QSaltLake Magazine - September 2016 issue

salt lake GaySaltLake.com FREE

magazine

UTAH’S GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER AND ALLY

September 2016 Issue 259

Salt Lake County Mayoral Candidate Dave Robinson Republican and Gay

PHOTO: DAVID DANIELS

FALL ARTS GUIDE • JACKIE & BETTY MARRY • TEGAN & SARA IN SLC • MERYL STREEP

Come see the difference a little love can make!

• Allergy Testing • End-of-Life Care • Behavioral Medicine • Cat Friendly Vet

• Pain Management • Cancer Treatment • Internet Veterinary Medicine • Behavioral Counseling • Veterinary Diagnostics & Lab

• Wellness Care • Dental Care • Veterinary Surgery • Boarding • Grooming • K-9 Rehabilitation

801.294.5960 • UtahAnimalCare.com • 698 W 500 S, West Bountiful, Utah 84087 2016 BEST OF STATE WINNER!

Where dogs come to play!

g rdin REE a o F b e On ight of n e or ith this(1a) dper customer r a c w only, One rt location day mers at airpo ls ta custo nly New Valid o all for de C

Boarding • Daycare • Dog Wash • High Quality Webcams • Pet Shuttle Utah Dog Park Airport 1977 W North Temple, SLC

Utah Dog Park Woods Cross 596 W 1500 S, Woods Cross

801.683.3647

UtahDogPark.com

PARK CITY I N STITUTE PRESENTS

BIG STARS BRIGHT NIGHTS 2016

AUGUST 25 | 7:00 PM TRACE ADKINS

AUGUST 27 | 7:00 PM TICKETS FROM $40 BOX OFFICE 435-655-3114 BIGSTARSBRIGHTNIGHTSCONCERTS.ORG

CONCERT SERIES AT DEER VALLEY© RESORT SNOW PARK OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER. SUMMIT C

O

U

N

UTAH

T

Y

ANDY GARCIA & CINESON ALL STARS

SEPTEMBER 3 | 7 PM JEWEL

4 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | THE FIRST WORD

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

Dennis McCracken Artistic Director

WE REMEMBER A PATRIOT DAY TRIBUTE

September 8-9, 2016 • 7:30pm First Baptist Church • SLC, UT

General Admission Tickets: $15 US Military, Veterans, Law Enforcement, and FIrefighters receive a $5 Discount

Tickets available now from choir members, at Club Try-Angles, the Salt Lake City Library Store, or online at brownpapertickets.com

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 5

Anti-Aging & Skincare:

• BOTOX® Cosmetic • JUVÉDERM® • RADIESSE® Dermal Fillers • RADIESSE® for HIV/Facial Lipoatrophy • PREVELLE® SilkLip Augmentation • LATISSE® Lash Enhancer • Sun Damage Removal • Acne Care & Scar Removal • Obagi Skin Transformation

Weight Loss

• HCG Weight Loss Program • B12 & Vitamin Cocktail Injections • Nutritional Counseling • Lifestyle Counseling • Appetite Suppressants

Massage

• Hot Stone Massage • Couple Massage • Joava Body Wrap • 4-Handed Massage

Hair Care Nail Care Ion Cleansers Acupuncture Facials Laser Hair Removal Chemical Peels Microderm Abrasion Yoga Classes Belly Dancing Classes Guruprasad Singh, MA, LPC presents:

• Yoga for Health & Happiness • Heal Your Addiction Now • Men Alive: Yoga & Meditation Exploration Group

A New Day Spa 3975 S Highland Drive Holladay, UT 84124

801-272-3900 anewdayspa.net

SEPTEMBER 9-25

6 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

No dental insurance?

Save money with our dental discount plan For as little as $15/m you can enjoy all the benefits of dental insurance.

 Free exams  Free x-rays  Free cleanings  40% off all treatment

Dr Joseph Benzon, DDS

Located in Bountiful & Salt Lake

Salt Lake 2150 S. Main St 104 801-883-9177

Bountiful 425 S. Medical Dr 211 801-397-5220

www.alpenglowdentists.com

To schedule an appointment, please call 801.878.1700 Evening and Saturday Appointments Available Most Insurances Accepted

2016/2017 MADAME BUTTERFLY november 4–13

THE NUTCRACKER december 2–26

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY february 10–26

THE LITTLE MERMAID march 30–april 2

JOURNEYS AND REFLECTIONS chaconne, façades, and the green table

april 7–15

ballet west

NATIONAL CHOREOGRAPHIC FESTIVAL may 19–27

call 801·869·6920 visit balletwest.org principal artists arolyn williams & christopher ruud | photo by beau pearson

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

| QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 7

Experience

the Difference Career Opportunities Available

Member Services Representative

Software Sales Specialist

Customer Service Gaming Guru

Travel Consultant (Sabre)

Full and Part time • Paid training • Excellent Benefits after 60 days • Casual fun environment Exciting contests and events • Schedules to fit your lifestyles • Unlimited Career Opportunities Immediate positions available

Salt Lake City • Sandy • Ogden

Proudly Employing our Military Families

8 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | NEWS

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

Working for a fair and just Utah

175 West 200 South, Suite 1004, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 P: 801.355.3479 | F: 801.355.5020 equalityutah.org @equalityutah

FIRST WORD | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 9

september 2016 | issue 259 | 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 12 15 Dave Robinson

The GOP candidate for Salt Lake County Mayor also happens to be a gay man.

Jackie & Betty wed

Wedding of the year.

Tegan & Sara

Identical twins pop duo Love You to Death and are heading to Salt Lake City

NEWS �������������������������������������������������������������������10

A&E �������������������������������������������������������������������������30

Top news of the month Gov. Herbert on Penthouse’s cover SL County offers trans* health care coverage Qmmunity news briefs

Tony Hobday’s Gay Agenda ParTy?

VIEWS �����������������������������������������������������������������18 BYU doesn’t belong in the Big 12 Creep of the month: Scott Lively Gay Utah in the 40s

FOOD & DRINK �������������������������������������������37 Dining Guide

LIFESTYLE ���������������������������������������������������������49 Living with a roommate Why you should laugh in bed Utah Rebellion

from the publisher

Contact emails: general: info@qsaltlake.com editorial: editor@qsaltlake.com sales: sales@qsaltlake.com

I hate fall

Check us out online at:

GAYSALTLAKE.COM | FACEBOOK.COM/QSALTLAKE TWITTER @QSALTLAKE

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.

34

BY MICHAEL AARON

I love

summer. I live in Utah largely because of the summer, simply existing through winter as I wait for summer to return.

I hate when summer begins to fade. It’s like being on vacation and realizing it’s only a day or so before you have to go back home.

It means it’s gonna start getting cold.

No more outdoor festivals. No more tooling around in Utah’s mountains and deserts.

No more lying around on a Sunday morning, naked on the deck with a cup of coffee and the newspaper.

I’ll miss pulling out the tent and driving who-knows-where.

And now, as fall approaches, all I think about is all the stuff I have to do to get the

yard and house ready for winter. That all sounds like work.

And, it’s time to pull out the long-sleeved shirts, the cute sweaters, and the layered look. It’s time to drive through the canyons to see the leaves. It’s time to abandon the outdoor projects that never had a prayer of being finished to work on and begin the indoor projects that don’t have a prayer of being finished.

It’s time to see the new arts season and rehearse for a fall concert with the Salt Lake Men’s Choir. It’s time to dust out the fireplace for those ‘stay at home and cuddle with a movie’ nights.

I love fall. Q

10 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | NEWS

news The top things you should know happened last month (Full stories at gaysaltlake.com.)

Gay Games at the 2016 Olympics If Team LGBTI were a country, it currently ties with Poland and Taipei in 21st place for the total medal count. The 2016 Olympics has a record 49 out LGBTI athletes in this year’s Olympics, as well as three coaches, according to a list compiled by outsports.com.

In Rio, a straight journalist from The Daily Beast was criticized after using Bumble, Grindr, Jack’d and Tinder to write a piece on gay hook-ups among Olympians, with details about the athletes he chatted with, effectively outing them.

Some of those athletes come from countries that are notoriously anti-gay.

The writer, Nico Hines, says he did not set out to write specifically about gay athletes but his piece focused almost entirely on them.

After a Twitter backlash, editors began to edit his article.

Among other things, the headline and header image were changed since publication. Editors tried to downplay that the piece was all about gay hook-up sex, although it was. Eventually the story was pulled entirely.

Center court for engagement of WNBA’s Elena Delle Donne WNBA star Elena Delle Donne announced her engagement to Amanda Clifton. “It’s not a

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

coming out or anything. I’ve been with her for a very long time now, and people who are close to me know that, and that’s that,” she said in Vogue magazine.

Delle Donne told reporters in Rio ahead of the 2016 Olympics that she was interviewed in the home she shares with Clifton.

“As the future keeps moving on, I don’t plan on having our relationship out in the public but I decided I’m not at all going to hide anything,” she added.

Donne plays for the Chicago Sky and is on the US Olympic Team in Brazil.

Scouts benefit from inclusive policy It’s been a year since the Boy Scouts of America ended the blanket ban on participation by gay adults. Several of the biggest sponsors of Scout units, including the Roman Catholic, Mormon and Southern Baptist churches reviewed their affiliation with the BSA and ultimately took no action to end troop sponsorship.

BSA reports scouting is stabilizing, though not yet thriving. Youth membership is starting to stabilize after years of decline, corporations have resumed their support, and the vast majority of units affiliated with conservative religious denominations continued with their sponsorship. BSA policy still allows the exclusion of gay adults in accordance with a church’s religious doctrine.

Strange LGBT goings on at RNC There were some awkward moments at the Republican National Convention last month: Delegates passed a platform containing anti-LGBT language which was disavowed by the LGBT-leaning Log Cabin Republicans.

Peter Thiel, founder of PayPal, declared, “Every American has a

unique identity. I am proud to be gay.” He was applauded by the same delegates who booed “Ted Cruz” for not endorsing the Republican Nominee.

In his acceptance speech the nominee said that he “will do everything” to protect LGBT communities from violence from what he called a “foreign ideology.” He got cheers for saying it and thanked the audience for the applause.

Cleveland Gay escorts reported their revenue tripled during the RNC meeting. They reported action with many “first timers and obviously married men.”

Not so strange at DNC A week later at the DNC in Philadelphia; 120 speakers, including President Obama, VP Biden and nominee Clinton, mentioned LGBT issues or accomplishments from the convention podium.

LGBT rights speakers included Sean Patrick Maloney and Sarah McBride, as well as Sen. Tammy Baldwin and three other openly gay members of Congress. LGBT sports figure Jason Collins also spoke.

There were 600 LGBT DNC delegates and alternates in 50 of 57 delegations.

In the “dog bites man” category, no reports of increase gay escort activity or even long lines at the men’s room were made.

USS Harvey Milk, fleet oiler Ray Mabus, the secretary of the Navy, has notified Congress that he will name a fleet oiler for Harvey Milk. Milk joined the Navy in 1951 and was stationed in San Diego as a diving instructor “When Harvey Milk served in the military, he couldn’t tell anyone who he truly was,” Mabus wrote. Milk’s parents also served in the Navy; his mother was a “yeomanette”

during World War I, according to Milk’s biography.

Tallywackers down, not out In a blow to Dallas oglers, Tallywackers, the all-male version of Hooters, announced it was closed for good, according to reports on social media.

Situated in Dallas’ Oak Lawn gayborhood, Tallywackers made national headlines when it debuted as one of the nation’s first restaurants to feature scantily clad male servers offering up mediocre food but good views.

Making a quick recovery, Tallywackers announced that the closing is only temporary while it looks for a new home.

Management said Tallywackers got so big it was bursting at the seams and needed bigger space to continue to function.

“Not for us” says Clinton campaign Seddique Mateen appeared on the riser at a Hillary Clinton rally in Orlando. Mateen is the father of Omar Mateen who was killed by police after he killed or wounded over 100 people at the Pulse night club in June 2016. Omar Mateen claimed allegiance to ISIS in calls to Orlando Police during the terrorist attack.

Seddique Mateen is an Afghanistan native living in Florida. He has claimed to be a candidate for president of Afghanistan and expressed sympathies for the Taliban.

Mateen told news media that he wished his son “had joined the Army and fought ISIS. That would be much better” [than taking the lives of 49 innocent people].and, “Hillary Clinton is good for the country.”

The Clinton campaign commented: “She disagrees with his views and disavows his support.”

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

NEWS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 11

‘Penthouse’: Utah Gov. Herbert wants to handle your penis Penthouse magazine featured Utah’s governor on its latest cover — in an unusual way.

An irreverent headline, which reads: “Utah’s governor wants to handle your penis,” is a hit directed at Gary Herbert.

The Republican governor declared pornography a public health crisis in a resolution in April.

Penthouse has published a story criticizing the text, which outlines the fight against the ‘pornography epidemic’ - and made sure to mention Herbert’s name in a prime spot.

The cover, which advertises Penthouse’s ‘shameless issue’, features model Noelle Monique with the Stars And Stripes in the background.

Utah’s resolution, signed by Herbert and sponsored by Sen. Todd Weiler and Rep. Curtis Oda, claims that pornography

is “linked to lessening desire in young men to marry.”

It also accuses pornography of causing “dissatisfaction in marriage and infidelity,” and to have “a detrimental effect on the family unit.”

The text proclaims the need for “education, prevention, research, and policy change; to address the ‘pornography epidemic” in Utah and in the United States.

Larry Flynt, the founder and publisher of adult magazine Hustler, sent free copies to members of Utah’s State Legislature in June to protest against the resolution.

Penthouse followed suit by sending Herbert’s office a copy of its latest issue.

Being called out by Penthouse amounts to being “on the right side of history,” a spokesman for Herbert said.

“The fact that the industry feels so threatened by a nonbinding resolution meant to raise awareness of this problem shows you just how desperate they can be,”he added.

Resolutions by the governor of Utah are used to express positions or the intent behind a possible law. Q

165 S Main Street, Suite 200 Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

12 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | NEWS

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

Dave Robinson wants to be Utah’s highest ranking gay elected official

BY MICHAEL AARON

Dave Robinson is not big on labels. So, when he ran in the nonpartisan Salt Lake City mayoral race, that suited him just fine.

“I’ve been either a registered Independent or unaffiliated all my adult life,” he said of his political leanings.

So, when he was approached by leaders within the Republican party to run for Salt Lake County Mayor, against incumbent Ben McAdams, he had to set one thing straight: He isn’t.

“I told them they better think deeper and harder about a queer man running on their Republican ticket.

He was told the “gay issue wasn’t an issue.”

They even went so far as to

tell him they would work to ensure he didn’t have a primary race.

And that is, in fact, how it played out.

“You know, I’ve had real, genuine support for this race from within the Republican party,” he said. “Yeah, there are some crazies, but they are far and few between.”

He gave the idea of running a great deal of thought, and decided there were a number of issues dear to his heart that differed between him and the incumbent.

If elected, he would be the highest-ranking gay person in the state.

ANOTHER LABEL Another label he’s refused to put upon himself is “victim.”

“I was raised LDS right up the road from [Utah Eagle Forum director] Gayle Ruzicka,” he said. “I left home at 15 and I also went on an LDS mission.”

His father hated him. Really hated him. Dave was in a typical LDS family, where all the boys and his father were athletic. Each of his brothers went on to collegiate sports. But he had no interest.

“I just had no desire,” he said. “Sports just didn’t reflect on me.”

“It may have been all that polyester,” he quipped with a chuckle.

He moved out of his house at 15, arranging for himself to live with another family in the ward.

But that was not enough for his father.

“My father was obsessed until the day he died with his hatred toward me,” he said.

“He would publicly say I was a con man, a child molester.”

When a brother, his father’s favorite, died in an auto/pedestrian accident, leaving behind a young wife and four little kids, his father took to the podium at sacrament meeting.

“He said it was truly hell when you lose the son you love, but the son you despise is still alive,” Robinson relayed that someone in his ward told him. “I wasn’t listed in the obituary. I also wasn’t listed in my father’s obituary when he died.”

In fact, when his father died, Robinson went for the first time in 20 years to his family home with flowers for his mother.

No one answered the door, and he sat on the porch and waited. He was met by three PHOTO: DAVID DANIELS

NEWS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 13

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

American Fork police officers who told him he’d better leave.

“I haven’t been in a family photo for over 20 years,” he said.

“But, I don’t hold it against any of them,” he said. “I never have.”

“That is the story of a kid who commits suicide,” he said.

“But I refuse to be a victim.

Instead, it makes me want to go out and kick some ass.”

And that, rather than a defeatist attitude, is where Robinson gets his drive to make a difference in this world.

RANCH HAND TO ENTREPRENEUR When he moved from his home as a teen, he paid for his room and board by being a ranch hand for the family.

Now he has become an entrepreneur.

“I own a couple of businesses here in Salt Lake County,” he said. “One is a home building company that takes underutilized properties, governed by strict zoning, oversight committees, and commissions, and helps them contribute to the neighborhood.”

City Block LLC specializes in the downtown market and takes the buyer from property acquisition to design and permitting to the actual construction.

“There is a ton of red tape,” he said, “but in the end, zoning comes around and realizes it’s in the city or county’s best interest to find ways to make a project happen while addressing the needs of the neighborhood.”

He also works on saving open lands in Salt Lake’s canyons through his company SS Consulting.

“I believe we need to protect the watershed, protect open space and protect the backcountry,” Robinson says.

Another endeavor he works on is providing housing for larger conventions that come through Salt Lake. Before

AirBnB became popular, Robinson was running a locally grown version called Convention Housing.

“The Governor’s Office shows that we have a 1,000 bed shortage during the Outdoor Retailer show.,” Robinson explains. “We were able to host a total of 4,000 bed nights last summer.”

DIFFERENCES WITH MCADAMS The reason Robinson chose to run against a popular incumbent is that there are major issues, in his mind, that are not being addressed.

“People tell me I’m being mean to Ben,” he said, “but all I’m doing is pointing out things I would do differently.”

One of those things is addressing the convention housing deficit.

“What we need is surge housing,” Robinson explains.

“The idea of a 1,000 room hotel is old-school thinking. Here we are, ready to hand over $75 million to incentivize the hotel, and we have no takers. What we need is new thinking.”

Robinson said that earlier talks with the county’s convention bureau over temporary surge housing were shut down

by McAdams because the idea got in the way of his pet hotel project.

“We need to utilize the resources we have today,” Robinson said. “By promising not to punish those providing housing in their homes to meet the temporary demands of housing, we can address the bed shortage.”

Robinson also has a different idea to address open space and public access, which is why he developed is company to address it.

Rather than take public funds for lawsuits and conservation, Robinson believes that a model similar to crowdfund-

ing is the answer.

His SaveASpot.org project allows people to spend as little as $25 to conserve open space.

“These small purchases are matched by those who have big money and believe in open space,: he explained. The first project is to protect the Cardiff Bowl in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Robinson also disagrees with how much McAdams has grown the administrative staff of the county.

“I think we need to limit the size of the county budget,” he explained. “McAdams has grown his staff by 33 percent since he took office.”

“We have had a budget increase of 42 percent, but only a 12 percent population increase.”

RADICAL GAY AGENDA One small group of Republicans who are giving him some grief seem to be affiliated with Rep. Lavar Christensen.

“I’ve had a few people come up to me during meet-andgreets and stand nervously while I talk to others. Eventually, I get to them and they have the same question: Are you gay?” he said. “I say, well, yes I am.”

They then go on to tell Robinson that he has been deceiving them, even though he has been interviewed in several publications, including this one, where he states openly that he is gay.

“They say, well I’m worried you are only running to serve the radical gay agenda,” he said.

“I tell them I have no idea what that even means.”

The county has a nondiscrimination ordinance in housing as well as one in employment. They even provide health care benefits to transgender employees. At the county level, Robinson says, he doesn’t see what a mayor can

do to further extend a “radical gay agenda.”

“After digging and asking more questions,” he said, “it is readily apparent these people are working for Christensen.”

He approached Christensen at a recent event, where he says the representative admitted he has concerns about his “radical gay agenda.”

“After talking with him, he seemed to get that I’m a wellrounded candidate that has many issues as priority,: he said.

“But then I find out he moved to the next room and repeated the same “radical gay agenda” story to whoever wold listen.”

If there were a radical gay agenda item on his docket, Robinson would love to see the county come up with an annual gay winter games that would draw winter sports enthusiasts from around the world to return to the area each year or so too compete.

“That would show business owners around the world that Salt Lake County is a welcoming place for all,” he said.

GAY SUPPORT While many leaders within the LGBT community have expressed support for his ideas, he is having a hard time with follow-through on their promises. In fact, he has been unable to even get an interview with Equality Utah, who tell him it is a budget issue.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which raises funds for openly LGBT candidates, believes that allies are great, but openly LGBT elected officials are much more needed. Some point to McAdams’ silence when Judge Robert Shelby ruled laws against same-sex marriage were unconstitutional as an example of why that is true. Q More information on Dave Robinson’s candidacy can be found at DaveForMayor. com and his Facebook page at fb.me/dave.rob.9028.

14 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | NEWS

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

Salt Lake County Council passes employee trans* health coverage Everything from Angels to Zen

12896 S Pony Express Rd Suite 200 in Draper (just north of IKEA) 801.333.3777 www.ilovelotus.com

LotusStore

On Aug. 9, the Salt Lake County Council passed a proposal to provide health care coverage for trans* employees.

The half-hour discussion, titled “Employee Benefit and Healthcare Update and Health Benefit Request,” was presented by Salt Lake County Human Resources Director Michael Ongkiko and benefits coordinator Carolyn Campbell.

The benefit will take effect in 30 days and will cover mental health services, hormone Arlyn Bradshaw treatments, reassignment surgeries and corrective surgeries.

“I’m pretty excited and happy that we accomplished this,” said Councilmember Arlyn Bradshaw.

Bradshaw said the request came last fall from a group of employees who were denied the services from the health insurance providers.

“I would have assumed, incorrectly so, that our insurance would have covered these services,” Bradshaw said. “The County has a nondiscrimination ordinance that covers transgender employees. I made the argument that we were violating that ordinance.”

Bradshaw tried to pass the services administratively, but County lawyers determined it would need Council approval.

The proposal was first put on the agenda in June, but was pulled to work out some issues that more conservative members of the Council had.

Councilman Steve DeBry, R-South Jordan/Riverton, moved to table the proposal because two Republican councilmembers were not present. That motion failed 4–3 and the bill was put up for a vote, passing 4–3.

Salt Lake County offers full-time employees both a high-deductible health plan at no cost and a traditional health plan at an annual cost of $1,188 to the employee. Part time employees pay $1,656 and $2,376 annually for the respective plans.

NEWS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 15

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

Officiant and friend Kate Kendall (center) is flanked by Betty Iverson (left) and Mayor Jackie Biskupski and their children.

PHOTOS: CAT PALMER

Mayor Biskupski weds fiance Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski married her fiance, Betty Iverson Sunday, Aug. 14.

“Yesterday our family was brought together by marriage,” read a post added to Biskupski’s Facebook page the morning of Aug. 15.

“We have always been

bonded by love, but now we are joined by law. As our dear friend Kate Kendell highlighted while performing the ceremony, our family and all families like ours have come so far to make joyous days like this possible. We truly are stronger together. #love.”

Biskupski, 50, met Iverson, 55, in the 90s and they kept in contact with each other since.

Last year, the two reconnected while they happened to see each other while walking the halls of the Utah State Capitol Building.

Biskupski was running her mayoral campaign through much of their renewed courtship, but when the pair vacationed after the election, Iverson surprised Biskupski with a marriage proposal on a California beach.

Biskupski adopted her son, Archie, in 2009. He is now 6 years old. Right about the time she resigned from the legislature in 2011, she had hoped to adopt a second child, but

the birth mother changed her mind.

Iverson was living in Denver with her 11-year-old son, Jack, whom she adopted in Guatemala when he was 8 months old. She traveled to Utah regularly for business.

The pair got married at Log Haven Restaurant. Both wore similar white wedding gowns and the boys wore black tuxedos with red bowties.

Kendell, Biskupski’s longtime friend and executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, performed the ceremony. Kendell now lives in San Francisco, but grew up in Utah and graduated from the University of Utah College of Law in 1988. Q

Celebrity Doubles Tribute Concerts PRESENTS

SOLD OUT ALL ACROSS THE U.S., CANADA & MEXICO

As close to a live David Bowie concert as possible!

He has performed with the legendary popstar himself!

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime David Bowie experience!

Advance tickets: $31 • At door/day of show: $36

16 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | NEWS

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

September is Bisexual Awareness Month The 1 to 5 Club is hosting a month of activities to make people more aware of bisexual and sexually fluid people in Utah.

The group has adopted the term B+ to include a wider group of people.

“The group has aligned with many national groups and adopted the term B+, which is a more inclusive term meant to embrace people who identify as bisexual, pansexual, asexual, and more,” said group leader Shauna Brock. “The labels change and are often, for many people, interchangeable and as fluid as their own sexuality. B+ still allows for the greater public understanding of the ‘b’ in ‘bi’ but recognizes that there are always new descriptors for sexual fluidity.”

In Utah, B+ Awareness Month began with the formation of the 1 to 5 Club. In 2006 the club decided that B+ awareness needed more than just a day, and worked with the Utah Pride Center to create a month dedicated to B+ education and networking. At the time, UPC was the only LGBT center in the nation dedicating an entire month to activities.

Last year marked not just the 10th anniversary of 1 to 5 Club, but also the first Queer Continuum Conference to educate

PEER SUPPORT GROUP, Utah Pride Center, 7:30 p.m.

the public on issues related to the sexually fluid community.

This year’s awareness month features almost an event each day.

Wed., Sept. 14: MOVIE NIGHT*

Schedule:

Sat., Sept. 17: The 1 to 5 Club descends on the PULSE DANCE GROUP and takes over., Mestizo Coffee, 631 W North Temple, 6:30 p.m.

Fri., Sept. 2: BEE’S NIGHT. Join the 1 to 5 Club on the lawn at Smith’s Ballpark for a night of baseball and fireworks. First Pitch: 6:35 pm; Cost $11 Sat., Sept. 3: KICKOFF COFFEE, BRUNCH, Squatters Brewery, 147 W Broadway, 10:30 a.m.

Sat., Sept. 3: The 1 to 5 Club takes over the WHEN SHE SPEAKS I HEAR THE REVOLUTION OPEN MIC, Jittberbug Coffee Hop, 7 p.m.

Sun., Sept. 4: PICNIC IN THE PARK, Liberty Park, Northeast corner tables, 11 a.m.

Wed., Sept. 7: B+ BOWLING, Bonwood Bowling, 2500 S Main St., 7pm Sat., Sept. 10: A discussion of QUEERS IN COMIX, Black Cat Comics, 2261 S Highland Dr, 7pm Sun., Sept. 11: B+ COFFEE, Jitterbug Coffee Hop, 10:30 a.m.

Mon., Sept. 12: The 1 to 5 Club’s Monthly

QMmunity

Drag Bingo to support Brain Injury Alliance

The graying of HIV

The Matrons of Mayhem return

Gay Men Aloud is hosting a discussion of HIV/AIDS with several health providers from the University Hospital Clinic 1A. The discussion will center around informing people abouit HIV/AIDS as they age, honoring those who have fought and died, and exploring the future of research and therapies.

Refreshments will be served and a question-and-answer time will be allowed.

WHEN: Monday, Sept. 19 WHERE: Pinecliff Camp near Coalville, Utah COST: $35 INFO: bit.ly/pinecliff16

to First Baptist Church for Third

Fri., Sept. 16: B+ BAR NIGHT, Green Pig Roof, 31 E 400 S, 8 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 17: PROVO PRIDE CARAVAN

Sun., Sept. 18: PICNIC IN THE PARK, Liberty Park, Northeast pavilion, 11 a.m.

Wed., Sept. 21: MEET AND GREET WITH UTAH SENATE CANDIDATE MISTY SNOW. 7 p.m. (location TBD) Fri., Sept. 23: B+ AWARENESS DAY. Fill up social media with your sexually fluid colors.

Sat., Sept. 24: 2ND ANNUAL QUEER CONTINUUM CONFERENCE* Mon., Sept. 26: Monthly TOPICAL DISCUSSION GROUP, Utah Pride Center, 7:30 p.m.

Wed., Sept. 28: BOOK DISCUSSION: SEXUAL FLUIDITY BY LISA DIAMOND* Fri., Sept. 30: B+ COMING OUT PARTY* All events can be confirmed either on the group’s Facebook (bit.ly/1to5clubutah), Twitter @1to5ClubUtah, or Meetup pages (meetup.com/1to5ClubUtah).

LGBT and straight allies interested in learning more about gardening and the natural environment. It generally meets the first Wednesday of each month at the Garden Center in Sugar House Park. Annual membership is $20, but newcomers are always free to come check out the club and meet the group.

WHEN: Weds. Sept. 7, 7:30pm WHERE: Sugar House Garden Center, 1602 E. 2100 S INFO: bit.ly/altgarden or ­altgardenclub@gmail.com

Camp Pinecliff Weekend is orga-

will be meeting on “The Fruits of

Camp Pinecliff weekend

pillows and sleeping bags.

Our Labors,” with a demonstra-

A weekend camping retreat for those affected by HIV/AIDS and their families, care providers and HIV/AIDS ministry volunteers.

Celebrating its 20th season,

WHEN: Sept. 17–19

Friday Bingo. Come early to get a good seat. This month’s charity is Uinta Madness Roller Derby.

WHEN: Fri. Aug. 19, 7pm WHERE: Sugar House Park COST: $5 first card, $3/addl INFO: fb.me/matronsofmayhem

Fruits canning at Alternative Garden club The Alternative Garden Club

tion on how to can and preserve the fruits and vegetables that in abundance at this time of year.

AGC is a friendly society for

nized and staffed by ecumenical volunteers. Activities include hiking, volleyball, crafts, horseback riding, massage therapy and bingo. Camp Pinecliff has the best menu in camp ministries, with meals ranging from pizza to turkey dinners, handmade Italian sausage and cold cuts. A round-the-clock snack table full of fruit, soups, cookies and chips is available. Rustic cabins offer comfortable accommodations.

All you need to supply are the

WHERE: Pinecliff Camp near Coalville, Utah COST: $35 INFO: bit.ly/pinecliff16

NEWS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 17

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

Adding BYU to Big 12 would reject LGBT equality

BY CYD ZIEGLER, Outsports.com co-founder

As the Big 12 searches for the right expansion model, a number of schools are bidding to join the conference. Three of them bring with them some LGBT-discrimination baggage to the Big 12. If either BYU, the Univ. of Houston or the Univ. of Memphis is welcomed into the conference, the Big 12 will have ignored some glaring issues that LGBT people at each of these three schools face.

To be sure, the current Big 12 schools (of which there are 10) are not exactly models of acceptance. According to the Campus Pride Index, which rates colleges and universities based on their LGBT inclusion, only one of the 10 schools — Kansas State — received five out of five stars on the Index.

On the flip side, West Virginia Univ. gets an abysmal 1.5 stars, Texas Tech gets 2 stars and the Univ. of Kansas receives 2.5 stars. The Univ. of Oklahoma gets 3.5 stars, indicating progress but still work to do. The other half of the schools haven’t even bothered being rated.

While the Campus Pride Index is a snapshot of the atmosphere on the campuses, the overall bad or non-existent scores show where LGBT issues fall on the Big 12 priority list.

Recently about two dozen LGBT groups wrote a letter to the Big 12 asking the conference to reject BYU as a possible member, yet they did not also call out Memphis and Houston as problematic. While each of those schools has anti-discrimination policies that protect LGBT people, they are both massive public institutions that educate students living off campus or commuting. Those students may be protected on campus, but voters in Houston and legislators in Tennessee have opened the door to discrimination against LGBT

people over the last 10 months.

Ultimately, none of this will matter. Baylor University is a long-time member of the Big 12, and until just last year had a nearly identical anti-LGBT policy to that of BYU, just as the NCAA doesn’t care that fans going to tournament games in North Carolina are subject to discrimination. If the Big 12 didn’t care about these policies then, they sure don’t now. Money will talk.

BYU BLATANTLY DISCRIMINATES AGAINST LGBT STUDENT-ATHLETES

Probably no school has a longer, darker history in oppressing LGBT students and student-athletes than BYU. The Mormon school has codified discrimination in its student policies and is controlled by the Mormon Church, which in the last decade has taken the lead at times against equality for LGBT people. While the school claims to focus only on “acts” and not “people,” gay people on campus are banned from any kind of intimacy, including holding hands or kissing.

The mental and emotional torment that BYU forces its LGBT students to endure can be debilitating. With such a high rate of suicide attempts

by LGBT teens, you’d think the school would have learned by now. But it hasn’t.

When the church and school’s revised policy was released earlier this year it made matters worse, forcing children of gay people to disavow their parents and marginalizing legally married same-sex couples.

Adding BYU to the Big 12 would be a complete rejection of the equality of LGBT people by the conference.

UNIV. OF HOUSTON HAS NO LGBT DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS IN HOME CITY

Last November the voters of Houston overwhelmingly voted to remove any kind of

discrimination protection for LGBT people. Students at the Univ. of Houston, a public school located in the city, can be discriminated against in housing and other accommodations at the whim of the business-owner.

While the university includes sexual orientation and gender identity in its nondiscrimination policy, those protections do not extend to much of students’ lives. Oncampus housing is, according to the university’s Web site, “available on a limited basis,” forcing thousands of students off-campus where they can be rejected for housing simply for being or “looking” gay.

Even without the off-campus complications, Campus Pride rates Univ. of Houston a 3.5 out of 5 stars for LGBT inclusion, which is like getting a C- on a test.

Adding Houston to the Big 12 would be an endorsement of the removal of discrimination protections for LGBT people.

TENNESSEE PASSED ANTILGBT LAW PUTTING UNIV. OF MEMPHIS STUDENTS AT MENTAL-HEALTH RISK

Despite the harsh realities so many LGBT youth must navigate as they come of age, the state of Tennessee earlier this year made it legal for therapists and counselors to refuse to help LGBT people. Yes, you read that right: The population with the highest rate of suicide attempt is now the target of the state’s attempts to limit access to mental health facilities.

While the school’s nondiscrimination statements are lovely, as a public institution run by the very state that just passed this heinous bill, it’s impossible to separate one from the other. Q Cyd Ziegler is the co-founder of outsports. com, an SB Nation site..

Evans and Early Mortuary Serving all Faiths & Communities Since 1890 with affordable dignified services

Take a tour of our beautifully renovated facility 574 East 100 South, Salt Lake City, UT

801-355-5323 / Fax 801-355-6177 www.evans-earlymortuary.com evansandearly@gmail.com

18 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | VIEWS

Quotes

views

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

When The Daily Beast published a dangerous exposé which outed a number of gay Olympic athletes, many of whom live in countries with repressive anti-gay laws, angry people took to Twitter to express their outrage. Nico Hines — who is straight, married, and has a child — used gay hookup app, Grindr, to bait male athletes. After several edits to the story didn’t placate the angry readers, the site removed the story in its entirety. Hines was recalled from Rio by his editors, according to the International Olympic Committee, who called the story “simply unacceptable.” Here are some of the reactions:

“Imagine the one space you can feel safe, the one space you’re able to be yourself, ruined by a straight person who thinks it’s all a joke?”

“No straight person will ever know the pain of revealing your truth, to take that away is just... I can’t. It literally brings me to tears” “It is still illegal to be gay in Tonga, and while I’m strong enough to be me in front of the world, not everybody else is. Respect that.”

“Yo @nicohines & @ thedailybeast — if what you were looking for on Grindr was hot ass (and I don’t see any other reason why you’d be on there) here you have mine in all its proud glory.

Now, kiss it and fuck off” —Openly gay Tongan Olympic swimmer Amini Fonua Amini Fonua

“Hines-Sight. The minute Nico Hines decided to download Grindr on his phone as a heterosexual male, married, with a child, he crossed a barrier that never should have been crossed.

—@TheOdysseyOnline

“Hey @NicoHines, I don’t think the purpose of your press badge & access to Olympic village was to endanger the safety of closeted Olympians.”

—Shawn Ahmed

“Shame on @NicoHines/@ thedailybeast. LGBTQ+ people deserve respect. we are not your zoo animals. so infuriating. “ —Tyler Oakley

“Theory: @NicoHines gets caught trying to hookup on Grindr, uses Daily Beast piece to trick wife into believing it’s all for ‘ journalism.’”

—Kyle Fox

“Wow rough week for @NicoHines first he accidentally files a hate crime as an article then IMMEDIATELY forgets his twitter password i guess” “Still not a peep from @ NicoHines about treating gay men’s lives like a fun Pokémon Snap safari for his lurid delight huh” —Max Im A Koopa after days of no apology or comment from Hines

QSaltLake accepts your letters to the editor and guest editorials at letters@qsaltlake.com Letters should be under 300 words, shorter is better. Guest editorials should be between 600 and 1,200 words.

Not all letters are accepted due to limited space.

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

guest editorial

BYU not consistent with Big 12 values Editor’s note: the following is the letter sent to the NCAA signed by over a dozen LGBT organizations.

We are

writing to express our concerns about Brigham Young University’s candidacy for Big 12 Conference membership.

As organizations committed to ending homophobia, biphobia and transphobia both on and off the field of play, we are deeply troubled by this possibility.

We feel it would be extremely problematic to include BYU in your conference expansion for the following reasons: Adding BYU would be inconsistent with Big 12 Conference membership values.

Currently, the Big 12 as a conference is overwhelmingly LGBT-inclusive. Nine out of ten of your member schools have explicit protections for students based on their sexual orientation.

Eight out of ten of your member schools have explicit protections for students based on their gender identity. And nine out of ten of your member schools have LGBT resource centers to proactively make their schools safe and welcoming for LGBT people.

BYU, conversely, actively and openly discriminates against its LGBT students and staff.

It provides no protections for LGBT students. In fact, through its policies, BYU is very clear about its intent to discriminate against openly LGBT students, with sanctions that can include suspension or dismissal for being openly LGBT or in a same-sex relationship. The LGBT climate is so bad at BYU that it is ranked the 6th worst school in the country for LGBT students. Given BYU’s homophobic, biphobic and transphobic policies and practices, BYU should not be rewarded with Big 12 membership.

BYU’s anti-LGBT policies are bad for the Big 12 sports community, especially student-athletes.

The Big 12 is known for its dedication to its sports community (fans, coaches, staff and players, etc.) and its commitment to the welfare of its student-athletes. BYU’s membership to the Big 12 would jeopardize both.

First, LGBT coaches, players and fans who attend and/or compete at any Big 12 events hosted at BYU would be subject to discrimination since BYU remains exempt from Utah’s LGBT nondiscrimination law. Moreover, any student-athlete who identifies as LGBT, and subsequently selects BYU due to its Big 12 membership, would be subjected to BYU’s unabashed discrimination. This would endanger the student-athlete’s NCAA eligibility and mental health. The Big 12’s sports community, especially its student athletes, deserve better than this.

BYU’s anti-LGBT policies violate both Big 12 guidelines and NCAA guidelines.

All Big 12 member schools have to comply with NCAA guidelines. The NCAA requires schools to comply with Title IX. As an institution that openly discriminates against transgender students, BYU is not in compliance with Title IX. As such, it not only violates NCAA’s membership guidelines, but it also violates the Big 12’s commitment to gender equity.

The Big 12 is a conference committed to sportsmanship, fair play and inclusion both on and off the playing field. You are known for your dedication to fans and your commitment to the welfare of your student-athletes. Adding a school like BYU to your membership while it still champions anti-LGBT policies and practices would greatly undermine these Big 12 values. Q

VIEWS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 19

The Art of Safe Sex 09.17.2016

Fa s h i o n S h o w A u c t i o n with S p e c i a l G u e s t Pe r f o r m a n c e !

Silent Art Auction Live Music All tickets include: H e a v y H o r s d ’o e u v r e s a n d O p e n B a r : W i n e , B e e r, a n d a Signature Cocktail

Tickets on Sale Now

W W W. A R T O F S A F E S E X U TA H . C O M

20 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | VIEWS

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

who’s your daddy?

Our American cousin

BY CHRISTOPHER KATIS

I just

got back from spending a couple of weeks in Greece. It was my first trip in 13 years, and only my second time there. This trip, however, I took Gus with me. As a matter of fact, as I write this, he’s still there staying with my cousin’s family.

For me it’s important for my son to see where his dad’s family comes from and how the country influenced everything from the foods we eat to our religion. But it was also a chance for him to see how different life can be in another country.

Part of that difference is the attitude toward gay parents. Although it decriminalized gay male sexual activity 65 years ago (nothing was ever on the books about lesbians, of course), for a country in the European Union, Greece was a late comer to recognizing same gender relationships.

It was only last year that a law extending civil unions to LGBT couples was passed.

Marriage, however, is not yet an option.

According to Equaladex, which aims to provide a comprehensive global view of LGBT rights, Greeks are pretty evenly split when it comes to accepting LGBT people, with 53 percent saying that society should “accept homosexuality.” Yet television still

only portrays gay men in a negative, stereotypical manner. When my nephew learned I’m gay, he told his mom he was surprised because I don’t “look it.”

Gay parents are unheard of in Greece.

Since adoption by LGBT people is illegal, kids raised by gay parents is the result of a previous heterosexual marriage. And no one seems to talk about “nontraditional” families. There’s no Pios Eeneh O Babas Sou (Who’s Your Daddy) in Greece. In fact, one morning my uncle and I were visiting with a neighbor when the man asked me if my wife is Greek. Before I had a chance to respond, my uncle answered “no” and changed the subject.

No, my uncle isn’t homophobic, or ashamed of me. I think he chose not to have to spend future conversations defending me and my parenting skills to his friend – time that could be spent talking about football or the crazy lady next door.

Widespread lack of understanding about gay people as parents is part of the problem. Like a lot of Americans, many people assume that children raised by gay or lesbian parents will grow up to be gay themselves.

Far worse than ignorance is the rise of

the radical right on the political stage.

Thuggish supporters of Golden Dawn – a neo-Nazi party holding 6 percent of the seats in parliament – have assaulted gay men. They are egged on by ultraconservative leaders within the Greek Orthodox Church, who declare homosexuality a great sin, and compare it to bestiality and pedophilia.

Not long prior to my arrival, a gay couple was accused of sexually abusing the disabled son of one of the men. Horrific incidences like that, a complete lack of positive gay images on television, and bombastic bigotry espoused by right wing politicians and clergy combine to create an inaccurate and dangerous perception of gay dads in Greece.

But I have hope for Greece. That’s why Gus is there now. For reasons I cannot quite fathom, I feel at home when I’m there, like I belong. I miss her when I’m in America.

So my hope lies in change; hope that ignorance will give way to understanding.

If seeing is believing, I cannot think of a better example than my son Gus to show Greece – to make Greece slowly believe – just what great, normal kids gay parents can raise. Q

VIEWS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 21

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

creep of the month

Scott Lively

BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI

Full

disclosure: I did not watch the Republican National Convention. I just don’t hate myself enough.

But I have watched clips online. And my belief that Donald Trump is a brainless sociopath has only been strengthened.

The RNC this year was a clusterfuck battle over who could come across as the most paranoid and hateful. But one speaker stood out for a different reason: Peter Thiel, the first openly gay man to address the RNC. Oh, he’s also the billionaire cofounder of PayPal. So, totally average American gay.

He claimed that the economy and the government were broken and that Donald Trump could fix those things.

Never mind that the income inequality he cited and the gridlock in our government can largely be attributed to Republican-supported policies and Republican obstructionism.

He also said he didn’t agree with every plank in his party’s platform – which makes sense since the platform literally says that he shouldn’t exist and if he insists on being a homo he shouldn’t have any rights.

And after dismissing the “bathroom wars” as a distraction he said, “I am proud to be gay. I am proud to be a Republican. But most of all I am proud to be an American.”

And guess what? He got a standing ovation! From so many white people!

And Scott Lively, professional homophobe, is SO PISSED! “It was with disappointment

but not surprise that I read the news about the standing ovation that openly homosexual Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel received at the Republican national convention,” he wrote in a July 28 blog post.

“There’s a serious problem of moral compromise on the homosexual issue in the GOP and we need to face it for what it is.”

First of all I’d like to point out that he says he “read the news,” which means even he didn’t watch the convention. It was a terrible shit show for all!

He then writes, and I am not making this up, “Ronald Reagan was not a perfect man.”

WHAT? Isn’t that considered blasphemy in conservative circles? But don’t worry, he goes on to praise the shit out of Reagan for being the godfather of conservatism.

Lively claims that the force of Reagan’s anti-gayness laid the groundwork for decades of an anti-LGBT GOP. And that things are changing and that change is BAD. “Ronald Reagan would never have allowed Peter Thiel to use the GOP stage to legitimize homosexuality,” Lively writes, “nor would the populist conservatives of the Reagan Revolution have ever applauded it.”

If only Lively could reanimate Reagan’s corpse so that they could link arms and shout, “Down with the gays!”

“Reagan knew that true conservatism is absolutely incompatible with the ‘gay’ agenda.

The two are as contradictory in principle and practice as marital fidelity and adultery,”

Lively writes.

In other words, you can’t be gay and conservative. You have to pick. Never mind that there are some gay people who are voting for Trump and consider themselves conservatives.

Mind you, I don’t agree with them and think that Trump is a very bad choice, but I don’t deny that they exist.

“Like the truth of the Bible, true conservatism doesn’t ‘change with the times.’ If it abandons its ... resolve to protect civilization from the cancer of sexual degeneracy, then it loses all moral authority,” he writes.

Woah. The “cancer of sexual degeneracy,” huh? If that sounds extreme, remember that this is coming from the same man who claims that Nazis were gays and that’s why they were so vicious. He’s also praised the horrific anti-gay laws in Russia and had a hand in creating Uganda’s “kill the gays” bill. In other words: he’s the total package when it comes to moral authority.

Something tells me that despite the RNC recognizing Thiel’s existence, Lively will still find it in his oh-so-moral heart to vote for Trump. Q

Always the unexpected at

TWIGS FLOWER CO Free local delivery

Voted BEST IN UTAH by Salt Lake Magazine, City Weekly, QSaltLake, Pillar and Catalyst

801-596-2322

|

1616 S 1100 E, SLC

WWW.TWIGSFLOWERCO.COM

22 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | VIEWS

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

lambda lore

The 40s in gay Utah

BY BEN WILLIAMS

In 1940,

Utah’s population was 550,310 and the state’s unemployment was second highest in the nation. As the United States entered World War II, Utah converted its economy to wartime production which ended the Great Depression in the state. Utah’s prosperity however changed the state from a provincial backwater to the location of the largest inland U.S. military installations during the war.

Hill Field Air Force Base, south of Ogden, became in 1940 a major repair and supply depot for the Army Air Forces. At its largest, Hill Field employed 15,000 civilians, 6,000 military personnel, and several thousand prisoners of war, making it the largest employer in the state.

In early 1942, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, officials feared sabotage and attacks on the Pacific Coast and moved two major military installations to Utah. The U.S. Army 9th Service Command moved its headquarters from San Francisco’s Presidio to Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City. Fort Douglas served as an induction and separation station and contained a German prisoner-of-war camp. Its proximity to Salt Lake City and the University of Utah made it a cruising ground for homosexuals.

On May 1, 1942, Kearns Army Air Base came into existence as a U.S. training facility.

By spring of 1943, Kearns had become Utah’s third largest city with 40,000 troops stationed there. The base was less accessible to homosexual cruising than Fort Douglas as it was a temporary base for thousands of soldiers and airmen.

At the outbreak of WWII, draft boards in Utah and across the nation processed nearly 10 million men into the armed forces.

Early in May 1941 the U.S. Army Surgeon General classified “homosexual proclivities” as disqualifying inductees for military service. Similar policies were adopted by the Navy and the Selective Service System. Thus, when inductees were examined by medical professionals and psychiatrists, they were questioned about their sexuality. Hundreds of thousands however denied they were homosexuals to serve their country.

In 1944 the Women’s Army Corps’ instructional guide began screening for homosexuality to disqualify recruits. There are no available records on discharges for homosexuality

but any such discharges were likely classified under another category.

The government’s efforts to ban homosexuals from the military accomplished little but it had an unintended consequence. By using the medical term “homosexual,” gay Americans had, for the first time, a name for their feelings. Men and women all over the nation who had thought they were alone were now provided with the concept that same sex erotic behavior was so common that people had to be screened for it. Historian John Berube referred to induction into the military as a national coming out experience when “coming out” at that time simply meant acknowledging your sexual orientation.

Wartime often brings about a loosening of sexual standards and WWII was no exception. It brought about a change of sexual mores in Utah with the disruption of the traditional family, the sense of impermanence and the absence of normal attachments.

Historians commented that WWII unleashed a “Hedonistic impulse” on overall society.

“The thought of perhaps dying tomorrow created a psyche directed toward living life to the fullest at the present both among those who might go into combat and those with whom they associated. It loosened morals and opened doors for opportunity as never before.”

Because of the wartime draft, thousands of Utah women worked outside the home for the first time in their lives. Women replaced men in the factories, on farms, and at military installations. One of the most liberating aspects of war for lesbians was that females were freed from constraints of home supervision. Women entering the workforce allowed for them more freedom from traditional supervision and eroded sexual boundaries.

For the most part, the Mormon residents of the Wasatch Front were reluctant to interact with the new arrivals. The relaxation of standards among the faithful was seen as a moral crisis. The young servicemen, stationed at Fort Douglas and Kearns, were barely tolerated by suspicious Latter-day Saints who feared the corruption of their youth. However, this informal prohibition of Mormons from fraternizing with non Latterday Saints couldn’t be sustained by religious leaders. The fear of fraternizing was not so much about homosexuality as about any type of premarital sex.

Religious leaders feared the thousands of single young men away from home would seek sexual partners among the Mormon sons and daughters of Utah. The church leaders’ fears were real since it was only natural that premarital sexual relations, as well as covert homosexual ones, would flourish in wartime,

despite religious admonitions against immorality and vice. This fear of promiscuity was real, as the Utah Health Department in 1945 confirmed 1,097 cases of gonorrhea in Utah, an all-time high.

Newcomers, as well as “Jack Mormons” (non-practicing Latter-day Saints), managed to find sexual liaisons in the many bars, taverns and canteens that sprang up to cater to the military installations in Salt Lake City and Ogden. Two popular “pick-up spots” for homosexual men looking for service men and others were the Temple Square Hotel which housed the International Bus Terminal and the Belvedere Hotel on State Street.

The Twilight Inn, across the street from the Belvedere, had upstairs an officers’ lounge and private sleeping quarters. North of the Belvedere was the Salt Lake Public Library whose men’s restrooms were notorious cruising areas.

Utah municipalities even condoned prostitution as a means of easing pressures in their local communities, especially 25th Street in Ogden and west 2nd South in Salt Lake City.

These cities fathers tried to protect the local women from the perceived licentiousness of the servicemen while turning a blind eye to the licentiousness of their own gay sons.

In Ogden, the notorious 25th Street, the city’s red light district, was considered one long brothel due to the rows of houses of ill repute. The Hill Air Force Base supplied customers for Ogden’s dens of prostitution along three blocks of 25th Street where 11 houses were in operation during the war. The district, which had been around for many years, was expanded during the war as the so-called “Victory Girls” catered to the wishes of the local servicemen. The train yards also provided ample space for sexual interludes between transient servicemen and local homosexuals.

Salt Lake City’s old Greek Town, west of the train tracks on 2nd South, was the hub of the city’s prostitution. Generally, wherever prostitution was allowed to flourish, homosexuals found ready and willing men who were short on cash. As long as the activity was out of sight from most of the public the city fathers turned a blind eye to the goings-on, in part because it eased some of the pressure on their daughters.

In 1945, Marvin O. Ashton, first counselor in the LDS presiding bishopric, wrote a passage in the LDS Church’s “Improvement Era” as assurance to worried parents that times would return to “normal” as soon as the war ended. He urged Latter-day Saint parents to be patient with their children and servicemen who acquired “bad habits” during the war. Q

VIEWS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 23

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

mikki

Why I write

BY MIKKI ENOCH

I didn’t

start writing because I’m trans*. I started as a way to get myself out of the house.

My local VA hospital offers a recreational therapy writing group for disabled veterans.

Until this group started, I pretty much left my home only to go out to dinner or shopping with my husband, or for medical appointments.

Through this group I have made friends who are amazing, talented and supportive.

I also began to write poems and essays to process the traumas that took me to the place where I was. Along the way I learned I had some talent. Between 2008 and 2009, I won one silver and two bronze medals at the National Veteran’s Creative Arts Festival.

Two of the friends from the writing group and I rented a small office and began to write a collaborative novel based on one of my friend’s life and my life. There were such similarities that we only had to adjust for age to make it work. This novel was completed in May of 2011. We are still seeking an editor and way to publish it.

Unfortunately, for the novel to feel authentic now, we would need to go back and add something I discovered during the process. I needed to transition.

In 2010, I decided that I needed to enhance my writing skills and get a college degree. I found the school and program I wanted to participate in. When I began school, I presented as male,

but to be accepted as female was actually quite easy. While finishing my first year, I saw a call for submissions from a new press who wanted to tell transgender stories and create a new definition of transgender literature: Topside Press.

I then needed to decide what kind of story I wanted to tell.

I wanted something I deeply yearned, but honestly didn’t know what that was until I started the outline. I looked for a transgender superhero who had to transition just like I was going through. This hero couldn’t shape shift.

Thus, Captain Macho was born. I spent three months writing a 12-page story. I submitted it on the last day because I wanted it to be as good as possible. It was also my first submission so I didn’t really know what would be considered good.

Then the waiting game began. I started to doubt my skills. I doubted I should be a writer at all. Then one April morning I woke up with an email accepting my work for “The Collection: Short Fiction from the Transgender Vanguard.” Then we began the editing, and there wasn’t much needed. I also wanted to showcase the work of the other great authors in the book.

With the support of several departments at my school and Topside Press, in November of 2012, five additional authors and both editors of “The Collection” attended a reading on my college campus. We filled the auditorium showcasing the works six transgender authors. I know two of those

authors have since published novels and one has won the Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Fiction.

I also write for QSaltLake. I get the honor of telling transgender stories from a trans* point of view. My editor and publisher has covered big stories that needed to be told.

I have gotten to meet many amazing people and tell their stories that are both sensitive and informative.

My superhero story didn’t end with “The Collection.”

I doubled the content as my college thesis and turned it into a novella. I also dreamed

of actually having the character come alive in a comic book, where she belonged. In March of this year, an artist friend and I released the first teaser edition online. We are currently working on a print version that will include the teaser and origin story. Our ultimate goal is to create a graphic novel. My artist-self proudly proclaims this may help some trans* kids in the future not feel so alone.

I guess this is why I write.

My experiences are not a typical memoir. I don’t say I was born in the wrong body, because this is my body. Q

This Joint is Legal.

29 Walk-In Adjustments*

• Natural, Affordable Pain Relief • Open 7 Days a Week • No Appointments or Insurance Needed

Voted Best Chiropractic Office salt lake WINNER

FABBY

AWARDS

2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

Sugar House 1126 E 2100 S 801.467.8683

Mon–Fri: 9–7 Sat & Sun: 9–5

*Offer valid for first visit only. Initial visit includes consultation, exam and adjustment.

Please present offer at the time of redemption. © 2016 The Joint Corp.

www.thejoint.com

24 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | VIEWS

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

queer shift

Happily ever after

• Communicate about sex.

• Allow each other space when you need it.

Always treat each other with respect.

IS IT UNHEALTHY?

BY CHARLES LYNN FROST

It’s time

for a checkup; like when a warning lights up your dashboard indicating you need to check the tires, oil, engine, coolant, etc. Well, every relationship especially marriage – needs a warning light too.

Unfortunately we sometimes don’t get a warning light until the relationship is far beyond repair.

In December 2013, the world shifted in Utah when Judge Shelby made a monumental decision allowing gays to marry.

Everyone was in a flurry and a flutter. Was this for real? How long did we have? Why the rush and the race? Which counties are being progressive and which ones leery?

Would the marriages be long-lasting or challenged? Would we finally get this huge achievement in civil rights that we had so long been fighting for? Need we be in such a hurry? Are we taking the necessary time to check against all odds before rushing into the fray?

Fast forward to 2016, many who had long-awaited, never dreaming the day would actually occur, jumped into marriage. Some having weighed all odds, others because a loophole had been opened, and it was a now or never decision with longlasting outcomes. Hope sprung with every Facebook post, every email, every newspaper article, every online story about Utah legally allowing gays to marry. Hope was abundant and the victory, although unexpected, was upon us all. Gay and straight supporters reveled in the happiness and joy of getting closer to full equality.

I am still hopeful because I can now see so many of us and we can all see more and more of us. Closets are disappearing everywhere. Some gays fear that legal marriage will assimilate us, but I predict just the opposite. Our culture will flourish mightily and even more imaginatively. It’s no wonder our enemies are worried by such potential power. This hope excites me.

But how healthy is your relationship?

The following are two lists: one with healthy relationship characteristics and the other with unhealthy ones. All relationships have a combination of both. The

point is to seriously consider the traits on each list and determine where focus should be paid to keep the majority on the healthy side. Hopefully this is an excellent way to gain appreciation for the best things and collectively decide what you want to change. I suggest both members in the relationship examine the lists separately and then come together to have a civil and loving discussion about your findings.

Enduring gay marriage is societal measurement; a legacy we all have to seriously do a regular “engine” check. Marriage is a bonding. Bonds are to be taken seriously.

Bonds are the first thing we should consider when it comes to marital integrity.

Healthy and Unhealthy Relationship Lists. Check mark those that are warning lights on your relationship

IS IT HEALTHY? • Have fun together more often than not.

• Each enjoy spending time separately, with your own friends, as well as each other’s friends.

• Always feel safe with each other.

• Trust each other.

• Are faithful to each other, if you have made this commitment.

• Support each other’s individual goals in life, like a career or going to college.

• Respect each other’s opinions, even when they are different.

• Solve conflicts without putting each other down, cursing at each other or making threats.

• Both accept responsibility for your actions.

• Both apologize when you are wrong.

• Have equal decision-making power about what you do in your relationship.

• Each control your own money.

• Are proud to be with each other.

• Encourage each other’s interests, activities.

• Have some privacy – your letters, emails, journal, personal phone calls are respected as your own.

• Have close friends and family who like the other person and are happy about your relationship.

• Never feel like you are being pressured for sex.

• Gets extremely jealous or accuses the other of cheating.

• Puts the other down by calling names, cursing or making the other feel bad about him or herself.

• Yells at and treats the other like a child.

• Doesn’t take the other person or things that are important to him/her seriously.

• Doesn’t listen when the other talks.

• Frequently criticizes the others friends or family.

• Pressures the other for sex, or makes sex hurt or feel humiliating.

• Has ever threatened to hurt the other or commit suicide if they leave.

• Cheats or threatens to cheat.

• Tells the other how to dress.

• Has ever grabbed, pushed, hit, or otherwise physically hurts the other.

• Blames the other for your own behavior.

(If you hadn’t made me mad, I wouldn’t have…)

• Embarrasses or humiliates the other.

• Smashes, throws or destroys things.

• Tries to keep the other from having a job or furthering his/her education.

• Makes all the decisions about what the two of you do.

• Tries to make the other feel crazy or plays mind games.

• Goes back on promises.

• Acts controlling or possessive – like you own your partner.

• Uses alcohol or drugs as an excuse for hurtful behavior.

• Ignores or withholds affection as a way of punishing the other.

• Depends completely on the other to meet social or emotional needs.

Sooooo…YES or NO? • We are a happy couple.

• We are a couple who fully creates and knows regular joy.

• We are a couple who honestly addresses our worries and concerns.

• We are a couple that evaluates our relationship and regularly communicates about it.

• We are a hopeful couple regarding the future.

• We are equal because we are now married. Q

PETS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 25

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

mr. manners

Creating the original

BY ROCK MAGEN

I often

overhear guys giving one another advice, much of it pretty silly like “maxing out is the only way to get strong.” “Don’t worry about saving money; you are young, spend, spend, spend!” “Wait three days to call him, it will make him want you more.” And lastly, “Make sure you are seen at this event, it’s the only place to be.”

These gems are all great: You can get injured, go broke, become very lonely, and mostly miss out on the best things in life rather quickly by listening to cliches of counsel. But I’d argue that there are no words of so-called wisdom more universally overused, or useless, to a gay man than “be yourself.”

Now, I am not discrediting the warm and fuzzy feelings we have when mom or our BFF tells us to “just be yourself” before a job interview or a date, but it’s time that we all stepped up our game and rather than just settling for who we are, grow into who we can become.

So let’s become more aggressive in our fitness, careers, and

personal lives and live by a new mantra: “Be better.”

So what defines being better? Look around at the people you admire and aspire to be like. Most likely they are individuals who have a plan in life, and define themselves by achieving goals they set along the way. The most successful people are those who are intrinsically motivated, and enjoy extrinsic perks – but they don’t let it drive them to their destination. So, time to make some adjustments.

Start with the end in mind.

Know where you want to go, and then make the adjustments necessary to end there. Are you wandering aimlessly amidst the sea of gym-goers, spending frivolously, and following a crowd? Stop! Stop allowing the influence of others to define you. You know who you are already, and you also know your shortcomings, so work toward fixing them.

So are you ready to be better? Because the time is now. Q askmrmanners@qsaltlake.com

Our 30th year of making customers happy!

GREEN Pride Counseling • Support Groups • Holistic Approach • Build Intimacy & Trust • Explore Spiritual Options • Strengthen Relationships • Transgender Issues

Jerry Buie MSW, LCSW

801.595.0666 Office 801.557.9203 Cell 1174 E Graystone Way, Suite 20-E JerryBuie@mac.com WWW.PRIDECOUNSELING.TV

Foster homes needed — MEOW!

Together, we can Save Them All . ®

utahfoster@bestfriends.org or 801-574-2417

26 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | VIEWS

How to Talk About It

BY PATRICK RAMSAY

Editor’s note: Patrick Ramsay, a creative writing major at Weber State University, is the winner of the Ogden Pride Poetry Slam. He performed this poem at the Ogden Pride Festival, and you can see a video of him reading it at bit.ly/HowToTalkAboutIt

Let me

preface this by telling you I’m a pretty quiet person. There are a few reasons why, but mainly, being quiet is easy. You just sit back and witness.

It’s comfortable for me — or it was.

On June 12, 2016, I half-woke up in the middle of the night to reports in the media of a world trembling. Hoping it was a nightmare, I fell back into a restless sleep and woke up later that morning to a higher death toll.

The world is crying now. I’m part of that world.

It shakes and I shake with it. I could hear my own pulse that morning.

Pulse. Pulse. Pulse.

I close my eyes and try to hear my friends’ pulses too. There are 49 less pulses.

In a group text message with my best friends, we say how much we love each other.

The world is still crying.

We don’t know how to talk about it, but we learn their names. It’s important that we know them.

I don’t know how to respond.

I break up with my boyfriend that night because all I can think about is how he told me that one reason he liked me was because he couldn’t tell that I was gay.

How when I told him that I was getting a yoga membership, he said that was “too gay.” How I, a quiet person already, was consciously speaking less. And when I did speak, it was deeper. Mimicking the bro talk of a macho ass hole.

The world is still crying, and I’d spent the past few months, maybe even the past years trying to turn someone on with strategic linguistics. How messed up is that, man?

I knew now how to respond.

I thought about all the times I was told to be quiet.

I thought about terror telling love in Orlando to be quiet.

And the word that kept coming back to me was “louder.”

I need to be louder.

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

Louder for my friends. Made family by our trials.

Louder for the time my sister said, “they should be able To get married, but they shouldn’t be able to call it marriage.”

Louder for the time my father scoffed and rolled eyes at the headband I was wearing To hold back my long and swooping hair. I thought it was beautiful, but I cut it a few days later.

Louder for the parts of me I’m still afraid of.

Louder for the hairy-legged man in a tight sequin dress.

I stare at him in the elevator because butterflies are rare in beehives.

Louder because it feels so good to walk down 25th proud to be holding a hand as big as mine while we hopped over sidewalk cracks and nearly danced through every crosswalk. That was a good day.

Louder because his mother needs to know that even though I don’t have the body to feed her grandchild or to fill a dress, I could find room on my hip for the child of her son and real space in my heart to love it no less.

Louder because the leading cause of death among Utah children ages 10-17 is suicide.

Louder because there’s a reason for that.

Louder because 600 children.

The world is still crying.

Louder because the chief medical examiner of Utah says “We’re certainly on track for being over 600 this year.”

Because we’re talking numbers now, think about it this way: The collective empty seats could fill 29 classrooms. Now, imagine walking through an empty school.

Louder for the seventh grader who packaged every word in masculinity before it fell out his mouth.

Louder for the kid who is in bed at night not sleeping but begging God to make him straight.

Let me tell you a secret, sweet child: the power of prayer won’t fix what isn’t broken.

I wish someone had told me that.

Louder because I kept the real me so folded up And hidden away that even though I’m here now, I’m still trying to iron out the wrinkles.

Louder because love isn’t meant to be silenced.

Louder because people aren’t meant to be silenced.

A month later, we’re talking about it, and it almost feels like we’re talking about 9/11.

We get into the “Where were you when it happened?” types of conversations. We wipe each other’s tears and decide to be louder because Orlando. Q

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

PETS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 27

801-308-2050

www.jonjepsen.com

Third Friday

7pm, Third Friday of the Month Matrons First Baptist Church of Mayhem 777 S 1300 East

28 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | FALL ARTS PICKS

The Capitol Hill Neighborhood Council Presents

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

FALL ARTS GUIDE Our top picks on art events happening in the next few months T

H

E

A

T

R

E

UTAH REPERATORY THEATRE

“Cabaret”

TO ENTER Submit 2 jars (half or full pint)

by Sept 17 to 87 W Currant St (300 N) #501

Saturday Sept. 24 10–4

WARM SPRINGS PARK 850 N 300 W

TEA

H A T MU

nt t o eme prove v o d im ot s m ssro HIV, an s. a r g fo r way yet n a l , t e s t i n g r ie nd l y o i t a f e n g I V in int e r our a s an IV, enc g with H i TAH y l dly U f H e li v in e nd n i o r e i a F Fr M r e s t i g m or t h o s e am c f m/ T o c redu y of life . k it b oo q u al f a ce t a The new face ore ut m o d of HIV awareness n Fi

Through Sept. 11 Sorenson Unity Center, 1383 S 900 W $17–35 at utahrep.org/tickets 1998 Broadway revival script, based on the 1993 MendesDonmar Warehouse production, reconceived under director/choreographer Rob Marhsall Directed by L.L. West / Music direction by Anne Puzey / Choreography by Ashley GardnerCarlson PLAN-B THEATRE COMPANY

“The Edible Complex” One public showing: Oct 8 Rose Wagner Performing Arts Ctr, 138 W Broadway Tickets at planbtheatre.org/ ticketsgiving Created for grades 4–6, it is a comedy about ten-year-old Anna, who dreams of being a chef. She is also becoming aware of how her body is different from others at school. So, one day she decides to stop eating, but it’s hard to ignore your Food when it starts talking to you!

Featuring Anne Louise Brings and Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin, designed by Aaron Swenson, directed by Cheryl Ann Cluff.

PLAN-B THEATRE COMPANY

“One Big Union”

Nov. 10–20 Rose Wagner Performing Arts Ctr, 138 W Broadway $20 at planbtheatre.org/ticketsgiving Joe Hill was executed in 1915 by the state of Utah for a murder he may or may not have committed. Considered a martyr by organized labor, Joe Hill‘s songs envisioned gender and racial equality and criticized

the gross income disparities of his time. Joe Hill remains an enigmatic folk hero but beyond the mythology lies a larger story of protest through music, more relevant than ever a century after his death.

A play with music featuring Daniel Beecher, Carleton Bluford, Roger Dunbar, April Fossen, Tracie Merrill and Jay Perry. Musically directed by David Evanoff, choreographed by Stephanie Howell, designed by Keven Myhre (set), Jesse Portillo (lighting) and Aaron Swenson (costumes), directed by Jason Bowcutt.

D

A

N

C

E

BALLET WEST

“Madame Butterfly” Nov. 4–13 Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre, 50 W 200 S Tickets at balletwest.org East meets West in a timeless and tragic love story. The searing drama of Madame Butterfly comes brilliantly to life with new passion when told through the dynamic physicality of ballet. Experience the return of Australian choreographer Stanton Welch’s haunting account of love and betrayal, devotion and sacrifice, danced to Giacomo Puccini’s immortal score, complete with stunning sets and costumes

C

O

N

C

E

R

T

S

PARK CITY INSTITUTE

Jewel

September 3 St. Regis Big Stars Bright Nights concert series at Deer Valley Resort Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheatre Tickets at 435-655-3114 or bigstarsbrightnightsconcerts.org Grammy-nominated American

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actress, author and poet, known most for “Who Will Save Your Soul,” “You Were Meant for Me,” and “Foolish Games.”

Born in Payson, Utah (we taught you something, huh?) and raised in Alaska, her first album soared to the top of the charts in 1995, going 12 times platinum.

FALL ARTS PICKS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 29

UTAH PRIDE CENTER

THE COMPLEX

Pet Shop Boys October 22 The Complex, 536 W 100 S English electronic pop duo most known for “West End Girls” and “It’s a Sin.” Releasing a new single, “Say It To Me” in Septmber.

2016

CELEBRITY DOUBLES TRIBUTE CONCERTS

The Ultimate David Bowie Experience

Sept. 10 The Depot, 400 W South Temple Tickets at celebritydoublestributeconcerts.com Having performed with David Bowie, this is as close as you will get to seeing David Bowie live! .

SALT LAKE MEN’S CHOIR

We Remember: A Patriot Day Tribute Sept. 8 and 9 First Baptist Church, 777 S 1300 E Tickets at saltlakemenschoir.org Patriotic, anthem songs, battle hymns, and songs more reflective by your favorite group of guys — Utah’s OTHER Choir.

F

A

S

H

I

O

N

PLANNED PARENTHOOD

The Art of Safe Sex

Sept. 17 Rail Event Center, 235 N 500 W Tickets at artofsafesexutah.com A fundraiser for Planned Parenthood featuring a live fashion show and art auction, heavy hors d’ oeuvres and a signature cocktail. All proceeds benefit our education and health care services right here in Utah..

18 Hole Scramble SEPT

10

7:00 AM - 2:00 PM SHOTGUN START AT 8 AM STONEBRIDGE GOLF CLUB

2 0 1 6 4415 LINKS DR, WEST VALLEY CITY, UT 84120

$85 EARLY BIRD PRICE PER PERSON BEFORE AUGUST 15TH. ($100 PER PERSON AFTER AUGUST 15TH)

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION WWW.UTAHPRIDECENTER.ORG

YOUR COMMUNITY CENTER

30 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | A&E

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

The Gay Agenda

BY TONY HOBDAY

ANNUAL EVENTS

DANCE

SPECIAL ENGAGEMENTS

I don’t want to give you the birdie, so get your registration in for this fabulous albeit frustrating game. Birdie is the only golf term I know so I looked up more and I have decided this sport to be quite erotic: ball-washer, banana-ball, sandbagger, hole-in-one (Okay, I also knew that one), bump and run, handsy, sweet-spot, dimples, topped, whiff, foursomes and zinger. Who wouldn’t love it!

RIRIE-WOODBURY DANCE ­COMPANY presents three “diverse interdisciplinary works that blur the lines between traditional dance performance, visual art installation, and theater.”

The works include two world premieres; one of which is created by the company’s Artistic Director, Daniel Charon, in memory of the Orlando shooting victims.

REPERTORY DANCE COMPANY then presents an evening of “stunning contemporary RDT commissions. A ground-breaking world premiere by Daniele Agami of aTE9 dANCE cOMPANY will be paired with a re-staging of “By the Snake” (2013) by Noa Zuk.” Also premiering is a commission by Andy Noble, a former RDT dancer and winner of the REGALIA choreographer competition last season.

The REDUCED SHAKESPEARE ­COMPANY “tackles such controversial questions as: Who really discovered America? Why did Abe Lincoln free the slaves? How many Democrats does it take to screw in a light bulb?” Well, being from Utah and all I knew the answers right off: Some Mormon prophet; so that one day black people could hold higher ranking in the LDS Church; and lastly, it takes only one. However, Mormon Republicans don’t use light bulbs because they aren’t allowed to screw things in their garments.

15THURSDAY — FALL SEASON

Wasatch Theatre Company presents a regional premiere about a town in Idaho … I don’t even know where Idaho is, but I hear they don’t use light bulbs. Not only is the setting Idaho, but also inside a Hobby Lobby. WTF is that!!??!

The Egyptian Theatre Company is going flamboyantly drag-esque this month while Pioneer Theatre Company puts a little bee in their bonnet, presenting “The Last Ship,” with music and lyrics by Sting. “Drawing on his own childhood memories, pop icon Sting has fashioned a moving musical about the small shipbuilding town in northern England in which he grew up.”

10SATURDAY — UTAH PRIDE CENTER GOLF CLASSIC

Stonebridge Golf Club, 4415 Links Dr., WVC, 7am-2pm.

Tickets $100, utahpridecenter.org

CONCERTS What can I say about the concerts this month other than the Utah Symphony takes on two world-renowned composers’ greatest works. And Cyndi Lauper … well, that wild-haired betch is just plain fabulous. Then comes Tegan and Sara, a deliciously devious duo of dopplegangers. Enjoy!

The SALT LAKE MEN’S CHOIR tributes the 15th anniversary of 9/11, featuring “all types of American music.” Special guest will be Sen. Jim Dabakis. Music includes Aaron Copeland’s Stomp Your Foot, music from John Denver, Kurt Bestor, folk music and more.

8THURSDAY — SALT LAKE MEN’S CHOIR: WE REMEMBER — A P ­ ATRIOT DAY SALUTE

First Baptist Church, 777 S. 1300 East, 7:30pm, through Friday. Tickets $15, brownpapertickets.com

9FRIDAY — BEETHOVEN & ­TCHAIKOVSKY

Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, 7:30pm, through Saturday. Tickets $15-65, artsaltlake.org

20TUESDAY — CYNDI LAUPER

The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, 8pm. Tickets $54.50 Adv/$59.50 Day Of Show, smithstix.com

22THURSDAY — TEGAN & SARA

In The Venue, 219 S. 600 West, 6:30pm. Tickets $36 Adv/$39 Day Of Show, smithstix.com

Jeanne Wagner Theatre, Rose Wagner Center, 138 W. 300 South, times vary, through Sep. 17. Tickets $15-40, artsaltlake.org

29THURSDAY — ELAN

Jeanne Wagner Theatre, Rose Wagner Center, 138 W. 300 South, 7:30pm, through Oct. 1. Tickets $15-30 Adv/$2035/Day Of Show, artsaltlake.org

MOVIES Do you remember the scathing scandal that ripped across America? Okay, there seems to be one every other day, especially with Donald Duck Trump constantly in the glaring, unflattering spotlight (then again, nothing flatters Trump including his plagiarizing wife). But I am talking about Laura Albert, aka JT LEROY, the woman who wrote acclaimed books while posing as an HIV-positive ex-prostitute transgender male. A second recount of this strange and altering story hits the big screen this month.

23FRIDAY — AUTHOR: THE JT L ­ EROY STORY

Broadway Centre Cinemas, 111 E. 300 South, times vary.

Tickets $6.75-9.25, saltlakefilmsociety.org

24SATURDAY — A COMPLETE HISTORY OF AMERICA (ABRIDGED) Kingsbury Hall, 1395 E. Presidents Cir., UofU, 7:30pm.

Tickets $19-29, kingtix.com

THEATRE

1THURSDAY — A BRIGHT NEW BOISE

Studio Theatre, Rose Wagner Center, 138 W. 300 South, 8pm, through Sep. 17. Tickets $20, artsaltlake.org

9FRIDAY — LA CAGE AUX FOLLES

Egyptian Theatre, 328 Main St, Park City, times vary, through Sep. 18. Tickets $29-55, egyptiantheatrecompany. com

16FRIDAY — THE LAST SHIP

Pioneer Theatre, 300 S. 1400 East, Uof U, times vary, through Oct.1. Tickets $40-67, artsaltlake.org

UPCOMING EVENTS Oct. 8 MAROON 5, smithstix.com Oct. 15, ANI DIFRANCO, smithstix.com Nov. 4 RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE SEASON 8 WINNER: BOB THE DRAG QUEEN, 24tix. com

A&E | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 31

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

PIONEER THEATRE COMPANY

On Thursday, Sept. 8 and Friday, Sept. 9, the Salt Lake Men’s Choir will present a Patriot Day concert to honor those lost to terrorism and those who put themselves in harm’s way to combat it.

Anthems, battle hymns, and other bombastic crowd favorites will get the heart thumping, and more reflective songs, like Utah’s own Kurt Bestor’s Prayer of the Children will give pause.

Tickets are on sale through any choir member, Club Try-Angles, the Salt Lake City Main Library store and at saltlakemenschoir.org for

$15. US Military, veterans, law enforcement and firefighters will get a $5 discount through choir members.

The concerts take place at First Baptist Church, 777 S 1300 East, near East High School. Parking available at the church and in the lot south of the church.

The choir is in its 35th year and has shown great growth in the past decade under artistic director Dennis McCracken.

While the vast majority of the singers are gay or bisexual, all male singers are welcome.

OC T. 21 – NOV. 5, 2016

DEC. 2 – 17, 2016

JA N. 6 – 21, 2017

SaltLakeMensChoir.org

‘La Cage’ is playing in Ogden ade as “normal” when he meets the family of the bride-to-be.

But Albin has other plans, with hilarious results.

The Ziegfeld Theater continues its fourth season in 2016 with a musical comedy about families, love and acceptance.

Under the executive leadership of Caleb and Morgan Parry and the artistic leadership of Rick Rea, the theater pursues a mission of “Professional Standard, Community Spirit” as it strives to bring quality entertainment to diverse audiences in Northern Utah.

The Ziegfeld Theater is located at 3934 S. Washington Blvd., Ogden. Tickets are $17–19 at 855-ZIG-ARTS or thezigfeldtheater.com Q

FEB. 10 – 25, 2017

UTAH’S

M A R. 24 – A PR. 8, 2017

PREMIER PROFESSIONAL THEATRE

M AY 5 – 20, 2017

CONCERT VERSION

M A R . 10 & 11, 2 017 NE W PL AY R E A DING S

SPECIAL EVENTS

The precursor to the wellknown film The Birdcage, La Cage Aux Folles remains one of the most revived, all-time biggest hits of Broadway.

The Ziegfeld Theater is bringing the hit to Ogden through September 3.

After 20 years of un-wedded bliss, Georges and Albin, two men partnered for better-orworse, get a bit of both when Georges’ son (fathered during a one-night fling) announces his impending marriage to the daughter of a bigoted politician. Further complicating the situation is the “family business”: Albin and Georges run a drag nightclub in St. Tropez, where Albin is the “star” performer, “Zaza.” Georges reluctantly agrees to masquer-

2016/2017

Salt Lake Men’s Choir will perform a Patriot Day concert

SEP T. 16 – OC T. 1, 2016

801-581-6961 PioneerTheatre.org

32 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | Q&A

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

Q&A

Meryl Streep

opens up about being ‘in love with gay people,’ the Snapchat conundrum and her beloved LGBT roles

BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI

Meryl Streep is laughing her signature laugh. You know it: Sometimes light and airy, sometimes a surge of boisterous euphoria that carries well into the next question — but always unmistakably Meryl.

Cinema’s grand dame cracks one of her warm, famous chortles during our recent interview, while entertaining the idea that her latest chameleonic role, as real-life opera diva Florence Foster Jenkins in the movie of the same name, could once again spur drag queens to emulate another one of her queer-loved characters. Then she laughs again as she fondly remembers locking lips with Allison Janney in 2002’s The Hours.

Meanwhile, the mere mention of 1992’s Death Becomes Her has Meryl unleashing a hearty roar. Another laugh, too, when she ponders how sexting and Snapchat are related.

Gay audiences know this laugh because they know Meryl Streep. They also know her compassion for LGBT issues, both as an extension of her queer-inclusive acting repertoire and more explicitly, when, during her Golden Globe acceptance speech in 2004, she slammed thenpresident George W. Bush by condemning his anti-gay marriage stance. They’ve learned the art of shade from her sharp, searing tongue in The Devil Wears Prada, and they live for all the campy one-liners

in Death Becomes Her. And during Angels in America, HBO’s 2003 watershed miniseries about the AIDS crisis, they wept.

Now, Streep, 67, sheds her skin once again to portray Jenkins, one of the worst singers in the world. In the poignant dramedy Florence Foster Jenkins from Stephen Frears, director of The Queen, the esteemed once-in-a-lifetime luminary plays a wannabe opera singer with a voice so hysterically appalling her loyal husband (Hugh Grant) bribes critics into letting her think she can sing.

Here, during this rare and revealing one-on-one conversation with Streep, the three-time Academy Award winner and record holder for most Oscar nominations discusses why she regards Angels in America as one of the most important LGBT-themed films she’s done and how she feels about gay men performing Meryl monologues. And looking ahead, is the biopic queen ready to consider her own story becoming a feature-length film in the future? Streep laughs at the very thought, of course, but she’s not kidding when she says, “I hope I fade into oblivion.”

You’ve given the gay community a breadth of greatness over the last four decades.

When you look back at your gay roles, which has been the most important to you? Oh, gosh. To me, I mean, Angels is such an important piece of history, and I felt really lucky to be part of that because I don’t think there was anything like it before. It really felt like being at the Democratic National Convention in the moment that Hillary shattered the glass ceiling — a big deal. The Hours was important too. And of course I got to kiss Allison Janney, which was a perk! (Laughs) Don’t tell Emma Thompson, who famously tongue-kissed you and gave you an orgasm in Angels. (Laughs) Yeah, right! [The Hours] was nothing like that!

I remember Emma talking about that kiss in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. She’s very proud of it. She said she learned that “you have to use tongues even if you’re not a lesbian.” Oh yeah, you really do. (Laughs)

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

When you look back at that moment, how does your takeaway from that kissing scene compare to Emma’s? It’s just, you can’t take the baby from the bathwater. You can’t. It’s just the whole thing of it — that (orgasm scene) was just like the culmination of it.

But what [screenwriter Tony Kushner] was doing was for a really mainstream HBO audience at that point — just groundbreaking.

That hadn’t been on television. Movies, yes.

But not television. So it was very cool.

You discovered you were a gay icon in 2012, when you found out about Streep Tease — gay men taking on Meryl monologues in West Hollywood. Did you ever get a chance to see it? I didn’t. We went immediately to London to shoot something else.

How do you feel about watching other people — gay men, for instance — do Meryl? I love it when they do other people! (Laughs) I don’t know. I’m sure it would tickle me, but I’m just not — I don’t have a distance on myself yet that I probably should have. It’s like when my kids imitate me. I laugh but I kind of don’t like it. (Laughs) Do they imitate you often? Oh my god, yes.

Endlessly. Especially when I answer the phone and they can tell that it’s [me pretending to be], like, a Jamaican operator or something, because I sort of start talking in the accent of the person I’m talking to. Oh, they’re merciless.

Do you feel a connection to the LGBT community? I just can’t remember when LGBT people were not in my life. You know, gosh.

My piano teachers when I was 11 and 12 were two gay men in a little town in New Jersey who had a collection of Mexican art and piñatas and silver lantern covers, and their house was wonderful, not like anybody else’s house in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. And yeah, I came of age when everything was kind of opening up and that’s a good time, right like now.

This film hearkens back to the ’40s when communities were kind of cloaked and undercover, and yet in Greenwich Village and just communities of people in the artistic world, they were always embracing of people, every kind. That freedom — very staid people were drawn to that world because of its imagination and exoticism and willingness to embrace life in a different way.

How do you think the message of Florence — doing something you love because you love it and not because of what other people think — will resonate with the LGBT community? Well, to the extent that anybody tells you that you can’t be a certain way or PHOTO COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES

Q&A | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 33

you shouldn’t be a certain way. You know, I think the limits other people put on you are the least valuable. A child announces who they are and people who encourage them are the ones to be around... and you have to get rid of everybody else who doesn’t help!

(Laughs) I feel that way about everything, but certainly LGBT audiences will understand that.

sequel? In theory. But the heart sinks until you read the script. It’s like, somebody said [they want a] Mamma Mia 2! and it just — ack! I thought, Gram-Mamma Mia!? Really? No. (Laughs) So it would depend on the script; the script is everything. If somebody has the imagination and wit to apply and has an interesting story, yeah, sure. But absent that, no.

In 1979, when you played a lesbian in Manhattan, being LGBT wasn’t cool. Why did you take on a role that might’ve been deemed “too much” during that time period? I didn’t think of it that way. I mean, I was coming to movies sort of sideways from the theater. I got an early movie and I thought, “Well, this is a one-off; they’ll never ask me again.” I was fine with that. I was happy in the theater. And in the theater I had lots of gay friends and my longtime collaborator Roy Helland is gay. I’ve grown up with gay people and been in love with gay people.

Your gay fans wouldn’t mind, I’ll tell you that — as long there’s a solid script, of course. No, I wouldn’t mind either if the script were good.

Romantic love? Oh no, not that kind!

I mean, I know women who’ve had gay boyfriends and gay husbands. No, no. Well… not that I know of! (Laughs) If you were to play another lesbian role, who would be your dream co-star? Oh, well, someone younger, clearly. (Laughs) But who? I mean, you and Sandra Bullock have already had practice making out at the 2010 Critics Choice Movie Awards. Yeah!

That was famous. But I don’t know! I can’t pick! There are so many. One thing I think is, there are so many young talented actresses and actors. I grew up in a time when people emerged — like, there were a handful of people. Now, there’s like 35, 40 people who are just beyond talented, and because of the opening up of long-form television and all the other platforms — webisodes and things like that — I think there are more opportunities for people to demonstrate their talent. There are so many talented people.

And streaming — I heard you say you’re learning about it. Getting on that, yes. Not really. (Laughs) Somebody told me that I Snapchatted but I don’t know how to Snapchat and I thought it was the thing that you do when you’re sexting sort of and then you want it to be erased. I didn’t know what they were talking about!

It’s very confusing out there, Meryl. Stay in your bubble. OK, fine! (Laughs) Emily Blunt said she’s interested in doing another Devil Wears Prada if everybody else returns. Would you be interested in doing a

Your Death Becomes Her co-star Isabella Rossellini said that she didn’t know she was making what became a gay cult film until after some market research. When did you realize Death Becomes Her would become a gay cult classic? I knew when I met the writer!

(Laughs) When I met Martin [Donovan], I thought, “OK, here we go.” And then [when I sang] my first number, I thought, “Oh, all right, I’ll see this in a club somewhere.” I mean, with lines like, “Now a warning?!” — I mean, come on! It was so much fun, and it’s sort of a documentary on aging in Los Angeles now, it seems to me.

For years you’ve been playing real-life people: Julia Child, Margaret Thatcher, now Florence Foster Jenkins. If one day there’s a Meryl Streep biopic, what do you hope it captures about your life and career? I hope that doesn’t happen! You know, I treasure my life and the fact that it’s not on Facebook, and I really love my solitude and privacy — all these old-fashioned concepts. In a job where I’m with hundreds of people all the time and going on these press things, I just really love to get away and not be in the chattering world. That’s really important to me. So, I hope I fade into oblivion.

We rode in from the airport and Roy — my hair and makeup guy — pointed out the Will Rogers museum here in LA that’s closing and I said, “Why?” He said because nobody knows who he was and nobody cares, and there was no more central figure in his time that could sort of translate the best of the wit and charm of his era. So, you know, then it’s over. He’s gone. Nobody cares.

And you’re OK with that happening to you? Yeah, I’m fine with that! (Laughs) I seriously feel like you can only speak to your moment, and right now your work should reflect it. Your work has to just be important right now. And in 10 years if it looks obsolete or like you were overdoing it, that’s fine, because for that time you were. Q Chris Azzopardi is the editor of Q Syndicate, and can proudly say Mariah Carey once called him a “daaahhhling.”

Reach him at chris-azzopardi.com and @chrisazzopardi.

34 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | Q&A

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

Q&A

“The world

has changed a lot,” Tegan Quin says, knowingly speaking to the queer choir.

And who can argue? In the last five years alone, the LGBT community has made considerable strides in being seen as equals. But the effect doesn’t just mean more same-sex weddings and the prospect of mixed-gender bathrooms.

The world changing means Tegan and Sara can change too.

“We love the support of the queer community,” says Sara, “but we also needed to set our heights to be included in other places too. We shouldn’t just be the ‘gay band’ — that’s not who we are.”

Tegan and Sara, then, let the sound of their collective youth — the flamboyancy of David Bowie, the heartfelt resonance of Annie Lennox — guide them beyond the indie-rock fringe they’d inhabited since they formed out of Calgary, their birthplace, in the mid-’90s. Because they could.

Because why not?

Of the switch from Hole-inspired alt-rockers to New Romantic revivalists who went on, in the last few years, to share the stage with pop heavyweights like Katy Perry and Taylor Swift, Tegan credits “the mainstreaming of gay culture,” which, she says, has “helped propel our band beyond the underground.”

If you missed the signs along the way, you weren’t listening. Pop had already been bubbling up beneath the surface on their breakthrough LP So Jealous, released in 2004, and onward through 2009’s Sainthood. But in 2013, the duo shed their punk skin completely. Like a dusted-off early ’90s relic, Heartthrob, their first full-on pop outing, shimmered with retro shine.

For the project, they joined forces with super-producer Greg Kurstin, whose radioready synth sounds have imbued the pop landscape and its biggest names, from Lily Allen to Kelly Clarkson to Sia to Adele.

“Artists change,” Sara explains. “When we were younger we also didn’t really like to wear makeup. Now, I’m so sick of having my picture taken where I look normal. We have definitely established what we look like and who we are in our everyday lives, so

it’s fun to play with not being that.”

Take the cover of their eighth studio album, Love You to Death, for instance; on it, the Quin sisters’ faces are streaked in bright, contrasting tribal swirls.

That kind of color also runs through the kaleidoscopic beats Tegan and Sara, along with Kurstin, helmed for their second synth-powered soirée and follow up to 2013’s Heartthrob. The guitar that marked their earlier work? Long gone.

“As we’ve gotten further into our career,” says Sara, “we feel more comfortable and excited about challenging ourselves and being creative. That evolution feels really natural and exciting, so that experimentation visually and sonically is necessary after 17 years, I think.”

Love You to Death is also striking for its overt gayness, evidenced by a liberal smattering of “she” references. Female call-outs aren’t the norm for the famously pronoun-shy sisters, who’ve generalized the subjects of past songs to make their queer experiences universal. Sara says “I Was Married” from 2007’s The Con was “the beginning of me taking on more directly the political issue of relationships and being gay.”

“Maybe in the past we didn’t emphasize certain things because we were already being conditioned and pigeonholed as a gay act,” she continues, “and we were sort of resentful and like, ‘Fuck you, we’re not a gay act; we’re gay and we’re musicians.’”

Being labeled is a “a complicated topic,” according to Tegan, who says, “When people call us gay in mainstream pieces, especially if it’s a blurb like ‘lesbian duo Tegan and Sara,’ it feels so offensive and marginalizing because we don’t declare heterosexuals, ‘heterosexuals.’

“I always want it to be in context with the music,” she adds.

So, in their mind, are they pop? Indie pop? EDM? Tegan doesn’t care to clarify anymore. “I just gave up,” she admits, noting that she’s reluctant to call their reinvention “glam” even if their retro, magready makeover would suggest otherwise.

“I feel like I’m grown up lately, that’s what it is,” she says. “Like, I should wear pants that fit me,. And I probably shouldn’t wear sneakers onstage. Maybe I’ll put something on that looks like I tried. We’re at that stage in our career.”

In 1999, when the duo released their debut, Under Feet Like Ours, if it wasn’t about the music, it wasn’t important. They were more apt to go with the flow then, Tegan notes. The exception? When Elle Girl requested they wear their bathing suits for a photoshoot.

Q&A | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 35

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

“We were so traumatized,” she remembers, verbally assaulting the mere idea with a “fuck no” as she remembers shooting down the opportunity because, as Sara adds, “It wasn’t really our aesthetic.”

“I was sooooo upset,” Tegan continues. “Now, I would just laugh.

I don’t think the shoot would be able to continue I’d be laughing so hard. But back then, when you’re young, you don’t know how to say, ‘Uh, no.’”

These days, “we’re really bossy,” admits Tegan, who revels in the visual aspects of their newest releases, a drastic change from their pre-pop days when “we would play it safe.”

Lyrically, they’re also taking risks.

On “BWU” (i.e. “Be With You”) the Quins resist the concept of marriage despite, as of June 2015, their legal right to wed. To some in the LGBT community, their stance may seem divisive, but Sara, who’s in a five-year-long relationship, explains that — though it may be read as such — “it’s not a critique of same-sex marriage; it’s a critique of marriage and the institution of marriage and the culture of weddings.”

Denouncing “the ring” to “prove that you’re worthy,” the antimarriage anthem — bouncy, bold and romantic – stands out not just for its uncharacteristically assured feminist leanings (“You can keep your name”), but also its direct openness regarding Sara’s same-sex attraction: “All the girls I loved before told me they signed up for more,” she sings.

When Tegan first got wind of the track, she says, “I was really moved,” stating that they’re taking a “very political stance” on the track and “people are either gonna really get this or they’re not.” She thought of their parents, who divorced when the twins were just 4 years old; their mother found love again with another man and they stayed together until Tegan and Sara were 20. They never married.

“The traditional male-female marriage thing didn’t appeal,” Tegan says. “It was almost like, ‘I am gay so I get out of getting married,’ and then all of a sudden it was a big deal around the time we were 27, 28 years old, when Prop 8 was happening. I was like, ‘God, this is so weird. I never wanted to get married and it’s so strange to want to because I’m not allowed to.’

“I believe in all of the rights and reasons that come with wanting to get married. What I really am is not a wedding person.”

Elsewhere on Love You to Death, there’s “Boyfriend,” which finds Sara confronting a closeted girlfriend. Is it a sign of the times that Love You to Death is, perhaps, more rainbow-swathed than any of Tegan and Sara’s previous releases? That it’s more “she”-centric?

Partly. But moreover, having “always struggled” with using thirdperson pronouns, Sara says, “It wasn’t purposeful that I wasn’t acknowledging (my sexuality).”

“As for being more openly queer in our music, for me as a songwriter, I’ve always thought songwriting is a direct conversation between me and the person that has usually done something bad to me,” she continues, breaking into a laugh.

In the past, the duo’s gender expression has been nuanced. “Now I’m All Messed Up,” a track from Heartthrob, Sara says, references a girl “leaving her makeup — without emphasis on the fact that she’s a girl.”

She cracks another laugh, joking, “It’s just like, yeah, well, whoever’s in my bed is now in someone else’s bed and they wear makeup.

Maybe they’re a Robert Smith. I don’t know!”

As the twins continue to forge their pop path, donning more makeup of their own, with sparkly throwback-tinged jams pushing them further from their punk genesis, Sara says there’s no going back now. On tour, as the duo promotes Love You to Death, they’re reshaping their past guitar-driven punk standouts to “bring them into the current sound of the band.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. RECORDS

In 1999, pop music was different. It was Britney Spears. It was NSYNC. Not exactly the kind of sound the duo aspired to, Sara says. But now, after being the antithesis of pop and acquainting themselves with synths, electronic drum beats and programming, she’s “excited to be a part of the wave heralding a different kind of version of pop music that maybe is a bit more of a throwback to pop music, where you could be pushing the boundaries of sex and gender.”

“Pop music wasn’t stupid, and it isn’t stupid,” she asserts, referencing Madonna and Kate Bush, trailblazers and personal influences.

“Pop music is complicated. And it’s expensive to make!”

For some fans of their bygone grit, it hasn’t been easy to acclimate to their new shiny-sonic shift. Tegan acknowledges that “there’s definitely a contingent of fans that sort of found us around So Jealous and The Con” — the latter being their darkest, least pop-oriented release — “and those tend to be the ones having the most trouble with this transition.”

On the flip side, “there’s a sense of pride, like, ‘Oh, we found them 10 years ago and they’ve grown up with us.’”

Now, of course, Tegan and Sara, both 35, have gone from coffee houses to stadiums; from winning Outstanding Music Artist at the GLAAD Media Awards to nabbing an Oscar nod for their The Lego Movie theme “Everything Is Awesome,” a collaboration with The Lonely Island.

Even Taylor Swift is a fan – you can hear it on Swift’s own pop detour, 1989, released the same year as Heartthrob. In 2013, the twins made a surprise appearance on the “Shake It Off” singer’s Red tour to sing “Closer,” their first major pop foray.

Yes, the world is changing for us and for them… for the most part, anyway.

“I think as we become more embraced and accepted and more popular it’s made [fans] feel like they’re still outsiders and we’re not,” Tegan says, reflecting on how they’ve queered the mainstream, “and it’s like, ‘Oh no, we’re still outsiders, don’t worry.’” Q Chris Azzopardi is the editor of Q Syndicate and the proud recipient of an “I adore you, daaahhhling!” from Mariah Carey. Reach him at chrisazzopardi.com and on Twitter @chrisazzopardi.

36 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | A&E

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

hear me out Lori McKenna, Tegan and Sara

BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI

LORI MCKENNA, THE BIRD & THE RIFLE Music Row’s renowned wordsmith Lori McKenna doesn’t exactly bury this casual burn, but still, you might miss it. You might because Lori McKenna’s exceptional 10th studio album teems with lines that sear and stick; that’s just what happens when you’re as seasoned at breathing new life into familiar

tropes as the 47-year-old Massachusetts-based musician.

The burn? “You can have him / I hope you have fun / I guess wife number three could be the one.” “Old Men Young Women” opens with that zinger, wryly tearing down ageist patriarchal values. On The Bird & the Rifle, McKenna’s poeticism endures throughout all 10 tracks, while Dave Cobb’s rustic production is appropriately lean, letting her gentle Southern drawl guide her engaging narratives, as it should.

(McKenna’s writing chops are, in fact, Grammy-certified; she recently won the coveted award for co-writing Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush”). On “Giving Up On Your Hometown,” McKenna depicts a picturesque scene of childhood nostalgia, while “We Were Cool” recalls young love and cruising around in an old car listening to Duran Duran, with all the hindsight of a grown adult. The album’s opening track, “Wreck You,” is a brutally honest

• 12 MONTHS OF MARKETPLACE ADS IN QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE • 12 MONTHS ON QPAGES.COM • 1 MILLION VIEWS ON GAYSALTLAKE.COM

ONE LOW PRICE

ANNUAL: $500 | 6-MONTH BILLING: $275* | QUARTERLY BILLING $150* * 12-MONTH COMMITMENT, CREDIT CARD ON FILE REQUIRED.

801-649-6663 SALES@QSALTLAKE.COM

portrait of a relationship gone awry, and that title track – oh, it’s a stunner. During the song, McKenna draws on metaphors to tell the tale of a dreamer seeking to set herself free from her husband’s oppressive ways.

Like the bird McKenna sings about, her voice flutters. It’s beautiful. Her singing, that song, this album. GRADE: A

quiet moment of reflection during an otherwise spirited outing.

The song might be underwritten, even slightly amateurish considering their impressive catalog of more intricate compositions, but clearly the twins are embracing the simple pleasures of pop music. It’s perfectly OK if we do too. GRADE: B-

Also Out FANTASIA, THE DEFINITION OF...

TEGAN AND SARA, LOVE YOU TO DEATH If you’re still lamenting the loss of Tegan and Sara’s grunge-y, string-strumming past (RIP guitars), it might be time to move on. Because have you heard Love You to Death? It’s the next obvious step in the gay sisters’ glossy pop career, wherein – after 2013’s Heartthrob, their full-on pop initiation – they continue to fulfill their childhood music fantasies to become, to some extent, the boombox pop icons they admired as kids. Buoyant synths.

Throbbing basslines. Deep ’80s.

If Amy Grant was recording a pop album in 2016, this might be it. That’s only a slightly weird observation, though also a compliment – remember Grant’s own ’90s pop-crossover Heart in Motion? So much of Love You to Death is, like that album, served sunny side up, romping through pop pleasures like the invigorating, drum-happy “Faint of Heart” and “BWU,” a standout merging a thoughtful marriage-centric commentary with a punchy and distinctly queer chorus. Leaning heavily on keyboard for downer ditty “100x” is a nice touch – it’s appropriately minimalistic, a

It’s been 12 years since Fantasia Barrino gave us eternal life as she sobbed her way through “I Believe” after winning the third season of American Idol. Those tears were the tears of a dream being realized. The 32-year-old singer is still living that dream on The Definition Of..., her reflective fifth album. Fantasia’s evolution over the last decade has been met with Grammy nominations and critical acclaim, and she’s still taking charge of her artistry.

Here, she bridges her old-school roots with a contemporary zest that’s in full bloom on the deep blues of “Sleeping With the One I Love,” “Ugly,” a welcome country detour, and the vintage, Patti LaBelle-esque ballad “When I Met You.” Prepare to be inspired all over again.

MICHAEL BLUME, WHEN I GET IT RIGHT Close your eyes and imagine a world in which Sam Smith’s songs are as impressive as his voice. Or just listen to Michael Blume, a New Jersey native who, because he’s not run by a major-label machine (don’t be surprised if that changes by the time you read this), can nonchalantly mention going down on a guy during an impressive rap break on “Relationships.” When he’s not rousing with his rhymes, Blume is a blue-eyed soul treasure singing passionately about queer issues and civil rights. The truth is, if there’s any justice in this fickle music industry, both he and his intoxicating debut EP will reach Smith-level success sooner rather than later. Q

DINING GUIDE | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 37

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

DINING GUIDE

FABBY SLC Brew Pub

Serving Lunch and Dinner Daily, Weekend Brunch $2 Mid-Day Mimosas, Bloody Marys and Nooners 147 W. Broadway , SLC

Most Fabby in Park City

TOP OF MAIN STREET FABBY SUMMER PATIO 250 MAIN STREET, PARK CITY 2100 SOUTH HIGHLAND DRIVE SLC

Fabby Award Winner 2016 BEST PIZZA

Fabby Awards

Next to Club Try-Angles, Half Block from TRAX

801-582-5700 275 S 1300 E SLC

801-582-5700 1320 E 200 S SLC 801-233-1999

801-495-4095

10627 S Redwood Rd. South Jordan

801-627-1920

7186 S Union Park Ave 4300 Harrison Blvd Midvale Ogden

ninth & ninth 254 s main

coffee garden

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

Omar’s

V I E T N A M E S E

B I S T R O

1215 WILMINGTON SUGAR HOUSE 385.322.1158 SOMISLC.COM

Live Organic Vegetarian Gluten Free Food 2148 Highland Drive

801-486-0332

www.omarsrawtopia.com

38 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | HEALTH

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

q health

The After parTy

BY PETER STOKER

Have

favors! Can host! PNP? parTy? However you refer to it, it goes without saying that the drug scene is alive and well in the gay community. Whether you actually have used any drug is beside the point. The point is that we, as a community, don’t seem to be too concerned about it.

One drug that is making a remarkable comeback with the newer generation of gay (and non-gay) guys is meth. Meth is a synthetic stimulant that perfectly executes one job: releasing a flood of dopamine into the brain. Most people know dopamine as a naturally produced neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward.

Dopamine produces a positive reaction to everyday occurrences that keep us alive.

When we eat or drink, our body gives us dopamine. In fact, studies show that eating food releases about 150 units of

dopamine. Sex (without drugs) releases 200 units, nicotine results in 250, and cocaine clocks in at 350. In comparison, crystal meth unleashes a whopping 1,100 units of dopamine.

Meth offers a cheap and quick dopamine fix to those looking to feel good.

Many people have referred to meth as the “dirty secret” of the gay community. In his book “Lust, Men and Meth: A Gay Man’s Guide to Sex and Recovery,” David Fawcett Ph.D., writes “there is a great seduction in the power of a drug to transform someone who is lonely, tired and feeling unattractive and invisible.” He refers to many users who turned to meth because they were unhappy or frustrated with how their lives were turning out. Feeling like they could use meth in a controlled way they began exploring the different ways to use meth.

Smoking, slamming, snorting or booty

bumping are all common ways gay guys use meth. If you bottom after booty bumping here is a word of caution. You’re likely to have something besides absorbent blood vessels and a penis up your butt. You’re also going to have an abrasive powder which can increase chances for internal abrasion and condom tearing. If there is no condom, the risk for abrasions both in your rectum and on his penis goes up.

This increases the chance for exchange of blood. Damage to the mucous membranes that line the rectum can put you at higher risk of spreading HIV and other STDs. For a lot of gay meth users, regardless of HIV status, the drug acts as an intense sexual stimulant, one that breaks down inhibitions and boosts stamina and confidence, leading to marathon sex sessions of increasingly dangerous behavior. There’s no surprise that a study from the Ameri-

TYING THE KNOT? Know who WANTS your business and will treat you with the DIGNITY and RESPECT you deserve.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY QSALTLAKE

HEALTH | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 39

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

can Psychological Association shows that depression combined with methamphetamine use significantly affects sexual risk-taking.

But what happens after the parade has ended? Many users need to admit that they are either dependent or addicted to the drug. Coupling meth use with sex can greatly inhibit your libido and any chance to have a ‘normal’ sex life after recovery. When the brain experiences sex and meth together, the two can become “fused.”

Quit the drug and you also lose sexual desire.

To confound the recovery process, the meth-addled brain has problems concentrating, solving problems and judging appropriate behavior. Because quitting meth doesn’t generally result in the physical withdrawal symptoms seen in opiate addicts, many hospitals don’t admit meth users trying to detox, even though they likely

experience extreme psychological distress. In order to reclaim their lives, recovering addicts must often take a break from sex altogether as they commit to sobriety – a process that includes not just avoiding triggers and establishing new habits and friendships, but also learning to redefine sexual pleasure and increasing capacity for intimacy, Daunting indeed.

As a community “when people come out as gay, they’re celebrated but they’re not really mentored.” We need to be better at taking care of each other, helping each other, and realizing that we all have faults and are all imperfect. We are all trying to triumph over our own personal addictions and should support each other in our endeavors. Q Information for this article was gathered from “Poz Magazine” and tweaker.org and is the soul opinion of the author.

Great Skin Starts Here

Free* HIV Testing Options

STD CLINIC

PRIVATE

• 10am–4pm, Mon–Fri Walk-in & appointment • 4:30pm–7pm 1st & 3rd Wednesday HIV testing only Walk-in only

• Testing & consultation in private, nonclinical setting • Singles, couples, or groups • By appointment only Call 385-468-4166/4192 to schedule

610 South 200 East, SLC Call 385-468-4242 to schedule *Due to grant funding restrictions, free testing is only for men who have sex with men and for male-to-female transgender individuals.

saltlakehealth.org

Free $50 Gift Card or iPod

with new patient exam, complete series x-rays and cleaning.

Entrust your skin to a board-certified dermatologist

General Dermatology Surgical Dermatology Cosmetic Dermatology • • • • • • • • • • • • •

SKIN CANCER \ ACNE \ MOLES BELOTERO BLU-U LIGHT ACNE TREATMENT BOTOX CHEMICAL PEELS DYSPORT IPL PHOTOREJUVENATION THERAPY W/LUMENIS ONE® JUVÉDERM XC & VOLUMA™ XC LASER HAIR REMOVAL LATISSE RADIESSE SCLEROTHERAPY VBEAM PERFECTA PULSED DYE LASER

Douglas M. Woseth

, MD, FAAD 1548 E 4500 South, Ste 202, SLC

801.266.8841

Like us on Facebook for weekly articles, promotions

One offer per family. Not valid with any other offer. Limitations and Exclusions Apply.

Dr Joseph Benzon, DDS

Located in Bountiful & Salt Lake

Salt Lake 2150 S. Main St 104 801-883-9177

Bountiful 425 S. Medical Dr 211 801-397-5220

www.alpenglowdentists.com

To schedule an appointment, please call 801.878.1700 Evening and Saturday Appointments Available Most Insurances Accepted

40 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | COMICS

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

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: GOP CANDIDATE

BOND AVERSION

____ ________

word search FIND THE WORDS IN THE PUZZLE BELOW ABOUT THIS MONTH’S THEME. WORDS CAN BE SIDE-TO-SIDE, TOP TO BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT, RIGHT TO LEFT, BOTTOM TO TOP. THEME:

MILK

HARVEY GAY MAYOR BULLET EVERY

cryptogram

A CRYPTOGRAM IS A PUZZLE WHERE ONE LETTER IN THE PUZZLE IS SUBSTITUTED WITH ANOTHER. FOR EXAMPLE: ECOLVGNCYXW HAS THE SOLUTION: CRYPTOGRAMS! 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

CLOSET DOOR

LIY NEJL VXGXZFQYG, LIY NEJL EUUVYJJYG NYNDYV EA JEZXYLC LEGRC XJ LIY JLVRXKIL, IYLYVEJYWFRQ, MIXLY, NRQY ZIVXJLXROJ! UYVXEG!

GIVE

___ ____ _________, ___ ____ _________

THEM

______ __ _______ _____ __ ___ ________,

HOPE

____________, _____, ____ __________! ______!

PUZZLE ANSWERS ON PAGE 54

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

COMICS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 41

42 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | QMMUNITY

Qmmunity Groups SALT LAKE GOODTIME BOWLING LEAGUE FALL THROUGH WINTER LEAGUES ALL BOWLERS WELCOME CHARITY FUNDRAISING

INFO AT bit.ly/slgoodtime

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

TEA

TAH U M

to e nt vem s mo testing t n o a o r dly is et grass courage for rien y Mr F ational, f HIV, en ty of life s. n o ali ay r inte stigma rove qu ndly w p ce frie redu V, and im HIV in I h for H living wit e s H o h t UTA ndly e at mor eamFrie t u o /T Find ok.com bo f a ce The new face

of HIV awareness

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 259 | september 2016

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

LIVING | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 43

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

frivolist

5 rules for living with a roommate

BY MIKEY ROX

Splitting

rent with a roommate saves money — and it can be the ticket out of your parents’ house (which means no more sneaking those Grindr tricks in through the basement window, much to his delight). But while living with a gay brother from another mother can be rewarding, it’s important to protect yourself and make decisions that don’t hurt your finances. To make this living sitch work with few financial disagreements, here are five money tips for bunking with your bestie.

1. HAVE A SEPARATE ROOMMATE AGREEMENT If you’re renting an apartment, you and your roommate will have a lease agreement with the landlord. But in addition to this agreement, you should also establish a roommate agreement between the two of you. Before moving into the apartment, you obviously sat down and discussed how to handle expenses — or at least you should have. Since money can be a touchy topic, the agreement you come up with shouldn’t be a verbal one. Even if you walked away from the discussion on the same page, you need to get everything in writing so there are no misunderstandings down the road.

Some roommates choose to split all expenses evenly down the middle, but you and your roommate may come up with a different agreement — perhaps a 70–30 split, for instance. If you don’t get anything in writing, the person paying more may later claim that he’s being taken advantage of. Creating a separate roommate agreement may seem like an unnecessary step, but it can save you from a lot of heartache and stress.

2. BUY YOUR FURNITURE SEPARATELY When furnishing the new place, some roommates decide to purchase furniture together so it’s not a burden on one person.

But in all likelihood the two of you will not live together forever — and even if you don’t realize it today, buying furniture together can create problems once you make the decision to part ways. This can start disagreements about who gets what items, and if you and your roommate part on bad terms, these disagreements do nothing but add fuel to the fire. To make it easy on yourself, agree that everyone buys their own furniture pieces. Once you’re ready to move out of a shared apartment or house, each

person leaves with what they brought into the living arrangement.

3. DON’T BE AFRAID TO BE A LANDLORD When you and your roommate apply for an apartment together, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to confirm your employment and income. But if it’s your home and you bring in a roommate, it’s your job to act as a landlord. This can be awkward and uncomfortable, especially if you don’t have landlord experience. You may not feel comfortable asking a stranger or a friend for their financial information. But if you want to avoid potential problems, never choose a roommate based solely on what

they say they earn. If you don’t confirm this information, you could end up with a roommate who’s not capable of covering their expenses. You don’t have to get too personal, but you should at least call your roommate’s employer to confirm they work for the company, and get a copy of their most recent paycheck stub. Don’t feel bad; you’re doing what any landlord would do, which is ultimately protecting yourself.

4. MAINTAIN A FINANCIAL CUSHION Although getting a roommate can improve your finances and help you save money, you shouldn’t blow all your extra cash. It’s important to maintain a financial cushion — just in case your roommate bounces. If your roommate moves out before the end

of the lease, and you move out because you can’t afford the rent by yourself, you’re also in breach of contract. This can trigger litigation and credit damage. But if you prepare for the worst-case scenario and build a “just in case” fund, you can possibly save enough to cover the rent until the end of your lease.

5. KEEP YOUR FINANCES SEPARATE Regardless of if your roommate is a best friend, never combine finances. This person is not your spouse, so there’s no need to combine your bank accounts. Some roommates have one joint bank account exclusively for household bills, and each person deposits their share into this ac-

count. To each his own. Just know that this approach can lead to problems, especially if one person isn’t as responsible with money.

This person may dip into the account to cover personal expenses or fail to deposit his share, which forces the other roommate to pick up the slack. A safer approach is each person writing a separate check from their own checking accounts, and then including both checks in an envelope to the landlord or a utility company. Or if you’re paying bills online, one person can give the other cash to cover his share. 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.

44 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | MARKETPLACE

Got Milk ACROSS 1 Activist Milk of this puzzle’s quote 7 Street in San Francisco where Milk was “mayor” 13 Like the naked eye 15 Tip of a thick tool?

16 Coming 17 Lincoln’s side of the penny 18 Big top performer 19 The Batmobile, e.g.

21 Market corrections 22 Area of tongue usage 27 Talk and talk 30 With 47- and 59-Across, what a gay activist said about the shot that would kill him 31 IRS info 34 Crack fighter pilot 35 Suffix with bear 36 JFK debater in ‘60 37 The, to the Greeks 38 Statue’s modesty protector 40 Phrase before “forgiven” 42 Open your mouth to let it out 43 Bert’s roommate 45 Head lines?

46 After Delores author Schulman

47 See 30-Across 50 Italian well 51 Long pants, for short 52 Lorca’s grocery 55 Activity of a siren 59 See 30-Across 63 Split 64 Eagle appendage 65 Drag queen’s leg scraper 66 They’re performing, in Fame 67 Garbo, for one 68 Tasty tubers

DOWN 1 The rainbow flag has six 2 Hathaway of The Devil Wears Prada 3 Uncommon, to Caligula 4 Early fiddles 5 College web address suffix 6 To date 7 Where a trucker parks his bottom 8 Off-rd. ride 9 You can stick your tools in these 10 Polo of The Fosters 11 Sound grate?

12 Lines from Lesbos 14 Bruce Jenner at the Olympics 15 Straight to the point

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

20 Offspring of a queen 23 Giant quarterback Manning 24 Hill with a flat top 25 Some bitches put it in their mouths 26 Cigarette pkg.

27 Larry Kramer’s alma mater 28 Like sourballs 29 Reeves of My Own Private Idaho 31 Dinah of a golf classic 32 Whale finder 33 Close at hand, to the Bard 39 European nuts 41 ___ Miz 42 Night alright for fighting, to Elton John 44 Whitman work 46 Like Edna Turnblad 48 Makes into law 49 Dahl of Hollywood 52 Martin’s Ed Wood role 53 Bucatinsky’s All ___ the Guy 54 Good with the hands 56 “I” of Socrates 57 Cheers barfly 58 Mardi ___ 60 Perry Mason’s field 61 Grand ___ Opry 62 Gay guy, to Brits

NEED A PRO? THESE PEOPLE WANT YOUR BUSINESS. THEY’LL TREAT YOU RIGHT. TO GET LISTED, CALL 801.649.6663

OR EMAIL SALES@QSALTLAKE.COM AS LOW AS $50/MO

september 2016 | issue 259

BARBER

marketplace

MARKETPLACE | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 45

HAIR SALON

FRIAR TUCK’S • Straight razor shave • Scalp treatment • Traditional cut • Beard trims • Haircuts

hair

VOA Homeless Youth Resource Center donation with each cut or shave

Text or call for appointment 801-870-9087 • 1594 W 400 S, SLC kyleedhowell@gmail.com facebook.com/FriarTucksBarbershop/ B O O T & S H O E R E PA I R

Cobbler’s Last SHOE & BOOT

Robert Moody

at Image Studios Draper 177 W 12300 S

801-688-3118

M A S S AG E

䄀氀漀栀愀 䈀伀䐀夀圀伀刀䬀匀 吀爀漀礀 䠀甀渀琀攀爀Ⰰ 䰀䴀吀

REPAIR

James & Sam Kelley-Mills

4142 S Main St

WEDDING SERVICE S

JEFF WILLIAMS

BARBER SHOP

The Tentman

TA X I

801-261-4744

CLEANING SERVICE S

who you gonna call?

• MAID SERVICE • CARPET CLEANING • MOVE IN/MOVE OUT • SINCE 1996 • GAY OWNED/OPERATED

801-849-0147

dirtbustersutah.com facebook.com/dirtbustersutah

COUNSELORS

801.971.6287 TOWING

TYING THE KNOT? Towing and recovery Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week within 100 miles of Salt Lake

㠀 ㄀⸀㐀㔀㔀⸀㈀㐀㤀㜀 S PA N I S H T E AC H E R

T R AV E L

midnighttow.com

W E L L N E S S A DVO C AT E S

FOR PROFESSIONALS 1-on-1 private classes, your place or mine. Learn at your own pace, step-by-step, by speaking, not just answering workbook questions. Enroll today, first class this week.

Lynn and Richard Huber wellness advocates

ROGERLCOX@GMAIL.COM

mynewhealthylife.com

801·609·4332 TA R O T

VO I C E L E S S O N S

吀䄀刀伀吀 Embracing the health & resilience of our community

Know who WANTS your business and will treat you with the DIGNITY and RESPECT you deserve

TOW

385-237-4TOW

SPANISH

WEDDING SERVICE S

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

䜀䄀䔀䄀 唀一䤀嘀䔀刀匀 吀䄀刀伀吀 ␀㈀ ⼀㘀 䴀䤀一匀 簀 ␀㄀ ⼀㌀ 䴀䤀一匀⸀

㌀㠀㔀ⴀ㐀㐀㔀ⴀ 㜀㘀㔀

SINGER’S PAL

PROFESSIONAL COACHING SINGING LESSONS ROGER COX | 801.609.4332 SINGERSPAL.COM BEGINNERS TO ADVANCED

A DV E R T I S I N G

YOUR AD HERE

GET INTO OUR NEW SERVICE GUIDE SECTION FOR AS LOW AS $50/MO

801-649-6663

46 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | PETS

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 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: Easy

7 5 1

8

5 8 6

7

8 5 4 7 8 6 1 4 2 6

3 4

4 8 9 2 8

3

1

7 6

1 4 7 5 2 4 5 8 2 1 7 6 7 2 9 5 1 7 8 6 3 8 3 9 7 1 7 2 4 8 3 2 6 4 9 5 7 6 3 9

4 3 2 3 1 7 8 6 5 6 8 4 9 2 3 6 9 1

3

8

4 9 2

5 3 7 4 9

6 8 1

3 2 8 1 2 7 1 5 9

8 7

4

3 9 1 8 5 3 9 2 6 1 7 9 3 8 5 1 4 2 5 1 9 7 3 1 5 6 8

1

Attention: VIAGRA & CIALIS Users There’s a More Affordable & Effective Alternative to U.S. Pharmacy High Prices!

50 Pill Special:

Only $99 Plus Free Shipping!

For discreet home delivery, CALL NOW!

800-381-8913 Operators Available 24/7!

september 2016 | issue 259 | 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

➎ LINDSEY GARDENS DOG PARK 9TH AVE AND M STREET

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

5982 W NEW BINGHAM HWY

Archer

ROY CITY DOG PARK

Archer

2450 SOUTH A ST, OGDEN

Neutered Male, 3 years old Khao Manee Mix Archer is a big boy, coming in at just under

5700 S 3260 W, ROY

➍ SANDY DOG PARK 9980 S 300 E

OGDEN CITY DOG PARK SOUTH OGDEN DOG PARK

4150 SOUTH PALMER DR, OGDEN

JC SNOW DOG PARK

900 S 400 E, ST GEORGE

15 pounds! Not only is he big physically, but he also has a huge personality! Because of this, he would do best in an adult only

DOGGY DAY CARE | BOARDING | TRAINING | GROOMING

home where he can be the only furry companion. Archer LOVES going for walks on his harness and leash and exploring his surroundings. If you are looking for a smart, fun, feline companion, look no further!

For more information, go to Best Friends Animal Society - Utah, 2005 S 1100 East, or call 801-574-2454 or go to bestfriendsutah.org

50% OFF PLAY & TRAIN OR BOARD & TRAIN

$20 value - bring in ad to redeem

Legal Woof: South Salt Lake Camp only. Can not be combined with other discounts. Coupon required.

Code: QADSPAW

Expires 8/31/2016

48 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | HEALTH&HIV

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

positive thoughts

Changes

BY JEFF BERRY

This past

January I awoke to the news that David Bowie had just died. My partner Stephen told me as I walked into the kitchen. I thought it had to be a mistake, some kind of horrible, twisted hoax. When you are 57 years old, as I am, 69 seems way too young to die.

When I graduated from high school in 1976, my parents gave me an all-in-one stereo system

that I would play my vinyl records on (it even had a built-in 8-track player!). I would listen to Bowie’s album “Young Americans” over and over on the turntable, and was spellbound by Bowie — his music, lyrics, the androgynous look. Everything about him spoke to me, and as a slightly effeminate, young, gay man who was still in the process of coming out, he gave me confidence that everything was going to work out, and that

I would eventually come into my own someday. He gave me, and others like me, hope, and made it cool to be different.

After testing positive for HIV in 1989 at the age of 30, I wasn’t sure I would live to see 35, as there were still no effective treatments for HIV. When those treatments did finally arrive they were often difficult to take, and some had debilitating side effects. While recent treatment advances have made HIV therapy much simpler and safer, there can often be underlying issues such as mental health, substance abuse and financial instability that need to be addressed in order to be successful in treating HIV.

q scopes SEPTEMBER

BY SAM KELLEY-MILLS ARIES March 20–April 19 While the fate of the universe does not fall within your hands, it does appear that great dependence falls on you. Many people consider pushing you around, but recognize that it is not their place to do so. Decide once and for all what you want and go for it. While success is never guaranteed, satisfaction is always available!

TAURUS Apr 20–May 20 A past associate appears, and with them comes a renewed interest in faith. There are many questions you can ask, but don’t be surprised if certain answers are missing.

This person can only point out the directions, but decisions require gut instinct. Push fear aside and whatever feelings remain is what you should listen to.

GEMINI May 21–June 20 Seek out an old time friend in No one does anything without reason. Even an act of curiosity is an experimental one. Recognize that someone toying with your emotions could simply be curious, but this type of game isn’t what you need right now.

Put a stop to it, and move away from this behavior at all costs. It is not always easy, but learn how to walk away.

CANCER June 21–July 22 No one enjoys a liar, especially you Cancer! Even so, an exaggeration in storytelling is always enjoyable, and a tall-tale may draw you in more than you realize. Enjoy the escapism but recognize that even other people don’t realize when the truth has been stretched a bit too much. Don’t

judge too harshly, but don’t be a sucker either.

LEO July 23–August 22 Pain has a way of creating a desire for revenge. Consider the source of your plight before taking actions that could end up hurting you more than help. One of your most trusted friends has a pleasant gift for you. Accept it graciously and realize that it comes from the heart. It will ease your pain more than vengeance ever could.

VIRGO August 23–Sep. 22 A personal situation at home could lead to more changes than you realize. There is a danger is biting off too much. Obligations and personal relationships could be suffocating. Lay off someone who doesn’t make you feel good about yourself all the time.

No matter how much you may care for them, it isn’t worth losing peace over.

LIBRA Sept 23–October 22 No matter how much is accomplished, life is becoming a never-ending stream of obligations.

Start eliminating things holding you back, and focus on what bring you the happiest endings. A relationship has become muddled, with almost as much bad as there is good. The real struggle is in determining what can be overlooked.

SCORPIO Oct. 23–Nov. 21 It is not hard to provide gratitude for yourself, because you know what gets you going. Even so, don’t fear searching for a fast learning companion. By demonstrating your own desires to this person, you may find a personification of your fantasies.

The real risk is boredom, so don’t be afraid to try some new things as well.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22–December 20.

A restless period could be due to work related stress. It may seem as though anxiety is a defining factor in life, but that can change. It is a good time to find a new job or recreate your circle of friends. Change is the real key to happiness. Even though it may seem scary, the risks are lower than you think. Go after what you really want.

CAPRICORN Dec 21–Jan 19 Despite the general opinion, being caught in the middle of an embarrassing situation could be amusing. The attention is vastly more rewarding than the shame, so have a good time while playing the fool.

Don’t let others make the mistake of thinking they can hurt you though. Just because you play the part doesn’t mean it defines you.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20–Feb. 18 Break free of an oppressive relationship but don’t burn a bridge. You might simply need space, but the value is still there. Nothing is more rewarding than figuring out a problem on your own, so put your hands on the wheel and glide into a good place. A career or financial matter is really weighing you down, so learn to let go.

PISCES Feb 19–Mar 19 A distinct trait you share with other Pisces is the uncanny ability to connect with one another.

Get involved with those who are likeminded, and self discover could be the result. A revelation could lead to a vastly different career path than you’ve been on for quite some time. It may simply be the time for self-reinvention that could happen is yet to come so keep positive. Q

Take it upon yourself to create your own plan and path to wellness. If you’re depressed or feel isolated, talk to someone at a support group or even an online community (there are many on Facebook such as fb.me/groups/ mariahiv or “HIV Long Term Survivors”). If you are using, there are resources to help you get and stay sober (AA, NA or CMA) or at the very least play safely and sanely (such as tweaker.org). If you’re HIV-positive, seek out an HIV case manager at the Utah AIDS Foundation who can help you see if there are financial resources available to you to help ease some of the stresses of day-to-day living. Consult with a provider who is knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS, and come prepared with a list of questions about potential side effects and drug interactions that you might be concerned about. If you want to simplify your treatment or help make it easier for you to take it every day as prescribed, see if there is something available that will work for you.

If you are HIV-negative, PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a daily pill you can take to prevent HIV. Truvada is currently the only approved medication for PrEP. While any doctor can prescribe PrEP, you can find a list of providers who are knowledgeable and familiar with PrEP at g­ reaterthan.org/get-prep. If you are HIV-positive, and are on effective HIV treatment, your virus will be suppressed to a level so low (undetectable) that it is virtually impossible for you to transmit the virus to others.

Much has changed in 20 years: the dawn of the internet, smart phones, social media, even treatment and prevention for HIV. But one constant remains. Treating and preventing HIV is as much an art as it is a science. Change is inevitable, but by embracing it we “turn and face the strange,” as Bowie said, and become the architect of our own future, and master of our destiny. Q Jeff Berry is the editor of Positively Aware magazine. This column is a project of Plus, Positively Aware, POZ, TheBody.com, Q Syndicate, and QSaltLake.

KINK | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 49

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

Rebellion Against Shame Annual Rocky Mountain Rebellion takes place in Salt Lake Aug. 25–28

Rocky

Mountain Rebellion is about all things kink, and the annual event takes place at the RL Hotel (formerly the Red Lion) from Aug. 25 through 28th.

The Rocky Mountain Person of Leather Contest will be held as part of the event, with the 2015 title holder, Ikonocast, stepping down and handing over the title.

Each year, a single Rocky Mountain Person of Leather is selected, not based on genderidentity, sexual orientation, race, physical appearance, age, Rocky Mountain Person of or disLeather 2015, Ikonoclast ability, but rather on their ability to articulate their views, passions, and dedications and to make an impact in their communities.

Organizers are looking to people in the Leather community who can act as mentors, educators, role models and spokespeople throughout their title year.

The Rocky Mountain Region includes

Utah, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado.

Contestants participate in categories that include interview, leather lifestyle, speech, pop questions and fantasy.

They also participate in Rocky Mountain Person of Leather Weekend fundraising activities.

Contestants move on to the International Person of Leather Competition held at Sin in the City in Las Vegas in February of next year.

New this year at Rebellion is the Rocky Mountain Puppy and Trainer Contest. Puppies and trainers are judged separately and go through interview, speech, lifestyle, and show presentation categories.

Contestants who win titles will move on to the International Puppy and Trainer Contest in Dallas, Texas in October.

The event has many classes on various topics related to kink and Leather. There are “play parties” each night as well.

A motorcycle run happens Saturday morning and a cigar social is scheduled for that night.

Vendors are available throughout the weekend to sell wares related to kink.

Registration is $80 for basic and $110 for VIP to include play parties and can be found at rmrebellion.com Q

Salt Lake AIDS Walk

9/17/16 City Creek Center 9:00AM

Register for free today! www.saltlakeAIDSwalk.org

For info, go to rmrebellion.com

9.30 � 10.1 moabpride.org presented by

gayadventureweek.com

September 25-30, 2016

50 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | LIFESTYLE

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

the frivolist

4 Scientific Reasons You Should Laugh More in Bed

BY MIKEY ROX

This may

sound odd to you, but I love laughing during sex. No, I’m not laughing _at_ my partner (well, maybe sometimes I am), but rather, we’re usually laughing together.

Maybe we missed each other’s mouths while kissing in the dark, or perhaps a

in my opinion, at least — of being totally comfortable while you’re naked together.

I don’t enjoy being guarded when I’m otherwise completely exposed, and I want my partner to be relaxed as possible too.

It stands to reason then, as a result of your superior senses of humor, a greater sense of security is established in the relationship — a positive byproduct of giggling at each other’s real-time sexual misfortune — according to licensed marriage and family therapist Lori Schade.

“When a couple can be playful and laugh together and it is accepted, the relationship feels safer, and then they feel safer to explore various options in their sexual relationship,” she says.

Which is just one more reason for your wall-to-wall neighbors to be envious.

2. IT RELIEVES THE PRESSURE TO ‘PERFORM’

hand went someplace unexpected (but probably welcomed). I enjoy laughing in bed because I don’t take sex seriously. Sex should be fun and exciting and it should feel good — and as it turns out, laughing can contribute to all those things that make doing the deed so great. In fact, it’s quite common — and healthy. Here are a few educated reasons why.

1. LAUGHING DURING SEX MAKES COUPLES FEEL SAFER If you and your partner are laughing in the midst of the bump-and-grind, you’ve reached the ultimate relationship goal —

We’ve all had those nights — thank you, Thirsty Thursdays — when we’re not in the right frame of mind when it’s time to show that bar trick what’s good.

That’s because we’re so concentrated on performing well — and striving for climax — that the anxiety we’ve caused ourselves overshadows the carefree romp we should be having.

“When couples get fixated on goal-oriented behavior in bed (i.e. orgasm), it often generates pressure and anxiety, which are counter to performance,” Schade reveals.

“When they instead are just experiencing each other in the moment and can laugh together, they are more likely to increase the quality of the sexual interaction.”

The takeaway? Let out a few belly laughs in bed to blow a better load.

3. LAUGHING HELPS YOU RELAX YOUR MUSCLES FOR A MORE PLEASURABLE TRYST Sex feels great — or at least it should — but there are exercises we can do before getting down to the nitty-gritty that can heighten the experience for even more pleasure. You won’t break a sweat, either — because all you need is a robust chuckle.

Scientifically speaking, laughter can release endorphins that promote stress reduction and pain for an overall more satisfying outcome, says licensed sex and relationship therapist Courtney Geter, “During sexual activity, our bodies may be tense and tight from stress during the day or anxiety about the sexual activity,” she explains. “Laughing before or during sexual activity is one way to help relax muscles to prevent pain or possible injury during sex. For clients experiencing anxiety during sexual activity, I help them incorporate ways to ‘play,’ including laughing with each other long before the sexual activity. This helps prep the brain and body for activity.”

4) MUTUAL LAUGHTER BETWEEN PARTNERS MEANS YOU’RE BOTH IN TOUCH WITH THE DYNAMICS OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP

Any couple who have been together for a length of time, let’s say two years or more, knows that sex can become routine, commonplace and, dare I say it, boring — because, as Schade admits, “Sexual experiences and relationships wax and wane.”

Hope is not lost, however.

The first thing you need to know is that it’s totally normal; every relationship deals with this at some point. Secondly, being able to laugh about it to keep the affection running steady when the physical aspect of your sexual relationship experiences hills and valleys is a sign that you’re in a good place.

“Laughing implies acceptance of a variety of levels of desire and performance,” Schade adds.

Your relationship may not be perfect, but your ability to laugh with each other suggests that there’s a level of openness and honesty that many other couples lack. Hold tight on that revelation when things get wonky down there and you’ll be A-OK. 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. Mikey’s on Twitter @ mikeyrox.

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

gay writes

Slipperless You slipped

BY RICHARD CLEGG

Slipped Away Today I threw your slippers away They’d slipped astray Until I found them tucked away Today and I recalled far away that day I failed to slip them to your feet You tipped askew Instantly I knew You’d slip away From out my grasp From out my wiles and Fall crumpled helpless To the ice cold toilet tiles We couldn’t win You had to go so I had rolled You to where we’d gone a hundred fold

Now shit Was everywhere For I had surely failed your care Failed to slip the slippers where They should have been I freaked!

A meltdown of Chernobyl proportions Up shit creek I flailed I wailed Bemoaning our misfortunes Yet Like a pup I cleaned you up With a tug Pulled shorts up With a rug Wrapped you up

Shielding you from the icy tiles For what seemed an eternity before Another helped lift you from the floor So I could roll you back from whence we’d come To our slippery universe of unexpected shit Of brain cells fried Our rudderless ship Of MRIs Of funeral talk Of Dickenson and dirt naps Of simple facts Of love In spite of all our pleas of “peace be still” God’s will was done

Warmly with a smile

READING | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 51

You slipped away and At long last today

Like you For good I slipped your slippers away

I now befuddled, hands not yet claws,

Today

A death still raw and searching for cause

Elsewhere

I mumbled myself while living my loss.

Befuddled old man mumbles on the bus,

“Joined at the hip,” some said. God, we had fun.

Addressing someone, some think us.

A trip that at one point fate declared done.

Just a crazed aged geezer living his fuss.

While straining for truth in, “From dust to dust,”

He natters away with that visage he sees?

Elegant claws talk from long tattered sleeves.

Now smiling at someone, hair all a muss.

His eyes are elsewhere, that someone’s not us.

A radiant face, one cheek a soiled smudge.

His skin seems so silky, do I dare touch?

He joined me from elsewhere there on the bus.

Crazed, I addressed him, one check a moist smudge.

Could he have responded, had I dared touch?

Gay Writes is a DiverseCity Series writing group that meets the 2nd and 4th Mondays, 6:30-8 pm, 210 E. 400 South, Ste. 8.

the bookworm sez The Joy of Swimming

by Lisa Congdon c.2016, Chronicle Books $18.95 / 141 pages People say you’re all wet.

Maybe that’s not the nicest thing you’ve ever heard but hey! If something’s true, it’s true, right? Yep, you love being in a pool, lake, pond, the ocean, a puddle, it doesn’t matter. And in “The Joy of Swimming” by Lisa Congdon, you’ll meet like-minded people in swimsuits.

At the tender age of eight, Lisa Congdon learned to love swimming when her mother signed her up for swim team near their California home. It was fun, but it was work, and her interest in swimming declined: life got in the way, school demanded time, injuries happened. It wasn’t until college, after she came out as a lesbian, that Congdon resumed the sport in earnest, and it connected her to the bet-

ter parts of her life.

Swimmers, as she shows in this book, come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. Gertrude Ederle, for instance, was just twenty years old when she swam the English Channel in under 15 hours, a record she held for a quarter-century. Johnny Weissmuller, who later played Tarzan in the movies, was the first person to swim the 100-meter freestyle in less than a minute.

Roxanne Winston thinks more black swimmers should “feel inspired to join the sport.” Kimberly Chambers almost lost her leg to “a freak accident,” but she still swims. Chel Micheline finds that being in the water frees her from spina bifida.

But swimming isn’t just about a cool dip in the lake: dog paddling can be embarrassing (unless, of course, you’re a dog!), so you’ll want to know a few basic strokes, the science behind and the history of which Congdon explains. You’ll learn a “very brief history” of swimming pools here, too, including where the largest one is located; you’ll read an itsy-bitsy bio on the bikini; and you’ll get quick facts on swimming and the Olympics.

Find out why you’ll want to cover your eyes if you visit an Icelandic locker room.

See how even Michael Phelps is slow, compared to a sailfish. Get the real definition of a “swimming hole.” And find out why some people take bandages along when visiting a public pool in Japan .

Seriously, can you ever have a summer without at least one great big cannonball, dead-center in the water? If your answer is to the negative, then “The Joy of Swimming” is a perfect poolside book for you.

Using old ads, interviews, and her own drawings as illustration, author Lisa Congdon offers readers a bit of quirk for their deck chair. This has the feel of a sketch book or a haphazardly-kept scrapbook with mini-memoirs of the famous and never-famous, trivia, Olympic facts, statistics, and random thoughts. That messiness is really appealing, and you’ll come to love this book after a few laps around its pages.

Dip your toes in if you dare, or just dive right in. The water’s fine, and so is this book; for mermaid, athlete, or mere fans of the old waterin’ hole, “The Joy of Swimming” will make a big splash. Q

52 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | NIGHTLIFE

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

princess kennedy

Utah History 3000

BY PRINCESS KENNEDY

Last June

I was honored with the Utah journalists award of excellence in a radio series I did on KRCL last year during Days of ’47 week. I came in third place — I’m used to always being number one, so I’m trying to not let that bother me.

The series, called Queer Pioneer, was a triad of stories told and researched by our own Connell O’Donovan; 1) The story of Brigham Morris Young, the drag queen son of the beloved Prophet. 2) The director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in the 1880s who did drag shows between sets and lived with an 18-year-old Swedish boy. Finally 3) A story of two gents traveling together (and sleeping in the same bed roll) with one of the handcart parties across the plains. All very ground-breaking history for the time and pretty pro-

phetic to what would be come a city steeped in subculture.

I was very honored to have revived the award with producer Brad Wheeler and executive producer Laura Jones and even more so that Brad and Laura gave me a chance to prove to them I was worth taking a risk. Get this, the guy presenting the award was a radio DJ that you probably should know. A younger guy who thought he was so witty but became very obviously Mormon conservative when he started to announce the name and the series and stopped short at Quee... — uncomfortable pause — and skipped over it. It was very awkward and kind of insulting.

Oh well, I won’t be awkward, my career as giver of information and opinions on life et al has finally been validated and suddenly I’ve somehow

FREE TRIAL

AMERICAʼS HOTTEST GAY CHATLINE

1-800-610-7078 Ahora en Español/18+

been let into the good ol’ boys club, for whatever that’s worth, I’m nevertheless flattered for the recognition.

Out of these flames has risen a Phoenix. I was offered by station manager Ms. Jones to create and host a semi-regular series based on the same concept. What I’ve decided to do is a show based on Salt Lake’s history of the strange, the cool and the truly leftist pioneers.

For example, the first show I did a couple weeks back was on the history of Damn These Heels LGBTQA Film Festival.

I have a piece recorded with a woman who is the great granddaughter of one of Salt Lake City’s suffragettes and first female voters, and a piece I just aired with CJ Fishburn, a tattoo artist and owner of the tattoo history museum on Third West. In the 3½ min segments, he talks about the history of tattoo parlors, a couple of wacky tattooists from back in the day and more.

Cool stuff, huh?

I have a few other concepts for shows I’d like to do such as, I would love to find relatives of the first interracial couple in salt lake, some members of the late 70s/early 80s punk bands, I once met a stripper and exotic dancer who danced in Park City in the 50s.

I recently found out that the television was invented by a wacky inventor from Beaver and info on one of the earliest female professors from the University of Utah. All

really great concepts but the research and follow-through I am finding to be difficult,. But I’m determined to be diligent because I think great things will come from this.

Here is what I need you to do my faithful readers and Kennedolls: I need your help.

I want you to be the good exMormons that I know you can be and scavenge thru your own family history and get me some great stories. Or if you know someone, chuck them in my direction. For example, Are you from the Hogle family? Was Porter Rockwell your great uncle? Was your great grandma the first female med student at the U? Maybe someone in your family worked on the railroad building crew? I want stories of people who did amazing things that have nothing to do with the cricket and seagull bullshit we’ve been beaten over the head with since ... well, 1849.

As of right now, the show, that I have named The Story of Us, is not on a set schedule and until I’m able to get more stories will only be once a month, or in a perfect world, bi-monthly.

Join me, executive producer Jones and Wheeler on the last Friday of the month as we discuss more about TSOU and our plan to make it a first place series.

Do you have a story or know someone who does? Hit me up at theprincesskennedy@ yahoo.com or find and like Princess Kennedy page on Facebook and share the story on my wall.

september 2016 | issue 259 | gaysaltlake.com

NIGHTLIFE | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 53

54 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | FINAL WORD

gaysaltlake.com | issue 259 | september 2016

the perils of petunia pap smear

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

This story leaves us with several important questions: 1) Is Spandex the fabric of the gods?

2) Do you think Brazilians wear Speedos because they can’t afford more fabric?

3) During an obvious taunting, is a queen obligated to hide her “appreciation?”

4) Should a queen wait one hour after eating before becoming excited?

5) Would it have become an international diplomatic incident if I had licked the bum?

These and other eternal questions shall be answered in future chapters of the Perils of Petunia Pap Smear. Q

Cryptogram: “THE MOST RIDICULED, THE MOST OPPRESSED MEMBER OF SOCIETY TODAY IS THE STRAIGHT, HETEROSEXUAL, WHITE, MALE CHRISTIANS! PERIOD!” —MICHAEL SAVAGE

7 5 6 2 8 4 9 3 1

8 2 3 4 9 5 6 1 7

4 6 1 8 7 3 5 9 2

9 7 5 1 6 2 8 4 3

1 8 2 9 3 7 4 5 6

2 5 6 9 4 3 1 8 7 3 4 9 6 5 1 7 2 8

Anagram: MELANIA TRUMP

4 9 7 1 8 2 3 5 6

6 3 4 5 1 8 2 7 9 4 8 1 5 6 3 8 9 4 7 1 2

5 9 7 3 2 6 1 8 4 6 3 5 7 2 9 6 1 5 8 4 3

2 1 8 7 4 9 3 6 5 9 2 7 8 1 4 2 3 7 9 6 5

5 3 1 2 7 9 6 4 8

7 2 8 3 6 4 1 9 5

4 9 6 5 1 8 3 7 2

8 3 2 1 5 6 9 4 7 8 5 6 2 3 1 6 7 5 8 9 4

7 9 1 2 4 8 6 5 3 1 9 2 4 8 7 1 9 2 5 3 6

6 4 5 3 7 9 8 1 2 7 4 3 9 5 6 8 4 3 1 2 7

8 7 4 5 2 1 9 6 3 5 6 3 7 9 2 1 8 4

1 6 9 3 8 4 7 5 2 1 8 9 4 6 3 7 2 5

5 2 3 9 6 7 4 1 8 4 2 7 5 8 1 3 9 6

7 9 8 2 5 6 3 4 1 9 1 4 6 3 5 2 7 8

3 4 2 7 1 9 6 8 5 2 7 6 8 1 4 5 3 9

6 1 5 4 3 8 2 7 9 3 5 8 9 2 7 4 6 1

a male revue show at midnight.

Fantastic! I would have time for dinner. I had learned in princess finishing school that it’s not healthy to become excited on an empty stomach.

When I returned to the theater there was a drag queen selling tickets. I was immediately jealous because she had bigger hair and more sequins than me. I entered the auditorium and sat alone in the center of the seats. The lights dimmed, the audience quieted, and the drag queen came into the spotlight. Of course she was speaking Portuguese, so I couldn’t understand very much. But she brought out onto the stage 16 of the most buff, meatiest, hunkiest dudes I had ever seen. They were all barefoot and bare-chested, wearing flowing, filmy, almost transparent pants. Oh my!

Then the lights were dimmed and some scenery appeared. At that moment began an hour of pure torment as the men, one-by-one or in small groups, proceeded to perform salacious striptease acts to the music, and just before the big reveal of “Captain Standish” in each dance, the lights would go dark or the scenery would hide “The Goods.” The audience was being slowly driven insane with the torturous taunting.

Of course, me being a lady of training, I tried mightily to hide my own raging “Irish Toothache” with my purse.

At intermission time the drag queen performed a musical number and then called all the boys back. This time they lined up on stage just like in “A Chorus Line,” and sweet Jesus, they were all buck naked! I was

1 3 8 7 5 6 4 2 9

to Rio is fraught with danger and excitement.

As I sat watching the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, my mind was flooded with emotions and memories of my own journey to Rio. Many years ago, during the Cretaceous Period — when I was several tons lighter and my skin was as wrinkle-free as a Tom Daley-stuffed Speedo — I had the opportunity to travel with a choir from Logan to perform a concert in Rio. Our hotel was on Copacabana Beach. I was nearly overcome with joy when I observed that more than 75 percent of the men on the beach were sporting a Speedo.

On the morning after our arrival, I got up early and went for a morning beach stroll.

Lo and behold, there came along at least 200 beefy, young Brazilian Army soldiers jogging in formation. Again, their uniform consisted of only a Speedo, nothing else. Heaven, I’m in Heaven.

Of course the choir kept me busy with rehearsals and sightseeing, including trips to Sugar Loaf and Christ the Redeemer statue. Of course I had brought along my well-worn copy of Damron “Men’s Travel Guide,” which I recommend that no queen travel more than 20 miles from home without it.

It listed that there was some sort of gay theater within a couple of blocks of our hotel. I couldn’t wait to ditch my roommate, and explore. Bless my Gay-Dar, I was able to locate the theater after just a short 10-minute search. The poster on the ticket window indicated

6 8 2 3 7 1 5 9 4

The road

told the line to turn around.

Obviously I was to choose the best ass. I chose a very nice bum and indicated him. Then I started to leave the stage. The queen caught my arm and held me there. Then she had the hunk I chose go lay face down ass up on a chaise. She pulled me to him, placed my hands on his buxom buttocks, and had me massage them. Then she indicated that I should kiss them. I bent down and placed a peck on each cheek and the audience went wild.

I didn’t wash my face or brush my teeth for the rest of the trip. Everyone in the choir kept asking me why I was smiling so much.

3 4 1 5 6 9 2 7 8

BY PETUNIA PAP SMEAR

slightly disappointed because of the fact that none of them were at “Full Salute,” but I did notice that they were all magnificently “manscaped.” Then there was more talk from the queen, gesturing to boys about their obvious attributes. Then she excused the bevy of nakedness from the stage and performed two more musical numbers.

The once again the “Nude Dudes” took to the stage. I wondered what they had been doing during the songs because all 16 had a raging “Bazooka” of Olympic proportion. They stood at attention, ready for the queen’s inspection. She proceeded to walk up and down “The Woody Line,” casually commenting about this “Bayonet” and that “Flag Pole.” Then she called audience members on-stage one at a time.

She would hand the person an award to give to one of the men.

After about five awards, the queen motioned for me to come up on-stage. I shrugged my shoulders, indicating I didn’t understand. Then she said, “Parlez-vous Français?”

I yelled “no” and shrugged again. By now the rest of the audience was yelling at me and a couple of people near me grabbed my arms and were pulling me out of my seat, thrusting me toward the stage.

The queen took me by the hand and led me along the line.

I was nearly fainting. Then she

9 7 5 4 2 8 6 3 1

The tale of Olympic proportions

Summer fun?

Prepare, Repair, Repair Rejuvinate

enlighten

LASER COSMETICS

Molly Mears, M.D.

9 minutes north of downtown Salt Lake at 1560 Renaissance Towne Drive, Bountiful

801-294-9999

enlightenlaser.com

In business 9 years, led by Dr Molly Mears Separate exam and procedure rooms for your convenience and privacy Medically staffed facility

Free Consultation

Chin up

New FDA approved treatment for

neck fat

$995 Per Treatment (includes two Vials)

Freshen the face

BOTOX $9 per unit Facial $39 Juvederm Voluma $795 per syringe (includes 20 Units of Botox) Latisse – Buy One Get One FREE

Rejuvenation (IPL) 50% off Photo Laser Resurfacing (CO ) 2

Trim the fat

Utah's largest, most experienced clinic

Freeze away the fat!

Package Discount Pricing

Laser Hair Removal Buy One Area Get the Second Area of Equal or Lesser Value, FREE

SPECIAL PRICES EFFECTIVE THROUGH 9/30/16