANIEL CONDE 39 years old Luis Daniel Conde was a makeup artist and co-owned D’Magazine Salon
A gifted singer who performed at weddings and clubs. He graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in communications with
JUAN CHEVEZMARTINEZ 25 years old
Originally from Mexico. He worked at Reunion Resorts, where his coworkers said he was a kind boss and loving person.
JERALD ARTHUR WRIGHT 31 years old
Originally from Equador and worked at Disney World. A coworker said he was wonderful with the guests and will be remembered as always smiling. “Jerry was quiet but always friendly and never missed an opportunity to stop, say hello, ask me how things were going, and offer to help however he could,” neighbor Luke Braa wrote.
LEROY VALENTIN FERNANDEZ 25 years old
Worked in an apartment leasing office. A coworker says he sang Adele in the office until they couldn’t take it anymore. “He made us fall more in love with the apartment. We even joked around with him telling him he can’t leave until we move in. Just in that hour or so of talking to him about the apartment and other things he was very nice, kind and funny,” Victoria Bodden wrote.
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16 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | NEWS
he worked hard. Whether alone or on a team, he worked on that goal.”
TEVIN EUGENE CROSBY 25 years old
Graduated from West Iredell High School in Statesville, N.C. He studied business administration at Strayer University South. “He was very ambitious,” his brother Chavis Crosby said. “Whatever goal he had in mind,
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
ever you needed, you could count on him,” one of his best friends, Ivonne Irizarry said. “If you called him and you needed help, he’d be there.”
JEAN C. NIEVES RODRIGUEZ 27 years old
Originally from Puerto Rico, he recently purchased his first house. He is remembered as dependable and always willing to help a friend. “What-
RODOLFO AYALA-AYALA 33 years old
Originally from Puerto Rico, loved dancing and helping
others. He worked at OneBlood, a blood center in Orlando, as a biologics assistant since late 2011. “Rodolfo was a highly respected member of the OneBlood family. He was passionate about saving lives and took great pride in the lifesaving work he performed. Rodolfo was often called upon to share his knowledge and best practices with many of the people in his department and
was an intricate part of a team of people who work diligently to help save lives. He was a caring and friendly person and will be greatly missed by everyone who had the honor of knowing him” the company said.
BRENDA LEE MARQUEZ MCCOOL 49 years old
A mother to 11 children who survived breast cancer and bone cancer only to die in the nightclub shooting, one of her sons wrote on Facebook. She often went dancing at Pulse with her gay son. Her son survived the shooting.
CHRISTOPHER ANDREW LEINONEN 32 years old
“Drew” Leinonen and his boyfriend, Juan Guerrerro, both passed away in the shooting. Leinonen graduated from the University of Central Florida. In high school he established a gay-straight alliance. “He was a living, breathing combination of idealism, realism, and fun. He could make you challenge your worldview without ever having to play devil’s advocate. An intelligent and beautiful person,” friend Rob Evans wrote on Facebook. Leinonen and Guerrerro will have joint funerals, their family said.
YILMARY RODRIGUEZ SOLIVAN 24 years old
Was enjoying a night out with her brotherin-law William Sabad Borges and friend Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega when the shooting began. Sabad Borges was the only survivor. He says he was shot twice in the legs, but still managed to run out of the building, “I didn’t see my sister-in-law, I didn’t see Jonathan… I just focused on the exit and ran out.”
ANGEL L. CANDELARIOPADRO 28 years old
Was with his partner who asked if he was okay after hearing the first round of gunshots, and Angel fell to the ground. Originally from Puerto Rico, he recently moved from Chicago to Orlando and had just started a new job as a technician at the Florida Retina Institute.
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FRANK HERNANDEZ
ANTONIO DAVON BROWN
Was with his boyfriend, who was hit by the shooter and the two started running. When his boyfriend turned back around, Hernandez was not there. He worked at a Calvin Klein store in Orlando and has lived in Orlando for three years. Friends say he was a great brother, and had “love has no gender” tattooed on his arm.
Antonio Davon Brown graduated from Florida A&M University. He was a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve. A friend: “I know that any of you who knew him, knew what a loving and joyful spirit he is, and such a pleasure to be around. I personally will never forget his hosting dinner parties, and that infectious laugh. I also remember who we are and why we fight for the right ‘to be’.
27 years old
The hate behind this tragedy can’t be more evident of why that is. Love each other, hold each other up, give the flowers now.”
29 years old
PAUL TERRELL HENRY 41 years old
Originally from Chicago, loved to dance, make people laugh, and spend time with his two children. “His laughter was contagious and his heart was made of gold. He adored his daughter and talked about her daily,” former coworker Rachel Santos wrote.
AKYRA MONET CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH SANFELIZ MURRAY 24 years old
18 years old
Worked at a Chase bank branch. Friends say he was an incredibly positive and you wanted to be around him. “We are heartbroken over the loss of Christopher Sanfeliz, an amazing young man who had a positive impact on every person he met. Our prayers and sympathy are with Chris’ family and friends, and all of those who are mourning,” the bank said.
Akyra Monet Murray recently graduated from West Catholic Preparatory High School in Philadelphia where she was an honors student. She graduated third in her class. She had signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Mercyhurst College. Akyra was on a family vacation in Orlando at the time of the shooting celebrating her graduation and visiting her brother, her high school said.
Utah LGBTQ Dems are delegates to the national nominating convention BY CRAIG OGAN
Of the 36 Utah Democratic Party delegates and alternates elected to the Democratic National Convention this July, eight identify with the LGBTQ community; five of them are board members of Utah Stonewall Democrats. Becky Moss, USD chair, is pleased at the outcome, but daunted at the fundraising needed to get them all to the convention. Moss says they are all on their own in raising $3000 to $4000. The Stonewall Democrats is holding a fundraiser for delegates who are members of the caucus, July 5, 6-8:30 p.m. at Club Jam, 751 N. 300 West, Salt Lake City. The convention begins July 25 at the Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia. The last Democratic convention in Philly was 1948, which witnessed a walkout by the Southern Delegations over President Harry Truman’s pro-civil right stance. With the tension between the Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders wings of the party, a walkout is not beyond possibility. Utah Delegates will have a front row seat, which is exciting for them as they all have a long history of political activism. KYLE HOYT — Member USD. Contact: kyle.joseph.hoyt@gmail.com RUDY MEIRA — Vice Chair of USD and a
legislative chair. He was president of the College Democrats of Utah and on the board of LGBT Caucus, College Democrats of America. He has worked with Rep. Matheson, and Reps. Angela Romero and Larry Wiley. He was a volunteer in the 2008 election for Clinton. Contact: gofundme.com/SendRudytoPhilly SHEILA RABOY — Volunteers for Hillary Clinton and raises funds for the Weinholtz and Owens campaigns and People’s Health Clinic. Volunteered as Utah Pride Center director of operations, helping keep the doors open until the appointment of the current director. She’s a Vietnam veteran and lives with her wife in Park City. Contact: cmcpres@gmail.com JANDALYNN KAY STELTER — USD board member and two-time national delegate and was on Salt Lake Democrats executive committee; legislature and precinct chair for over a decade. She volunteers with Weinholtz for Governor. Contact: jandalynnkay.weebly.com JOSIE VALDEZ — She has been a candidate for the Utah State House of Representatives and is on USD board. Contact: cocofinavaldez@ hotmail.com CRISTOBAL MAURICIO VILLEGAS, JR. — A graduate from Utah Valley University in Political Science he was Multicultural Student
GERALDO A. ORTIZ-JIMENEZ 25 years old
Better known as “Drake” to friends. From the Dominican Republic, he was on vacation in Orlando to see a Selena Gomez concert at the time of the shooting. Ortiz’s niece said her uncle was so excited to see Selena Gomez that he had talked about the show nonstop in the months leading up to his vacation. A friend described him as funny, humble and charismatic.
Council Executive Chair and Liaison on student council at UVU. He was named UVU’s Student Champion of Inclusion and received UVU’s Latino Initiative Community Engagement Award. Contact: bit.ly/cristobalvillegas or Cristobal. Delegate@gmail.com ED LALONE — An alternate, he has chaired precinct and leg districts and has run for Orem City Council and state legislature, District 60. He is treasurer and secretary of South Valley Progressive Action Committee and treasurer of Misty K. Snow’s U.S. Senate campaign. Contact: gofundme.com/edwardlalone SOPHIA HAWES-TINGEY — A longtime LGBT activist, USD board member and sometime candidate, Sophia Hawes-Tingey says being a delegate has become personal. She ran for Midvale City Council and received 42 percent of the vote. She first ran for Utah State House of Representatives in 2014. She decided to run for delegate because of the “vitriol” directed against transgender people. “In those races, my gender identity was never part of the issues, as it is only one aspect of who I am. In my race for National Delegate, however, it was why I ran.” Sophia believes she is the first transgender person elected to political office in the state of Utah. She echoes Becky’s concern about funds to make the most of the convention experience. “It will take $3000 at minimum for travel, lodging and meals,” she says. Contact: sophiahawes. nationbuilder.com/donate_2016 Q
18 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | NEWS
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NEWS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 19
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Utah transman a finalist in PETA’s ‘Sexiest Vegan Next Door’ contest changes over time. This isn’t any different. I’m the same person.” They are supportive and were not concerned about his being trans*, but about antitrans* prejudice in housing, health care, law enforcement, employment, etc. The hormone therapy wasn’t concerning, it was potentially not finding doctors who are trans* aware and friendly. They trusted Dexter to know what he needed to do to survive. Dexter is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Utah. This is not the end result many would expect after Dexter dropped out of high school because he was bullied for his gender expression. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Westminster College and spent a year as an intern at the National Institute of Health before starting his doctoral program. “Sexiest Vegan” may not be the first thought with Dexter’s
academic achievements but he describes his reason for entering being about showing his compassion and humanity. Being trans* is a very important and positive aspect of his experience and identity, but it shouldn’t matter as a basis for prejudice and discrimination toward other human beings. His research covers the way people cope with chronic stress (e.g., stigma, elevated cancer
risk) in our society. The winner of the “Sexiest Vegan” contest will be announced after the writing of this article. So we don’t know if Dexter Thomas is the “Sexiest Vegan Next Door” but he has in many ways accomplished his goal of discussing trans* issues on his terms, showing that his loving spirit and compassion isn’t limited by class, species or gender. Q
QMmunity
is available. Rustic cabins offer
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comfortable accommodations.
WHERE: Sugar House Park
Camp Pinecliff weekend
All you need to supply are the
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pillows and sleeping bags.
INFO: fb.me/matronsofmayhem
BY MIKKI ENOCH
As discussions about transgender people in bathrooms rage, one Utah transgender man is being recognized by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals as a finalist in “PETA’s Sexiest Vegan Next Door” competition. I sat down with Dexter Thomas and his parents to discuss transition, community, compassion and sexiness. The road Dexter took getting to this stage in his life has been complex and beautiful. With the support of his family, he has grown into a man with a compassionate and inquisitive spirit. While sitting down for lunch with the Thomas family, I witnessed parents who love their child unconditionally. Dexter’s parents spoke about how Dexter didn’t become a different person. Dexter says, “I didn’t become better — just everyone we love in life
A weekend camping retreat for those affected by HIV/AIDS and their families, care providers and HIV/AIDS ministry volunteers. Celebrating its 20th season, Camp Pinecliff Weekend is organized and staffed by ecumenical
WHEN: Sept. 17–19 Coalville, Utah
Alternative Garden Club talks rose care
COST: $35 first card, $3/addl
Wednesday, July 6, is the
INFO: bit.ly/pinecliff16
monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. at
WHERE: Pinecliff Camp near
the Sugar House Garden Center,
The Utah Bears’ annual campout will happen the end of July in McCammon, Idaho near Lava Hot Springs. Located alongside the Portneuf River, the campground is a beautiful place to spend the hottest part of Summer. Camping fees include meals
back riding, massage therapy and
Third Friday Bingo at Sugar House Park for the Summer
bingo. Camp Pinecliff has the
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best menu in camp ministries,
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with meals ranging from pizza
Friday Bingo. Come early to get
WHERE: Sugar House Garden
REGISTRATION: Opens June 1
to turkey dinners, handmade
a good seat. This month’s charity
Center, 1602 E 2100 South
and closes July 20.
Italian sausage and cold cuts. A
is swimming team QUAC, who
RSVP: altgardenclub@gmail.
COST: Member $75, Non-Mem-
round-the-clock snack table full
will be collecting for party fouls
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ber $95.
of fruit, soups, cookies and chips
in their Speedos.
INFO: bit.ly/altgarden
INFO: president@utahbears.com
volunteers. Activities include hiking, volleyball, crafts, horse-
1602 E. 2100 South. The people
and the event is open to bears,
who take care of the beauti-
bear lovers, and men who love
ful roses at Red Butte Gardens
seeing bears in the outdoors.
20 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | VIEWS
Utahns respond to Orlando massacre
views
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
“Our thoughts and heartfelt prayers go out to the victims of this horrific tragedy in Orlando, and to their friends and families.” —Sen. Orrin Hatch
“Our hearts are broken for those who have lost loved ones, family and friends in this despicable and cowardly attack. As Utahns, we must unite together with those from around the world in love and prayer for our brothers and sisters who are the victims of this terrible tragedy. While there remains many unanswered questions at this time, such violence must be condemned by all of us.” — Gov. Gary Herbert
“We at Club Try-angles are in shock, in tears, appalled and sickened by the recent event at Club Pulse in Orlando. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragic event. These people are our family, and we want to help. Please watch for details for a fund raiser coming soon. In the meantime, a donation jar will be set up at Try-angles to get things started. We now must be vigilant here in SLC as well. We ask for your patience, as we will need to inspect and backpacks, packages and bags carried into our bar. We will NOT turn our club into a police state, but will do what we can do make our customers feel safe. Please take time now to hug and appreciate our entire LGBT friends and family. Let this tragedy only make us stronger.” — Gene Gieber of Club Try-Angles
“We will not be intimidated or bullied or walk away from full equality. We will not march back into closets--even if you shoot and kill us.” —Sen. Jim Dabakis
“This morning my heart is heavy with grief. While we don’t yet know all the details of the tragedy unfolding in Orlando, it is an unspeakable act of violence — not only against one class of people, or one city, but against society as a whole. As a mayor charged with keeping a city safe, I can’t help but feel we are failing to address a societal ill, one where a person can senselessly kill so many with nothing more than a motive and a gun — and that we fail to learn lessons from these repeated tragedies. I am very grateful to the heroes of law enforcement who responded, put themselves in harm’s way, and undoubtedly saved lives. As an openly gay woman, I can’t help but view this tragedy as an attack on all people who identify as LGBTQ — a hate crime perpetrated to silence our community during the month of Pride, a time when we openly celebrate who we are and the joy of self acceptance. As a mother, I am simply heartbroken,
devastated at the thought of the family and friends who have lost a loved one in this tragic event and for those who endured injury and the trauma caused by this one individual. We must learn from this tragedy and resolve to take action to prevent this from happening again. Let us all respond today with peace and acts of kindness. We can make this world a better place to live and we will.” —Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski
“We at The Sun Trapp would like share in our heart-felt condolences to the Orlando Club Pulse shooting victims, loved ones and families, and full recovery of the wounded. This tragedy upon our community will not be in vain. It will be a sorrowful reminder that as far as we have come as an LBGT community, we will always have a need to be ever-vigilant of those who wish us harm. And to embrace and educate those who don’t understand us. Live Safe Be Proud and true to yourself.” — Frank C. and Rob G., Sun Trapp
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guest editorial
We are Orlando BY LT. GOV. SPENCER COX
Editor’s note: This is the speech that Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox gave at the Salt Lake City vigil for the Pulse Orlando massacre. Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for being here tonight on this very solemn and somber occasion. I begin with an admission and an apology. First, I recognize fully that I am a balding, youngish, middle-aged straight, white, male, Republican, politician…with all of the expectations and privileges that come with those labels. I am probably not who you expected to hear from today. I’m here because, yesterday morning, 49 Americans were brutally murdered. And it made me sad. And it made me angry. And it made me confused. I’m here because those 49 people were gay. I’m here because it shouldn’t matter. But I’m here because it does. I am not here to tell you that I know exactly what you are going through. I am not here to tell you that I feel your pain. I don’t pretend to know the depths of what you are feeling right now. But I do know what it feels like to be scared. And I do know what it feels like to be sad. And I do know what it feels like to be rejected. And, more importantly, I know what it feels like to be loved. I grew up in a small town and went to a small rural high school. There were some kids in my class that were different. Sometimes I wasn’t kind to them. I didn’t know it at the time, but I know now that they were gay. I will forever regret not treating them with the kindness, dignity and respect — the love — that they deserved. For that, I sincerely and humbly apologize. Over the intervening years, my heart has changed. It has changed because of you. It has changed because I have gotten to know many of you. You have been patient with me. You helped me learn the right letters of the alphabet in the right order even though you keep adding new ones. You have been kind to me. Jim Dabakis even told me I dressed nice once, even though I know he was lying. You have treated me with the kindness, dignity, and respect — the love — that I very often did NOT deserve. And it has made me love you. But now we are here. We are here because 49 beautiful, amazing people are gone. These are not just statistics. These
were individuals. These are human beings. They each have a story. They each had dreams, goals, talents, friends, family. They are you and they are me. And one night they went out to relax, to laugh, to connect, to forget, to remember. And in a few minutes of chaos and terror, they were gone. I believe that we can all agree we have come a long way as a society when it comes to our acceptance and understanding of the LGBTQ community (did I get that right?). However, there has been something about this tragedy that has very much troubled me. I believe that there is a question, two questions actually, that each of us needs to ask ourselves in our heart of hearts. And I am speaking now to the straight community. How did you feel when you heard that 49 people had been gunned down by a self-proclaimed terrorist? That’s the easy question. Here is the hard one: Did that feeling change when you found out the shooting was at a gay bar at 2 am in the morning? If that feeling changed, then we are doing something wrong. So now we find ourselves at a crossroads. A crossroads of hate and terror. How do we respond? How do you respond? Do we lash out with anger, hate and mistrust. Or do we, as Lincoln begged, appeal to the “better angels of our nature?” Usually when tragedy occurs, we see our nation come together. I was saddened, yesterday to see far too many retreating to their over-worn policy corners and demagoguery. Let me be clear, there are no simple policy answers to this tragedy. Beware of anyone who tells you that they have the easy solution. It doesn’t exist. And I can assure you this — that calling people idiots, communists, facists or bigots on Facebook is not going to change any hearts or minds. Today we need fewer Republicans and fewer Democrats. Today we need more Americans. But just because an easy solution doesn’t exist, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. The greatest generations in the history of the world were never innately great. They became great because of how they responded in the face of evil. Their humanity is mea-
sured by their response to hate and terror. I truly believe that this is the defining issue of our generation. Can we be brave? Can we be strong? Can we be kind and, perhaps, even happy, in the face of atrocious acts of hate and terrorism? Do we find a way to unite? Or do these atrocities further corrode and divide our torn nation? Can we, the citizens of the great state of Utah, lead the nation with love in the face of adversity? Can WE become a greatest generation? I promise we can. But I also promise it will never happen if we leave it to the politicians. Ultimately, there is only one way for us to come together. It must happen at a personal level. We must learn to truly love one another. The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said: “You will not enter paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another.” Jesus said, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.” Now, you know a little something about hate. And you know a little something about persecution. But you also know something about loving, blessing and doing good. What our country needs more than ever is less politics and more kindness. If nothing else, as we can see here tonight, this tragedy has the potential to bring us closer than ever before. And so may we leave today, with a resolve to be a little kinder. May we try to listen more and talk less. May we forgive someone that has wronged us. And perhaps, most importantly, try to love someone that is different than us. For my straight friends, might I suggest starting with someone who is gay. I leave you with the words of Lyndon B. Johnson. They were spoken at another very sad time in our history, the death of President John F. Kennedy. He said this: “Our enemies have always made the same mistake. In my lifetime — in depression and in war — they have awaited our defeat. Each time, from the secret places of the American heart, came forth the faith they could not see or that they could not even imagine. It brought us victory. And it will again. For this is what America is all about.” On behalf of the 3 million people of the state of Utah, We Are Orlando. We love you. And I love you. Q
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guest editorial
7 hard truths the LGBT community must address in the wake of the Orlando massacre BY MIKEY ROX
For the
past few years that I’ve penned this column, I’ve kept it light and fluffy. It’s called The Frivolist after all, and my goal is to entertain with innocuous content that focuses on the fun stuff in life. I’ve written about movies, music, fashion and fitness here – all of which, in the grand scheme of things, are rather inconsequential. Then Orlando happened. Fifty of our LGBT “family” members were gunned down simply for being LGBT, along with another 50-plus injured, and in reflection of June 12’s early-morning events I didn’t think it appropriate to use this space to reveal the latest summer gadgets. Instead, I’m using my editorial allowance this time to dissect the aftermath of the largest mass shooting in U.S. history and our loved ones’ reaction to it; the response by the media; and how we, as a unified people, must take a stand to tell those who oppress us that enough is enough. We are in this together until we are not, and that fate should never be up to another human being. Thus, here are a few bitter pills to swallow if you don’t want to be a statistic.
1. THERE’S STILL LITTLE FOCUS ON MENTAL ILLNESS Sane people don’t walk into a nightclub with a capacity crowd in the middle of the night and open fire a la Tony Montana. Yet the three major talking points on both mainstream and social media following the massacre were gun control, terrorism by Muslim extremists and lax immigration laws – even though the latter is moot because the gunman, who I will not glorify by name, was born in the United States. We must start addressing our country’s epidemic of mental illness, no matter how difficult the conversation is, so we can effectively diagnose and treat it before it’s too late. That’s not to say that the other soapboxes are irrelevant – they aren’t – but mental illness played a part in this tragedy, and we can’t keep brushing it under the rug.
2. THERE ARE PEOPLE IN POWER IN THIS COUNTRY WHO WANT US DEAD It’s not hard to find an American member of the clergy who has at one time or another – maybe during a Sunday sermon or perhaps in a video that’s surfaced online – called for the condemnation and, in some cases, execution of LGBT people. They exist. Despite their seeming abundance, however, they’re relatively few in numbers, and they’re often viewed as fringe members of the religious community. Who we should be more concerned about, however, are the elected officials who we’ve put in power that are facilitating a deep-seated disdain and hatred toward LGBT people and other minority groups. People like the Trumps, Ted Cruzes and Dan Patricks of the world are a problem, and they cannot be absolved of their bloodstained rhetoric any longer.
3. BITCHING ABOUT GUN CONTROL ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS USELESS If gun reform is important to you, push your issue with policy change. Updating your status about how this never would’ve happened if AR-15s and similar assault weapons weren’t readily available and legal to obtain makes zero difference – especially to those who have been and will be buried by their families because their bodies are full of bullets.
4. THE SILENCE OF YOUR NONLGBT FRIENDS IS DEAFENING – BUT ALSO A WAKE-UP CALL You might have noticed something disturbing the day of and after the Pulse nightclub attack: Your LGBT friends and allies mourned this tragedy while much of the rest of your network either remained silent or skirted the issue of decades of villainizing our community. If they did have an opinion, it was about guns and Muslims and terrorists. This in itself should be a wake-up call to you that you know and love people who do not care if gay people are murdered in mass – and you need to start separating yourself from their deadly ideology.
5. IT DOESN’T GET BETTER – AND WE NEED TO STOP PRETENDING IT DOES Dan Savage’s rainbow-tinted “It Gets Better” approach to LGBT discrimination helped ease our pain a few years ago when LGBT suicide was a top story in the news cycle, and while that nonprofit marketing gimmick wasn’t even true back then, it’s practically nonexistent now. No matter how much progress we make in terms of legislation for our civil liberties, the conservative right and its radical cohorts continue to establish us as demons. As a result, there are proverbial bounties on all our heads – and we need to get our heads out of our asses about it. We are Orlando; this could’ve happened to any one of us – and if we don’t wise/rise up, it will._
6. ALLOWING ANYONE TO MARGINALIZE YOU MUST END NOW You don’t need to apologize for who you are anymore. Like, ever. If somebody doesn’t like who you are because you’re gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, that’s their problem, not yours. Stop apologizing to your relatives, friends, coworkers and pastors. You don’t owe anybody anything, but you should start demanding respect. Otherwise, cut them out of your life. Their political and religious views are poison, and it can kill you.
7. WE ALL NEED TO TAKE A COURSE ON HOW TO SURVIVE A MASS SHOOTING There’s no end in sight for America’s scourge of mass shootings. It will happen again and again and again. And until every assault weapon is melted down, you are in danger. If the government won’t protect you, you have to protect yourself – and step one is enrolling in a course on how to survive a mass shooting. They’re growing in abundance, because, well, that’s our reality now, and it’s in your best interest to be prepared. Your life may depend on it. Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. Connect with Mikey on Twitter @mikeyrox.
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july 2016 | issue 257 | gaysaltlake.com
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BY CHRISTOPHER KATIS
comes to music, I’ve always marched to the beat of a slightly different drummer. No, I don’t listen to a bunch of indie bands you’ve never heard of; I just listen to music that’s not always popular with my peers. Growing up, while my buddies were listening to KISS and Jethro Tull, I was enjoying heartthrob Shaun Cassidy. What I didn’t realize at the time was that for me, my musical choices were a reflection of my budding sexuality. While my best friend, Russ, had the iconic poster of Farrah Fawcett in the red swimming suit over his bed, I hung an open-shirted Shaun on my wall. Although Russ and my other close buddies just thought the Shaun Cassidy obsession was odd, I on some level recognized that the other guys at school wouldn’t be as accepting. So when our 7th grade English teacher told us we’d be using songs from our albums to demonstrate metaphors and similes, I was torn. On the one hand, I knew that lyrics from Hey Deanie – “like a vision in the darkness of a thousand lost and lonely nights” and “like diamonds in the moonlight” – were simile gold. On the other hand, they were being sung by the Harry Styles of his time. So I made the decision to borrow my sister’s Simon and Garfunkel album instead. After suffering through “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas several times, the teacher played my entry of “Troubled Water” twice. Guess who got the ‘A’? It’s been interesting to watch the boys develop their own personal musical tastes. Not surprisingly, I hate their music. Gus likes hard rockers Warrant, and performers whose songs are bizarrely devoid of lyrics like Dillon Francis & DJ Snake, and Martin Garrix. His younger brother,
meanwhile, remains wedded to teeny bopper pop. Niko listens to the likes of One Direction and Justin Bieber. And although none of these performers are on my playlists, there are some strange connections between what they’re listening to and what I do. Take, for example, Gus’s love of Warrant. These guys are a 1980’s glam rock hair band, contemporaries of one of my favorites, Poison. And although I’d shove rotting leaves in my ears in attempt to avoid the Biebster, Niko’s favorite One Direction song is “One Way or Another.” I’ve told him a million times it’s a remake of the Blondie hit from 1978. And I love Blondie! As Shaun Cassidy’s stardom faded as quickly as it had risen, I ventured into the world of punk/ new wave. Debbie Harry was the queen of the genre. Hell, 40 years later she still is. As I tell Niko, she may be 70-years old, but she could still kick the asses of those boys in One Direction. Blondie led me to the B-52s and the Violent Femmes. Their success and the rise of MTV, exposing Middle America to new performers, meant the bands I liked were pretty universally popular. Everybody’s cassette tape collection included The GoGo’s, Eurythmics, Tears for Fear, and even Echo and the Bunnymen. But my collection had a slightly queerer bent with Erasure, Pet Shop Boys, and Strawberry Switchblade. The boys know my musical tastes still live in the 80s, and they’re horrified by it. That’s why they’ve never heard about my earlier Shaun Cassidy period. Sooner or later, one of my brothers will rat me out, and the boys will have a good laugh at Dad’s expense. But I’m ready with a response: it may have been all about “Da Doo Ron Ron”, but at least it wasn’t “Achy Breaky Heart”! Q
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24 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | VIEWS
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
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On Oct.
BY BEN WILLIAMS
19, 1915, three men went to the American Hotel at 15 Commercial Street in Salt Lake City. They were 52-year-old Mike Murphy, 26-year-old George Taintor, and 20-year-old Louis James Smith. It would change their lives forever. Commercial Street, renamed Regent Street, was Salt Lake’s notorious red light district. Prostitutes and “sissy men” were begrudgingly tolerated by Salt Lake authorities as long as they confined their activities to the bawdy houses and saloons of Commercial Street. Murphy and Taintor were transients living in Salt Lake City and passing through looking for work. Smith however was born in Utah to working-class people on the west side of Salt Lake City. His parents were Mormon immigrants who lived at 1014 Monroe Street [3rd West], an area near the Warm Springs bathhouse. Smith also might have been a sort of hustler in his youth as that in 1918 his occupation given for the WWI draft board registration was “huckster.” A huckster was kind of person who sold small items usually door-to-door or from a stall. It’s not at all clear how the three men hooked up, but that October evening the men rented a room at the American Hotel to get drunk. During the course of the evening, the men became intoxicated and Taintor had anal intercourse with Smith. Murphy may have held Smith down and watched. Taintor and Murphy were under the impression that Smith had consented to the sex but when the proprietor, Thomas E. Punkett, caught the men having sex, Smith told another story. Punkett was a manager of various flop houses in the city at different times and when he heard the sexual commotion in the room, he confronted the men and called the police. The young Smith told the police officer that he had been sodomized by the two men. The police told Smith to go to a physician and get evidence. Smith, the next day, went to 42-yearold physician Dr. Hugh B. Sprague and was examined to prove that he had been
sodomized. Dr. Sprague and he then went to the police and filed a complaint against Murphy and Taintor. The transients were arrested on Oct.21 and placed in the city jail on the felony charge of “unlawfully and feloniously commit the infamous crime against nature by then and there wilfully (sic), unlawfully and feloniously having carnal knowledge of the body of Louis Smith, the said Louis Smith being then and there a male person. Contrary to the provisions of the statute of the State aforesaid, in such cases made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the State of Utah.” Their bail was set at $1000 which the men could not raise, so they stayed in jail until their arraignment in December. On Oct., Smith and Dr. Sprague testified against the accused pair before L.R. Martineau Jr., “a Committing Magistrate.” District Attorney E.O. Leatherwood then filed charges in the Third District Court as that crime was a felony under state law. While they sat in jail they heard the news that labor organizer Joe Hill had been executed on 19 November at the state penitentiary in Sugar House. The two men were arraigned in the court of Hon. Charles W. Morse, Dec. 4. The following proceedings were had to-wit: THE COURT: Mr. Taintor what plea do you make to this charge? MR. TAINTOR: Plead guilty. THE COURT: Mr. Murphy, what plea do you make? “MR. MURPHY: Not guilty. THE COURT: Mr. Murphy do you have an attorney? MR. MURPHY: I have not. THE COURT: Do you have the means with which to employ one? MR. MURPHY: I have not. THE COURT: Mr. Taintor do you desire the sentence of the court imposed upon you at this time? MR. TAINTOR: Yes sir. THE COURT: Mr. Taintor you were charged by the information of the District Attorney of this district with the crime of infamous crime against nature. To this charge you have entered a plea
VIEWS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 25
july 2016 | issue 257 | gaysaltlake.com
LOWER YOUR LOWER BACK PAIN of guilty. Have you now any legal cause to show why judgments should not be pronounced against you? MR. TAINTOR: I would like to say your Honor, if I had lived to be a 100 years old drunk or sober, I never would think of doing such a thing again. Next morning my mind was a blank what I had done. I had done things under the influence of liquor but never done anything serious. THE COURT: Have you anything to say Mr. Leatherwood? MR. LEATHERWOOD: All the State knows about this is practically set forth in the information and a letter from the county attorney’s office indicates these two men got a boy by the name of Louis Smith, residing at 1014 North Third West and took him to the American Rooming House in this city and I think the evidence will show that both parties had been drinking some but I am informed that they apparently were only slightly intoxicated. THE COURT: Do you know of anything of the past history or life of this man; ever been accused of any offense before? MR. LEATHERWOOD: I do not. I talked to Mr. Murphy. I am not sure whether I talked to Mr. Taintor or not. They are both transients and it is the first offense as far as their story is concerned. THE COURT: It is the judgment of the court that the defendant George Taintor be confined in the state prison of the State of Utah at hard labor.
Judge Morse then remanded Taintor into the custody of John S. Corless, sheriff of Salt Lake County and “and deliver him without delay to the warden of the state prison.” Taintor explained later in a letter to the Board of Pardons that he “only plead guilty to the charge to avoid the humiliation of a trial upon such a charge.” He also wrote he “was told by Mr. Leatherwood that by pleading guilty and if I save the state the expense of a trial I would be given a light sentence.” His light sentence was two years at hard labor. Mike Murphy having plead not guilty was appointed D. L. Olsen as his attorney. His trial was set for the first week in January, 1916. At the trial his attorney argued that Smith had actually consented to the sex and therefore was an accomplice. Puckett, the proprietor of the Monroe Hotel, testified he had called Salt Lake police officer Jorgensen to whom “Louis Smith accused George Taintor and Michel Murphy of violating him.” Evidence given from Dr. Sprague’s examination of Smith’s posterior convinced the jury to convict Murphy of the crime of committing “the infamous crime against nature by then and there having carnal knowledge of the body of Louis Smith, a male person.” Charles W. Morse, judge of the court stated “the judgment and sentence of this court is that you Mike Murphy be confined and imprisoned in the state prison in and for the State of Utah for an indeterminate term. On Jan. 19, 1916, he was sent to prison to join Taintor. Q
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26 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | VIEWS
queer shift
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
Coping SHIFT BY CHARLES LYNN FROST
What
happened at Pulse is mind boggling, leaves one unable to take it all in, deconstruct it, and then begin to make some sort of grieving sense, all the while putting your heart and head back together. It’s okay not to know how to react. It’s okay to be so horrified, confused, scared, and ultimately numb that you simply don’t know what to do or how to cope. And maybe you’re fully realizing that there might not really be anything you can do. Hasn’t this happened before? Won’t this happen again, and aren’t we simply forced to watch and cautiously exist while our country fails to protect its citizens and act on gun control? However there’s ONE big difference. This is our community. This doesn’t just hit close to home — these are the people that make up our home. This
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES. Eating a healthy diet, avoiding the use of drugs and alcohol, and getting regular exercise can reduce stress and anxiety. Activities as simple as taking a walk, stretching, and deep breathing can help relieve stress and allow you to cope through challenging moments. LIMIT YOUR CONSUMPTION OF NEWS. We live in a society where the news is available to us 24 hours a day via television, radio, and the Internet. The constant replay of news stories about a disaster or traumatic event can increase stress and anxiety and make some people relive the event over and over. It happened to me during the 9-11 crisis, I was hooked on watching, reading, listening as much as I could; I became a non-functioning human. Engage in relaxing activities to help you heal and move on.
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is an historic terror attack, a hate crime beyond measure. In all horrifying honesty, there really is no way for us to have control here. Emotional distress can happen before and after a disaster. Coping strategies include preparation, self-care, and identifying support systems. People can experience a wide range of emotions before and after a disaster or tragic event. There’s no right or wrong way to feel. However, it’s important to find healthy ways to cope when these events happen.
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GET ENOUGH “GOOD” SLEEP. Some people have difficulty falling asleep after a horrific event, or wake up throughout the night. If you have trouble sleeping, only go to bed when you are ready to sleep, avoid using cell phones or laptops in bed, and avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol at least one hour before going to bed. If you wake up and can’t fall back to sleep, try writing what’s on your mind in a journal or on a sheet of paper. Capture your feelings before they dominate you. ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A ROUTINE. Try to eat meals at regular times and put yourself on a sleep schedule to ensure
an adequate amount of rest. Include a positive or fun activity in your schedule that you can look forward to each day or week. Schedule exercise into your daily routine as well, if possible. AVOID MAKING MAJOR LIFE DECISIONS. Doing things like switching jobs or careers can already be stressful and are even harder to adjust to directly after a life-altering event. FIND SUPPORT. Whether it be large rallies where you hear messages of hope, courage, standing and coming together, and love. It may be a one-on-one with someone you trust deeply. It could also be a group of friends or family wherein you discuss the elements and issues that are really difficult to process alone, and a group perspective can honestly be very helpful. Don’t let these turn into debates, share feelings, allow people to feel and accept them. Even if you meet just a few times, it can be extremely helpful in processing tragedy. Share and exchange thoughts, feelings, and ideas on how to get through difficult times. Support groups provide a safe place for people to find comfort in knowing they are not alone. REACH OUT TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS. Service to others most always creates feelings quite the opposite of helplessness, anger, fear, and loneliness. Do something big or many small things for people who are in need. You never know, these deeds could become openings for conversations where you both can talk about coping with the tragedy. KNOW THE MEMORY WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF YOU. Being fully aware that life is hard, it is typically always hard, and rarely easy — is something you have to grasp. That does not mean you will never be happy, feel joy, have phases of life that seem almost perfect, but the memory of an impactful tragedy never fully leaves. Embrace that, and with mindfulness — work through your grief until you get to a place where you can honestly say — I’ve transformed my fear into action. Q
VIEWS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 27
july 2016 | issue 257 | gaysaltlake.com ROOSTERS, OGDEN
creep of the month
Omar Mateen No one
BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI
on an FBI watch list should be able to easily buy a gun. No one should be allowed to buy a gun designed for the military to kill as many people as possible as quickly as possible. If you want to hold an AR-15 or something like it, join the fucking Army. I know that gun nuts disagree. But I don’t have the patience or the time to argue with people who think guns are more important than human lives. America is the only country where mass shootings happen regularly. We need gun control, damn it. I don’t want to hear another politician offer prayers for Orlando unless that prayer is, “Dear God, please guide my hand as I sign this gun control legislation.” But, if a pile of dead six-yearolds wasn’t enough to move the needle on gun control, then a pile of gays doesn’t stand a chance. Hearing “prayers” from people like Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, and Fla. Gov. Rick Scott made me sick to my stomach. These are people who demonized LGBT people and families for political gain. Their prayers don’t mean shit, thanks. Ah, but there will be plenty of time to call them out. Right now the main villain in this plot is Omar Mateen, the man who mowed down nearly 100 people, killing 49 of them (as of this writing) at a gay club. We know he was racist and homophobic. We know he beat up his first wife. We know he worked as a security guard. We know he was on the FBI’s radar. We know that he bought his murder weapons easy peasy. Was he a terrorist? Well, undoubtably, yes. But was he specifically a “radical Islamic terrorist” (as if that somehow explains or makes more comprehensible the carnage he wrought)? It’s been reported that he called 911
to declare his allegiance with ISIS during the massacre. Was he gay? There are plenty of reports he was a regular at Pulse. That he’d sometimes get so drunk he had to be thrown out. That he messaged men on Grindr. That he was creepy. That he threatened men at Pulse with a knife once. How much is true at this stage is unknown. Since news outlets compete to get the latest piece of info out first there’s often a lack of fact-checking. Eventually a more cohesive narrative will form. And no doubt conspiracy theorists will use any and all inconsistencies and errors as proof that this never happened, that this is just an event fabricated by the government so they can take away our guns, just like they have with Sandy Hook. And people will say, “Well, it doesn’t matter if he was gay or not” just as they’ll say, “It doesn’t matter that the club was gay or not.” And these people will by and large not be gay. Because of course it matters. This is not only the largest mass shooting in U.S. history, but it is also the largest mass killing of LGBT people in this country (and it’s not the first. Google “Upstairs Lounge arson attack 1973”). This mass murder can’t be easily summed up or explained. But no doubt the toxic culture of masculinity and gun fetishism we cultivate in this country and the long history of vilifying LGBT people helped pave the way for this to happen. And it’s a stark reminder that despite all of the gains that LGBT people have made, there is so much work left to do. Just because we can legally get married now doesn’t mean that our lives are as safe or as valued as our hetero friends and neighbors. Go out and hug each other. Be fierce, be proud, be woke. Q
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28 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | HEROES VIEWS OF LOVE
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
july 2016 | issue 257 | gaysaltlake.com
HEROES UTAH OFPRIDE LOVE | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 29
Former Utahn creates portraits of Pulse Orlando massacre victims BY MICHAEL AARON
When
Aquiles Avalos Altazor checked his phone for news before finally getting to sleep late Saturday night/early Sunday morning, he saw headlines of “yet another” mass shooting, this time in Orlando — four hours north of South Beach, where he now resides. He woke up Sunday morning and went snorkeling on Aquiles Avalos Altazor what he said was a sunny, warm beautiful day. When he returned, friends were texting him about how sorry they were about the shootings. He then decided it was time to read the articles. “I had no idea it had happened at a gay club, full of Latin people, where 49 ended up losing their lives,” he said. “My heart broke into million pieces and I became incredibly sad and angry. I couldn’t believe what had happened. I was so, so angry.” On Monday, as the names and photos of victims slowly became available, it brought his anger to a different level. “I started looking at the victims’ pictures and all I saw was beauty, kindness, compassion, positive energy, and countless other qualities,” he said. “I saw myself in those pictures in the sense that it could have been me. It could have been my mother, sister, ex-boyfriend, current lover, favorite fuck buddy. It could have been the people I love. Also, nearly all of them were Latinos, my people, who have faced endless difficulties to survive in this country. And I felt like I needed to do something.” Looking at their photos, what he saw was death. “And I didn’t want that. I wanted people, especially their families, to look at them with bright, shiny colors. I wanted the world to see that these heroes that night were full of life, energy, colors and light ... and, of course, love. Because that’s —Continued on next page
30 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | HEROES OF LOVE
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
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what you do when you go to a dance club. Especially a Latino dance club. You go there to celebrate life... and celebrate love.” Living as a Latin gay man today, he said is a risk. “I realized being LGBT and going out in the world is like going to a war zone,” he said. “If you’re gay, the moment you step out to the world you put yourself at risk of being physically, verbally and psychologically abused, and even killed as we’ve just learned last week.” He, himself had a close call. “It reminded my of this one time, about 10 years ago when I was at a bus stop with my ex in Santiago, Chile, and a guy who noticed we were a couple approached me and pulled out a gun, pointed at me, saying, “you fucking faggots,” he said. “Luck-
ily, he didn’t shoot and just scared us, and walked away.” “So, yeah, going out there and being gay takes a lot of strength, courage, bravery, and boldness. That makes the Orlando victims my ‘Heroes of Love’,” he said. “They were courageous, bold and strong enough to go out there, have a great time, celebrate life and love, and putting themselves at risk of losing their lives.” His artist side took over and he began creating portraits. He took up his charcoal, pens, soft pastels and oil pastels and began working on them at five in the morning on the Wednesday after the attack. He still went to the homeless shelter to teach his art classes, as he always does. He still did his job as a court interpreter. But he worked day and night, on the bus, in the restroom, while eating, while
july 2016 | issue 257 | gaysaltlake.com
waiting in a courtroom for his next testimony. “So, whenever I was not working or sleeping.. What I feel encouraged me to keep moving forward was wanting for my heroes’ families to see their bright, colorful portraits,” he said. He finished them late Saturday night, June 18, in time for him to drive the four hours to a huge vigil in Orlando that drew 50,000 people. “At the end of the vigil I felt disappointed because i couldn’t find any of the victims’ relatives,” he said. “With so many people attending the event, of course that was pretty impossible. So I waited until the very end and made my way though a sea of people to get to the main stage where the Pulse team was. I showed them my work. They seemed surprised and I broke into tears. I cried so much, I truly felt the kind of pain you feel when someone you love is no longer in the picture. They approached me and told me they felt very touched by my gesture and ensured they would deliver the portraits to the families.” He feels like he was called to do the project. “I felt like the universe commissioned me to make these portraits,” he said. “No one else did something like this. So I feel
fortunate I had the talent and time to do it. My goal now is that these people are now and forever remembered as heroes.”
HEROES OF LOVE | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 31
Pride Counseling
UTAH Born in Santiago, Chile, Altzor served a mission in Colombia. “I’ve always known I am gay, and the main reason I decided to go on a mission was to make my father happy,” he said. “Once I came back to Chile, I met my first boyfriend. I was still in the closet and I got to the point where I could not lie to myself and others and came out to my parents about four months after my mission.” He looked into BYU as a way to distance himself from the disappointment of his father, as he is his only male child. He moved to Provo soon after his 22nd birthday. BYU policies and “prejudiced culture” made him want to quit school, but he stayed on. He remained in Utah for eight years, leaving two years ago. “Right now I’m living in South Beach [Fla.] and I’m loving it. I love the weather, the beach, of course, openness to the LGBTY community and last, but not least, the art scene. “I just hope hostility towards gays, lesbians, transgender, etc. ends once and for all,” he said. Q
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32 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | A&E
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
Utah’s Zigga and Ermiya bucks hip-hop’s bad rap ZIGGA
BY MIKKI ENOCH
What do
you think when you hear hip-hop? Some think about the stereotype of sexist and homophobic artists influencing a group of already angry people. These themes do appear in some music, however, there is movement within hip-hop to change these perceptions. Two of those artists live right here in Salt Lake County, Zigga and Ermiya Fanaeian. Zigga is a 25-year-old father of three. He describes himself as a black Jew with gay transgender parents. Even with this history, he wasn’t naturally an advocate for the LGBT community. He was simply a rapper who wanted to perform. After years of hearing homophobic slurs from his friends and fellow rappers, he began to feel that his family was under attack and he stood up for them. Ermiya is a 16-year-old rapper who describes himself a gay man who loves to challenge gender. Before Ermiya was
The Gay Agenda BY TONY HOBDAY
ANNUAL EVENTS
a year old, his parents moved from Tehran, Iran to San Diego, Calif. His family moved again when he was 9 years old to Salt Lake City. His family isn’t Muslim but his parents have many homophobic and transphobic ideas. A year ago, he accepted that he was gay and refused to allow it to affect his dream of being a hip-hop performer. Both men write and perform their own music. Zigga’s background is that of a writer and a speaker. Ermiya describes himself as a poet first. Zigga said that his poetry naturally fit into becoming hip-hop music. They have different reasons for connecting to this musical style. Ermiya describes his reason as an art form with infinite possibilities. Yet, Zigga gives two reasons. First, he says hip-hop was a convenient choice, a direct connection to a community he is a part of. Secondly, he gravitated to the grittiness of the music. In the song "Rose Pedals," Ermiya
1FRIDAY — ARRIVAL: THE MUSIC OF ABBA
terous females love their cigs, pills and booze, and bark with an English accent … ummm, the dogs, not my besties, of course!
3SUNDAY — SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS
8FRIDAY — WEINER-DOG
6MONDAY — THE QUEERS
22FRIDAY — ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS: THE MOVIE
Sandy Amphitheater, 1300 E. 9400 South, Sandy, 8pm. Tickets $17-27, smithstix.com Snow Park Amphitheater, 2250 Deer Valley Dr South, 7pm. Tickets $40, bigstarsbrightnightsconcerts.org Metro Bar, 615 W. 100 South, 8pm. Tickets $12/Adv-14/ Day of Show, smithstix.com
23THURSDAY — LETLIVE.
Broadway Centre Cinemas, 111 E. 300 South, times vary, through … depends on how “long” it is. Tickets $6.75-9.25
Theaters and times vary, through … depends on how fabulous it is. Tickets $6.75-9.25
THEATRE
The following two events are celebrations of first, the founding of our great nation (that will soon be run by a woman … thank you, Monica!), and second, the founding of the much needed greater state of Utah … thank you David Archuleta! These days of festivity are honored throughout the state, from public parks to gay bars, in which debauchery and unwise decisions abound. Go Utahomos!! 4MONDAY — 4th of July Celebration 23SATURDAY — Pioneer Days Celebration
The Complex, 536 W. 100 South, 6pm. Tickets $17/Adv20/Day of Show, smithstix.com
Metro Bar, 615 W. 100 South, 8pm. Tickets $15/Adv-20/ Day of Show, smithstix.com
Egyptian Theatre, 328 Main St, Park City, times vary, through July 24. Tickets $39-65, egyptiantheatrecompany. com
CONCERTS
MOVIES
UPCOMING EVENTS
Among the lineup of fabulous concert performances this month will be Eve 6 and Panic! At the Disco. But I must confess that if Pansy Pap Smear was to be a special guest with Dolly Parton it would zip up every queer squirrel’s nuts and be like watching, with Weezer, “breasticle” sumo wrestling to “Dancing Queen,” Just saying’!
The two flicks noted here are attributed to my besties Donna and Michelle. Now, while their ears may be long, and Michelle may squat a pee pretty much anywhere in Brooklyn, “Weiner-Dog” is not directly based on them. They just happen to have two absolutely fabulous dachshunds, appropriately named Patsy and Edina. These two wild, bois-
AUG. 8, CULTURE CLUB, Red Butte Garden, redbuttegarden.org AUG. 12, PARK CITY ARTS FESTIVAL, parkcitykimballartsfestival.org AUG. 20, JOSH GROBAN, USANA Amphitheatre, usana-amp.com SEP. 10, 2016 UTAH PRIDE CENTER GOLF CLASSIC, utahpridecenter.org
26TUESDAY — DOLLY PARTON
UCCU Center, 800 W. University Pkwy, Orem, 7:30pm. Tickets $75-100, smithstix.com
— WEEZER AND PANIC! AT THE DISCO USANA Amphitheatre, 5125 S. 6400 South, WVC, 7pm. Tickets $40-157, usana-amp.com
29WEDNESDAY — EVE 6
Well pour some sugar on me, sticky and sweet, “Rock of Ages” is a-rock’n the Park City stage this month. And for you Millennials, the Egyptian Theatre cast will definitely give it to you “any way you want it.” Well, maybe only with Bieber and Lovato Bitmojis. Enjoy! 1FRIDAY — Rock of Ages
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says, “the line ‘it can happen all of a sudden then I'll just blow it off like we were nothing’ where I'm talking about a boy he fell in love with, and the boy left Ermiya for a girl because the boy’s parents were very homophobic and didn't want him to be gay.” This is one song Ermiya suggested as an introduction to his music. He describes a line in the second song, “Violins,” as follows, “I wrote the line 'the violins aren't really there if no one hears' which is talking about romantic violins playing at a candlelight dinner, but the couple sitting at the dinner table can't enjoy the sound of those violins because they're too focused on the negativity and unhappiness in their relationship.” He writes with the passion of a young lover who is challenged to find the love he wants. Zigga also gave me two songs to listen to. The first song, “Mama Proud,” is about his views of parenting. This song hasn’t been released at the time of this article. His second choice, “We Are One,” presents his desire to see unity in this world. This song speaks of the gun violence in our society prior to the events of June 12, 2016 in Orlando, Fla., “shootings in the public schools/shootings in the theaters... all because we are different.” This song is addressed to “all the people of the world” in the first line. THE LIFE OF ZIGGA Zigga was born in 1991 and moved to Berkeley, Calif. as a small child. He describes meeting his stepfather at a gathering of queer people with his mother. It was this meeting that changed both of their paths. His mother learned she could become his dad and did. He was 4 years old when this happened. His father is Sean Dennison, the former minister at the South Valley Unitarian Universalist congregation. Sean has spoken several times at local and national LGBT rallies and events. With the move to Salt Lake City, Zigga learned that people saw him and his family as different. He observed that multiculturalism wasn’t the norm. He also experienced that he couldn’t always have friends over to his house because his parents were gay men. This was in sharp contrast to his earlier life in Berkeley. He spoke of spending time with his Jewish family members, with his Christian family, and his Muslim family. He has even traveled as far as Turkey to spend time with them and learn from them. This personal history has given him the personal feeling of jokingly being “the ultimate minority.” Zigga describes his teenage years as rebellious. He also freely admits that he would love to go into politics but he has a criminal record. Since then, he has become a father
of three girls. His children are the center of his world. He also describes how he feels he is looked at when he walks with his children who are lighter than him because his wife is white. This highlights the racism he sees around him. Zigga’s music is his way of finding a place in the world. It is also an opportunity for him to try to create the world he wants for his daughters. He says one of his proudest moments was when his daughter stood up for transgender people. He sees the values of equality and diversity developing with his own children. His style would be best described as abstract mainstream. The thing that makes his music special is the versatility he can display, both because of his multifaceted past and the large range of influences and contacts he draws from and works with. THE LIFE OF ERMIYA FANAEIAN Ermiya was born in Tehran, Iran, and before his second birthday, his parents relocated the family to San Diego, Calif. He started music classes at 9 years old after moving to Salt Lake City. He learned to sing and play piano. At 11, he began to notice other young hip-hop artists such as Drake, Tyga, Nicki Minaj, and Lil' Wayne. Watching Nicki Minaj perform, he realized that he didn’t have to be a macho man to be a rapper. He saw the infinite diversity of hip-hop because of Minaj’s song “Super Bass”. He became inspired to write his own music. He spent hours in his room working on his rhymes and lyrics. He started recording his own music in the summer of 2014. He acknowledged his homosexuality a year ago. He says that his parents don’t know about his work or his sexual orientation. He hasn’t come out to his family because he has seen both homophobic and transphobic responses to recent events, such as Caitlyn Jenner’s public transition. However, this hasn’t kept him from writing songs about boys he's loved, or getting on a stage wearing a dress and makeup. His style of music is very sassy and different. It's also raw and real, he speaks on his personal life. “You won’t hear most hip-hop artists talk about boys or wearing heels.” He knows people are going to have some negative reactions, but, “if I don't take risks, I'm not a real artist.”
ERMIYA FANEIAN
ORLANDO The events of June 12 affected both artists. For each, it was another example of a society that didn’t welcome him. Zigga described his feelings as another moment when he fears for his community and his family. His protective nature kicked in. Though he doesn’t want to be the only one speaking about LGBT issues in the hip-hop community, he will continue to speak out when he hears homophobic or transphobic comments. “Homophobia is a potent poison,” he said. Ermiya described his reaction as crying all day after hearing the news of the attack. He also spoke to the historical nature of gay bars as places where the LGBT community could be safe from society’s judgment. He connected this large attack on the LGBT community with the individual acts of homophobia. He reminds us that people die from bullying. They die because of how transgender people, especially trans-women of color, are perceived. “Homophobia/transphobia is more than just making ignorant little comments; it’s killing people!” What happened in Orlando has galvanized them in the importance of being a part of the hip-hop community. It has sparked them into speaking about how marginalized communities need to work together to fight oppression and violence. Zigga did point out how he doesn’t understand why there is a separation between historically oppressed groups which work against each other instead of together. Q Zigga can be found at reverbnation.com/ziggabiz. Ermiya Faneian can be found at reverbnation. com/ermiyafanaeian
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tour of duty abroad. Thomas is of Maghrebi descent and is the adopted son of a farming family living on a remote farm in the mountains. After several miscarriages the farmer’s wife is expecting again and, since her pregnancy promises to be a difficult one, Marianne invites the withdrawn boy to come and stay with them for a while. Damien and Thomas find themselves having to live under the same roof.
DAMN SHORTS PROGRAM SATURDAY, JULY 16 @ 5–6:15 PM 82 MIN | VARIOUS | NOT RATED | DIRECT BY VARIOUS FILMMAKERS
13th Edition
violent meeting an unexpected intimacy develops that changes their lives forever.
HUNKY DORY
SUNDAY, JULY 17 @ 1–2:30 PM DIRECTED BY MICHAEL CURTIS JOHNSON 88 MIN | 2016 | USA | NOT RATED
After his ex-girlfriend disappears, Sidney, a grifting glam rock dilettante, is forced to look after his 11-year- old son full-time. His “cool dad” facade crumbles and his life goes into full tailspin as he struggles to let go of his rock-androll lifestyle.
Compiled of six short films submitted by an open call for submissions, this is the first Damn These Heels shorts program.
JONATHAN
Utah Film Center is presenting the 13th annual Damn These Heels LGBT Film Festival July 15–17 at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in downtown Salt Lake City. Featuring what the organizers call the “best independent, documentary, and foreign feature-length have films from around the world,” festival topics range from profiles of prominent politicians, to touching coming-of-age stories, and from slapstick comedy to slasher films. Passes are just $50, $75 with cocktail and after-party perks. Sponsorship-level passes are $150 to $500. Location Lead Sponsors Tickets Individual screenings are $5 through ArtTix at Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center Passes on sale now artsaltlake.org/production/damn-these-heels/. 138 W 300 S, Salt Lake City Individual tickets on sale June 14 Terence Kearns Stephens Charitable Fund
UTAHFILMCENTER.ORG/DTH2016
SUNDAY, JULY 17 @ 10–11:40 AM DIRECTED BY PIOTR J. LEWANDOWSKI 99 MIN | 2016 | GERMANY | NOT RATED
CLOSET MONSTER
SATURDAY, JULY 16 @ 9:15–10:45 PM DIRECTED BY STEPHEN DUNN 90 MIN | 2015 | CANADA | NOT RATED PRINCIPAL CAST: CONNOR JESSUP, AARON ABRAMS, ISABELLA ROSSELLINI
An East Coast teenager and aspiring special-effects makeup artist struggles with both his sexuality and his fear of his macho father, in this imaginative twist on the coming-of-age tale.
The duties of a young German farmer weigh heavily upon him. Besides working the farm, he diligently cares for his father who is seriously ill. When his father’s boyhood friend suddenly shows up, long suppressed family secrets come to the surface.
KIKI
SATURDAY, JULY 16 @ 7–9 PM DIRECTED BY SARA JORDENÖ 94 MIN | 2016 | SWEDEN | NOT RATED
AWOL SATURDAY, JULY 16 @ 7:15–8:45 PM DIRECTED BY DEB SHOVAL 85 MIN | 2016 | USA | NOT RATED PRINCIPAL CAST: LOLA KIRKE, BREEDA WOOL, DALE SOULES
For an aimless young woman searching for direction in rural Pennsylvania, the only path appears to be enlisting in the Army, but before deployment she falls for a married woman and begins to lose sight of what’s most important to her.
BEING 17
SATURDAY, JULY 16 @ 9:45–11:45 AM EVENT NAVIGATION BEING17660 DIRECTED BY ANDRÉ TÉCHINÉ 116 MIN | 2016 | FRANCE | NOT RATED
Damien and Thomas attend the same grammar school class. They cannot stand each other and whenever verbal insults fail to do enough damage they take a swing at each other. Damien’s mother Marianne is a country doctor and his father a military pilot on a
FROM AFAR [DESDE ALLÁ] SUNDAY, JULY 17 @ 3:15–4:55 PM DIRECTED BY LORENZO VIGAS 93 MIN | 2015 | VENEZUELA/MEXICO | NOT RATED PRINCIPAL CAST: ALFREDO CASTRO, LUIS SILVA, JERICÓ MONTILLA
Wealthy, middle-aged Armando lures young men to his home in Caracas with money,only he doesn’t want to touch, he wants to watch. One day he meets 17year- old Elder, and after their first,
A cinematic journey into the NYC Kiki Scene, a “society within a society” created and governed by LGBTQ youth.
LOEV
SATURDAY, JULY 16 @ 9:30–11 PM DIRECTED BY SUDHANSHU SARIA 90 MIN | 2015 | GERMANY | NOT RATED
july 2016 | issue 257 | gaysaltlake.com
A tale of two longtime friends negotiating their mutual desire for one another over the course of a weekend visit.
JOHNNY SYMONS 75 MIN | 2016 | USA | NOT RATED
Mobilizing working-class transgender hairdressers and beauty queens, the dynamic leaders of the world’s only LGBT political party wage a historic quest to elect a trans woman to the Philippine Congress.
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versial tour. On stage and in the iconic film Truth or Dare, they showed the world how to express yourself. Now, 25 years later, they reveal the truth about life during and after the tour. Strike a Pose is a dramatic tale about overcoming shame and finding the courage to be who you are.
MAJOR!
SATURDAY, JULY 16 @ 2:15–3:50 PM DIRECTED BY ANNALISE OPHELIAN 95 MIN | 2015 | USA | NOT RATED
Explore the life and campaigns of Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a formerly incarcerated Black transgender elder and activist who has been fighting for the rights of trans women of color for over 40 years.
SET THE THAMES ON FIRE
FRIDAY, JULY 15 @ 10:30–11:55 PM DIRECTED BY BEN CHARLES EDWARDS 82 MIN | 2015 | UK | NOT RATED
A dark comedy about two boys, Art and Sal, living in London, a city full of sparkling stars and shifting alleyways full of danger and adventure.
ME MYSELF AND HER [LO E LEI]
SATURDAY, JULY 16 @ 12–1:45 PM DIRECTED BY MARIA SOLE TOGNAZZI 102 MIN | 2015 | ITALY | NOT RATED
Marina and Federica have been together for five years now. They share the same apartment, bed, and face cream, laugh and fight together, and yet they are not sure if they are a couple.
ORIENTED
SATURDAY, JULY 16 @ 12:15–1:45 PM DIRECTED BY JAKE WITZANFELD 86 MIN | 2015 | NORWAY | NOT RATED
SOUTHWEST OF SALEM: THE STORY OF THE SAN ANTONIO FOUR
FRIDAY, JULY 15 @ 8–10 PM DIRECTED BY DEBORAH ESQUENAZI 91 MIN | 2016 | USA | NOT RATED
Satanic rituals. Gang rape. Child abuse. All words used in one of the most bizarre cases to ever go through our legal system. This is the true story of four women, nicknamed The San Antonio Four, and their journey through hell and back. The film unravels the sinister interplay of mythology, homophobia, and prosecutorial fervor that led to this modern day witch hunt.
SUNDAY, JULY 17 @ 5–6:45 PM DIRECTED BY CATHERINE CORSINI 102 MIN | 2015 | FRANCE | NOT RATED
There was little chance, in the year 1971, that Carole, a Spanish teacher in Paris and feminist militant, would ever meet Delphine, the daughter of a couple of Limousin farmers. But they did meet and not only did they come across each other but they fell passionately in love as well. Unfortunately, Delphine’s father fell victim to a stroke and the young woman had no other choice but to go back home to help her mother run the family farm. Carole, who was so smitten by Delphine, couldn’t stand the estrangement and decided to join her lover at the farm. But can feminism and lesbianism easily be transferred to the countryside and its standards of the time?.
THE TRANS LIST
SATURDAY, JULY 16 @ 4:30–5:45 PM DIRECTED BY TIMOTHY GREENFIELDSANDERS 60 MIN | 2016 | USA | NOT RATED
The Trans List is a film that explores the range of experiences lived by Americans who identify as transgender.
UNCLE HOWARD
SATURDAY, JULY 16 @ 2:30–4:15 PM DIRECTED BY AARON BROOKNER 96 MIN | 2016 | USA | NOT RATED
Director Howard Brookner died of AIDS-related complications in NYC in 1989 while in postproduction on his breakthrough Hollywood movie. His body of work was buried for 30 years in William S. Burroughs’s bunker until his nephew Aaron unearthed his uncle’s story and the memory of everything he was.
SUNDAY, JULY 17 @ 12:30–2:10 PM DIRECTED BY MORGAN WHITE 91 MIN | 2016 | USA | NOT RATED
STRIKE A POSE
SUNDAY, JULY 17 @ 7:30–9:30 PM DIRECTED BY ESTER GOULD AND REIJER ZWAAN 83 MIN | 2016 | BELGIUM/NETHERLANDS | NOT RATED SUNDAY, JULY 17 @ 3–4:20 PM DIRECTED BY LEO CHIANG AND
SUMMERTIME [LA BELLE SAISON]
THE SLIPPERS
A feature documentary about three gay Palestinian friends who confront their national and sexual identity in Tel Aviv.
OUT RUN
Warner, it is unclear how many pairs were found and how many pairs exist. That mystery has only helped to propel the shoes to the forefront of the Hollywood memorabilia market. They have been bought, stolen, and coveted by many. They are considered the most important piece of Hollywood memorabilia and the catalyst for the creation of Hollywood memorabilia collecting.
In 1990, seven young male dancers — six gay, one straight — joined Madonna on her most contro-
The Slippers pulls back the Wizard’s curtain on the unbelievable story and cultural impact of Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz. Through first-hand accounts and archival interviews, The Slippers will detail the life of the Ruby Slippers after their sale at the famed 1970 MGM auction. Discovered by costumer Kent
WOMEN HE’S UNDRESSED
SATURDAY, JULY 16 @ 10–11:45 AM DIRECTED BY GILLIAN ARMSTRONG 95 MIN | 2015 | AUSTRALIA | NOT RATED
A documentary about the life of the Australian costume designer and three time Oscar winner Orry-Kelly.
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The hills at Deer Valley’s Snow Park Amphitheater are alive all summer long
If you miss the slopes of Utah’s mountain resorts in the summer, two huge concert series will call Deer Valley’s beautiful Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater home again this year.. St. Regis Big Stars Bright Nights will bring ten widely varied acts to the slopes, from honky-tonk to jazz to country. The Utah Symphony & Opera makes Deer Valley their summer home each year and will bring Broadway stars and the B52s to Park City. All concerts are held rain or shine. Picnics, coolers and glass containers are permitted, but animals are not. Chairs are permitted if less than 9” high (the venue will be divided into two sections with chairs allowed on one side and blankets on the other.)
percussion, bass and piano. The Zips dabble in hot jazz, Cuban tempos, rock and soul, dispensing plenty of zip and a dash of playful nuttiness.
St. Regis Big Stars Bright Nights by Park City Institute
Thursday Jul 21, 7PM
Sunday July 3 , 7PM
SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS The retro-hip band that “bows at the feet of Cab Calloway and the Harlem Renaissance” (Jazz Times), Squirrel Nut Zippers launched into the mainstream with its hit ’90s tune “Hell.” Fusing southern roots and swing, SNZ cuts loose with the big band must-haves: charismatic frontman guitarist/vocalist Jimbo Mathus and sassy frontwoman singer Katharine Whalen plus indispensable horns,
Thursday July 14, 6:30PM
LYLE LOVETT, EMMYLOU HARRIS Four-time, Grammy winner Lyle Lovett (and His Large Band) and Country Hall of Famer Emmylou Harris deliver country-folk-rockAmericana-blues-gospel in powerhouse back-to-back sets. “A truly venturesome, genre-transcending pathfinder” (Billboard), Harris dazzles audiences with her crystalline vocals. Known for his trademark yearning vocal ache, wit and down-home showmanship, Lovett is “the real deal… a man who not only delivers your money’s worth but who you suspect would be genuinely ashamed if he didn’t” (Esquire).
CHRIS BOTTI, LUCIA MICARELLI Jazz trumpeter Chris Botti has proven over and over again that he is an exceptional balladeer – whether performing the “Star Spangled Banner” in the New York Giants’ stadium or captivating audiences at the Blue Note Club. He’s sold more than four million albums, won Grammy awards, and played with A-list pop collaborators – most notably Paul Simon, Sting, Herbie Hancock and Yo-Yo Ma. And, above all, his trumpet “emits unabashed beauty” (The New York Times). Lucia Micarelli – the “mind-blowingly talented” (Portland Examiner) violinist – lends her bow to a range of genres, from her concerto roots to no-holds-barred rock. She’s toured with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Josh Groban and made her acting debut in HBO’s “Treme.” As All About Jazz puts it, “Her playing is elegant, and runs the gamut of emotions from brooding to joyous.” Sunday Jul 24, 7PM
KIP MOORE Gravel-voiced Kip Moore dominated country airwaves with his debut hits, “Beer Money,” “Hey Pretty Girl,” and “Somethin’’Bout a
Truck.” This “unapologetic badass with a touch of Springsteen” (The Guardian) delves deeper into grittier rock with his sophomore release “Wild Ones,” one of Rolling Stone’s Top 40 Country Albums of 2015. The Georgia native walks the line between modern country and arena rock, delivering dynamic, interesting tunes – most of which the multiplatinum singer/songwriter pens. As one AP reviewer puts it, “Of all the backward-ball cap-wearing male country singers, Kip Moore takes the dirt road less traveled.” Thursday Jul 28, 7PM
BELA FLECK, ABIGAIL WASHBURN “Two monsters of the banjo,” (NPR), Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn join forces in a pickin’ party that traverses the acoustic landscape, from murder ballads to gospel. Washburn’s old-time style and Fleck’s bluegrass-jazz-and-beyond virtuosity blend seamlessly on stage. The Grammy-winning duo, riffs off of each other’s remarkable talent with tunes such as the traditional “Railroad,” fan favorite “Banjo Banjo” (written for their son) – and even an acoustic foray into ’80s rock, covering Europe’s “Final Countdown.” Sunday Aug 7, 7PM
MIKE POSNER After topping the charts in 2010 with “Cooler Than Me,” singer-songwriter Mike Posner detoured from the popstar fast-track, touring the country in a van and writing tunes for the likes of Maroon 5, Justin Bieber and Big Sean. His soon-to-be-released sophomore album “At Night, Alone” with the self-reflection-imbued pop hit “I Took A Pill in Ibiza” returns the multi-platinum performer to the spotlight, topping charts with a grown-up dose of humility. The now 28 year-old artist has departed from his flashy hip-hop style, developing performance that is “raw, real and no-frills” (The Detroit News).
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members of Cachao’s original band) are “captivating” delivering “exemplary classic Cuban jazz and mambo” (JazzTimes.com). Saturday Sep 3, 7PM
JEWEL
Saturday Aug 20, 7PM
JON BATISTE & STAY HUMAN The band now seen every night on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert show will be seen live in Park City this summer. As spicy and richly textured as his native N’Orleans, jazzman Jon Batiste and his New York Citybased band of Julliard contemporaries dish out a steamy concoction of everything from ragtime to funk. With “a mission of bringing the joy of jazz to the masses” (New York Daily News) the 29 year-old Batiste and his band don’t just play the music; they live it, breathe it and, most importantly, share it ... even on the subway (where they created a self-produced album). It’s a sound described by a Washington Post reviewer as “... pounding rhythms and lively melodies, deceptively finessed and firmly steeped in gospel and the blues.” Thursday Aug 25, 7PM
TRACE ADKINS Country star Trace Adkins worked his way from oil rigs to the top of the charts. He’s graced the Grand Ole Opry, won NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice” and appeared on the big screen. “A real deal son of the South who knows how to command a stage just by walking on to it,” according to the Chicago Tribune, Adkins’ baritone has become a modern country fixture with hits such as “You’re Gonna Miss This” and “Every Light In The House” blazing into contemporary cowboy lore. Saturday Aug 27, 7PM
ANDY GARCIA & CINESON ALL STARS The godfather of rhythm. Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actor, Andy Garcia (“The Untouchables,” “Stand and Deliver,” “The Godfather: Part III,” “Ocean’s Eleven”…) isn’t just another actor-turned-musician. The multi-talented, Cuban-born Garcia is a Grammy and Latin Grammy Awardwinning music producer and performer who has collaborated with the likes of legendary Afro Cuban bassist Cachao and trumpeter Arturo Sandoval. Garcia and the CineSon All Stars (some of whom are borrowed from
“A folk powerhouse,” according to NPR, Jewel comes to the stage with guitar, poetry and a pure – sometimes haunting – voice. The Grammy-winning, singer-songwriter, who fearlessly worked her way into stardom with the ’90s hit “Who Will Save Your Soul,” has released 12 studio albums, sold more than 27 million records, toured with Bob Dylan, performed for the Pope and starred in television roles. As The New York Times puts it, the Alaskan-born Jewel is “bursting with talents.” “These shows – 12 bands in all – are a cross-section of the biggest names in music, young stars just hitting their stride as well as legends and performers who know how to entertain and push the limits of their respective genres,” says PCI executive director Teri Orr. “As always, we can’t imagine a better spot to present these big stars, than outdoors on the slopes of Deer Valley Resort.” More on Park City Institute’s St. Regis Big Stars Bright Nights concert series is at bigstarsbrightnightsconcerts.org
Deer Valley Music Festival Saturday, July 2, 7:30PM
PATRIOTIC CELEBRATION WITH BROADWAY’S DOUG LABRECQUE Doug LaBrecque thrilled audiences as The Phantom and Raoul in the Harold Prince production of The Phantom of the Opera and has also starred on Broadway as Ravanel in Showboat and toured nationally with Les Miserables. This red, white and blue celebration includes your Broadway and patriotic favorites including God Bless America, Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Shenandoah, Swanee, Fascinatin’ Rhythm, Bring Him Home, Armed Forces Salute, God Bless the USA, and much more!
Saturday, July 9, 7:30PM
THE B-52S LIVE WITH THE UTAH SYMPHONY It’s well known the B-52s are The World’s Greatest Party Band. And 35 years and over 20 million albums into their career, there can be no doubt as to why they remain one of rock music’s most beloved and enduring bands. From ground-breaking songs like “Rock Lobster,” “Dance This Mess Around” and “Private Idaho“ to chart-topping hits like “Love Shack” and “Roam” to their reemergence on the pop scene with their 2008 CD Funplex, the B-52s’ unforgettable dance-rock tunes start a party every time their music begins. Friday, July 15, 7:30PM
UNDER THE STREETLAMP WITH THE UTAH SYMPHONY Starring leading cast members from Broadway’s Jersey Boys! An electrifying evening of classic hits from the American Radio Songbook. Under the Streetlamp, comprised of leading cast members from the Tony Awardwinning sensation Jersey Boys, brings their unique blend of tight harmonies and slick dance moves to your favorite Doo-Wop, Motown and old time Rock n Roll hits. Saturday, July 16, 7:30PM
Friday, July 8, 7:30PM
ROCK ON! HITS FROM THE 70S & 80S Utah Symphony features hit songs from Bruce Springsteen, Cindi Lauper, the Eagles, Whitney Houston, Dusty Springfield, Chicago, Aretha Franklin, Heart, Diana Ross, Queen, the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Led Zeplin, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Aerosmith, Journey, and Elton John.
MATTHEW MORRISON WITH THE UTAH SYMPHONY Jerry Steichen conducting Glee! actor/singer Matthew Morrison and the Utah Symphony. Song list includes Luck Be a Lady, On the Street Where You Live, Singing in the Rain deervalleymusicfestival.org
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Twilight series One of the highlights of summer in downtown Salt Lake City is the Twilight Concert Series held Thursday evenings July 21 through September 1. Brought by the Salt Lake City Arts Council, the concerts present a wide range of outstanding musicians from across the country and around the world. General admission tickets are $5 in advance or $10 the day of show and season tickets are $35. New for the 2016 season is the VIP Lounge, available for the public ages 21 and over offering a private cash bar, private restrooms, special pre-show performances, and other evening entertainment. VIP Lounge access is first come, first served at $25 in advance, $35 day of show. VIP Lounge season access passes are $160. The concerts are accompanied by the Twilight Food Market and Craft Lake City DIY Festival showcasing talented artisans specializing in a variety of mediums, including jewelry, screen-printing, craft foods, and DIY-engineered electronics. Gates open at 5 p.m. and music starts at 6:30pm at Pioneer Park, 350 W. 300 South in downtown Salt Lake City.
JULY 21 CHET FAKER: Chet Faker, Melbourneraised, Brooklyn-based Nick Murphy, writes, performs and records all of his own music. His critically acclaimed debut album Built On Glass was in 2014. Chet Faker will be supported but Canadian electronic artist Kaytranada.
JULY 28 BIG GRAMS (BIG BOI + PHANTOGRAM): Big Boi came across Phantogram while surfing the web and was into their sound. He arranged to meet with them and from there the collaboration Big Grams was born. Anderson .Paak and The Free Nationals style infused hip hop and R&B will also perform this evening.
Pusha T is signed to G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam Recordings. DIGABLE PLANETS: Digable Planets, the alternative hip-hop trio comprised of Mary Ann “Ladybug Mecca” Vieira, Craig “Doodlebug” Irving, and Ishmael “Butterfly” Butler have finally reunited!! You may recognize their lead single “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” from their debut album Reachin’.
AUGUST 4
AUGUST 25
DIPLO: Thomas Wesley Pentz, better known as Diplo, is one of the most dynamic forces in music today. He is as much an international brand as he is a musician/DJ/producer.
GRIMES: Grimes, Canadian artist Claire Boucher, is best known for her work as a producer, singer and songwriter. Her fourth album, Art Angels, was released at the end of 2015 to critical acclaim. Australian psychedance band, Jagwar Ma, will also perform.
AUGUST 11 JENNY LEWIS: Jenny Lewis is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She returns with her new album, The Voyager, on July 29. The Los Angeles artist’s first solo LP since 2008’s Acid Tongue, The Voyager is Lewis’s most deeply personal, and her most musically robust. Garage punk trio, Shannon and the Clams will join Jenny on the bill.
SEPTEMBER 1
AUGUST 18 (CO-HEADLINE ARTISTS)
FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS: Fitz & The Tantrums is a modern pop combo band based in Los Angeles. Their self-titled album featuring the song Handclap will be available on June 10. New Orleans’ native Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue will also bring his hard-edged funk to the evening.
PUSHA T: Terrence Thornton, better known as Pusha T, is an American hiphop artist.
Tickets are available at 24tix.com and all Graywhale Entertainment locations throughout the valley
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DINING GUIDE
Fabby Award Winner 2016 BEST PIZZA
Omar’s
Fabby Awards
801-582-5700 275 S 1300 E SLC
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TOP OF MAIN STREET FABBY SUMMER PATIO 250 MAIN STREET, PARK CITY 2100 SOUTH HIGHLAND DRIVE SLC
Next to Club Try-Angles, Half Block from TRAX Coffee, burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads, appetizers, breakfast Pool table, big-screen tv HOURS: Mon–Thur 8am–6pm / Fri 7am–3pm Friday & Saturday 1am–2:30am Sunday Brunch 11am–2pm 259 W 900 S / 801-364-4307 OFFTRAXSLC.COM
cytybyrd cafe and restaurant
450 s 200 e salt lake city 801.535.6102 cytybyrd@gmail.com
40 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | SUMMER MUSIC
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre brings music to Utah summers in Logan
9.30 � 10.1 moabpride.org presented by
gayadventureweek.com
September 25-30, 2016
Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre is in its 24th year at the beautiful Ellen Eccles Theatre in downtown Logan, Utah, and its first year in the newly-restored Utah Theatre. Founder and general director Michael Ballam raised the $6.5 million to restore the Ellen Eccles Theatre in the early 90s, and the $11.5 million to restore the Utah Theatre — a ten-year process — around the corner. UFOMT is a fantastic summer getaway that offers nationally renowned performers and gasp-worthy sets. It’s well worth the 90-minute drive from Salt Lake City. Running July 6–Aug. 6.
RAGTIME By Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty, and Lynn Ahrens Meet Tateh, a European Jewish immigrant; Coalhouse, an African American musician; and Mother, a White family matriarch, as they navigate life in America at the turn of the 20th Century. Exploring themes of immigration, race, and the American melting pot, Tony Awardwinning Ragtime is a modern musical theater masterpiece.
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By Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II Taking place over 50 years, Show Boat tells the story of a family of performers who live on a riverboat and their struggles with gambling, race, infidelity, poverty, and the poison of personal secrets. Take a ride down Ol’ Man River in this American classic spanning three generations of hope and heartbreak. Show Boat is must-see musical theater.
THE GERSHWINS’ PORGY & BESS By George Gershwin, DuBose & Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin Porgy is a crippled man living on Catfish Row who has fallen for Bess – a beautiful but troubled woman. A series of unfortunate events brings them together, but can they overcome their desires and choices to stay together? Porgy & Bess is considered America’s greatest opera.
PUCCINI’S TRILOGY By Giacomo Puccini Come see Puccini’s legendary trilogy featuring three one-act operas. Il Tabarro is a passionate work of realism set on a barge on the Seine near Paris. Suor Angelica is an uplifting tale of religious redemption. The final act is Gianni Schicchi, a farce full of greed and comic conniving starring Michael Ballam in the title role. Rarely seen in its entirety, Puccini’s Trilogy is a can’t-miss on your opera bucket list!
PETER PAN By Carolyn Leigh and Morris (Moose) Charlap STARRING MICHAEL BALLAM AS CAPTAIN HOOK IN THE UTAH THEATRE’S INAUGURAL PRODUCTION.
On a quest to find stories to entertain his young cohorts in Neverland, Peter returns to the real world and meets Wendy, Michael, and John Darling. The children accompany him back to Neverland where they learn to fly, get involved in all sorts of adventures, defeat the evil Captain Hook, and are changed forever. The story is set to a rich score that includes beloved songs such as “I Won’t Grow Up,” “Never Never Land,” and “Distant Melody.” Tickets, more info at utahfestival.org
july 2016 | issue 257 | gaysaltlake.com
Q&A | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 41
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42 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | COMICS
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
OPTIPESS Kristian Nygård
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: HINT: BIG SCREEN
HE NEEDS HAMLETS
____ _____ _____
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: Y=W
YB YSEE OIR RHKO IHK NEHC SORI Z DIESNB ARZRB, CHR YSEE QI YUZR YB NZO QI GZJB IHK NHARIGBKA PBBE AZPB. __ ____ ___ ____ ___ ____ ____ _ ______ _____, ___ ____ __ ____ __ ___ __ ____ ___ _________ ____ ____. PUZZLE ANSWERS ON PAGE 78
july 2016 | issue 257 | gaysaltlake.com
COMICS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 43
44 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | QMMUNITY
Qmmunity Groups SALT LAKE GOODTIME BOWLING LEAGUE FALL THROUGH WINTER LEAGUES ALL BOWLERS WELCOME CHARITY FUNDRAISING
INFO AT bit.ly/slgoodtime
Men Who Move .org The free social group for 18+ year-old gay, bisexual and transgender men in the Salt Lake area. We are looking for a few good men!
Men who enjoy being naked in social, nonsexual settings. We have nude lunches, retreats, campouts, house parties, sporting events, wine tastings, game parties, etc.
umen.org
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
ALCOHOL & DRUG
HEALTH & HIV
RELIGIOUS
Alcoholics Anonymous 801-484-7871 utahaa.org Gay and Lesbianspecific meetings: Sunday 3p Acceptance Group, UPC, 255 E 400 S Monday 8p Gay Men’s Stag (Big Book Study), UPC, 255 E 400 S 8p G/Q Women’s Meeting, Disability Law Center (rear door), 205 N 400 W Tuesday 8p Live and Let Live, Disability Law Center (rear door), 205 N 400 W Wednesday 7p Sober Today, 375 Harrison Blvd, Ogden Friday 8p Stonewall Group, UPC Crystal Meth Anon crystalmeth.org
Northern Utah HIV/ AIDS Project Walk-Ins Tues Noon–5pm 536 24th St, Ste 2B, Ogden 801-393-4153 Planned Parenthood 654 S 900 E 800-230-PLAN Salt Lake Valley Health Dept HIV/STD Clinic 610 S 200 E 801-534-4666 Utah AIDS Foundation utahaids.org * mail@utahaids.org 1408 S 1100 E 801-487-2323
Deeksha Utah deekshautah. wordpress.com First Baptist Church firstbaptist-slc.org * office@firstbaptistslc.org 777 S 1300 E 801-582-4921 11a Sundays Sacred Light of Christ slcchurch.org 823 S 600 E 801-595-0052 11a Sundays Wasatch Metropolitan Community Church wasatchmcc.org 801-889-8764 Sundays, 11a at UPC
BUSINESS
LGBTQ-Affirmative Psycho-therapists Guild of Utah lgbtqtherapists.com * jim@lgbtqtherapists.com Utah Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce utahgaychamber.com * info@utahgaychamber.com Vest Pocket Business Coalition vestpocket.org 801-596-8977 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 YWCA of Salt Lake ywca.org/saltlakecity 322 E 300 S 801-537-8600
HOMELESS SVCS
SOCIAL
Volunteers of America Homeless Youth Resource Center, ages 15–21 655 S State St 801-364-0744 Young Men’s Transition Home 801-433-1713 Young Women’s Transition Home 801-359-5545
1 to 5 Club (bisexual) bit.ly/1to5club Alternative Garden Club bit.ly/altgarden * altgardenclub@ gmail.com blackBOOTS Kink/BDSM * blackbootsSLC@ aol.com Get Outside Utah bit.ly/GetOutsideUtah Men Who Move menwhomove.org OUTreach Resource Centers outreachresourcecenters.org Ogden - 705 23rd St Weds, 3-7:30pm Logan - 596 E 900 N Fri, 4:30-7:30pm Brigham City - 435 E 700 S - First Tuesdays, 4-7pm Clearfield - 782 E 700 S - Thurs, 5:307:30pm 801-686-4528
POLITICAL
Equality Utah equalityutah.org * info@equalityutah.org 175 W 200 S, Ste 1004 801-355-3479 Utah Libertarian Party 6885 S State St #200 888-957-8824 Utah Log Cabin Republicans bit.ly/logcabinutah 801-657-9611 Utah Stonewall Democrats utahstonewalldemocrats.org
Embracing the health & resilience of our community
qVinum Wine Tasting qvinum.com Rainbow Classic Car Don R. Austin 801-485-9225 Sage Utah facebook.com/sageutah sageutah@ utahpridecenter.org 801-539-8800 Temple Squares Square Dance Club templesquares.org Weekly dances Thursdays 7p at UPC 801-449-1293 Utah Bears utahbears.com info@utahbears.com Weds 6pm Raw Bean Coffee, 611 W Temple Utah Male Naturists umen.org info@umen.org Utah Pride Center utahpridecenter.org thecenter@ utahpridecenter.org 255 E 400 S 801-539-8800 SPORTS
Lambda Hiking Club gayhike.org Pride Community Softball League prideleague.com pcsl@prideleague.com Q Kickball League qkickball.com Sundays, 10:30, 11:30, Sunnyside Park QUAC – Queer Utah Aquatic Club quacquac.org questions@ quacquac.org Salt Lake Goodtime Bowling League bit.ly/slgoodtime
Stonewall Shooting Sports of Utah fb.me/stonewall. sportsofutah YOUTH/COLLEGE
Gay-Straight Alliance Network gsanetwork.org Salt Lake Community College Equality Involvement Club 8 facebook.com/ slcc.equality University of Utah LGBT Resource Center 8 lgbt.utah.edu 200 S Central Campus Dr Rm 409 801-587-7973 Univ. of Utah Queer Student Union utahqsu@gmail.com USGA at BYU byuusga. wordpress.com fb.co/UsgaAtByu Utah State Univ. Access & Diversity Ctr usu.edu/ accesscenter/lgbtqa Utah Valley Univ Spectrum discord.me/ spectrumatuvu facebook.com/ groups/uvuspectrum Weber State Univ Faculty/Staff GayStraight Alliance organizations. weber.edu/fsgsa fsgsa@weber.edu Weber State University LGBT Resource Center weber.edu/ lgbtresourcecenter 3885 W Campus Dr, Student Services Ctr, Suite 154 Dept. 2125 801-626-7271
MANNERS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 45
july 2016 | issue 257 | gaysaltlake.com
mr. manners Who can say if I’ve changed for the better BY ROCK MAGEN
What I love
most about sacrifice and determination isn’t seeing a handsome guy in the mirror, or the positive attention that the public tends to give someone who has found success in their lives. It isn’t the early morning alarm or the piles of clothes that accumulate from going to the gym every day. What I love is the fact that sacrifice and determination — when prescribed in the proper dosages — makes you believe that you can completely transform yourself. It’s a cycle which plays on repeat for the better, and forever. In the wake of what has happened to our LGBT brothers in the Orlando shooting, the time has come to once again take decisive action that will transform our community. This goes beyond the candle vigils and the words of encouragement and support that ensure we are evaluating our lives and the choices we make to keep our community safe. It goes back to us and who we are. We have to be the change that we wish to see. How many times have you commented on social changes that need to be made, but taken no action toward leading those changes? I don’t mean to sound like a radio ad, but do you know who your congressional representative is and how to contact them for changes you would like to see enacted? Are we defining our civic duty as simply voting on Election Day and then allowing others to govern the
changes which are made? If so, it’s time to change. Any great transformation begins with new habits. These habits will require you to change who you are now to become the person you want to be. I am sure many of us have made gym goals. We work on eating habits, lifting routines and variations of cardio, but do we have the drive to give similar attention to our social goals? As the adage states, “Abs are made in the kitchen;” and I will propose that “opinions are made on social media.” Take the time to educate, inform, and seek various sources of information so that you can make an opinion which resonates. Indulge in the details and find the facts which resonate and give you the passion to change. Transformation and motivation go hand in hand. In addition to seeking insight, I encourage you to attend social gatherings and join the various community organizations which are aligned with the beliefs you hold. Words without actions are meaningless; you must act to instill change. The list of what you can do does not end here, but this is just a taste of what is required to transform. Our community needs us to be strong in our tragedy and use it to fight back in a constructive way. Do you have the determination and sacrifice it takes to change? I hope you do, and I wish you well. May you change often, and always for the better. Ask Mr. Manners anything by writing askmrmanners@qsaltlake.com
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46 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | PETS
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016 Each Sudoku puzzle has a unique solution which can be reached logically without guessing. Enter digits 1 through 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit, as must each column and each 3x3 square. Qdoku
Q doku Level: Medium
PETS FOR VETS
7 1 8 2
5
5 9 1
We’re grateful for your service!
8 9 5 1 1 6 8
Thanks to a generous donor, adoption fees are covered on all pets for active military, retired veterans and reservists with valid ID.
5 6
1
July 4-10
4
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Best Friends Pet Adoption Center 2005 South 1100 East Salt Lake City, Utah 84106
bestfriendsutah.org Together, we can Save Them All. ®
3
9 7
9 3 5
3
2
4
5 7 4 1 9 5 1 9 4 6 4 7 1 1 3
9
6 4 6 5 9 4 9 1 3 6 3 8 4 5 3 7 9 9 6 3 7 9 3 5 1 7 8 2 6 2 1 6
2 1 8
4 5
3
6 4 7 5
3 9 1
2
7
3 4 5 5 4 8 7 1 3 5
5
4
5 4
3 1
9
3 7 6
8 4 3 7 2 6 8 2 1 5
july 2016 | issue 257 | gaysaltlake.com
Pet of the Month
Off-Leash Dog Parks
POSITIVE THOUGHTS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 47
COTTONWOOD PARK ➏ ➑ 1580 W 300 N
PIONEER PARK ➏
salt lake
MAGAZINE
➋ MEMORY GROVE OFF LEASH AREA AT FREEDOM TRAIL 375 N CANYON RD
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380 S 300 W
JORDAN DOG PARK ➏ 1060 S 900 W
➌ HERMAN FRANKS PARK 750 E 1300 S
➊ ➊ PARLEY’S PARLEY’S NATURE NATURE PRESERVE PRESERVE (TANNER PARK) PARK) (TANNER 2740 SS 2700 2700 EE 2740
TYPICAL DOG PARK RULES MILLRACE OFF-LEASH DOG PARK ➐ 1200 W 5400 S
➍ WEST JORDAN OFF-LEASH DOG PARK
• Dogs must have current license and rabies tag • Human companions clean up dog waste • Damage to landscape is prohibited • Aggressive dogs prohibited • Chasing or harassing wildlife prohibited • Swimming in authorized areas only • Dogs under 4 months prohibited • Dogs off leash in posted areas only
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Shoo Fly 2 years old spayed female I’m a little sweet and a little sassy! I’m an independent lady that enjoys snuggling in a cozy bed and napping the day away. I love scratches behind my ears and pets down my back. I’m on the shy side and prefer to live in a home without young children as their energy tends to be too much for me. Do you have room in your heart and home for a sweet girl like me? For more information, go to Best Friends Animal Society - Utah, 2005 S 1100 East, or call 801-574-2454 or go to bestfriendsutah.org
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48 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | A&E
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
q scopes JULY BY SAM KELLEY-MILLS ARIES March 20–April 19 Don’t allow someone to bring up a painful past memory. There are many tragic events they could bring up, but none are worth remembering. Focus on the present and get business in order. There is much at stake during this time, and no room for error. Keep a watchfully eye for opportunities and accept some good offers.
Sulu Says It All ACROSS 1 Paul Rudnick’s _The ___ Fabulous Story Ever Told 5 Terence of Smallville 10 Ridges on Melissa’s neck 15 Cartoonist Peter 16 No longer jail bait 17 Property claims 18 Rivera’s rivers 19 Place for your favorite boxers 20 Vital carrier 21 With 39-Across, T-shirt motto of George Takei 24 Like a virgin’s maidenhead 25 Whisper, as a secret 29 Tissue problem in Philadelphia 33 Rachel Maddow, to MSNBC 34 Farmer in the hayfield 37 The Queen producer Rudin 39 See 21-Across 40 Past 41 With 45-Across, nickname for House Bill 2 44 Dry, to Ted Allen of Queer Eye 45 See 41-Across 47 Verb with “protest,” to the bard 48 Start of a legal conclusion
50 In cahoots 52 Data for a headhunter 54 Gets to the bottom of? 56 Annoyances 60 State that passed House Bill 2 64 “Take it off!” 67 Bone-chilling 68 Current for three men in a tub 69 Dressing for Dr. Kildare 70 What the Devil wears, in a movie 71 Corp. magnates 72 Use them to fork around 73 One who scatters seed 74 Matador’s opponent
DOWN 1 Bloody queen 2 Hunter that comes out at night 3 Tapir feature 4 Like Julia Morgan’s models 5 Pro-gay perspectives 6 Univ. of Maryland athlete 7 The African Queen author 8 Hair of a stallion 9 Backup strategy 10 Straw-colored 11 What the cops read at Stonewall? 12 Always, to Byron
13 USA rival 14 Fed. retirement agency 22 Like sourballs 23 Urania’s sister 26 Not only that 27 Plates of Bean’s 28 How Homo sapiens stands 30 Words in an analogy 31 Earth tone 32 Lief’s tongue 34 Kiddie-lit elephant 35 Able to bend over 36 Lounges 38 They’re into diapers 42 Office machine 43 Reproduction without sex 46 Take into the pride? 49 Word on a Tammy Baldwin poster 51 Flees to become husband and husband 53 Erect (or how bottoms take it?) 55 Many go down on them 57 Straight to ___ 58 Moon in Return of the Jedi 59 Affirm orally 61 Mark Bingham of United Flight 93 62 Sticking point 63 Gal Friday, e.g. 64 Pepper, for one: Abbr. 65 Half a cocktail 66 Come quickly ANSWERS ON PAGE 62
the limits of taking action. The longer road is sometimes harder to take, but could be significantly rewarding. SCORPIO Oct. 23–Nov. 21 Despite appearances, a family member may not be as eager to assist as they appear. If you must enlist help, be sure to show gratitude. A challenging development isn’t as bad as it seems, so don’t let it break you. Sometimes, waiting out stress is a more prudent measure to take, especially if it has to do with work matters.
TAURUS Apr 20–May 20 Life feels flat right now. Find substantial activities and a bubble of good cheer will come to fruition. Enjoy getting to know a sweet person even better, even if it puts another friend on hold for a while. It doesn’t hurts to break from the familiar. In fact, this may be the best time for it. The social scene is about to expand greatly.
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22–December 20. Slipping out during the middle of a fight is not a bad idea. You aren’t running away, but simply gaining composure. Let the fighters wear themselves out and kill them with tact instead of anger. The most intense opposition comes from someone you love. Don’t seek to destroy this person, or the relationship could falter.
GEMINI May 21–June 20 Start everyday with a smile, and watch demons run away. While there are no actual demons, there are certainly people who don’t care as much you think. Filter out the junk and reevaluate relationships. There is nothing more satisfying than blowing off annoyances. Make time for those who share a mutual sense of value.
CAPRICORN Dec 21–Jan 19 A loved one is bound to provide support when dealing with a financial strain. You often thrive during challenging times, but there could be a chance of reaching the limits. Accept all the support possible, and heavy burdens won’t seem so bad. In the end, not only will you prevail, but become stronger as a result. Hang in there!
CANCER June 21–July 22 Do whatever it takes to overcome a nagging problem. A friend or family member is often the cause of anxiety due to high expectations. Caring too much can be a problem, so decide to give in to the temptation to stop feeling so deep. Take time to travel or get away from career obligations, even if it is for a short time.
AQUARIUS Jan. 20–Feb. 18 While loyalty is a concept you hold in high regard, the temptation to rebel is real. Don’t allow a smothering friend or lover to push too hard, or you could do something regrettable. Friends and family will be delighted to spend time, so don’t deny them an opportunity. Though it may seem dull, it is bound to inspire.
LEO July 23–August 22 A family member will try being nice, but end up feeling ignored. Recognizing the error is the best thing you can do to patch up with this person. There is a good chance you will end up as the hero, which is a good thing. Be open minded when dealing with a sensitive soul. They know something vital you should know.
PISCES Feb 19–Mar 19 A good push toward greatness is a wonderful way to get the juice of innovation flowing. A current dry spell is due to overworking, and a change of venue is in order. A compelling visitation with a lovely person will present new ideas and a social gathering will leave you equally as intrigued. Enjoy expanding your horizons. Q
VIRGO August 23–Sep. 22 Being stuck is the result of a sticky situation on the home front. It may not seem relevant now, but the biggest factor is a need to be valued. Find a better way to fit in, such as a creative contribution or an insightful composition. A boss or idol will create some confusion by blurring the lines between duty and desire. LIBRA Sept 23–October 22 Repeating a mistake could happen easily, so tread carefully in matters of the heart. While it may seem prudent to liberate, a loss of security is a natural consequence. Frequently examine those around you to determine
吀䄀刀伀吀 䘀漀爀攀挀愀猀琀椀渀最Ⰰ 愀渀猀眀攀爀猀 愀渀搀 猀漀氀甀琀椀漀渀猀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 氀椀昀攀ᤠ猀 焀甀攀猀琀椀漀渀猀
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MARKETPLACE | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 49
july 2016 | issue 257
BARBER
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50 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | FITNESS
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
fitness
Getting Warmer BY TYSON DAYLEY
The warm-up
to most people’s workouts is incredibly inefficient. Five minutes of getting warm the right way can greatly reduce your risk of injury as well as enhancing your performance. Most commonly I see warm-ups consisting of riding a stationary bike for five minutes followed by a couple of toe touches to get limber, then right into difficult weights. While there’s nothing wrong with starting your workout with light cardio to get the blood flowing it just doesn’t do anything specific for the day’s exercise. This is where a workout specific warm-up comes in. Using a specific exercise from the workout start with much lighter weight and ramping it up over a few sets until you’re close to what is considered “working weight.” For example, on chest day you start with just the bar and bench press a few sets to get acclimated, versus simply throwing your weights on and going for it. The idea behind this ramping weight strategy is that your nervous system and muscles will gradually acclimate to the weight through the sets; the goal is to be primed and ready but not worn out. It’s recommended that these sets are done in a relatively slow and controlled manner. This practice is tried and tested with most high-level bodybuilders, power lifters and Olympic lifters as a means of ensuring a quality workout session with reduced risk of injury. The time investment is so minimal that I’d highly recommend this method to anyone engaging in any form of weight lifting. What’s the rush? It’s always better to do something right than fast; take your time and warm up properly for better results.
Tyson Dayley trains clients at the Sugar House 24 Hour Fitness by appointment. He is also available for private training in noncommercial settings. He can be reached at tyson@qsaltlake.com
BOOKS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 51
july 2016 | issue 257 | gaysaltlake.com
the bookworm sez Fair Play: How LGBT Athletes are Claiming Their Rightful Place in Sports BY CYD ZEIGLER C.2016, AKASHIC BOOKS $15.95 207 PAGES
As long as your team wins. That’s all that matters, isn’t it – just that they win? You don’t care what they ate for breakfast. You don’t give a rat what they weighed this morning. And, as in the new book “Fair Play” by Cyd Zeigler, you don’t care who they sleep with. Less than a generation ago, if a professional athlete came out publicly as gay, it was cause for controversy (at best) and harassment (at worst), from the stands and from the locker room. In today’s arena, however, gay and lesbian athletes enjoy wider acceptance from fans and followers; sadly, the intolerance that formerly came from the bleachers can now just as easily come from behind the scenes. It used to start early, but while there are still some problems with hazing in high school locker rooms, Zeigler indicates that many public schools are more inclusionary of gay athletes and staff than they’ve ever been. High schools are also less willing to put up with incidents of homophobia. In college sports, though, something different emerges: teasing (which is mentally depleting, despite that it’s ostensibly meant for bonding), hazing (of which Zeigler demands an end), anti-gay rhetoric (at religious institutions), and general torment are all practiced and are psychically hurtful to anyone, but particularly to gay athletes. Conversely, lesbians and transgender athletes’ experi-
ences almost bookend those of gay men. On one hand, lesbian athletes receive unusually high fan-tolerance, which may be because higher numbers of lesbian athletes are matter-offactly uncloseted; indeed, when a female athlete comes out as lesbian, it’s rarely newsworthy anymore. On the far other hand, many transgender athletes still receive fierce backlash. Yet, times are changing, albeit gradually. Teammates and staff who voice homophobia might now receive punishment along with negative fan reaction. Mere humanity makes a difference, too. The biggest change, though, seems to come from fans, and from their quiet acknowledgement that a players’ sexuality doesn’t matter at all to an enjoyment of the game itself. With bullying as such a hot topic in schools and media these days, it was only a matter of time (and it’s about time) that someone tackled the subject in context of the sporting world. Even so, I was rather disappointed to see that “Fair Play,” although its subtitle indicates that it’s about LGBT athletes, is more about gay males in sports. I suppose one could argue that most professional sports are male-dominated, but author Cyd Zeigler, though he admits his focal point, truly needed more about lesbians, and bisexual and transgender players. That slim coverage left me wanting. Still, it’s hard not to be fascinated with what’s definitely not your usual game coverage. Zeigler is a nationally-known sports writer, and this book is filled with insider peeks, big-name examples, astonishing incidents, and up-and-comer encouragement – therefore, ultimately, what’s in this book overshadows what’s not, and it becomes something that I think will be enlightening for fans both straight and gay. Despite a little lacking, if you’re an armchair cheerleader, then, “Fair Play” will really score. Q
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52 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | FRIVOLIST
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
the frivolist
7 steps to weaning yourself off social media for a more memorable summer BY MIKEY ROX
We all
love social media – myself included. But if checking in, updating statuses, taking photos of your food and scrolling through the bubble butts of Instagram are taking up too much of your time – and thereby leaving less of it to actually enjoy life – perhaps it’s time for a break. This summer, get back to basics – and remember what it’s like to live real life in real time – with these ways to wean yourself off Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and the like for a more memorable summer.
(and if you did, you wouldn’t be reading this article) – you’ll get disappointed and head straight back into the habit for comfort. Give yourself time to adjust and evaluate how you feel about the change in a trial run before committing to a longer-term hiatus.
provisions in place on your office computer first then try it on your PC.
6. ASK A FRIEND TO JOIN YOU IN YOUR MORATORIUM We’ve been taught about the buddy system since we were kids for good reason – it works. If you don’t think you can implement a social media moratorium on your own, ask a friend if they’ll join you. Certainly it’s not the most attractive proposition, but I bet you can find someone in your circle who’s secretly lamenting their own social media use. Put a plan in place that you’ll both follow, and help support each
1. SET A TIME LIMIT FOR DAILY SOCIAL MEDIA USE If you’re constantly checking social media for new likes and comments, and scrolling through every-other-second posts from your friends, the easiest way to stop relying on your favorite platforms to cull your boredom is to set a time limit for usage. You don’t have to go cold turkey straight out the gate but rather condition yourself to hop online for, say, one hour a day. You can use the hour up in one fell swoop, or you can break it down to 15 minutes four times a day. However you want to portion it is fine, so long as you stick to the limit you’ve set for yourself. If you need help, set a timer to hold yourself accountable.
2. CHANGE YOUR NOTIFICATION SETTINGS To avoid getting sucked into a downward spiral of wasted time, change the notification settings on your phone so you’re not pinged whenever somebody posts their pearls of wisdom. When you’re not alerted to their musings every time you blink, it’ll be easier to put social media on the back burner in a Ron Popeil kinda way.
3. SCHEDULE A TRIAL RUN FOR BEING FREE OF SOCIAL MEDIA Whenever I’ve tried to cut something out of my life – like smoking, for instance – I’ve had greater success in setting reasonable, achievable milestones, like eliminating the habit from my daily routine for a week opposed to adopting a mentality of complete abolishment forever. The problem with the latter is that if you fail – and you likely will because the endgame is too harsh to accept unless you have serious discipline
4. DELETE THE APPS FROM YOUR PHONE Last year, I self-imposed a social media ban for about a month and a half when I was dealing with a lot of stress in my personal life, and I found it much easier to stick to my guns when the apps weren’t on my phone. By removing them altogether, they’re out of sight, out of mind. If you start experiencing withdrawal symptoms, their nonexistence on your phone will give you pause so you can collect yourself, think about whether you really need to access the apps while (hopefully) choosing to continue the hiatus.
5. BLOCK YOUR FAVORITE PLATFORMS ON YOUR COMPUTER If you’re afraid that you’ll succumb to weakness when you’re on the computer – especially since the apps are no longer on your phone – block the platforms on your browser. This is accomplished differently on each browser, but a quick Internet search will walk your through the steps. This is probably more important at work than it is at home, so put the
other through the process. You’ll find it easier to accomplish when you have a crutch – and you might even develop a strong bond with one another because of it.
7. START LIVING FOR THE MOMENT Shunning social media for the summer is not all for naught. The reason for going dark is so you can let more real life happen. Fill the time you’d normally spend on social media with more productive activities, like exercise, concentrating on work or enjoying the company of your friends and family without having your faces buried in the blue light of a smartphone. Sounds like an impossible feat in this day and age, but it wasn’t that long ago that we all used to talk to one another face to face without worrying about what digital strangers are up to. Which may pose a deeper question for your reflection: Why do you even care? Q Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. Connect with Mikey on Twitter @mikeyrox.
GAY WRITES | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 53
july 2016 | issue 257 | gaysaltlake.com
gay writes BY THOMAS CUSHMAN
INTERSTATE COMMUNION Driving along the Interstate, in the West, on an early Summer evening, my attention presses forward along the road that rolls out ahead, making plans for a life not nearly finished. My attention stretches back with the road behind to the places I’ve just been seconds, minutes, years ago. Out here, in the West, on the Interstate, for long hours as darkness takes its time descending, I can almost feel that it is not the sun which sets, but rather it is the earth rolling me back, and down, and away from the light.
Join us for music, beer garden, food, children’s activities, pet parade, entertainment and more as we celebrate our second year To volunteer, donate, get a vendor booth or to be a sponsor, visit ogdenpride.org
Out here, in the Summer, on the Interstate, at night, when the darkness is done descending, the darkness is not quite complete. Down to the left reflective stripes flash by. Over to the right mile markers rise and fall. These discreet moments of light only reinforce the vast blackness in which they lie.
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Out here, in the West, on the high plains of the night, there might be nothing between me and the stars; no clouds, no sky, no sun, no moon, I might even be on a timeless journey between distant worlds, only an illuminated dash for navigation, otherwise enveloped by starry black. Out here, at night, alone, speeding smoothly along, through immense dark, I feel alive, and singular, and comfortably a part of this anonymous universe.
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Gay Writes is a DiverseCity Series writing group, a program of SLCC’s Community Writing Center. The group meets the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month, 6:30-8pm, 210 E. 400 South, Ste. 8, Salt Lake. Lucky13_160331_Full_2.indd 1
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54 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | UTAH PRIDE 2016
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
PICS OF PRIDE16 Thousands attended the Utah Pride Festival and the Utah Pride Parade. These photos were taken for Utah Pride by Alex Gallivan Photography. See more and get prints at his website: gallivanphotography.com/Events/Festivals/2016-Utah-Pride-Festival/
july 2016 | issue 257 | gaysaltlake.com
UTAH PRIDE PARADE 2016 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 55
56 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | NIGHTLIFE
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
princess kennedy
Damn These Heels: 3 must-see trans* documentaries BY PRINCESS KENNEDY
What an
epic month we’ve all had. First, I have to thank everyone that was involved and came to my annual pride party at the Green Pig. It was extremely successful and I am remiss not to mention that when I say my party, I actually mean our party because there were many, many people involved in bringing about the fun day. I especially want to give a huge shout out to Bridget Gordon, fabulous ally to the gay community and owner of the Green Pig, whom without her none of it would have been possible. I was able to spend the month at other gay prides (I’m currently at New York’s) and was in Los Angeles the day of the the Pulse nightclub horror. It was such a bittersweet day to be able to share the experience with thousands of our fellow community at L.A. Pride, to which I have to give kudos to the way they handled the situation and pulled it off. While in L.A., I was asked to audition for a new Netflix series that will be coming out later this year. In my middle-age I have little interest in such endeavors as the stage and screen, but still it was nice to be asked, it was brought to my attention by one of my actor friends that trans* is the
new fabulous and that I should consider moving to L.A. and get an agent because I would probably be able to find work. That was an adventure I had in my 20s and like most things in my life, a day late and a million dollars short. I don’t really see myself as a trendsetter. It’s time once again for our LGBTQ film festival that we so lovingly and mysteriously call Damn These Heels (there actually is no real explanation for the name). If you have been a regular DTH-goer, then no doubt you have been impressed with the growth of the festival, and this year is no exception. While perusing the lineup of flicks, this is the first year I wanted to see them all! There are three documentary films for you to grasp the set of challenges that transgender people face. THE TRANS LIST: This is a pretty straightforward documentary from filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Saunders. Saunders is well known for his ‘List’ series: “Black List”, “Out List”, “Latino List”, etc. In this documentary he explores the range of experiences lived by Americans who identify as transgender. MAJOR!: A powerful documentary exploring the life of Miss Major GriffinGracy, a formerly incarcerated black
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transgender senior and activist who has been fighting for the rights of imprisoned transgenders as well as trans* women of color for over 40 years — prepare to fall in love. She lives up to her name. THE PEARL: A documentary that explores the raw emotional and physical experience of being a middle-aged to senior trans woman. The film travels with four women in there early stages of coming out as they attend the Esprit Conference, an annual event in northernmost Washington where transgender women that have lived closeted their whole lives come together in an environment that allows them to express their true identity. From there we get to follow four women for three years as they grapple with the varying degrees of transition. DTH has never disappointed with a closing night film and party. The film: “Strike a Pose” follows the dancers (three gay, one straight) of Madonna’s Truth or Dare Tour and there lives after. The party, July 17, will feature two of said dancers Luis Camacho and Kevin Stea and will be at Club JAM, 751 N. 300 West, where local fave Indi Skies will be throwing her very own DTH Ball. The festival runs July 15–17 at Rose Wagner Center, 138 W. 300 South. For all the information on films, times and packages visit utahfilmcenter.org. It’s very important for us to support this year in the wake of the fire that ravaged the Utah Film Center. Please come and show your love and let them know we are honored to have such an amazing event here in SLC. Q
july 2016 | issue 257 | gaysaltlake.com
NIGHTLIFE | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 57
58 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | FINAL WORD
gaysaltlake.com | issue 257 | july 2016
the perils of petunia pap smear
A tale of pride after the fall depending on your position. Once the immediate breathing problem was solved, Harry-It slowly helped me extricate myself from the carnage. Bruised and scraped, I mostly sat on a stool and watched as the rest of the Matrons arrived and finished building the float. I arrived at the parade on Sunday morning with a bruised body and spirit, but was determined to rise above my lot in life. As I climbed onto the float, Karma, that eternal bitch, threw her final insult at me. My beehive hair would not fit into the carriage, thus after my near death experience, I couldn’t ride in it.
ter how heroic — would be futile in preventing this slow motion re-enactment of The Poseidon Adventure. I heard Harry-It cry Toony, Toony! That’s what she calls me when we’re alone. When in public, I insist that she refer to me as “Your Royal Highness, Petunia.” Of course I refer to her as just “It.” Harry-It was dragged over the top of the carriage riding the hitch just like a Wagnerian Valkyrie — of course minus the horned helmet and chest plate — as it plummeted to the asphalt. The carriage landed upside down, and I landed on my head. I heard Harry-It frantically yelling, but I was muffled by large and fluffy flaps of chubby tummy that had succumbed to gravity and were covering my face, thus suffocating me. Harry-It, being ever so resourceful (she was raised on a farm in Idaho, too) quickly jumped from the carriage and grabbed a section of garden hose that was lying about and thrust it between two flabby folds, attempting to find my mouth, thus enabling me to breath. It took her three attempts before she was able to find the correct fold. For the morbidly curious, it was the third fold from the top, or fourth roll from the bottom
PUZZLE SOLUTIONS
This story leaves us with several important questions: 1. Should I begin a Miss French Fry pageant here in Utah? 2. Don’t you find that it’s just more pleasant to label unsightly things such as a large buttocks in Latin? 3. Should I not have been honored when NASA forced me to register as a Celestial Object? 4. Should I have been insulted when NASA started tracking my movements with the Hubble Space Telescope? These and other eternal questions shall be answered in future chapters of the Perils of Petunia Pap Smear. Q,
Cryptogram: “WE WILL NOT TURN OUR CLUB INTO A POLICE STATE, BUT WILL DO WHAT WE CAN DO MAKE OUR CUSTOMERS FEEL SAFE.” —GENE GIEBER, CLUB TRY-ANGLES
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HEELS
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Anagram: DAMN THESE
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colored petal paper and glitter in Utah. Already posed on top of the float was a giant alligator with ruby red lips pulling a golden glitter-covered princess carriage, suitable for Cinderella. My heart leaped for joy. I figured that since I was the most senior of the Matrons of Mayhem — the “Major M.O.M.” as it were — I would be the honored queen to sit in this most special of seats on the float. Before Harry-It could stop me, or even aware of what I was doing, I excitedly mounted the float more adeptly than any desperate queen mounts the last leatherclad dude at last call. I was most curious as to whether my Boducus Rotundus Bunndickus would actually fit in the seat. As I got into the carriage and placed my Aisle Blocker Buns on the seat, I was astonished — there was about three inches to spare. I was so relieved the bench could accommodate my Tuba Luba Pantaloons that I decided to relax into the seat and practice parade waving. The wrist does get a bit rusty, you know. Unbeknownst to me, the carriage was not yet securely fastened to the deck of the float. As my plentiful girth shifted the fulcrum point of the carriage, it began to tip, ever so slowly, backward. I reached forward to shift the weight and reverse the action, but momentum, being what it is, had already sailed that very large ship. By now, Harry-It was aware of what was happening and she jumped to my aid, grabbing the hitch of the carriage. Well, those who know me also know that by just passing close by can cause smaller planets to leave their orbits; thus any effort Harry-It was going to attempt — no mat-
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The road
BY PETUNIA PAP SMEAR
to the Pride Parade is fraught with danger and excitement. I have always loved parades. When I was a little princess in training, I asked my mother to drag me to Preston, Idaho each July, for the Preston Rodeo Parade, which occurred on three consecutive nights. As a lonely Ida-homo princess in training, I had dreamed about being crowned with the grand title of Miss Id-Da-Ho Potato Queen. Or if I had lived further north in Madison County, it would be the title of Miss Russet, Spud Queen. Or even farther north in Kootenai County, where the title was “The Old Koot.” In my basement bedroom I would sit alone for hours on end, practicing the proper parade queen’s wave, which has three distinctive steps: 1. Screw the light bulb in twice 2. Wash the window twice 3. Touch the pearl necklace once; repeat. I was always especially enthralled by the actual Rodeo Queens because of the distinctive karate chop motion of their queenly waves. I’ll bet there is hardly a queen here in Utah that hasn’t dreamed of being crowned the Cache County Dairy Princess and being perched atop a mountain of chicken wire and crepe paper, waving to all her subjects while sitting on a throne made of Cache Valley cheese. So you can imagine my excitement when the Matrons of Mayhem decided to have a float in the Utah Pride Parade. I arrived early on Saturday morning, the day before the Pride Parade, to help build the float. Harry-It Winston was already there, scurrying around, gathering all the rainbow-
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