QSaltLake Magazine - Issue 314 - August 2020

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news The top national and world news since last issue you should know

LGBTQ people “continue to be severely underrepresented.”

With 4.5 percent of the population, 0.17 percent of 510,000 elected positions in the U.S. are filled by LGBTQ people.

There remains a partisan divide. In 2018, 438 LGBTQ elected officials affiliated with the Democratic Party and only 16 Republicans.

BY CRAIG OGAN

More and more LGBTQ candidates The number of openly LGBTQ elected officials, according to LGBTQ Victory Institute’s Out for America, is up to 843 local, state, and federal officials. That is up from 417 in 2016. There was no Institute guess of the number of “not-openly-LGBTQ” elected officials. The Institute says even with 850 LGBTQ people running for office this year,

Sullivan out at ‘New York Magazine’ Andrew Sullivan, a gay man who was once editor of The New Republic, is leaving his post at New York Magazine. His announcement was overshadowed by the departure of a high-ranking New York Times avowedly “fluid” editor, Bari Weiss, who decried discrimination based on her political

views and ethnicity. His reasons are similar, though he didn’t decry ethnic discrimination. In his last column, he said. “Staff and management at New York Magazine no longer want to associate with me.

They seem to believe that any writer not actively committed to critical theory in questions of race, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity is actively, physically harming co-workers merely by existing in the same virtual space.”

Sullivan has taken a mostly “conservative” approach to issues. He did actively support marriage equality, opposed DOMA and DADT, and does not favor the current president’s reelection.

British TERF War Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling started a row years ago with comments questioning accommodations made to transgender women relating to domestic abuse shelters, women’s prisons, and sports. She was criticized as “transphobic” and called a “TERF,” Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist, by some activists. It’s gotten so heady that some actors who became very wealthy appearing in her Harry Potter movies have distanced themselves from her. But her magic has cast a spell over Great Britain’s government ministers and its beloved National Health Service, which has funded gender affirmation procedures. The Minister for Women and

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Equalities announced plans to ban sex-change procedures for anyone under the age of 18. The NHS had previously advocated puberty blockers, gender affirmation counseling, and body-altering surgery to minors, but changed its website to read, “Little is known about the long-term side effects of hormone or puberty blockers in children with gender dysphoria. It’s also not known whether hormone blockers affect the development of the teenage brain or children’s bones. Side effects may also include hot flashes, fatigue, and mood alterations.”

From ‘Glee’ to sadness The body of Naya Rivera was recovered from Lake Piru in Ventura County, north of Los Angeles. The 33-year-old actress was one of the ensemble cast of the popular high school-themed musical TV show, Glee. She played the adamantly out lesbian cheerleader Santana Lopez.

Her character was in a pretty passionate screen relationship with another cheerleader. She drowned while boating with her 4-year-old son. He was recovered safely.

Mouth that roared, roils Fire Island It just takes one entitled loudmouth to ruin a party. The iconic gay Fire Island’s Pines section has been put on lockdown after a series of tweets

about partying going on there.

Posts began circulating on social media that showed revelers mostly on private property ignoring regulations on social distance and masking.

The posts contained a message from a self-proclaimed fitness trainer, “Everyone knows I had COVID. So, go fuck yourself. I hope all of you get fucking COVID.” The managing director of the Pines commercial area condemned the lack of social distance and masks on the part of partiers, but also banned the tweeting twit from the commercial district, saying, “Never have we been so sickened by the actions of one person.” he added.

The Fire Island Pines Property Owners Association have now prohibited beach parties and require masks to be worn on the beach when visitors are unable to socially distance.

Halle backs out of role A tweet also cost Halle Berry a new role in which she would play a transgender man. She expressed enthusiasm to explore the motivation of the character and portray the mixed martial arts character’s FTM transition. It was too much for the outrage-mob which criticized her for “cis-washing” the role which, they posited, should have gone to a transgender actor.

Berry backed out of the role and apologized, “As a cisgender woman, I now understand that I should not have considered this role and that the transgender community should undeniably have the opportunity to tell their own stories.” No FTM transgender star has been announced and, without Berry’s star power, the film may not be produced.

International: Russia and Mexico nyet!

SCOTUS nondiscrimination

Two no votes, one good, one bad happened internationally courtesy of Russia and Mexico. In Russia, the bad came in when voters approved a package of constitutional amendments, one of them that marriage is only between a man and a woman. Russia decriminalized homosexuality decades ago but there’s still animosity towards gays: Moscow city government banned Pride parades for 100 years and the Russian National Parliament forbids “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relationships” among minors. The good news? Mexico City said no to conversion therapy. This comes after the same government of Mexico’s capital city of 8.9 million people approved marriage equality a few years ago. Viva Mexico.

Justice Neil Gorsuch lead the U.S Supreme court’s majority in affirming the 1964 Civil Rights Act, prohibits employment discrimination “because of sex.” And “an employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex,” Justice Gorsuch wrote. “Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision; exactly what Title VII forbids.” The vote was 6 to 3. Dissenters didn’t endorse discrimination but opined that the U. S. Congress should change the law, not the courts.

Bad business in Virginia A Virginia man meeting a male escort was allegedly robbed and murdered by the escort and an accomplice. Two men have been arrested and charged in the murder with a third suspect also in custody.

The suspects are charged with first-degree murder, robbery, using a firearm while in the commission of a felony, narcotic possession, and a probation violation (Prince William). The Washington Blade received a tip about the murderer being an escort. The tipster sent a link to the man’s page on Rent.men. Virginia added sexual orientation to its hate crime statutes recently, but no “hate crime enhancement” has been added to the list of charges.

Leslie Jordan gently snaps back The diminutive, but immensely funny actor, Leslie Jordan, has recently been a fixture on Instagram sending daily, funny, messages to “fellow hunker downers.” Often, the video shows him with a lanyard featuring the “Fox” logo.

He was recently on Fox Entertainment Network’s Cool Kids with Vickie Lawrence and Martin Mull. He is set to appear on Fox’s Call me Cat with Mayim Bialik, Swoosie Kurtz, Kyla Pratt, and Cheyenne Jackson in the project based on Miranda Hart’s BBC series Miranda. Jordan plays the baker in a “cat” café owned

by Bialik’s character. He got push-back over wearing the Fox-logoed lanyard. He reacted on his Instagram page with the words, “Let’s not make things into something they are not. I wear a Fox lanyard because I am a silver fox (just like @andersoncooper).” Q

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Out Utah principal starting national LGBTQ+ school administrator support network Utah’s 2018 Principal of the Year is spearheading a national LGBTQ+ Principal and Assistant Principal Network.

“I’m so very grateful to the National Association of Secondary School Principals for this opportunity,” West Jordan Middle School Principal Dixie Garrison said.

“Together with my colleague [former Dublin, Ohio, highschool principal] Dustin Miller, we are creating a national network for LGBTQ+ principals. This network will unite LGBTQ+ principals from all over the country and allow us to support each other as we navigate our role as school leaders.”

Garrison told Education Week that while she was advised against coming out as gay to her supervisor by friends, colleagues, and mentors, they feared it would jeopardize her career in conservative West Jordan. “Folks told me — out of care — that ‘I would not let anyone in the district know that,’” Garrison said.

It was important to her, however, that she lived an open life, especially after losing her gay brother to suicide.

“I didn’t want to live a façade,” Garrison said. “There are certain aspects of [themselves] that heterosexual people share freely. They say ‘my wife’ this or that. They have pictures of their families on their desks. Things like that.

They’re able to just freely flow with their identities.”

Garrison hopes that the network can provide

LGBTQ+ school leaders with support, insights and resources, and “to talk about issues more relevant to them and the challenges and opportunities they have.”

“I say challenges and opportunities for sure,” she said. “I do think that I have an opportunity to be a mentor to youths in a different way than other colleagues because of my identity. I’m not characterizing being an LGBTQ+ administrator as a burden. It’s kind of a mantle placed on me now.”

That mantle has made a difference to some students in her school.

She told Education Week a story of a 7th grader who feared to go to West Jordan Middle School when school boundaries were changed.

That all changed when he found out the principal is gay.

“He jumped for joy because he knew that I would understand him,” she said.

“That’s a very emotional story for me.”

“My school has a very inclusive culture,” she said.

“So, on one hand, I worry about bias or discrimination towards me. That I would not be seen as a good person because folks disagree with my lifestyle. But, on the other hand, I have those wins where I know that I’m making a little kid out there go, ‘hey, my principal is a gay woman, I’m OK.’ That’s what’s most important to me.”

Co-organizer Miller was supportive of Garrison when

West Jordan Middle School Principal Dixie Garrison. PHOTO VIA INSTAGRAM

she first came out. She looks forward to a larger community of support with the network.

“It can be extremely lonely if you don’t know that other people are walking the same walk that you’re walking,” Miller said.

While there are other LGBTQ+-related organizations within the education system, none focus on school administrators.

“They are all interested in advocacy work and how to help their kids, but Dustin and I are also interested in how to help them as administrators,” Garrison said.

Garrison fears added scrutiny if and when she and other LGBTQ+ administrators address bias and discrimination against LGBTQ+ students.

“Our straight colleagues

who are school leaders can do all the work that they want around LGBTQ+ issues without fear. But someone like myself could be seen as pushing a self-serving agenda … navigating your intersectionality between being a school leader and also identifying as LGBTQ+ yourself, and doing advocacy work that really any principal should be doing.”

Part of the reason Garrison and Miller feel emboldened to create the network is the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that firing a worker for being gay or transgender violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. They also received 70 responses from an introductory email to the greater NASSP membership.

“That’s validation that this group is needed,” Garrison said. Q

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Utah Pride Center leaders say they will survive the pandemic Two rounds of employee reductions due to the current pandemic have brought allegations of retaliation and mismanagement at the Utah Pride Center. Former employees complain that the Center is questionable with its finances, and has a lack of transparency in hiring and firing.

Center leaders say the allegations are not only untrue but were duly investigated by outside professionals who found no wrongdoings by Center management.

Restructure No. 1 The first round of restructuring occurred shortly after shutdowns were forced around the state because of the Coronavirus. On April 30, ten employees were let go as the Center adjusted its focus due to its forced closure and the questionable future of its largest fundraiser of the year — the Utah Pride Festival.

“This downsizing is happening as a result of COVID-19’s impact on our funding streams,” explained Center Executive Director Moolman at the time. “We are seeing slow and lower donor engagement, depressed economic outlook, large donor funds tied to the stock market, and the slow rollout of the PPP/SBA grants to non-profits.”

“This has become our reality,” he said.

On May 27, Liz Pitts, who was the Community Engagement Director in charge of garnering sponsors and other donors for the Center and the Festival, sent an email to the members of the board of directors spelling out a long list of grievances she had given to the

Center’s HR firm, Stratus.hr. In it, she spelled out 29 questions, including everything from why, when the Center was seeing a banner year up until April, did it find itself in the position of laying off 40 percent of its staff, to the cover-up of the former operations director’s alleged “book doctoring” and “potential theft?”

“I believe in my heart that you have the best intentions and care sincerely about Utah’s LGBTQ+ community members.

I also believe deeply in the mission and vision of the Utah Pride Center,” Pitts wrote. “So, I beg you, please investigate and take action on behalf of the remaining Pride Center staff and the individuals who need the Center so desperately.”

She wrote that her allegations against the operations director “destroyed trust between Rob and I, and I have been treated with dismissal and hostility ever since.”

Moolman disagreed that such dismissal and hostility ever happened.

“Absolutely, that situation did not take place as described,” he said.

Restructure No. 2 Just before the second round of restructuring, Utah Pride Festival Director Hillary McDaniel sent an email to Utah Pride Center Board Chair Mona Stevens requesting to be put on the board’s agenda for the next meeting to discuss the items in Pitts’ email. Stevens declined to put McDaniel on the agenda.

McDaniel then sent an email complaint to Stratus.hr on the morning of June 10. Hours later, she was let go.

“To me, it points to retaliation,” McDaniel told The Salt Lake Tribune. “These were the people asking hard questions about financial transparency about who was let go and why.”

Moolman said the plan for the restructure, including whose positions would be eliminated, was made well before the complaints and the email to the board.

“In fact,” he said, “it had been vetted by numerous community leaders and pro-bono lawyers.”

“If people think that such decisions can be made in a matter of hours, they haven’t been in a position to have to let people — especially people they consider friends — go,” Moolman said.

One of the biggest questions the former employees and volunteers have put forth is why the Center, after acknowledging they received a Paycheck Protection Program loan through the Small Business Association, didn’t choose to keep the staff on the payroll.

“There were so many questions about the PPP loans,” Moolman said. “Every time we thought we understood how the program worked, we got a call that things had changed.”

Center leaders determined they would pay back the loan rather than incur debt.

“Surprisingly, upon thoroughly examining the terms of the PPP loan program, we found that the loan would have put the Center under undue fiscal strain with its requirements and payback schedule,” said UPC board treasurer Christine Decaria. “The Center, for the last several years, has been operating in the black, and [the board] determined to keep it that way and to not burden the Center with unproductive debt.”

In the end,” Moolman said, the Center leaders believed that the former staff would do better utilizing the $600 unemployment boost than coming on for 10 weeks only to be let go at that point.

Leaderhip response to allegations On July 20, Center leaders issued a statement and a video responding to the allegations.

“For more than 30 years, the Utah Pride Center has proudly been the voice of our community, creating lasting change and working with the public to ensure inclusion among all who live in and call Utah home,” the statement read. “Like so many organizations and small businesses, the swift and indiscriminatory spread of the Coronavirus affected many aspects

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of the day to day operations at the Center—pausing our in-person services accessed by thousands of community members, hamstringing our finances, and ultimately causing the cancellation of the annual Utah Pride Festival and Parade.”

“The Festival,” the statement read, “accounts for a substantial portion of the Center’s annual operating budget, and the need to cancel it for public safety had an immediate and direct burden to the Center’s finances.”

“As such, the Board of Directors and Executive Director made some difficult decisions to mitigate loss in order to continue the Center’s mission going forward and serving our community today, tomorrow, and in the future.”

“We knew these decisions were tough and would be felt for the unforeseeable future,” the statement continued.

“What we did not anticipate was the undue ridicule placed on the Center by a small yet vocal group of individuals. We are here to dispute any wrongdoing and list our justification for these decisions.”

Moolman explained that the reason people were hired on to the Center staff was because they were passionate and dedicated to the goals of the Center.

“We understand these positions were held by people with faces and names who poured their hearts and souls into the Center’s mission and the LGBTQ+ community, and we are forever grateful for their work and accomplishments achieved on behalf of everyone in our community,” he wrote.

Staff salaries, however, were the largest and only expense where cuts could be made.

“With the rapidly evolving reality of our situation and uncertain economic and social

future we are all facing, we know that our world and our Center would look different than it did just a few months ago,” Moolman wrote.

“The past several months have been difficult for the Utah Pride Center and our community,” said UPC board chair Mona Stevens. “Coming into 2020, the Center was on track to have another great year with expanded services and another successful Pride Festival.”

“But we have experienced a scenario that none of us could have imagined just a few months ago,” she continued.

With the help of the community, sponsors, and donors, Stevens said, “We are confident we can weather the storm.”

UPC board vice-chair Chris Jensen said the Center was on track to increase their reserve from three to six months of operating income.

“With the Festival and other events being cancelled, the financial impact was an immediate 70 percent cut in income,” he said. “Drastic and quick decisions were needed with creative minds evaluating every expense. The most heartbreaking and painful decisions that had to be made were to reduce the size of our staff.”

Moolman said that he spoke with leaders of CenterLink, the national coalition of LGBTQ community centers, who said that Centers across the country are in crisis, and many are imploding with the stress of managing decisions under the pandemic.

“The Utah Pride Center is being seen by Centers across the country as being one that is emerging through the transition as well as possible,” Moolman said. “We have set the financial groundwork to survive and succeed.” Q

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Alok Vaid-Menon to headline the second Utah Trans Pride Aug. 15

The headliner for the Utah Trans Pride Festival 2020, hosted by GenderBands is Alok Vaid-Menon, a writer, performer, speaker, and fashionista with over 400,000 Instagram followers.

Alok recently released their book, Beyond the Gender Binary, which is an accessible primer to gender fluidity, showing how a world beyond the gender binary of man/woman creates more freedom for everyone. They equip readers with the knowledge to counter the rise of anti-trans discrimination and invites the world to see gender not in black and white, but full color.

“I’ve been creatively writing since I was 11 or 12 years old,” Alok tells Teen Vogue.

“I was experiencing a lot of bullying at school and I didn’t feel like I could tell anyone about it, so I just started to write things that I was feeling down to get them out of my body. Eventually, they became poems, [which] I started to publish under a pseudonym online. What

I learned was that in art we can name the things that we aren’t allowed to say anywhere else. There was something so thrilling and transformative about that, it made life worth living. In the halo of my lamp every night I would write myself into existence. I’ve been doing the same, ever since. When I don’t write or perform I exist, certainly, but I am not alive.”

Alok wrote the book in response to a number of anti-trans bills across the nation. One in Utah that Eagle Forum sweetheart Brad Dow was drafting was thwarted by strong and swift action from Utah’s trans leaders and Equality Utah.

“I wanted to summarize the arguments that are being used against us and equip people with rebuttals against them. In this way, I wanted the pocket-size book to be a handbook for people who want to get involved in advocating for trans rights but may not know where to start,” they said.

The current pandemic stalled Alok’s attempt at a nationwide book tour, but it didn’t stop anti-trans bills from moving forward.

“Unfortunately transphobia hasn’t taken a back seat during this pandemic, it’s still out there in full force. During the pandemic, Idaho has passed two unconstitutional anti-trans bills, the Trump administration is making motions [that could] permit doctors to refuse medical

care to trans patients, domestic violence is on the rise (which already always disproportionately affects gender non-conforming people), and Hungary just banned legal recognition of trans people,” Alok said. “This pandemic is going to worsen every form of inequality. Gender non-conforming people who already were less likely to have access to stable employment and healthcare, are now even more disadvantaged. It’s all incredibly depressing, but I try to draw inspiration from the powerful mutual aid work that trans communities are engaging in all over.”

Alok loves the idea of Prides across the country.

“For me, Pride is a celebration, a public affirmation of queer and trans expression. It’s an opportunity for us to come together and validate one another when so many of us face rejection elsewhere. I think validation is incredibly important in a world that constantly tries to erase you. It’s a mental health imperative that reminds us that we aren’t going through this alone. It’s my hope that we continue to develop creative ways to affirm one another despite not being able to connect in person.” Q The Utah Trans Pride festival will be an online event on August 14 and 15. Information can be found at genderbands. org/utahtranspride

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ACLU sues to block Idaho law attacking trans student-athletes

Transgender athletes have been participating in sports, including on the teams that match their gender identity, for decades. In recent years, anti-trans activists have largely given up on battles over restrooms and are instead attacking transgender student-athletes.

In 2020, 17 states introduced legislation that would ban transgender students from participating in school sports.

On March 30, 2020, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed into law the only ban on transgender student-athletes in the country.

Outside of Idaho, policies about participation in school sports for transgender students are generally decided by state activities associations at the K–12 level and NCAA at the collegiate level. No state, athletic association, or the NCAA completely ban women and girls who are transgender from participating in women’s sports. Idaho’s anti-trans law, in fact, directly contradicts the standards set by the NCAA for the participation of transgender student-athletes that govern collegiate sports across the country.

The ACLU, along with Legal Voice, ACLU of Idaho, and Cooley LLP, sued the state of Idaho on behalf of Lindsay Hecox, a Boise State student who would be banned from the women’s track team because she is transgender, along with Jane Doe, a cisgender high school student who could be subjected to invasive medical screenings under HB 500. Doctors, academics, and sports psychologists have

served as experts in the case in opposition to HB 500.

A hearing, in this case, will be held on July 22, which is also National Youth Sports Day. The hearing will cover whether the federal court should issue a preliminary injunction halting enforcement of the new law before the fall sports season; whether the court should dismiss the lawsuit; and whether two Idaho State University student-athletes, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, can intervene in the case as parties to the lawsuit to argue in favor of the law.

In addition to the lawsuit, the ACLU, Billie Jean King, Megan Rapinoe, and dozens of other athletes and organizations have called on the NCAA to move the 2021 Men’s Basketball Championship from Idaho. The NCAA is expected to announce a decision in August.

In Connecticut, a group of cisgender students have sued over the state interscholastic athletic conference policy that allows transgender students to participate in school sports.

The ACLU intervened in the case on behalf of Andraya Yearwood and Terry Miller, two transgender student-athletes who were targeted by the lawsuit. The judge in this case, like many other courts, has asked all parties to avoid referring to our clients as “males.”

In response, the cisgender plaintiffs in the lawsuit asked for a new judge. The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is currently considering this request. Q

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Utah’s Misty Snow on calls to cancel J.K. Rowling for ‘trans rant’

BY TONY HOBDAY

On July 1, 2020, Misty K. Snow issued a public statement in response to J.K. Rowling’s recent transphobic comments, and as well as Salt Lake-based Avalanche Software, who is developing a game based on her books.

In 2016, Snow made national headlines for being the first transgender person to win a major party nomination for US Senate anywhere in the country; a truly historic moment for the traditionally conservative state. She also made Utah history for being the first woman to ever appear on a general election ballot for US Senate in the state.

“For better or worse, I am the most famous trans person in the state of Utah, and with this game studio being literally located in my own city, I have to speak out,” Snow said. “What Rowling said in her nearly 4,000-word transphobic manifesto was unacceptable and does real harm to trans people.

“We think that J.K. Rowling needs to be canceled. Unfinished projects based on her works such as books, movies, and video games must also be canceled. Boycotting the sales of her existing products is needed. All until such a time that Rowling renounces her harmful statement and apologizes. Recent articles reported earlier this month that a game based on her books is in development here in Salt Lake City, and I want to bring attention to it.

We have GOP senators in this country quoting Rowling while blocking the equality act which would protect LGBTQ people in housing, employment, and credit. This is her causing real harm not just to trans people, but to all members of the LGBTQ community. In her transphobic manifesto a few weeks ago, she brought up the restroom nonsense, but here’s the thing trans people do in restrooms: they use the toilet, then wash their hands, and leave.

Policing public restrooms also ends up causing harm to cis women because it leads to situations where women who are not deemed sufficiently feminine enough get their right to use a public restroom challenged. Her entire essentialist argument that defines women by

narrow biological characteristics ends up harming women, as well as it only serves to reinforce patriarchal sexist stereotypes.

The worst part is that she claims to be some kind of liberal and ally when she’s doing the bidding of conservatives. The fact that she said she was speaking out for those “without privilege” is practically Orwellian as her words harm many of the people who are the least privileged. As I said before, transphobia always bleeds out into other areas of anti-LGBTQ discrimination, and often leads to whorephobia against sex workers, and sometimes leads to anti-choice actions. All of these things are connected.

Trans people, when they seek care, go to a gynecologist. In many places in this country, trans people get such care at Planned Parenthood, so you end up seeing transphobia becoming another justification from conservatives to pass anti-choice legislation which harms trans people and other members of the LGBTQ community.

Every year in this country dozens of trans people are murdered. Almost all are black trans women, and most are sex workers. This is where racism, transphobia, and whorephobia meet to deadly consequences. This is why we say black trans lives matter because there is an epidemic of violence against black trans women in this country. It is also why we need to talk about sex-worker rights, and the need to fully destigmatize and decriminalize all forms of sex work. Because for trans women, about 1 in 5 has been a sex worker at some point in their life. Plus, those numbers are much higher for black and Hispanic trans women.

This radical feminist movement that Rowling seems to be part of is very much anti-sex worker as much as it is anti-trans, and we call them SWERFs and TERFs respectively, though they are often the same people. Because of the large number of trans people, particularly trans women of color who do sex work, any legislation that seeks to criminalize or stigmatize sex work is inherently anti-trans. Many socalled liberal politicians in this country also buy into these same arguments and pass laws in the name of feminism, but at

the expense of trans women, sex workers, and other disadvantaged populations.

A perfect example is Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif), who, while attorney general, blocked transgender prisoners from accessing transition-related care.

She also led the charge against Backpage and was the main force in getting it shut down — the closure of which led many sex workers into doing more dangerous street work. Harris also helped write the disastrous SESTA bill that further restricted sex-worker rights. Few people in this country have done more harm to trans people and sex workers than this socalled liberal senator from California.

But it’s not just Harris. A so-called champion of the left Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), is co-author of another disastrous bill with Marco Rubio (R-Fla), that would restrict banking access for sex workers. Again another disaster that does real harm to sex workers and trans women all in the name of protecting women.

This is why we must push back against the J.K. Rowlings of the world because her way of thinking is wrong, that any socalled feminist movement that purposely excludes trans women and sex workers is wrong. After all, it does real harm to real people. We must push back and demand J.K. Rowling is canceled because our lives depend on it. Hate should have consequences for the haters, not the hated. Q

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Utah-raised gay punk rock singer/ songwriter Kent James dies at 56 Ogden, Utah-born and Logan, Utah-raised Kent James, also known as punk rock band frontman Nick Name, died at his home in Palm Springs on July 3. The openly gay singer-songwriter rose to prominence in the late 90s and early 2000s, and most recently performed intimate solo concerts, cared for rescue dogs with his longtime partner Brian Masalkoski, and co-starred in the independent film, Captivating Carla.

As a teenager, James went on an LDS mission in Córdoba, Argentina, but left his very conservative Logan Mormon childhood in Logan to pursue a music career. Although he knew he was gay or at least bisexual at a young age, he fought it while immersed in the church.

He appeared in Star Search in 1993 and moved to Nashville to develop a country repertoire. He was featured in music videos for Tanya Tucker, Trisha Yearwood, and others, and shared the stage with Charlie Daniels. He was about to sign a lucrative music contract with a country-rock band, but didn’t, as the label wanted him to stay closeted.

He moved to LA and acted in a few films while working on his music. In the late 1990s, he released his first two CDs, Paperback Romeo and Guilty Pleasures.

KENT JAMES AS NICK NAME By 2000 he transformed into Nick Name and started a band called Nick Name and the Normals. “[James] charmed gay music fans seeking a masculine rock performer who sang openly, and with humor, about sexuality,” wrote the Bay Area Reporter. The band was featured

by MTV, but clubs refused to

book them because of James’ sexuality. They instead began to play Pride events across the country.

James performed a song in the gay horror film HellBent.

In 2004, Howard Skora directed a documentary Nick Name and The Normals, which included performances at various Pride events and nightclubs, which showed many of James’ offstage frustrations.

“Kent was a very special artist and lovable human being. He started as a Mormon missionary in Utah and transformed into a gay punk rock icon that challenged the status quo. As I filmed him and his band, The Normals, I got to know his chosen family and I was lucky enough to call Kent a dear friend. Underneath the on-stage punk anger was one of the sweetest and most gentle souls I ever met.

Everyone in his chosen family loved him so much and we are all devastated,” Skora told the Bay Area Reporter.

In 2007, James abandoned the Nick Name persona, saying, “I’m in the moment. I’m interested in now. I can claim the past, but I don’t want to live in it.”

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KENT JAMES IN 2020 In the obituary published by the family, his longtime partner Masalkoski was not mentioned, nor was his career as Nick Name.

James will be buried in a family plot in Logan, Utah, with a service on Saturday, August 8, at 2 p.m. at the North Logan Utah Cemetery.

An additional memorial in Palm Springs will be organized by Masalkoski and longtime friend David Perez at a later date.

Listen to Kent James’ music at last.fm and allmusic.com. Q

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

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Utah native trans man competes in ‘Titan Games’

BY MICHAEL AARON

In a 2006 article, the Deseret Morning News declared a 6’2”, 170 pound, Mountain View High School Orem senior as “Ms. Basketball” for the year, after being the first Utah player to be named a McDonald’s All-American, signing with Stanford, breaking the state’s blockedshots record, and leading their teammates to a region title and second-place finish in the 5A state tournament.

The newspaper wrote about how “little girls were telling her they wanted to be like her someday.”

Fourteen years later, that athlete stood on a platform, ready to compete before 3.8 million viewers in the Titan Games, hosted

by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. This time as Mitch Harrison — the first transgender man to compete on the show.

The stories from magazines across the nation may now be writing how transgender people may want to be like him someday.

Early life in Utah Raised in a conservative LDS family, Harrison says his life growing up was good.

“My upbringing was rather positive,” he told QSaltLake. “My dad left the picture PHOTO: NBC UNIVERSAL

when I was quite young, but my family was incredibly tight-knit, which made up for a lot.”

The youngest child in the family, or the “caboose kid,” as he says it, he was always on the receiving end of praise and attention.

“This eventually led to a lot of expectations being placed on my shoulders, though,” he said. “It was evident early on that I was a talented athlete and being born into the [LDS] church meant those religious standards and expectations would always be there as well.”

His older sister Kara became his basketball coach and biggest cheerleader.

As Harrison got older, his feelings on his gender identity and sexuality came into conflict with LDS Church teachings — those which his family ardently believed.

“It became more problematic once I hit high school when accolades started to pile up, and the internal conflicts with my sexuality and gender identity intensified,” he said. “There was a lot I was expected to live up to, and it was difficult to escape the disappointment as my repressed emotions began to surface.”

Kara became Mitch’s primary advocate through those struggles.

College Basketball It was at this time that he was being recruited by college basketball teams.

Harrison had played 94 games in their high school career, scoring 1,682 points, 1,053 rebounds, and 463 blocked shots — a record at the time.

Harrison was named an Adidas All-American twice, a Street & Smith’s All American twice, and was invited to participate in

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USA Basketball’s developmental festival.

“It’s just my life,” Harrison told the Deseret Morning News when asked what it was like to have hundreds of college coaches e-mailing, calling and writing.

“Sometimes it seems surreal, and a little overwhelming, but I know I’m getting an opportunity not a lot of players get. I’m just trying to enjoy it.”

“I’ll always be grateful that I had family and friends who provided so much support while I navigated the recruiting process, and encouraged my choice to leave Utah for Stanford.”

At Stanford, Harrison had some girlfriends, who became the only people he talked to about his gender identity.

“I expressed some of my dysphoria with very few people who were close to me, namely my ex-girlfriends who got to witness my dysphoria firsthand,” he said. “Otherwise, I was not very open about it, nor did I fully understand it myself at that time.”

Harrison suffered from a torn ACL sophomore season, ending basketball there. They graduated from Stanford and was able to transfer to the University of Utah, playing on the Women’s Basketball Team.

He then left for two years to play in Switzerland and Greece, but injuries ended that career.

Transitioning Then in 2015, Harrison met Krista, who would become his wife two years later. ‘[Krista] was really the first person who was completely supportive of my gender identity, and had finally given me that safe space to be fully open about it,” Harrison said. “Thinking about actually transitioning didn’t come about until I was forced to retire from basketball due to injuries. Basketball was always my priority and it took a while for me to realize I was

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more than just a basketball player.”

He was concerned, however, about how his family and friends would react.

“I also was terrified about the consequences that I knew well enough would happen with my family and other close friends and family members,” he said. “My support system was already limited, and I was suffering a lot from PTSD just from being open about my attraction to women. But, as time went on, I started to realize that transitioning was a viable option and denying my happiness wasn’t worth the sacrifice any longer.”

He and his wife moved to Kenai, Alaska, southwest of Anchorage, population 7,778.

Mitch, now 32, is a personal trainer and security guard.

Titan Games He said that the decision to compete in the Titan Games was “out of the blue.”

“This was out of nowhere, out of the blue and this is exciting,” Harrison said. “Who wouldn’t want to be on one of Dwayne Johnson’s shows, and being able to compete and compete for the first time as Mitch. It all fell into place perfectly.”

He was chosen to try out for the show in January and selected to compete.

His final battle on the show would be a tug-of-war-like competition where he was bested by a youth detention coach.

As Johnson pulled Harrison up from the mat after it was over, Harrison said to him, “Awww, I wanted to make you more proud than that.”

“No, no, no, no,” Johnson said as he locked eyes on Harrison. “I’m proud. I’m proud.

I’m proud.”

Johnson later did an Insta-

gram post praising Harrison.

“All I can do is tell @ theiron_wolf, Mitch Harrison the truth — I’m proud,” he wrote. “Here’s a snapshot of what the world could and should be one day. Embracing, supporting and loving of all people. Good people just trying to live a good life and be the best versions of themselves they can be. Mitch, thank you for your efforts and especially, your trust. You epitomize a philosophy I try to live by daily, which is — the most powerful thing we can be is ourselves.

Chin up, always. Love & respect — DJ.” Mitch posted how stunned he was that his idol gave him praise.

“Man…where do I even start? Just, wow.

I must be dreaming…” he wrote. “When I look back on my life up to this point, I think about all the time I spent wanting to make the people around me proud.

It always meant just as much to do it for them as I wanted to do it for myself. For years, based on certain expectations that were placed on me, I felt like all I ever did was let those people down.

“Then one day during a time of feeling utterly alone, I realized that the only person whose approval mattered was my own. My whole life changed from then on out for the better. But, I couldn’t shake the feeling of wanting to hear someone I looked up to say “I’m proud of you.”

Who would’ve thought that day would come in such a profound moment, on the biggest stage, from a guy I couldn’t

idolize more…

“Thank you DJ, for everything. Thank you for sticking your neck out for me and giving me a chance. Thank you for seeing me for me, no questions asked. Thank you for being my biggest cheerleader even though I came up

Titan Games may present,” Harrison said. “I’d love to be more of a voice for the LGBTQ community, be more active in the world of fitness and nutrition, and keep being an inspiration for trans athletes and the trans community overall.”

short. Thank you for helping give trans athletes and the LGBTQ community hope for a better world. Thank you to @nbc @nbctitangames, and ALL the producers and people behind the scenes who treated me with the upmost respect and did such a phenomenal job telling my story. Just, thank you.

Meanwhile, back in Utah, most of his family have distanced themselves from him.

“Other than my sister and some distant family members, we are not on speaking terms,” Harrison said.

Harrison has posted heartfelt letters to his mother on Facebook the past two Mother’s Days. Last year’s was full of pain and anguish. This year, he spoke of forgiveness and unconditional love.

“Under the circumstances, loving from a distance is for the best, but I’m at a place where my door is open if a healthy relationship is ever possible.” Q

Life moving forward Harrison and his wife are currently working on opening their own businesses in Alaska.

“I’m also looking forward to any other opportunities the

PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK

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Q mmunity A virtual walk against AIDS The Salt Lake AIDS Walk goes virtual this year, continuing the aim of reducing stigma while encouraging a healthier community. This is an annual fundraiser to benefit the Utah AIDS Foundation.

Walkers are encouraged to raise money through their networks to play a direct role in providing Utahns with critical sexual health services. Challenge your

Qsaltlake.com

friends to start a team and encourage them to raise more than the rest.

Given the unprecedented global pandemic of COVID-19, our world as we know it has shifted. While this year’s Salt Lake AIDS Walk will be their first virtual event dedicated to providing everyone with an opportunity to come together in new ways and participate in something truly enjoyable and impactful. More importantly, one thing hasn’t changed — our community’s ability to come together and support one another during difficult times. Almost 40 years after the beginning of the HIV epidemic, our resilient community knows how to courageously lead the charge, fight challenges, and come out on top.

Register at utahaids.org

QUAC to host annual IGLA 2021 aquatics tournament

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In May of 2021, Queer Utah Aquatic Club will host the annual International Gay & Lesbian Aquatic Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah — where masters athletes from all over the world will compete in the only international LGBTQ+ inclusive aquatics tournament.

IGLA originated in 1978 in San Diego, Calif., concurrently held with the second-ever Gay Games — a global LGBTQ+ athletic event that includes a larger range of sporting events: track and field, ballgame sports, mat sports, racquet sports, and more. Since then, the competition took place in cities around the world, including Berlin, Stockholm, Sydney, Reykjavik, and Montreal. In February 2020, over 800 aquatic athletes competed and celebrated athletic achievements in water polo, swimming, diving, and synchronized swimming in Melbourne, Australia.

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Events like these are very meaningful to the LBGTQ+ community, and especially for those from countries in which people still face oppression for living their authentic lives. In 2016, a few of the competing teams, the IGLA Board, and a QUAC team member made it possible for Ugandan swimmers to participate in the tournament. In Uganda, same-sex sexual acts are still criminalized. Just before the competition, two of the Ugandan swimmers were arrested and jailed for participating in a local Pride event.

To make this event possible — and fabulous — QUAC asks for your kind and appreciated tax-deductible donations.

As of July 21, 2020, the organization has raised $1,565 of a $20,000 goal. To donate, visit giveoutday.org. Funds will be used for: Renting pool space, Hiring officials, referees, and safety personnel for each of the events, Securing transportation between the host hotel and the aquatic venues, Obtaining insurance to protect the venues, swimmers and participating teams, Helping those across the world participate in Salt Lake City

Ogden’s Own 5 Husbands sanitizer to donate to UPC The LGBTQ-friendly people at Ogden’s Own Distillery have made official Pride hand sanitizers and are donating a portion of the proceeds to the Utah Pride Center.

They tell us that it is 80 percent alcohol — a World Health Organization Approved formula. And the ill-informed guess on the other 20 percent ingredient is that it’s the tears of 5 Husbands who are missing Pride 2020! ogdensown.square.site Q

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Online and at over 350 locations across the Wasatch Front

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Advertise at 801.997.9763

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views

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quotes “It is impossible to ignore that deeply rooted structural inequality, xenophobia, and bias continues to permeate our nation, and LGBTQIA+ people of color — especially transgender women — experience violence, discrimination, and socioeconomic disparities at alarming rates. As Bayard Rustin, the engineer of the March on Washington reminded us, ‘We are all one, and if we don’t know, we will learn it the hard way.’”

—Former US Rep. John Lewis

“Let’s be under no illusions: There are attacks on, for example, transgender Americans from the Oval Office, picking on troops — people willing to lay down their lives for this country – not to mention teenagers in our high schools. So we’ve got to end the war on trans Americans.”

—Peter Buttigieg

“I know that one day all transgender individuals will have the freedom to be who they are, no matter what.

And we won’t have to face the cruel judgments of society.

We can just live our lives and be treated and respected like everyone else.”

—Jazz Jennings

“I know from first-hand experience that separating transgender students from their peers can cause many to leave school, hide who they are, or even do the unthinkable.”

—Nicole Maines

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Michael Heath

BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI

Corporate

America, man.

Who knew they had the power to do seemingly impossible things like getting the Washington football team that uses a racial slur as a goddamn mascot to change its name?

I mean, the team has had a LOT of pressure over the years, especially from native Americans and everyone who thinks racism is bad, but it turns out that the pressure just wasn’t rich enough.

I’m kidding. Of course we knew that corporate America has the biggest and loudest voice in this country and they amplify that voice through a megaphone made of their pockets. And inside of those pockets is money, although no one’s real pockets could ever hold so much…

Never mind, you get the picture.

It took FedEx threatening a major financial blow against the team to get team owner Daniel Snyder to finally agree that, OK, maybe a racist mascot is not great. Needless to say, a lot of, mostly white, people are pissed and this has really ruined an otherwise perfect summer for them.

Not that I’m in the business of praising FedEx, but it is nice to see a corporation use their powers for good rather than evil.

So a tip of the hat to FedEx for firing Michael Heath.

Heath, an internet minister, spends a lot of time thinking about gay stuff and really loves to use the F-word. This has led many folks responding to the news of his FedEx firing on Twitter by calling him a “closet case” who is going to have his “Larry Craig moment” when his Grindr profile is leaked.

Honestly, these jokes only further cement the idea that being gay is a punchline, which hurts all LGBTQ people. I don’t care if Heath is gay or not. He’s a hateful and deeply unhappy man who has devoted his life to hurting other people under the guise of loving Jesus.

creep of the month Heath announced in February that he was going to “do a world tour” called, well, it doesn’t bear repeating but rhymes and means “gay men are fly larvae.” He was inspired to go on this hate tour by Donald Trump.

“I’m going to do a world tour,” Heath said on Dave Daubenmire’s “Pass The Salt Live” show earlier this year, according to Right Wing Watch.

“I started supporting Donald Trump early in the 2016 primary for one reason: He insults his enemies. He makes things personal that deserve to be personal,” he said. “The decades of leftists being the only ones allowed to make everything personal are over. It’s long past time for WASP manners to take a back seat to the truth.”

WASP manners? Has he SEEN how white people behave? It is amazing to me that anyone with even a glimmer of knowledge about the history of this country would think that WASPs are the good guys.

By the way, the “tour” was supposed to start on June 26, 2020, on the anniversary of the Obergefell ruling. I suspect plans were derailed by COVID-19, but who knows? Heath might be coming to a Hobby Lobby near you.

Anyway, Heath appeared again on Daubenmire’s show to lament that he had lost his job as a driver for FedEx because of his deeply held religious views that gay men are fly larvae.

Actually, to hear Heath tell it, he wasn’t “fired” he was “disqualified” because apparently we all live in a live game show called “Hi, We’re in Hell” right now.

Heath says that FedEx decided that “he said homosexuality is wrong, he used the word f-ggots, he can’t represent us anymore.”

Can’t say I

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blame them.

Heath does, though. In a column on his Helping Hands Ministry site (because of course) titled “Am I Allowed to Have an Opinion?” he begins with the epigraph “God hates f-gs,” made infamous by Fred Phelps, who Heath claims was “more right than wrong.”

Boy, between Trump and Phelps this guy really knows who to idolize.

I don’t know if this column was written before or after the FedEx “disqualification,” but in it he writes, “I believe that sodomy is gross and disgusting.”

Well, thanks for letting us know. We’ll note it on your chart.

“Strong enough words don’t exist in any language on earth to accurately describe this wickedness,” he continues, explaining that “gay men are fly larvae” comes the closest. “Typing out the phrase [‘Gay Men are Fly Larvae’] seems to help for some reason. I think these accurate English words tap into a fundamental spiritual need of our age.”

I can’t help but picture that scene from “The Shining,” only it’s Heath behind the type writer furiously typing “Gay Men are Fly Larvae” over and over in order to meditate. Definitely a totally normal and well-adjusted person. Q D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBT politics for over a decade. Follow her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.

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guest editorial

HIV Organizations Putting Out Statements Supporting #BLM: Show Me the Receipts

BY ACE ROBINSON

Next year,

it will have been 40 years since the world became aware of AIDS and its ability to wreak havoc throughout humankind. We learned quickly that HIV did not discriminate in how aggressively it would impact an individual. But shortly thereafter, we learned that HIV did discriminate in how aggressively it would impact a community.

In response to the AIDS crisis, storied advocates mobilized and created systems and structures to save their lives and those that they loved. Then came the birth of HIV service organizations (HSOs). Many of those organizations have undeniable legacies of serving people living with HIV at a time when countless clinicians refused to even touch them. The advocates pushed, kicked, screamed and shoved until the powers-that-be began to respond. And when public health officials responded in lackluster fashion, these public health heroes pushed even harder.

Decades later, numerous books, movies and even plays have been produced highlighting the work done by this collection of individuals who would eventually come to lead or choose the leaders of HSOs. I, like many of my colleagues, have read or seen nearly all of these productions in one form or another. And one thing is clear to me in these biographic pieces: Almost no one looks like me.

Black people are often a footnote in the history of the AIDS movement. One of the first suspected cases of AIDS was in a Black teenager named Robert Rayford from St. Louis, Missouri, who died of what seemingly were HIV-related causes at the age of 16 in 1969 — i.e., Kaposi’s sarcoma, pneumonia and an advanced chlamydia infection. Twelve years later, Michael Gottlieb, M.D., was one of the leading authors of a seminal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report detailing the symptoms of five white gay men living with pneumocystis pneumonia in 1981. His report led to the beginning of the world’s awareness of

HIV. But there were two major omissions in that report: two more documented cases of Black men — one gay, and one a heterosexual Haitian. Thinking back, Gottlieb shared, “I wouldn’t have thought it mattered. But in retrospect, I think it might’ve made a difference among gay Black men.” The misconception that HIV was a white gay man’s disease started from the very beginning.

Today in America, Black gay, bisexual, and same-gender-loving adolescent boys and men are the most HIV-impacted population by scope and scale, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What does that mean within the Black gay community? The HIV response in America has utterly failed this population.

There is daily proof of the failure of HIV, Inc. to service Black gay men. Go into an HIV clinic in most parts of America, and you will see a disproportionate number of Black gay, bisexual, and same-gender-loving men sitting in the waiting room.

These are the same people who typically do not see themselves in HIV prevention messaging, on the Gay Pride billboards across America every June, or sitting across from themselves while in the doctor’s offices. Black gay men do see themselves on the front page of newspapers being charged under HIV criminalization statutes or on CDC reports stating once again that they make up the highest number of new HIV infections in the country.

Due to overwhelming stigma, prejudice and systemic racism and homophobia, Black gay men living with and/or impacted

by HIV have hurdle after hurdle to overcome. Unfortunately, they are not always successful due to all the obvious reasons.

They fall out of care (racist doctors).

They don’t trust treatment options (racist researchers). They don’t trust HIV service organizations (racist hiring practices). All of these realities are simply unacceptable.

“It’s your passion and dream job and then you look around the field and Black Gay CEO’s leading HIV / AIDS organi-

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zations are far and few between, a reality that is hard to swallow when you look at the disparate impact of HIV on our lives,” says Tyler TerMeer, PhD, M.S., CEO of Cascade AIDS Project. “If we are truly committed to a tomorrow that values all Black and Brown lives and one that improves the lived experience of our Black, Indigenous, and people of color clients and community through health equity and racial justice, then our organizations need to make investments in Black leadership.”

Black Gay Lives Matter For decades, fingers constantly pointed at Black men living with HIV, stating that they were to blame for the systems in which they acquired, progressed, and sometimes died from the virus. Many Black people have been repeatedly admonished for not utilizing available resources to prevent and/or treat HIV. Thankfully, those days of victim-blaming are coming to an end, albeit way too late for way too many. Those storied HIV organizations that have existed for over three decades have been successful at turning the epidemic around — for white gay men. But they have historically failed Black people.

Larry Scott-Walker, co-founder and executive director of THRIVE SS, has been offering solutions for Black gay men since 2015, geared toward turning the epidemic around. His organization has received international attention for successfully providing culturally responsive services to primarily Black gay, bisexual, and same-gender-loving men in metro Atlanta.

“When Black gay men are not included in the C-suite, the efforts of an organization lack the cultural reflection and responsiveness required to adequately address the needs of Black people and ultimately end up doing more harm than good in these vital communities,” he says.

Changing the system is easier said than done. The best-funded HIV service organizations have two things in common: 1) their C-suites lack Black gay men or even Black people of any gender identity or sexuality, and 2) due to their white leadership structure, they have increased access to capital. You will often see at these same organizations Black gay men tokenized to serve as outreach specialists or program managers for services exclusively focused on Black people or other racial and ethnic

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minorities. As one executive director, who asked to remain anonymous, shared, “Most HIV organizations only want Black people as their building’s decoration and not as the support beams.”

Within Black communities, certain organizations are very well-known for their anti-Black hiring practices, work culture, and subsequent abysmal treatment of clientele. Black people who work in HIV at all levels have stories of real harm that’s occurred. Black employees are often made to keep quiet about these issues for fear of being seen as a troublemaker and “hard to work with” and therefore become unable to work anywhere in the field.

Livelihoods have been destroyed, and some talented and committed people have left the field altogether. Some of the offending agencies have even had Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints filed against them, and the findings have landed on their desk. Without fail, the same routine follows those findings: • An external consultant trained in race humility comes to the organization.

• The remaining Black staff are interviewed.

• An airing of grievances about the agency’s systemic racism occurs.

• A final report of suggested activities to address diversity and inclusion is created.

• Typically, a Black woman is hired as the human resources director of diversity and inclusion.

Fast forward to one year later, those same organizations still lack any Black people in executive leadership; the director

of diversity and inclusion has resigned; and disgruntled Black staff and clientele hope for a better day.

“Black gay men must be in the C-suite to remove the cloak of invisibility,” says Stephen Lee, M.D., M.B.A., executive director of NASTAD. “HIV organizations that live their values aggressively also recruit and support minorities and LGBTQ+ leaders to make our communities and workplaces stronger, more creative, and resilient. They actively create seats at the leadership table for difference, innovative solutions, and diverse perspectives. Without this, they are doomed to a culture that stifles different viewpoints and voices.”

Successful HIV service organizations that are doing the necessary work to support the communities disproportionately impacted by HIV have been able to create an equitable business model, starting with their board of directors through the executive team and their staff. Through intentional design, HIV service organizations such as TruEvolution in Southern California have been able to sustainably engage the very “hard-to-reach populations” that other agencies have failed to support.

“As the world becomes more complicated and health disparities layer themselves deeper in our culture and community, Black gay men are the critical resources to the leadership of the HIV movement,” says Gabriel Maldonado, M.B.A., CEO of TruEvolution. “Our roles are to not only implement programs and execute services, but to stay connected to the community and generate solutions that speak to

the culture, history, and language of the people we serve. As embedded and trusted community members, we are best able to address our interwoven and unmet cultural needs.”

In reference to the rhetoric about Black same-gender-loving men, David Malebranche, M.D., M.P.H., once famously stated a general response to white HIV researchers and administrators: “They are not a hard-to-reach population just because you do not know how to reach them.”

At this exact moment in the story of America, we are seeing non-Black people pay more attention to the systems that have endangered the lives of Black men from a variety of angles. In response, we are seeing many industries, including the field of HIV, begin to do a deeper level of self-reflection on their role in perpetuating a world that sees Black men die earlier and with less support than their peers. And we are also seeing numerous HIV-focused agencies releasing #BlackLivesMatter statements.

But let’s be clear. The Black community does not want hollow words written on the screen. The community wants to see the receipts. We want to see who is sitting on your board of directors and who is sitting in your C-suites. If those people do not look like the epidemic in your community, change must come. And come now. Q Ace Robinson is a leading HIV advocate and population health expert residing in Los Angeles. He is a board director of the Avielle Foundation, which combats violence through brain health research, and a co-chair of the LA County HIV Commission’s Standards & Best Practices Committee.

This column is a project of TheBody, Plus, Positively Aware, POZ, Q Syndicate, and QSaltLake Magazine.

24 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | SEX

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sex and salt lake city

Dr. Rixt Luikenaar expands to Rebirth Health Center

It can be

BY DR. LAURIE BENNETT-COOK

scary trying to find a provider who is nonjudgmental and affirming in the best of times. Our current health climate only makes finding quality care even more challenging.

As a sexologist, my personal clients range from the LGBT community to those who practice non-monogamy, to kinky, to sex workers, and everything in between. But all of them have something in common — they want to be treated with respect and kindness. They want the care brought back into patient care. They are real people with real health concerns and the last thing any of us want is to be judged or shamed for who we are — especially when seeking care for our mental or physical health and wellness.

The question of “where can I go for nonjudgmental healthcare?” is one I’ve had to answer often.

Exacerbated by the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for a sex-positive, all-inclusive LGBTQIA+ Health Center in Utah has become even more clear. Many people are struggling to find supportive primary healthcare, psychiatry services, therapists, and/or nutritionists to help with disordered eating. Quality healthcare is hard enough to find, but especially hard when one identifies with any marginalized community.

Answering the call, Rebirth Ob/GYN is rebranding and moving towards Rebirth Health Center. As of July 1st, they have expanded their services and increased their providers to those who specifically offer LGBTQ+ services, with a focus on transgender and nonbinary inclusive medical and mental care. The providers and staff at Rebirth hold a strong belief that all people, regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or relationship configuration should have access to efficient and quality health care. Recognizing that not everyone feels comfortable or safe leaving home during our current health climate, appointments

are being offered both in-person and via Telehealth.

Their staff is impressive and each of the professionals is experienced in the services they offer both personally and professionally. I personally find that quality rare, but necessary when working with marginalized communities.

Meet Dr. Luikenaar Dr. Luikeanaar (she/her/ they/them) identifies as genderqueer and has been practicing medicine since the early 1990s. Seeing the lack of care for the transgender population here in Utah, she began a trans health clinic in 2011 and founded Rebirth in 2014. Since that time they have been offering obstetrics/ gynecology, primary and preventive care to the LGBTQI+ community. These services include hormone therapy, pre- and/ or post-operative care, and help with all aspects of transitioning for transgender and nonbinary folx. Dr. Luikenaar performs hysterectomies and orchiectomies and has created partnerships with many specialists who offer trans-affirming care, not only within the local community but also nationally and internationally. Holding a strong desire to expand their ability to help patients, she is currently co-editing the first trans gynecology textbook written for gynecologists and primary care providers.

Meet Cac Cook, PA Cac Cook (he/him) is Native American and grew up on a reservation in the North Central Plains of South Dakota.

He’s also my partner of 20 years, so I’m

a bit bias as to his ability to be an amazing provider. A physician assistant with over 30 years of medical experience, he is a graduate of the University of California Davis’ Physician Assistant program. He also completed a one-year psychiatric fellowship through UC Davis and UC Irvine, and is a certified Neurofeedback provider. Prior to joining Rebirth, he worked in Los Angeles where he was the medical director of one of the most comprehensive transgender health programs in the country. Growing the program from its infancy, he found serving marginalized populations to be a great reward. While hormone therapy has been his primary focus for the past several years, he also sees patients for family practice, general medical concerns, HIV and Hepatitis C, and patients who identify with fringe communities such as LGBT, BDSM, polyamorous, sex workers, etc.

Meet Kimberly Anderson, MFT Kimberly Anderson (she/her) is a transgender woman who was raised in an orthodox Mormon home, living as a boy on a horse farm in rural Northern Utah. She is now pursuing a new spiritual path based on truth,

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science, and love. Anderson is a graduate of the University of San Francisco with an MA in Counseling Psychology.

She has been practicing as a marriage and family therapist in the San Francisco and Sacramento areas with concentrations on Native American populations, adolescents, eating disorders, and trauma. Her particular specialty is working with LGBTQ+ youth and their families who are transitioning through various journeys of faith and spirituality. Anderson is the photographer and author of the Mama Dragon Story Project, an ethnographic study that features portraits and autobiographical essays from over 135 Mormon mothers who have decided their love for their LGBTQ+ child is greater than any religious dogma.

Meet Jennifer Lynn Wilguess, electrologist Seeing the lack of options for hair removal for those with trans experience in the Salt Lake area, Jenn Lynn Wilguess (she/her) changed careers and attended school for electrolysis. She did this solely so she could come to work at Rebirth and offer patients the kind of affirming and nonjudgmental attention they deserve when seeking permanent hair removal.

Jenn specializes in preparing individuals for gender-affirming surgery. She’s been a longtime activist in the trans and LGBTQ+ community and

has served on the board for Genderevolution and is a current board member for TEA (Transgender Education Advocates) of Utah. She has a firm belief in leaving the world better than she found it and feels her work with Rebirth is one way of achieving that.

The expansion at Rebirth seeks to fill voids in patient care that patients themselves have been asking for. They are doing this by adding stellar medical care by experts in the field of trans healthcare, as well as making their services more comprehensive. In addition to the practitioners introduced above, Rebirth is bringing on a dietitian familiar with eating disorders who holds a strong stance of “health at every size.”

I believe that Rebirth Health Center is coming out to our community at just the right time. We need care, compassion, kindness, and acceptance specifically in our healthcare system, now more than ever — for all genders, all sexual orientations, all relationship configurations, and all sexual expressions.

To schedule an appointment at Rebirth call 801-2723909 or 801-218-2420 or visit their website at rebirthobgyn. com Q Dr. Laurie Bennett-Cook is a clinical sexologist offering teletherapy sessions both nationally and internationally. She can be heard on various podcasts and works as a media consultant for Netflix and Epix. She can be reached at DrLaurieBennettCook@ gmail.com

VIEWS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 25

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ISSUE 314

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who’s your daddy

Doug Locke’s ‘Black Travolta’

BY CHRISTOPHER KATIS

I’m a big

believer in supporting queer performers, which means I listen to a lot of gay singers. One of my favorites is the multi-talented Doug Locke, who recently released a new album, Black Travolta. I had an opportunity to ask Locke about his career, his music, and what he’s up to during the pandemic.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. What made you decide to pursue a career in music? I grew up in a home where music was always playing. Every event, birthday party, social gathering, and special occasion had music, singing, and dancing. I’ve had a love of performing since I was a child and that’s when I feel most alive.

We’ve all experienced “challenges” in our careers because we’re LGBTQ+ people.

How has being a gay man impacted or influenced your music? Authenticity is very important for me in my songwriting.

I definitely feel that my world view and my voice as an artist have been informed by my queer identity. With that said, I draw inspiration from all parts of my life.

Some songs are about lovers, while others about feelings, emotions, memories, etc.

My song “Temptation” from the Black Travolta EP is about wanting to feel appreciated by your partner and resisting advances from potential suitors when you are in a relationship. I think this is a universal feeling that anyone can relate to regardless of sexual identity.

Who has influenced you musically? I love the pop provocateurs who push the en-

velope and created their own lane. Prince, Madonna, Lenny Kravitz, Beyoncé, and Rihanna are huge influences.

Craig David and Frank Ocean are pure genius.

While she and I do different work, I absolutely adore Lana Del Rey and I think she is an incredible songwriter!

Is there someone you haven’t worked with but would like to — maybe a duet? Orville Peck or Halsey!

Whom are you currently listening to? I absolutely love the new Harry Styles album Fine Line, and the new Teyana Taylor album is a great new R&B album. Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia album and Tame Impala’s Lost in Yesterday have been on repeat. I’ve recently discovered Alice Chater, and I think she is gonna be huge.

The pandemic means you haven’t been able to promote your new album, Black Travolta as much as you usually would. So, how are you spending your time? Since I am unable to promote through traditional channels, I have been getting creative!

I’m enjoying finding new ways to create and distribute content. And I’m making time for self-care, yoga, meditation, and deepening craft. I’m also finding opportunities to be in nature.

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How do you think you’ve evolved as an artist? I’ve really enjoyed playing with the different flavors of my inspiration.

At my core, I’m a pop artist. Pop is an ever-evolving genre and I’m loving being able to make bolder choices with my music. I have very eclectic taste and influences so I’m loving playing with genre-bending.

Your song “Why” is incredibly beautiful and powerful. Tell me about it. Thank you. I began writing the song “Why?” last year. My heart was broken yet again by the Anti-Black violence that plagues this country. The growing proliferation of hate crimes, videos of police brutality and the murder of Black Americans (that seldom results in justice) has worn heavy on my heart. After the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, something in my heart died. I knew I had to finish the song and release it. This song’s my response.

Thanks, Doug.

You can buy Doug’s music at Spotify or Apple Music Q

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ISSUE 314 |

AUGUST, 2020

Stonewall was a drag

BY BEN WILLIAMS

According

to Erica Kay Webster, one of the last remaining trans persons who was at the Stonewall Uprising in 1969, “We were all labeled Drag Queens.”

Three “drag queens,” who later became identified as transgender women, are Yvonne Ritter, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. All three are strongly associated with the Stonewall Uprising that took place the last weekend of June. Although these individuals had a role in the events of that night, so did hundreds of other gay men, lesbians, and transgender people of all backgrounds.

Ritter was living at home in Brooklyn — known to her family as Butch — when she went to the Stonewall Inn to celebrate turning 18 on June 27, 1969. Coincidentally, also celebrating a birthday that day was an eccentric African American street person, Johnson, who turned 25 years old that day. Johnson was one of the city’s best known drag queens and street personality in the village. Once, appearing in court for prostitution, the judge asked her, “What does the ‘P’ stand for?”, and Johnson gave her customary response — “Pay it No Mind.”

This phrase became her trademark for the rest of her life.

Johnson, who suffered from schizophrenia, had a close friend — if not her closest — Rivera, who would turn 18 years on July 2.

Shortly after midnight, the sixth precinct police raided

the Stonewall Inn and Ritter said she was “scared to death.”

She was being arrested for being in drag, which was illegal in New York. Taken out of the bar and into a paddy wagon, she thought at the time, “’This isn’t happening.” Ritter was pushed in the police van which had “already more people than could fit.” When

Ritter pleaded, “Please, it’s my birthday, I’m just about to graduate from high school, I’m only 18,” and surprisingly the cop let her go. Ritter ran for the subway and all the way home she was “scared to death that my father would see me on the television news in my mother’s dress.”

For the next couple of

1961 and hustled to survive on 42nd Street. “The early ’60s was not a good time for drag queens, effeminate boys or boys that wore makeup like we did. Back then we were beat up by the police, by everybody. I didn’t really come out as a drag queen until the late ’60s. I remember the first time I got arrested, I wasn’t

Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera at the 1973 New York City Gay Pride Parade

the police once again opened the doors to shove in more drag queens, Ritter took the opportunity to “skip out.”

Ritter didn’t get far in her black evening gown and black fish net stockings and black pumps before being spotted by a young policeman. The cop looked at Ritter and said, “Hey, you!” and detained her.

days Ritter kept watching to see if there was anything on the news about the riot, but “there wasn’t and I graduated from high school without my parents ever finding out where I’d gone to celebrate my birthday.”

Rivera’s story was completely different from Ritter’s.

She left home at age 10 in

even in full drag. I was walking down the street and the cops just snatched me.”

Where Sylvia Rivera was on the night of June 27 is challenged by several different accounts told by her over time and by eyewitnesses of the event. No doubt she was at Stonewall but whether it was the first night or the second

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seems to be a mystery. At least one Stonewall historian, David Carter, has put under question Rivera’s links with the Stonewall Inn protests, based on these contradictory statement and by testimony by early gay rights activists who said that Johnson denied that Rivera was present at the riots.

In some accounts Johnson was identified as one of the first to fight back in the clashes with the police amid the Stonewall riots. Others state that Sylvia Rivera was the first one to fight back and start the riot. Others claim a butch dyke took a swing at a police officer who was shoving her into the paddy wagon. As in many events that only take on significance years later, no one was there who recorded exactly how the riot unfolded.

For any one faction to try to claim credit for starting the Stonewall riot is patently false. It was a spontaneous event fueled by many extraneous events all which led to different myths on how it played out.

Stonewall historian Martin Duberman in his 1993 accounting of the event places Rivera at the scene of the riot the first night. “From this point on, the melee broke out in several directions and swiftly mounted in intensity.

The crowd, now in full cry, started screaming epithets at the police —”Pigs!” “Faggot cops!” Sylvia [(Ray) Rivera] and Craig [Rodwell] enthusiastically joined in, Sylvia shouting her lungs out, Craig

letting go with a full-throated “Gay power!”

From Duberman’s research and interviews, Rivera was certainly at the center of the riot but it was the crowd that was screaming when she joined in. Rodwell who founded the Oscar Wilde Bookstore in 1968 would have certainly been a reliable witness as he

the Stonewall Inn instead of Ritter. Others reported Rivera saying that when the riot began she was outside and went to get Johnson to take part in the uprising.

In Carter’s book he claims that Johnson was the person who “really started it” on the first night of the riots. It certainly could have been John-

Erica Kay Webster today

would have known most of the characters in the village.

Ritter also said that Rivera was one of the people there and was mad and drunk.

Though, as she was scared to death for her predicament, Ritter could not have been a totally objective witness, especially as Rivera and she became friends over the years.

Still others even reported that it was Johnson who was having a birthday party in

son as one of many onlookers who was looking for a fight.

For the most part, Johnson had the same personality no matter how she was dressed, though there were also times when Johnson would assert a male identity. Those who knew Johnson’s schizophrenic personality said it would come out as a dual personality, known as Malcolm Michaels, who could “become a very nasty, vicious man, looking for

fights.”

After Stonewall, in 1970, Johnson and her close friend Rivera co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR). Together they hustled tricks to provide food and clothing for young drag queens, trans women and other street kids who were living on the Christopher Street docks. Rivera’s experiences made her focus on advocacy for those who, in her view, mainstream society and the assimilation sectors of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT/queer) communities were leaving behind.

In the 1980s Johnson continued her street activism as a respected organizer with ACT UP during the AIDS crisis.

Together they were a visible presence at gay liberation marches and other radical political actions.

As for Ritter, she began her transitioning after high school and went back to school to work on a bachelors in psychology, and later became a nurse. She was a tireless and dedicated worker taking care of gay men dying during the 1980s. After becoming sober, Ritter had less and less to do with Rivera and Johnson.

In an interview she credited getting an education for getting her away from “the crazy girls.”

“That’s not to say that I’m better than anybody, it’s just my story,” she said. “I needed to stay away from some people.” Q

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PUZZLES | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 31

Qsaltlake.com

Keep It Simple ACROSS

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: Hard

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

3

5

5

3 7 7 2

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

4 6

9 8

8 4 9 7 4 7 3

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

9 8

4

4

9

1

9 3 1 4 1 7

2

2

7 8 7 1

5

4

3

1 5

3 4 9 8 6 1 2 4 5

1

1 Tool that can grab you 5 Comic Wilson, who cross-dressed as Geraldine 9 Pairs 13 Porn star Ryan 14 Slave in an Elton John musical 15 Basketball to Eliza Doolittle?

16 Oz visitor Dorothy 17 Body passageway 18 Sit for Mapplethorpe 19 Start of a Walt Whitman quote about simplicity 22 Seuss title creature 23 Eyeballs 26 Jethro of rock 29 More of the quote 30 Camus, by birth 34 Heavenly body 35 Woman on top, perhaps 36 More of the quote 39 Fair grade 40 Grizabella, on Broadway 41 Barely ran 43 More of the quote 47 South European

20 Outlying community 21 Drama in the land of Samurai 24 It grows in Brooklyn 25 “Let’s hit the sheets!”

27 Tell a tall tale 28 Actor Jude and family 30 IRAs, et al.

31 Vermont Senator Patrick 32 “I don’t feel like sex tonight...”

33 Dolts, in Dover 37 Turin three 38 Marsh wader 42 Muscle Mary’s six DOWN pack?

1 Candlelight cere44 Mapplethorpe pics, mony e.g.

2 My Own Private ___ 45 Prissy cry of fear 3 Like rays caught at 46 Marcos of the PhilSitges ippines 4 Get it up 49 Sitting Bull, for one 5 Blow it 51 On account of 6 Dietary, in ads 52 Prod 7 Like Everett, as a 53 River of Cocteau’s movie husband country 8 Pirate’s bird 55 Sweet opening?

9 Kansas capital 56 Peters out 10 Janis Joplin sang “Piece of My Heart” 57 Four, usually, to Spencer-Devlin here 58 Extension on a hard 11 Army missions drive 12 U-turn from NNW

48 “All ___ go!”

50 More queer 54 End of the quote 57 Fruit cover 59 Leopold’s partner 60 “Let ___ Lover” 61 Jump for Adam Rippon 62 Song by Kurt Cobain 63 Alfred Douglas’ school 64 Stat for Richard Simmons 65 World War II alliance 66 Zip

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 32

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34 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | QMMUNITY

Qmmunity Groups BUSINESS

LGBTQ-Affirmative Psycho-therapists Guild of Utah  lgbtqtherapists.com * jim@lgbtqtherapists.com Utah Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce  utahgaychamber.com * info@utahgaychamber.com LGBT & Allied Lawyers of Utah  lgbtutahlawyers.com * lgbtutahlawyers@gmail.com Utah Independent Business Coalition  utahindependentbusiness.org 801-879-4928 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 YWCA of Salt Lake  ywca.org/saltlakecity 322 E 300 S 801-537-8600 HEALTH & HIV

Peer Support for Mental Illness — PSMI Thurs 7pm, Utah Pride Ctr Planned Parenthood 654 S 900 E 800-230-PLAN Salt Lake County Health Dept HIV/STD Clinic 660 S 200 E, 4th Floor Walk-ins M–F 10a–4p Appts 385-468-4242 Utah AIDS Foundation  utahaids.org * mail@utahaids.org 1408 S 1100 E 801-487-2323

Weber-Morgan Health Mon., Weds 1-4:30p 477 23rd St, Ogden Appt 801-399-7250 HOMELESS SVCS

VOA Homeless Youth Resource Ctr, ages 15–21 880 S 400 W 801-364-0744 Transition Homes: Young Men’s 801-433-1713 Young Women’s 801-359-5545 LEGAL

Rainbow Law Free Clinic 2nd Thurs 6:30–7:30pm UofU Law School, 383 S University St 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  fb.me/ utahstonewalldems RELIGIOUS

First Baptist Church  firstbaptist-slc.org * office@firstbaptistslc.org 11a Sundays 777 S 1300 E 801-582-4921 Sacred Light of Christ  slcchurch.org 823 S 600 E 801-595-0052 11a Sundays

Qsaltlake.com

Wasatch Metropolitan Community Church  wasatchmcc.org 801-889-8764 Sundays except the 2nd Sunday, 11:15a at Crone’s Hollow, 3834 S. Main SOCIAL

1 to 5 Club (bisexual)  fb.me/1to5ClubUtah  1to5club@

utahpridecenter.org

Alternative Garden Club  bit.ly/altgarden * altgardenclub@gmail.com blackBOARD Men’s Kink/Sex/BDSM education, 1st, 3rd Mons.  blackbootsslc.org blackBOOTS Kink/BDSM Men’s leather/kink/ fetish/BDSM 4th Sats.  blackbootsslc.org Gay Writes writing group, DiverseCity 6:30 pm 2nd, 4th Mondays, Community Writing Ctr, 210 E 400 S Men Who Move  menwhomove.org OWLS of Utah (Older, Wiser, Lesbian. Sisters)  bit.ly/owlsutah qVinum Wine Tasting  qvinum.com Sage Utah, Seniors  fb.me/sageutah  sageutah@ utahpridecenter.org 801-557-9203 Temple Squares Square Dance Club  templesquares.org 801-449-1293 Utah Bears  utahbears.com  fb.me/utahbears  info@utahbears.com

Weds 6pm Raw Bean Coffee, 611 W Temple Utah Male Naturists  umen.org  info@umen.org Utah Pride Center  utahpridecenter.org  info@utahpridecenter.org 1380 S Main St 801-539-8800 Venture OUT Utah  bit.ly/GetOutsideUtah SPORTS

QUAC — Queer Utah Aquatic Club  quacquac.org  questions@ quacquac.org Salt Lake Goodtime Bowling League  bit.ly/slgoodtime Stonewall Sports SLC  fb.me/SLCStonewall  stonewallsaltlakecity. leagueapps.com 385-243-1828 Utah Gay Football League  UtahGayFootballLeague.com  fb.me/UtahGayFootballLeague Venture Out Utah  facebook.com/groups/ Venture.OUT.Utah SUPPORT

Alcoholics Anonymous 801-484-7871  utahaa.org LGBT meetings: Sun. 3p Acceptance Group, UPC,1380 S Main Tues. 8:15p Live & Let Live, Mt Tabor Lutheran, 175 S 700 E Wed. 7p Sober Today, 375 Harrison Blvd, Ogden Fri. 8p Stonewall Group, Mt Tabor Lutheran, 175 S 700 E

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ISSUE 314

Crystal Meth Anon  crystalmeth.org Sun. 1:30pm Clean, Sober & Proud LGBTQIA+Straight USARA, 180 E 2100 S LifeRing Secular Recovery 801-608-8146  liferingutah.org Sun. 10am Univ. Neuropsychiatric Institute, 501 Chipeta Way #1566 Thurs. 7pm, USARA, 180 E 2100 S, #100 Sat. 11am, First Baptist Church, 777 S 1300 E Men’s Support Group  utahpridecenter. org/programs/lgbtqadults/  joshuabravo@ utahpridecenter.org Survivors of Suicide Attempt  bit.ly/upc_sosa  sosa@ utahpridecenter.org Trans Adult Support  utahpridecenter.org/ programs/lgbtq-adults/  lanegardinier@ utahpridecenter.org TransAction  utahpridecenter.org/ programs/transaction/ Sundays 2–3:30pm Women’s Support Group  utahpridecenter.org/ programs/lgbtq-adults/  mariananibley@ utahpridecenter.org Youth Support Group ages 10-14, 14-20  utahpridecenter. org/programs/youthfamily-programs/

| AUGUST, 2020

Youth Survivors of Suicide Attempt  utahpridecenter.org/ programs/youth-familyprograms/  youthsosa@ utahpridecenter.org YOUTH/COLLEGE

Encircle LGBTQ Family and Youth Resource Ctr  encircletogether.org fb.me/encircletogether 91 W 200 S, Provo, 331 S 600 E, SLC Families Like Ours (ages 2-10)  utahpridecenter.org/ programs/youth-familyprograms/ Gay-Straight Alliance Network  gsanetwork.org Salt Lake Community College LGBTQ+ 8 slcc.edu/lgbtq/ University of Utah LGBT Resource Center 8 lgbt.utah.edu 200 S Central Campus Dr Rm 409 801-587-7973 USGA at BYU  usgabyu.com  fb.me/UsgaAtByu Utah State Univ. Access & Diversity Ctr  inclusion.usu.edu/ lgbtqa Utah Valley Univ Spectrum  facebook.com/ groups/uvuspectrum Weber State University LGBT Resource Center  weber.edu/ lgbtresourcecenter 801-626-7271 Youth Activity Night ages 10-14, 14-20  utahpridecenter.org/ programs/youth-familyprograms/

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ISSUE 314

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BOOK REVIEW | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 35

Qsaltlake.com

the bookworm sez REVIEW BY TERRY SCHLICHENMEYER

Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man

BY MARY L. TRUMP, PH.D., C.2020, SIMON AND SCHUSTER, $28, 227PP

You hadn’t seen that container in ages. You really can’t remember when you put it on the shelf.

Sometime this year, six years ago, when you moved last?

What’s in it must be worth something, though, or you wouldn’t’ve saved it. Now, as in the new book Too Much and Never Enough by Mary L. Trump, PhD, digging may yield answers.

No one has to explain to you who Donald Trump is but, for anyone who’s been completely

q scopes AUGUST

BY SAM KELLEY-MILLS

ARIES March 20–April 19

The closer you are to someone, the more likely becoming dependent will be. While friendship means togetherness, you could end up smothering certain people. Stay in check and have confidence. No one is running away, but some need more space. Take time off in order to keep friendships fresh and fascinating.

TAURUS Apr 20–May 20

With an abundance of tasks to complete, the best method is to push like a boss! Don’t let distractions stump progress, especially when so much is at stake. A goal must be accomplished, but a sense of duty could be holding you back. Do the right thing, but don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions of others.

GEMINI May 21–June 20

Nothing is more intrusive to you than bossy people. Even if good ideas come from them, an opportunity to learn could be lost. Don’t let pride stop you from learning. In fact, staying focused is the best way to demonstrate

out of the loop, Mary Trump is Donald’s niece (she uses his first name, always, and to avoid confusion, so will we). Trump has a PhD in psychology, worked at Manhattan Psychiatric Center while in school, was once a therapist, and taught graduate psychology. The point is, she got chops and it shows, especially when this book — a look at her family and, specifically, her Uncle Donald — reads like something from the True Medicine genre. Indeed, medically-based passages are nearly emotionless in their clinicality.

To fully understand this story and where it leads, Trump begins with brief accounts of her great-grandfather, who came to America from Germany in order to avoid military service. After the elder man died, Trump’s grandfather “Fred” (as she refers to him) became business partners with his mother, and expanded the family fortune.

Trump asserts that Fred was

“a high-functioning sociopath” who put his own self-interests above everything else. He was cruel for cruelty’s sake and ultimately used that against his eldest son and namesake, “Freddy,” whom Fred hoped would assume the family business but who didn’t have the heart for it.

When Freddy proved to be a disappointment, Fred turned to Donald, his second son, and gave him free-reign, an open bank account, and the paternal approval Trump suggests that Donald craved.

Once you get this far into Too Much and Never Enough, it shouldn’t surprise you; none of it will, going forward, because you know how this book ends.

Long before that, though, Trump shares details of growing up, noting nuances within the Trump sibling group and the family at large, learning to read silences, and hearing regular racist or homophobic comments that made her, years later, keep mum on her

resolve and earn respect. While admiration isn’t required, it helps in boosting confidence.

must be positive.

CANCER June 21–July 22

A conflicting opinion has you questioning the validity of a deep-seated belief. Even if faith has not always been a trusted guide, it has never let you down. The best way to proceed is by prioritizing beliefs that matter most, and stop worrying about the rest.

The only true choice is whether to be good or delightfully bad.

LEO July 23–August 22

Treasure could be found in someone you cherish very much. Love isn’t something that comes easily, but deep fondness can provide a lot of good times. The past has a way of conditioning, so learn to let go of methods that don’t work anymore. Fear and suspicion is a default position, but love is worth the risk.

VIRGO August 23–Sep. 2

Treading into a dangerous place isn’t normal practice for you.

Even so, it may become necessary to explore a side of you that could lead to emotional pain. But the goal is to overcome that, and sometimes diving into hell is required to get past it. Only then will it become clear that change

LIBRA Sept 23–October 22

No one sets out to lose their mind, but some friends feel you’ve intended to do just that. Figure out what is troublesome and make changes. The hardest task is cutting things most cherished. But there is indeed a greener side to be found. Stop settling for second best and enjoy by making some progress.

SCORPIO Oct. 23–Nov. 21

Take a break from the things you enjoy. The reset button of life is found inside you and it’s time to push it. There is a capacity to do some really great things, but it’s time to let go of some bad habits. A mental malfunction could be a real problem, so don’t try doing anything that could lead to embarrassment.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22–December 20.

Something amazing is always on the horizon. It may grow tiresome waiting for life to get better, and there is a lot to enjoy right now. Take time with your family and friends, and the company will provide a path to feeling better. Stop the trend of waiting for tomorrow. Realize that today is actually pretty good.

marriage to (and subsequent divorce from) a woman. The cruelty, as she describes it, can sometimes read like a TV documentary on wolves at a kill. Disappointment was thick on both sides.

Readers may occasionally note something like sour grapes, too, but even that offers more of an understanding of Trump’s observations.

While this memoir somewhat culminates with the fight over Trump’s grandfather’s will, a skewed inheritance, subsequent lawsuit, and the truth she says she found with the urging of the New York Times, the story — as she indicates — won’t begin to be finished until January, or a January four years hence.

Until then, this is a mustread for left and right alike but beware that it might leave you feeling mournful — not for any one person, but overall, in general: Too Much and Never Enough just contains a lot of sadness. Q

CAPRICORN Dec 21–Jan 19

Head toward a safe place and spend time with someone you love or trust. Family members aren’t the best ones to confide in now, so seek out objectivity. Everything you have worked for will either pay off big or fizzle out in an instant. The result depends on your willingness to rely on logic and reason for a change.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20–Feb. 18

Knock out important work and don’t procrastinate. It may seem tempting to put off a dreaded task, but a lot of distractions are headed your way. Sometimes the straight and narrow path is the correct one, but make sure you’re hitting the right target. There is a lot that can go wrong simply by not looking out.

PISCES Feb 19–Mar 19

The temptation to run and hide could be very strong.

Anxiety runs high by caring too much.

It is good to have empathy, but for your sake, identify whether you have the power to change things that are bothersome. If action is possible, take it. But realize that there are some situations that are bigger than your will. Q

36 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | Q&A

Bob the Drag Queen: Pride is the People

BY EVE KUCHARSKI

Qsaltlake.com |

ISSUE 314 |

AUGUST, 2020

Maintaining

a packed schedule can be tricky for drag queens at the best of times, but for Bob the Drag Queen, even a global pandemic can’t keep her down. Despite heading into a Pride season filled with nearly across-the-board event cancellations and postponements due to the novel coronavirus, the season eight winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race is regularly making appearances across the virtual stage everywhere. Fans can catch Bob in the HBO series “We’re Here,” a brand-new comedy special Bob the Drag Queen: Live at Caroline’s, MTV’s Drag My Dad, on her Sibling Rivalry podcast with fellow Drag Race winner Monét X Change and across YouTube.

But as much as this June showcases Bob’s wide range as a performer, she’s also using some of her platforms as an opportunity to make note of, and show support to, the nationwide police brutality protests.

In the midst of a packed-despite-the-odds schedule, we caught up with Bob to get a feel for drag in the age of COVID-19, the importance of increased visibility for black queer performers and the deep personal connections people create through drag.

What does it feel like to be a drag queen going into a summer that celebrates Pride virtually this year? Well, I mean, I’m not saddened by it. I think that it is going to be different. I also think that Pride is going to be different not only because of COVID-19 but because of the Black Lives Matter Movement, and I’m excited that the world is going to be focusing on black queer stories.

A lot of Prides are certainly taking a similar approach. New York City Pride is using its platform to protest police brutality, and there’s a lot of talk about how the first Pride was a riot and really going back to Stonewall’s beginnings. Do you think, given the roots of drag and gay culture stemming from people like Marsha P. Johnson, that it’s the responsibility of fans and performers of drag to really educate themselves on the culture? I mean, I think it would give you a more fruitful experience in terms of celebrating Pride. Of course, it’s not my job to tell anyone what their job is. But I think if you want to have a fruitful experience with Pride, a fully well-rounded experience to know what it is you’re celebrating, then yeah, you’re gonna wanna do your research, which, by the way, is not even PHOTO: JACOB RITTS

AUGUST, 2020

|

Q&A | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 37

ISSUE 314 | Qsaltlake.com

hard. Like, it’s not like this is 1999 where you have to go down to the library or get an Encyclopedia Britannica or something. There’s tons of documentaries and movies, articles (and) entire Instagram accounts dedicated to this stuff.

I was looking at your YouTube channel and you’ve had conversations with fellow Drag Race performer Peppermint about racism in the drag community. How do you confront conversations about race in drag, whether it be face-to-face or online? Well, every once in a while, I will have to confront things face-to-face if I experience a microaggression or an “aggression” aggression against myself or my tribe.

And online it happens a lot. People feel bold online to say potentially whatever they want to say because they don’t actually have to see your face. And if I think there’s a moment for growth, then I’ll address it. And if not, then, especially if it’s online, I’ll just let it fly over my head because, you know, some people online are just trolling. You know, looking to elicit a response.

Now more than ever it seems that performers have to be aware of what’s socially and politically going on. Does being “on” all the time in that way get exhausting? I felt exhausted kind of as a person in general and I haven’t done drag in over a week, and I just didn’t feel up to it. I canceled a couple of things, quite frankly, because I just felt so affected. But then again, I would also say as a black queer artist I do think that it is important for me to share my success stories and let people know that there are — you know, I know how much it means for me to see those things from black queer artists. So I’m definitely picking myself up by the wig straps and getting back in there because I think it’s important for people out there to see a successful black queer artist, quite frankly.

Moving onto your HBO show We’re Here, what was your reaction when you heard the pitch that you’re going to go to smalltown America and do drag? Well, at first I was nervous that it was going to be a show where I go from town to town and just go and put a bunch of straight people into drag, and that I didn’t want to do. But when I found out that wasn’t the pitch I was really excited. There’s no shade or nothing against any show that does do that — Drag My Dad is a show

where we put straight people in drag — but I just felt like I would like to have a different impact on a different show. And I’m so proud of their show; I’m so happy with the way it turned out and the fact that we’re telling diverse stories. That I’m probably the most proud of.

You’re from the South originally. Did doing the show actually make you confront some of your issues with small-town America or go face-to-face with that? I moved all around the South a lot as a kid, and I did have this feeling of, “I have no community here,” especially once I was out of college. Once I got out of college I was like, “Once I’m out of college all the other theater department people leave and I’m going to have no one.” And what I’m realizing now is that there almost certainly was a community in probably all of those towns — they’re maybe small, they probably were reflective of the population, and maybe I would have not have felt so compelled to leave. I didn’t necessarily leave the South with a great case of, “I’m out for the South,” you know?

You’ve said that HBO really respected the craft when they approached you. Yes. Do you think that sometimes drag is not thought of as high of an art form as it could be? Well, I think it depends on who you’re talking to. I mean, in my circles it’s regarded as an extremely high art form (laughs), but I’m sure there’s someone out there who doesn’t see the value in it. But, I mean, in my experience my craft has been respected. And when I say respected, I mean, like, sometimes you’re doing a TV show or movie and they want you to do drag and you’re like, “OK, but this is all the things that go with being in drag.”

Like, if we tell you that we need to do drag at a really elevated level, a lot of people don’t realize that it’s really not just going to your local Halloween costume store and buying a couple of costumes. It is a lot of work to craft a really beautiful drag queen from custom garments to custom hair — everything that goes into it. And HBO really, really rose to the occasion.

In many of your projects, it seems like you’re connecting with people when you put them in drag. What do you think is so disarming about that process? Well, I think it’s disarming because someone is completely out of their element. They

have to trust you because they don’t know what they’re doing at all. So they’re in your hands, like, “I have to trust you because I’m so clueless.” And I not only want to take advantage of that trust but utilize it to the best of my ability.

Was there a drag moment in one of the projects that you’ve done where there was a connection that occurred that caught you off guard? Well, I really loved the conversation that I had with Nate, Darren and Lady Shug in Shiprock, New Mexico.

That was really beautiful, to hear them talk about what it means to be indigenous and the intersectionality between being queer and indigenous. That’s probably one of my favorite moments, and I also really loved the moment that I had with Tanner in Branson, where I basically told them my story with, you know, Christianity and homosexuality and helping come to a conclusion on that.

Do you think COVID-19 will impact the way people do drag not only in the near future but permanently? As I was navigating the land of the internet and drag shows in quarantine, I realized how many folks were saying, “I’ve never gotten a chance to see you before because I can’t leave the house for a list of reasons.” Some people have anxiety, some people are disabled, some people just don’t have enough money, some people live in an area where they don’t have access, some people are in the closet. And they finally got to see some of their favorite drag queens perform, and I was like, “Maybe I should continue with this.” I would like to be able to keep this going for people who, you know — I mean, maybe not as much as I’m doing now during lockdown — but maybe I can continue these kind of performances for people who can’t get out of the house.

Do you have a message for people who might be feeling especially vulnerable during this Pride season? Just think about it like this — this is something I’m pulling from the church, and I’m not religious, but I did go to church for quite some while: Church isn’t the building, it’s the people. And Pride isn’t the parade.

Pride isn’t the parties. It’s the people.

It’s what we bring to Pride. So, you can still have Pride without having to be surrounded by thousands of people. Pride is a feeling you have deep inside yourself.

That’s why we call it Pride. Q

38 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | FINAL WORD

Qsaltlake.com

|

ISSUE 314

| AUGUST, 2020

the perils of petunia pap smear

A tale of taco tuesdays

BY PETUNIA PAP SMEAR

The road

to home from choir practice is fraught with danger and excitement.

I am privileged to be a member of the Salt Lake Men’s Choir. I know it’s difficult to believe but the SLMC actually let me in. They hold rehearsals in the First Baptist Church, up on the east bench, kitty-corner from East High School. The most astonishing fact about my being in the choir is that no one was struck by lightning as I drove Queertanic into the church parking lot, and the roof did not fall down upon my entering the church building. Hazzah!

A few months ago, before all this COVID19 insanity began, I was heading home from choir rehearsal one calm evening. Now, driving Queertanic down the steep incline of 800 South is a white-knuckle affair. The white knuckles do create such a delightful contrast to my fire-engine-red Lee Press-On Nails that it’s difficult to not be distracted while driving. But I digress. Descending the hill entails carefully holding back the combined immensities of both Queertanic and my gravity enhanced bulkitude dressed in my best traveling frock by fighting the incessant downhill pull of the aforementioned gravity coming down the mountain.

(At this point in our story you may feel free to sing that old folk song…)

She’ll be coming down the mountain when she comes She’ll be driving Old Queertanic when she comes She’ll be wearing blinking breasticles when she comes And we’ll all go running for shelter when she comes …

In order to keep the speedometer under the speed of sound while fighting the forces of Sir Isaac Newton’s discovery, it is necessary to slam my high heel so firmly on the brake pedal that it has punched a pencil-sized hole in the device. Each and every time I go down this mountain

all I can do is envision my uncontrolled descent to a salty watery plunge into the Great Salt Lake.

On this particular evening, the trip down 800 South was mostly uneventful, except for being slightly blinded by the brightness of my blinking breasticle lights reflecting back off the windshield.

However, as I was passing the 7-Eleven on 300 East, I heard an engine roar loudly enough to cause me to look to the side.

Just as I passed the entrance to the parking lot, a car zoomed out of the lot, aimed directly at Queertanic as if to broadside my beloved land yacht. I swerved into the oncoming lane to avoid a collision, wondering what kind of show-off stunt some dumbass teenager was trying to pull.

What most infuriated me though, was that the sudden swerve had caused my beehive wig to wobble askew and ended up tilted off the side of my head resting against the window. Hell hath no fury like a drag queen with a messed-up wig!

Incensed with righteous indignation at the afront to my hair, my vengeful eyes were laser-focused on that damned car as I followed about a half-block behind. When he approached State Street, the traffic light turned red, and the cross-traffic began to move through the intersection. To my astonishment, the crazy afront to wig wearers everywhere didn’t stop or even slow down. He didn’t even touch his brakes. He plowed straight through the intersection against the light.

For a split second, I thought he might just miss the cross traffic, but no! Boom!

Crash! He T-boned a Nissan Cube as it was slowly proceeding through the intersection. The Cube flew into the air and spun around 180 degrees before landing in a pile of smoking rubble. I screamed in horror as the speeder lost control and headed directly for the taco cart located near the corner in front of the old Sears building. Oh, the horror! How horrendous! How terrible!

Oh, the humanity! For the city to lose one of its most important taco purveyors

would be the ultimate disaster. Worse than this car crash. Worse than the earthquake.

Even worse than when my mascara ran when I cried while reading Where the Red Fern Grows. How could I ever celebrate Taco Tuesday again without reliving this dreadful nightmare of my messed-up hair?

As I drew closer, all I could see was the carnage of scattered car parts littering the street, mass confusion, and panic, and smoke and steam rising in the air. In order to avoid puncturing a tire on the jagged debris, I turned left and pulled into the Taco Time parking lot to assess the situation. Thank goodness at least Taco Time was preserved. As the smoke began to clear, I heaved a great sigh of relief to see that the car had been stopped by hitting a fire hydrant and the taco cart was still there.

(Feel free to sing again…)

Thru the car crash’s red glare, and tires bursting in air Came proof through the night that the taco cart was still there O say does that taco cart menu yet wave O’er the land of the hungry and the home of the depraved …

In the immortal words of Scarlet O’Hara, “As God is my witness, I’ll never go hungry again!”

This story leaves us with several important questions: 1. Was I to crash into the Great Salt Lake, would I become a pickled Petunia?

2. Should I develop a saline-resistant line of make-up?

3. Would the saltwater short out my breasticle lights?

4. Should I bury my messed-up wig and plant a red fern on top of it?

5. Should I change my food emphasis from Taco Tuesdays to Meatloaf Mondays or French Fry Fridays?

6. Or better yet, should I celebrate them all?

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

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