QSaltLake Magazine | Issue 349 | July, 2023

PHOTO: ROCHELLE JOHANNESSEN

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publisher/editor Michael Aaron

designer Christian Allred

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national neWs editor Craig Ogan

contributors Joshua Adamson Pickett, Diane Anderson-Minshall, Chris Azzopardi, Paul Berge, Jeff Berry, Paul Campbell, Laurie BennettCook, Roger Cox, Stephen Dark, Jennifer Dobner, Mikki Enoch, Jack Fertig, Greg Fox, Oriol Gutierrez Jr., Tony Hobday, Ashley Hoyle, Joshua Jones, Christopher Katis, Alpha Mercury, Sam Kelly-Mills, Craig Ogan, Peter Reynolds, Mikey Rox, Terri Schlichenmeyer, Gregg Shapiro, Petunia Pap Smear, Steven Petrow, Ed Sikov, JoSelle Vanderhooft, Ben Williams, D’Anne Witkowski

distribution Roger Cox publisher

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LGBTQ where least expected

BY MICHAEL AARON, 1-MINUTE READ

In this issue, I was able to speak to two women who are living openly and honestly in places where you may not think it’s possible. Our cover story is about an open, ambitious lesbian who was crowned Miss Davis County earlier this year. Yes. You read that right. Davis County, Utah — one of the most conservative counties in the country.

You will be surprised at how open she has been through the whole pageant process about herself and her dreams to help the LGBTQ community.

We also speak to the mayor of Helper, Utah, which just celebrated its second Pride. Yes, rural Helper, Utah, population of 2,100, has a pride. And the female mayor has a wife. Both of them are very active in the town’s revival over the past decade.

While Republican leaders hammer away at the love and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community, the people who might call themselves Republican, or conservative, aren’t following them down that path.

As I research stories, I see that the most bitter social posts are from a small group of loud and angry people across the country.

When you look at the reactions of the locals, you see everything from simple tolerance to outright support.

Pessimist Michael believes that these are mostly people paid to spew their bile across the country. Why else would someone in deep Tennessee even be reading posts from someone in Layton, Utah?

Whatever the reality is, I hope it comes to a head soon and explodes all over the GOP leaders so that we can go back to living our lives honestly, safely, and harmoniously. Q

HRC declares national LGBTQ+ state of emergency

2-MINUTE READ

The Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ individuals in the United States, citing the enactment of over 75 discriminatory laws in numerous states specifically targeting the LGBTQ community. This is the first such declaration in the organization’s 43-year history.

According to the HRC, a staggering 525 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced in 41 states this year, with more than 220 of them explicitly aimed at transgender people. The organization’s count reveals that over 76 anti-LGBTQ bills have already become law this year, surpassing the previous record from last year, making it the most challenging year to date.

This year, groups have crisscrossed the country to testify in support of hateful and discriminatory anti-LGBTQ bills, including the American College of Pediatricians, American Principles Project, Gays Against Groomers, Independent Women’s Forum, and Moms for Liberty.

HRC President Kelley Robinson emphasized the tangible and danger-

ous threats that millions in the LGBTQ community are facing. Robinson stated that these threats have resulted in actual violence against LGBTQ+ individuals, leading families to uproot their lives and seek refuge in more inclusive states. The alarming surge in homophobia and transphobia has put the safety of every LGBTQ individual at risk, Robinson said.

Wendy, a Texan mother of four, shared her experience in a press release by the HRC. She disclosed that the introduction of more than 50 anti-LGBTQ bills by Texas legislators this year compelled her to relocate her family, with plans to move to Minnesota. Wendy expressed the emotional toll of leaving behind their tight-knit family and Texas roots, which have been established for over a century.

The HRC, the largest LGBTQ civil rights organization in the nation, released a guidebook alongside the declaration. This guidebook provides LGBTQ individuals with essential health and safety resources, a summary of state-specific laws, and information about their rights when traveling to or residing

in states with restrictive legislation.

The HRC also highlighted concerning statistics regarding transgender rights. They revealed that 21 states have implemented restrictions on transgender athletes, preventing them from competing on sports teams that align with their gender identity. This impacts approximately 30 percent of high schoolaged transgender youth in the country. Additionally, 20 states have passed laws or policies severely limiting or prohibiting gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors, and in some cases, even for adults. Consequently, nearly 31 percent of transgender individuals aged 13 to 17 now reside in states where they cannot access medically necessary care endorsed by major medical organizations.

Furthermore, in nine states, transgender people are denied the use of restrooms, locker rooms, and other facilities that correspond to their gender identity, affecting around 15 percent of the transgender population in the United States.

More information about the state of emergency, go to hrc.im/emergency

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

BY CRAIG OGAN. 7-MINUTE READ

HIV fight lags in the U.S.

The effort to treat the HIV virus and the use of PrEP has led to a drop in new infections around the world. The Centers for Disease Control says new HIV cases declined in the United States by 12 percent between 2017 and 2021. The United Nations agency UNAIDS reports HIV cases dropped 70 percent in the Netherlands, 68 percent in Italy, and 44 percent in Australia. United Kingdom health authorities recorded a 33 percent drop in the same period. Experts in the U.S. blame racism, stigma, lack of HIV funding, and poor intergovernmental coordination as the reason the U.S. does not show the same dramatic decreases.

Gay man becomes Baltic nation president

Latvia, a key Baltic state, has elected a gay man, Edgars Rinkēvičs, as president. This is a first for the European Union. The Latvian presidency is elected by Parliament and serves a largely ceremonial role as head of state. Rinkēvičs has a functional job as the country’s foreign minister and will resign to be the national party planner. There have been lesbian or gay prime ministers — usually a more powerful position— in European countries, namely Belgium, Iceland, and Serbia.

Good news & not from GLAAD Acceptance Survey

The 2023 GLAAD annual Acceptance Survey reports that 84 percent of U.S. respondents endorsed equal rights, the largest percentage since GLAAD initiated the study in 2015. The organization notes with concern that a majority of “non-LGBTQ Americans,” 54 percent, are confused by the use of they/them as pronouns. The study found that 86 percent believe that exposure to hate content online leads to violence, and 66 percent of Americans believe that anti-LGBTQ legislation l will lead to discrimination and violence. GLAAD reports hopeful signs, with majorities of non-LGBTQ+ respondents saying they are comfortable with “LGBTQ+ people in a variety of situations in one’s place of worship, as family members, and as doctors.”

First, they came for drag queens

Nellis Air Force Base in NEVADA canceled a drag show for their Pride month on orders from the Secretary of Defense and Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. USAF officers approved the show before the SecDef told Congress that drag shows were not appropriate for military bases. A USAF official said about the other events, “Consistent with (the) Secretary’s congressional testimony, Commanders have been directed to either cancel or relocate these events to an off-base location.”

MONTANA’s governor signed a bill into law that bans drag performers from reading books to children at public venues, including libraries and schools, becoming the first state to ban what are often called Drag Story Hours.

A FLORIDA law that bans

children from attending live adult entertainment has impacted the state’s “furry” community. Furries are those fun-loving folk who are interested, sometimes sexually, in anthropomorphic or cartoon animals. (Is an “F” a coming addition to the acronym?) A large “Furry” convention in the state was forced by the venue it chose to bar anyone under the age of 18 from attending as they feared losing operating and liquor licenses and fire safety certificates.

The governor of SOUTH DAKOTA has ordered the state’s higher education Board of Regents to ban drag shows from campuses and remove preferred pronouns from college and university materials. In an apparently contradictory diktat, the Board was instructed to, “Remove any policy or procedure that prohibits students from exercising their right to free speech.”

A federal judge ruled that TENNESSEE ’s law restricting drag performances in public or where children are present is unconstitutional because it is “both unconstitutionally vague and substantially overbroad.” The judge wrote that the Supreme Court has never held that sexually explicit — but not obscene — speech receives less protection than political, artistic, or scientific speech.

Then, they came for Pride

Niche marketing to LGBTQ+ people is risky. Ask BUD LIGHT. Bomb threats were made at TARGET stores in backlash to in-store displays of Pride merchandise. Stores in Oklahoma, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Louisiana, Utah, and Pennsylvania received threatening phone calls or emails. The stores were evacuated, but no explosives were found. Target

moved Pride merchandise displays containing female-style swimsuits that can be used to “tuck” male genitalia and featured rainbow-themed mugs, buttons, and tee shirts from the front of the stores. The initial displays annoyed customers, and the removal annoyed others. Threats in Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York reportedly said Target, “betrayed the LGBTQ+ community.”

STARBUCKS ’ workers’ union and management argued over allegations the chain banned Pride decorations. Management said it did not do that and reaffirmed its Pride niche marketing efforts. However, Massachusetts workers posted language from management telling local stores, “They didn’t have any labor hours to decorate for Pride.” Baristas in Wisconsin posted about having to remove Pride decorations because they weren’t “welcoming for everyone.” Starbucks has denied the claims. It is enough to give everyone the coffee jitters.

Multiple parents gathered outside a school in LOS ANGELES to protest an optional “Pride Day” assembly that included a video reading of a book that showcased families with “two mommies or two daddies.”

Middle school students in MASSACHUSETTS refused to wear buttons and disrupted a Pride Month Spirit Day assembly with chants of, “My pronouns are USA.” Students were asked to wear rainbow-colored clothing, but the dissidents showed up in red, white, and blue or black. The local school board is taking up the issue. California’s ORANGE COUNTY government went “Bi” about Pride Month recognition. In May, the

county council voted to ban flying flags other than official national, state, local, and military flags on county property. This neatly finessed the need to raise Rainbow “Ole Glory” or the Progressive 2+LGBTQIA flag in June.

Then a week later, the council issued a proclamation of celebration of “Pride Month.”

The city council in HAMTRAMCK , Mich., unanimously voted to ban flags representing “any religious, ethnic, racial, political, or sexual orientation” to be flown. Another finesse of Pride recognition. The council claimed this action does not restrict freedom of speech but prevents radical or racist groups from asking for their flags to be flown. The Associated Press notes all Hamtramck’s city council members are adherents of Islam, with councilmember Nayeem Choudhury say-

ing, “LGBTQ residents are welcome, but why do you have to have the flag shown on government property to be represented? You’re already represented. We already know who you are.”

Pride goes “tits up” at the White House

In a show of “bare-breastedness” unseen at the White House since the Kennedy Administration, the 2023 Pride celebration on the South Lawn stopped traffic on Pennsylvania Avenue and generated traffic, at least on TikTok. Transgender TikTok influencer, Rose Montoya, boosted her brand by posting a greeting with the current president and then busting out newly acquired breasts in front of the White House West Portico. It took the WH a few days, but the “faux Washington mammarial”

display was denounced as inappropriate and announced Montoya would not be invited back to the White House.

Brooks rides to Bud Light’s rescue

Garth Brooks sang in 1992, “We Shall Be Free.” The singer-songwriter lives up to this dated anthem by selling Bud Light beer at his new Nashville bar, “Friends in Low Places.” Bud Light has seen a big drop in sales after the brewer used a transgender TikTok figure to promote the brand. Bud Light has now lost its position as the best-selling beer in the U.S.A. to Modelo Especial, an ostensible Mexican beer. Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, the same parent company of Bud Light. “Diversity, inclusiveness: that’s me! That’s always been me,” Brooks declared online.

Pat Robertson, RIP*

To paraphrase the great Bette Davis who said, “My mother always told me to say something good about the dead. Pat Robertson is dead. Good.” Robertson died June 8 at 93. The conservative Christian televangelist once linked homosexuality to Hitler. He founded the Christian Coalition, making religious fealty central to politics in the U.S. He was not nice about gays and lesbians: He once wished Facebook had a “vomit” button to use for pics of gay couples kissing. He blamed the 1998 hurricane season’s severity on the Gay Days festival in Orlando, Fla. He said the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. were God’s retribution for the U.S. public’s acceptance of gays and lesbians. He went on in that same vein for years. [* Editor: Rest In Perdition] Q

Voted ‘Best Attorney’ by QSaltLake Readers

St. George forced to allow drag show by federal judge

4-MINUTE READ

Efforts of some city councilmembers in St. George to prevent a drag event from taking place in a municipal park were declared unconstitutional on Friday by a federal judge, who ordered the city to allow the event to proceed.

In April, the St. George City Council voted to deny a permit for the Allies & Community Drag Show Festival, organized by Southern Utah Drag Stars, at J.C. Snow Park. They claimed that the organizers violated a municipal ordinance that prohibited advertising special events until final approval and a permit were obtained from the city.

In response, the Southern Utah Drag Stars, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah, filed a lawsuit against the city on May 23, accusing the officials of violating the First and Fourteenth Amendments. They argued that the city had been targeting drag performances and LGBTQ pride events for years.

U.S. District Judge David Nuffer sided with the plaintiffs, ruling that the city’s actions were an overreach and a violation of the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression. Nuffer emphasized that public spaces should be accessible to all citizens, regardless of their popularity, majority or minority status, or conformity to conventions. He granted the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction.

As a result, the judge’s ruling orders municipal leaders to reverse their denial of Southern Utah Drag Stars’ previous application and mandates that they allow the drag show to take place on June 30, either at the same location or at the Sun Bowl. The ruling does not conclude the lawsuit, as it still will be litigated in court.

Nuffer, a Brigham Young University

graduate appointed by President Barack Obama, criticized the city officials for neglecting their responsibility to protect the constitutional rights of all citizens and emphasized that elected officials should not serve only the majority or a vocal minority but must uphold the rights of all individuals. He condemned the use of pretended or pretextual reasons to deny constitutional rights as a breach of trust and honesty.

“The governing body and its members must never use pretended or pretextual reasons to hide the real reasons for denying individuals their constitutional rights,” the judge wrote. “This is not only a fundamental breach of their oath and trust but also less than honest.”

“Public spaces are public spaces,” Nuffer wrote. “Public spaces are not private spaces. Public spaces are not majority spaces. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution ensures that all citizens, popular or not, majority or minority, conventional or unconventional, have access to public spaces for public expression.”

“Challenging times give us an opportunity to re-examine fundamental principles of our government and, once again, determine to adhere by them. We recognize that just as we enjoy and prize our rights, we must value and respect the rights of others. This case presents an opportunity for our recommitment,” Nuffer also wrote.

ACLU Utah released a statement after the ruling.

“Quite simply, drag is protected by the First Amendment. The City of St. George’s selective and discriminatory refusal to permit a family-friendly drag event impermissibly silenced LGBTQ+ Utahns and violated our client’s constitutional rights,” wrote Valentina De Fex, senior staff attorney for the ACLU of Utah. “This ruling is a win for not just our client- who will now be able to hold an event on June 30 that celebrates inclusivity and joy- but for all people in St. George and throughout Utah. We are grateful for the court’s decisive action to disallow attempts by city officials to implement subjective viewpoints of what they deem appropriate to silence and erase LGBTQIA+ and gender diverse

communities throughout the state.”

The decision by Judge Nuffer was praised by Valentina De Fex, a senior staff attorney from the ACLU, who expressed gratitude for the ruling and highlighted that drag performances are protected by the First Amendment. De Fex stated that the city’s refusal to permit a family-friendly drag event silenced LGBTQ+ individuals and violated the constitutional rights of the plaintiffs.

City officials declined to comment on the ruling, citing the city’s policy of refraining from discussing matters under litigation. They released a prepared statement affirming their commitment to keeping public parks and facilities open for residents and event organizers.

“The City of St. George is committed to ensuring that our public parks and facilities remain viable and open to our residents as well as for those who may want to hold one of the many special events in our community. Our intent is always to follow the law both when we enact laws and when we enforce laws, and we will continue to do so. We have read Judge Nuffer’s opinion, and while we are disappointed in the result, we are currently evaluating our options in light of the ruling,” the city said

The controversy surrounding drag shows in St. George has been ongoing, with municipal staff and city council members becoming embroiled in disputes over the past year. Councilwoman Michelle Tanner has been particularly vocal in opposing drag performances, citing concerns about their influence on children.

The ruling shed light on the city’s previous attempts to curtail drag events. For example, Tanner criticized City Manager Adam Lenhard, who chose not to deny a permit for a drag show organized by HBO at Town Square Park in June of the previous year. Lenhard eventually resigned and accepted a settlement to avoid suing the city for wrongful termination.

Tanner also led an unsuccessful effort to revoke the city’s sponsorship of the Downtown Farmers Market due to the participation of Southern Utah Drag Stars, who operated a photo booth at a private business on downtown Main Street. Q

Gay SLC Council members pen letter to legislators

2-MINUTE READ

Three gay members of the Salt Lake City Council wrote an open letter to state legislators about their “concern and disappointment” that several Utah House lawmakers complained that a Utah Transit Authority bus wrapped with Pride colors and messages would appear in the Utah Pride Parade.

Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman; Rep. Kay J. Christofferson, R-Lehi; House Majority Leader Mike Schultz, R-Hooper; and Rep. Colin Jack, R-St. George notified UTA officials that they objected to the bus appearing in the parade.

UTA promoted the pride-wrapped bus in a tweet days before the parade, which prompted the House members to demand UTA take care of the “problem.”

“Honestly this is the last thing I want to deal with right now,” Schultz said in a text made public by The Salt Lake Tribune. “It seriously would be best if you made the change on your own. Let me know what you guys come up with.”

The wrap was paid for by private funds, according to UTA.

To all who represent Utahns in the Utah State Legislature:

We are writing to express our deep concern and disappointment about the complaints made by Legislators that led to the removal of the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) pridewrapped bus from the Utah Pride Parade.

UTA provides an essential service for all members of our community, regardless of sexual preference, gender identity, income, age, or race. The Pride Rainbow stands as a welcome sign to all, especially the most marginalized, that we are safe to ride. The pressure to exclude the bus from the parade sends a disheartening message to the LGBTQIA+ community and undermines progress toward inclusivity, belonging, and acceptance.

Lawmakers asking for an apology from UTA reinforce the message that government systems can decide that some people do not belong; it reminds us of Rosa Parks being expected to give up her seat for a white passenger.

As lawmakers who represent all Utahns, your opportunity is to invest taxpayer funds responsibly and create an environment where all individuals feel safe and valued. And that includes transit.

Rather than being considered a political statement, we applaud UTA’s display of inclusion and use of the bus with pride wrapping — which was privately funded — that would have served as a powerful symbol of support, demonstrating that Utah embraces diversity and stands against intentional exclusion and discrimination of all kinds.

We must remember the LGBTQIA+ community continues to face unique challenges and often encounters prejudice right here in the Utah cities they love dearly.

In the spirit of unity and compassion, we wish the Pride Parade could have been used as a time to focus on the well-being of our fellow citizens and to uphold the values of inclusivity, respect, and love.

By always keeping that in mind, we, as lawmakers in our great state, can effectively embrace our communities’ differences and celebrate our shared humanity.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We have the power to build a community that cherishes the goodness in every individual and helps them feel safe, supported, and valued.

With hope for a more inclusive future,

Darin Mano, Chair

Alejandro Puy

Chris Wharton Q

2-MINUTE READ

The Harvey Milk Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to former Salt Lake City mayor and representative Jackie Biskupski for breaking barriers as the first openly gay elected official in Utah and then as the first, and still only, lesbian to be elected as mayor of a capital city in this country.

The San Diego LGBT Community Center holds an annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast where people from across the country are recognized for their roles in furthering LGBTQ+ civil rights. Milk was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California in 1977 as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He became known as “The Mayor of Castro Street” and became a statewide figure in

anti-gay campaigns, including a California initiative to fire openly gay teachers.

Event organizers said Biskupski’s greatest success was “building the record of discrimination in Utah’s legislation that would later be used to help win the Kitchen v. Herbert marriage equality case.”

They also honored her longstanding fight for human rights and advocacy for equality for over 20 years.

“It was quite an honor,” Biskupski said. “Past recipients included our very own, Kate Kendell.”

“To be honored in Harvey Milk’s name, a man whose life and leadership became the symbol of human rights and LGBTQ+ equality, created a moment of pause and reflection on the meaning of my work,” Biskupski said. “Breaking

barriers, especially as a woman, someone that is still not equal under the Constitution of the United States, is, unfortunately, still remarkable today.”

“Back then, attorneys, like Laura Gray, Terry Kogan, and Doug Fadel, who worked with me for over a decade in the 2000s, had hoped the legislative record would help our cause one day,” she continued. “But I was surprised it happened so quickly with the help of attorney Peggy Tomsic in the 2014 Kitchen v. Herbert case. Pretty damn remarkable.”

Biskupski said that she and Milk led for the same reasons — because they knew they had to get involved, and had to fight for justice, liberty, and the lives of so many who were being cast aside by family and friends.

“We knew our community needed a voice, a seat at the table, and had the courage in us to rise to the challenge,” Biskupski said. “I am truly grateful for the role I played here and that it has been recognized at this level. My Harvey Milk award is a bust of Harvey and sits on my living room mantle with a bust of RBG. A reminder that someone always comes before you, and leads you to a path where you can blaze your own trail.”

The award was presented to Biskupski by California State Sen. Steve Padilla, who represents San Diego.

“What a privilege to present Jackie Biskupski with the Harvey Milk Lifetime Achievement Award,” Padilla tweeted. “It felt so good for our community to be together for the first time in four years and finally get the opportunity to acknowledge her achievements. America needs leaders like Mayor Biskupski now more than ever.”

Today, Biskupski continues her service as chair of the Global Leaders Scholarship Fund that she helped create with the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy to enable Utah’s outstanding young leaders to participate in critical global conversations with peers from around the world.

She also serves on the Path to Positive Executive Committee for ecoAmerica, a national organization that builds leadership, public support, and political will to address climate change.

“I am also home raising our son, Archie, who is heading into 8th grade, helping our oldest transition into adulthood, hiking every day in these glorious mountains, and enjoying traveling the world with my lovely wife and kids,” she said. Q

Jackie Biskupski presented with Harvey Milk Achievement Award

Utah Gov. Cox issues Pride Month proclamation, omits ‘LGBTQ+’

2-MINUTE READ

For each of his three years as governor of Utah, Spencer Cox has issued a declaration of “LGBTQ+ Pride Month.” This year’s declaration, however, omits the “LGBTQ+” and other boilerplate items. His declaration this year reads:

Whereas, the month of June is commonly celebrated and recognized as Pride Month; Whereas, the state of Utah values the uniqueness of all individuals within our communities and recognizes that everyone has a place in our state;

Whereas, we understand the shared human need for inclusion, belonging and kindness;

Whereas, we acknowledge the numerous organizations in the state of Utah that actively promote greater understanding and cooperation among residents by cultivating love for all; and,

Whereas, it is our aspiration in the state of Utah to foster a culture of hope, understanding, love, dignity and respect;

Now, therefore, I, Spencer J. Cox, governor of the state of Utah, do hereby declare June 2023 as Pride Month in Utah.

Gone are the six mentions of LGBTQ+ in the previous identical declarations from 2021 and 2022. Also gone is a call for “relevant and vital conversations about what it means to love each other, understand our differences, and support our LGBTQ+ friends and family members,” and the recognition that “members of the LGBTQ+ community who do not feel loved and accepted experience higher rates of mental health challenges.”

The declarations of 2021 and 2022 read:

Whereas, the month of June is commonly celebrated and recognized as LGBTQ+ Pride Month;

Whereas, we must encourage relevant and vital conversations about what it means to love each other, understand our differences, and support our LGBTQ+ friends and family members;

Whereas, we recognize that members of the LGBTQ+ community who do not feel loved and accepted experience higher rates of mental health challenges;

Whereas, we can strengthen resilience in the LGBTQ+ community through family and community inclusion and by providing access to help, and giving them our support,

respect, understanding, and friendship; Whereas, we must cultivate a climate of inclusion and unconditional love for all; Whereas, in the state of Utah we strive to sustain a culture of hope, love, understanding, and respect by celebrating our common humanity; Whereas, we should all strive to be more inclusive and accepting oftbe LGBTQ+ members of our community; Now, therefore, I, Spencer J. Cox, governor of the great state of Utah, do hereby declare June 2022, as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Utah. A statement from Equality Utah’s executive director, Troy Williams, states that the organization agrees with the tone of Cox’s declaration.

“As we kick off Pride month in Utah, Equality Utah acknowledges and agrees with the sentiments expressed in Spencer Cox’s PRIDE declaration, that we should all strive to love, respect, and treat one another with kindness and dignity, regardless of any labels we each may wear,” Williams wrote. “This is the true meaning and purpose behind the celebrations this weekend and throughout June.”

The Utah Pride Center statement wasn’t so conciliatory.

“Not including the letters and words that identify the Pride Community — LGBTQIA+ — is an irresponsible coward act of erasure. We believe Gov. Cox can do better,” the group tweeted.

Reaction on Twitter is scattered among praise for the message, LGBTQ people complaining of the “letters” not being included, and out-of-state conservatives saying the governor is “supporting sin.”

Utah white supremacist arrested last year for disrupting Idaho Pride event now arrested for child abuse images

2-MINUTE READ

Jared Michael Boyce, a member of the white supremacist group Patriot Front, faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges of possessing child sexual abuse images. Boyce, who was previously arrested for conspiring to disrupt an LGBTQ+ Pride event in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, entered guilty pleas in April for nine felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one misdemeanor count of dealing in harmful material to a minor.

Boyce is facing up to 30 years in prison.

Boyce was among 31 members of the Patriot Front arrested last year on suspicion of conspiring to riot at an LGBTQ+ Pride event in Idaho. Their arrests came after a tipster reported observing a group of individuals resembling “a little army” loading a U-Haul truck in a Coeur d’Alene hotel parking lot.

Boyce told his mother he showed up in Idaho because Patriot Front believed those involved were “grooming kids.”

During the investigation following the arrests, law

enforcement officials seized Boyce’s phone. Upon examination, they discovered 22 images depicting child sexual abuse. Court documents indicated that some of the images involved children ranging from toddlers to prepubescent ages engaging in sexual acts, while others depicted minors exposing their genitals. During a police interview, Boyce confessed to possessing and accessing the illicit images. He also admitted to engaging in sexually-themed

conversations about children in an online chatroom, as well as sending images of child sexual abuse and a sexually explicit photo of his genitals to a 16-year-old girl.

In June of last year, Boyce’s mother, Karen Amsden, told The Daily Beast that she gave her son an ultimatum, asking him to choose between Patriot Front and their family. Boyce affirmed his commitment to the group, resulting in his expulsion from their household.

In addition to the child abuse image charges, Boyce still faces a misdemeanor count of criminal conspiracy to riot related to the Idaho Pride event.

The Anti-Defamation League describes Patriot Front as a white supremacist group in the United States that justifies its ideology of hate and intolerance under the guise of preserving the cultural and ethnic origins of its members’ European ancestors. According to the ADL, Patriot Front has been responsible for distributing the majority of white supremacist propaganda in the US since 2019. The group’s founder, Thomas Rousseau, was also arrested in connection with the Idaho incident.

Patriot Front has been actively involved in leading anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-drag campaigns across the country. In March, they joined other far-right and neo-Nazi groups to disrupt a drag queen story event in an Ohio park. Footage from the incident captured masked individuals waving swastika flags, performing Nazi salutes, and chanting “sieg heil” and “heil Hitler.” Q

Equality Utah announces 2023 LGBTQ scholarship program

1 MINUTE READ

Equality Utah, Utah’s largest LGBTQ+ political organization, announced it will provide financial assistance to LGBTQ+ students across the state.

“We are looking to assist students who have financial need, have demonstrated a commitment to building community, and are eager to excel,” the group wrote in a statement.

Through the scholarship program, eligible students can receive up to $2,500, which can be renewed annually for

up to three years. In addition to the financial aid, recipients will also benefit from personalized mentoring provided by Equality Utah and their certified Business Equality Leaders.

To be considered for the scholarship, freshmen and sophomores must be enrolled full-time in accredited colleges within Utah. The organization encourages interested students to submit their applications no later than July 21.

Equality Utah encourages community involvement in identifying students

who could benefit from this financial boost.

“We are immensely grateful to the donors, mentors, and scholarship team who have made this program available for our community,” the group wrote. “LGBTQ Utahns have tremendous potential to be a positive force in the world. We are happy to do our part to ensure the next generation have the opportunities and resources they need to soar through life.”

To apply, go to bit.ly/ EUScholarship2023 Q

Trans Pride Festival by Genderbands is in August

BY BLAIR HOWELL

Pride is for everyone. Representation comes from our communities, not from what we see in mainstream media. When every person in the community comes together, no matter their age, race, or physical or mental abilities, it allows us to live authentically and free. Pride is for everyone.

The nonprofit group Genderbands is holding its fourth annual Utah Trans Pride Festival on Aug. 12 for the first time since Covid. The Festival is one of only three transgender pride festivals in the country.

Genderbands supports the transgender, gender-nonconforming, and other gender-diverse communities in a variety of ways, largely by assisting with transition-related costs. They provide medical and non-medical grants, free binders, and social and educational activities.

Like the many other pride festivals, the Utah Trans Pride Festival will have a variety of vendors, live entertainment, and food. It is unique because they spotlight and celebrate the diverse transgender community by prioritizing trans vendors and entertainers.

The free event will include a pre-party the day before and an after-party the night of. The festival will offer a chill zone — a sensory-friendly space to decompress, a freebie/resource booth, and “pay it forward” opportunities. A well-known

headline entertainer is about to be announced.

“I want to give opportunities to members of the trans community that they wouldn’t otherwise have.” founder Ian Giles explains. “Oftentimes, we see the same 50 vendors at a festival. I want to see something new! I want to see people who don’t or can’t

come to Pride. Like the singer who only performs at a coffee shop, the young trans artist fundraising on Instagram, and people with disabilities that prevent from attending. I want to break down every barrier that would prevent anyone from participating in Pride.”

Some of the accessibility steps being taken are affordable vendor fees, putting booths by sidewalks for wheelchair access, food for people with dietary restrictions and allergies, as well as the previously mentioned chill zone.

With all of the anti-trans bills being pushed through in Utah and across the

Seniors Out and Proud to celebrate one-year anniversary

Seniors Out and Proud, a community organization dedicated to supporting and empowering senior citizens, better known as SOAP is gearing up for a grand celebration as they mark their oneyear anniversary. The event promises an unforgettable day of festivities and gratitude for the incredible support received over the past year.

The anniversary party will take place Sunday, July 16, from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm at the picturesque Washington Park’s Mt. Dell upper pavilion,

located at 7945 E Mountain Dell Golf Rd, Salt Lake City. Attendees will have the opportunity to bask in the natural beauty of the park while enjoying the festivities.

The highlight of the celebration will be a delectable BBQ feast prepared exclusively for the attendees. Mouthwatering dishes will be served, ensuring a satisfying culinary experience for all guests.

As the festivities kick into high gear, attendees will be treated to a special live performance by the renowned

country, it’s more important now than ever to celebrate and stand with each other.

As a largely volunteer-run organization, Genderbands relies on donations from individuals, merchandise sales, sponsors, and funds raised at Utah Trans Pride.

One-time donations can be made at donorbox.org/ donate-to-genderbands. Recurring donations can be made at donorbox.org/ gbfriend. For more information visit genderbands. org/utahtranspride Q

Follow them on Instagram at @ genderbands, @utahtranspride, and @genderbandsutah. Also on Facebook and TikTok: @genderbands

Two Old Guys Band, a beloved local act known for their incredible talent and ability to create a vibrant atmosphere. To get a taste of their music, interested individuals can visit their Facebook page at fb.me/ twooldguysmusic or their website at twooldguysmusic. ueniweb.com

An opportunity drawing will offer attendees the chance to win prizes. Additionally, the event will provide an opportunity to express gratitude to the remarkable volunteers who have contributed their time and effort to Seniors Out and Proud’s success.

The organizers have promised a day full of surprises and delights, ensuring that every moment of the celebration will be filled with joy and excitement.

This special anniversary party is free of charge, thanks to generous donations specifically dedicated to making this event possible. Q

Information on SOAP and the event is on their website at soaputah.org and Facebook page, fb.me/soaputah

Miss Davis County is here, she’s queer, and we could get used to it

BY MICHAEL AARON, 6-MINUTE READ Hannah Romney

lives in one of the most conservative counties in the country. And she was crowned Miss Davis County even while openly choosing to support the LGBTQ+ community as her public service.

Romney started an organization to, among other things, help trans people get clothing that represents their gender expression. She is now working to get a nonprofit status with the IRS to expand her services.

Some of her hopes for Green Carnation is to help provide queer safe spaces, online and in person, for queer youth and sober adults.

After winning the Miss Davis County title, one of her first public appearances was at Davis County Pride.

She then moved on to the Miss Utah pageant, where she was asked, “As Miss Utah, how will you encourage other LGBTQ contestants to participate in the

program?” Her answer: “I would say that Miss America is an amazing program. I would first teach them about the five pillars of Miss America and all of the scholarship opportunities in which we are able to receive. But queer people have been involved in the Miss America organization for so long because we’re here, we’re queer, so get used to it.”

While she was not crowned Miss Utah this year, the title remains one of her goals.

Tell me a little about your background. My pronouns are she/they, and I identify as a lesbian. I am a musical theatre major formerly at Idaho State University. I grew up here in Utah, and I come from a very LDS family. I have always been what you call “the golden child,” constantly doted on by my loving parents and always doing what I should be doing in the name of God.

When I came out to my family at the age of 20, it sent a ripple throughout our family unit. At first, I was cast aside and told that I could change

and that God could save me from this “affliction” that was being gay. But as we so often learn, hoping and praying the gay away doesn’t work.

As I grew older, I decided it was my duty to educate the members of my family. Whether they agree with me or not, they were going to be educated. This started me on the path of being an advocate for the other members of our community. After almost five years of constant discussions and conversations about the importance and validity of the LGBTQ community, my family is now a better group of allies than I could ever imagine. They love and support me and my partner and actually educate others around them while continuing to educate themselves. What got you interested in being part of the pageant system? What got me into the pageant system was actually the scholarship opportunities that people can receive through participating. I am a struggling theatre student, and

PHOTO: ROCHELLE JOHANNESSEN

putting on a show in front of other people for scholarship money seemed like an excellent idea at the time. Until I learned what pageantry actually is.

Pageantry is filled with kind, talented, and incredibly intelligent young women who are looking to make a difference in their communities. That’s when I decided to make a difference in my community by bringing the idea of being a gay woman into the heterosexual pageant space. I knew that I had the opportunity to educate those around me about the LGBTQ community in a way that would make people listen to me. With the crown on my head, I have been able to build a platform of uplifting queer voices and reach people who never otherwise would hear me.

What has been the reaction of other contestants and the pageant organizers about your focus on LGBTQ issues? The reaction from the other contestants has been pretty mixed. Whether or not the pageant organizers and fellow contestants agree with my platform, they know that they can’t deny the importance of supporting and loving the LGBTQ+ community. There has been some pushback and some very strong reactions to my platform being about LGBTQ youth and other queer issues. I have been called a groomer, a mutilator, and just about any foul name you can think of, just for presenting this platform at Miss Utah.

But the positive reactions and interactions I’ve had severely outweigh the negative. In this socio-political climate, I will die on the hill that LGBTQ people deserve a voice. We deserve to be seen, heard, validated, and loved. Has there been a reaction from other Davis County people? The reaction from the people of Davis County has been incredible. For such a conservative county, they have welcomed me with open arms and truly want to utilize what I have to offer. Davis County actually has a huge pocket of LGBTQ+ people and allies. We even have our very own pride festival every year in May. Overall I’d say the reaction of Davis County towards me, a very gay pageant queen, has been amazing.

Tell me about Green Carnation, and what drew you to it. Growing up in Utah, it was very difficult to find LGBTQ-affirming spaces outside of Salt Lake City. Green Carnation is a grassroots organization dedicated to building safe public and online spaces for LGBTQ youth located in Davis County. Green Carnation was borne out of the need for affordable accommodations for those who are transitioning.

I have many friends and family members who are trans, and seeing how difficult it is to find clothing options for them broke my heart. I figured when someone is transitioning, the last thing they should have to worry about is where to find their clothing. That is precisely why I chose to create the Green Carnation Closet, a

prepared for the job. I am proud of my answer. In fact, I am proud that I was able to leave a lasting impression on the audience and panelists that queer people have always been here, and always will be. What do you see in your near future, and what do you see looking way forward? I see the Miss Utah crown on my head. I won’t give up now that I have started. I believe it is important, now more than ever, to have LGBTQ representation in heterosexual spaces. Miss Utah is meant to be a voice for the voiceless, and what better way to amplify our queer voices than a platform as large as Miss Utah.

I also see Green Carnation becoming my full-time job soon. The need for organizations like this is so prevalent in today’s political climate. I would hope that in the near future, Green Carnation is an established non-profit and that we are consistently changing the lives of those in our queer community.

My ultimate goal is to make the Green Carnation closet a mobile closet so that I can travel to varying states across the country to give access to affordable clothing to trans people everywhere.

If I were to look way forward in my future, I would hope to see an affirming and safe world for our LGBTQ members to exist, and that, hopefully, I have done everything in my power to help secure that future. I want to continue to be a voice for our LGBTQ community in every small way possible.

low-cost to free thrift store, where all of the monetary donations go straight to purchasing tucking and period panties as well as binders for those who need them.

How did the LGBTQ question at the Miss Utah pageant come about? This question came about in my private interview with the panelists. The panelists asked me many questions about how I could possibly be Miss Utah and be LGBTQ in such a conservative state. They also asked me questions about why I should care about such a small population of our community. The panelists’ job is to make sure whoever is crowned as Miss Utah is

Is there anything else you’d like QSaltLake’s readers to know? I would like the readers to know that absolutely no work can get done if we don’t effectively and actively listen to each other. Even to those with differing opinions. As hard as it may be — and the urge to attack is strong — I encourage the readers to take the time to listen and hear the concerns of those outside of our community. In conversations where two people of differing opinions listen to and love each other, amazing things can happen. The opportunity to educate is everywhere. You just have to listen. Q

Hannah Romney can be found on Instagram at @hannahelizabethromney. More information on Green Carnation can also be found on Instagram at @greencarnationlgbtq

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM

Adecade ago, Helper, Utah, was basically considered a ghost town. The town’s Main Street was filled with beautiful, but run-down, empty buildings. Its mining town days were long gone, and its last remaining mine was dormant since 2012 due to safety violations and debt.

Also, its days of being known for its locomotives that “helped” trains over the nearby summit — where Helper got its name — were gone as trains carried enough power to do it on their own.

Today, however, when you walk down Main Street Helper, you see stunning revived buildings full of artist shops, restaurants, bars, and consignment stores. At night, buildings along the entire street glow with facade lights, and people walk the streets.

Kylee Howell, who started Friar Tuck’s Barber Shop in Salt Lake and moved back to their home county two years ago with her wife, says the town has a new, living vibe.

“Living in Helper and being part of the growth feels like there is this... hum of new opportunity,” Howell said. “At the same time, being there feels exactly like being welcomed home; there’s something so comforting in honoring the place that raised me.”

I spoke with Mayor Lenise Peterman about the town, its vibe, and its welcoming people. What first brought you to Utah, and then what brought you to Helper? I relocated to Salt Lake City with a small litigation support company in 2004. Litigation support is a high-stress, time-consuming industry, and I was interested in a change of pace. Kate Kilpatrick (my wife), who has always had her heart set on a career as an artist, stumbled on Helper at a workshop and basically came back to Salt Lake indicating this was the place. She relocated to Helper in 2012 and I followed in 2015 in a semi-retired capacity. What was Helper like when you first moved there? In 2015, Helper was still struggling. Many of the buildings were vacant and run down on Main Street. But the bones were good, and it was easy to see the potential in the historic Main Street.

The changes have been rapid. When I look back at where we started and how far we have come. The community really rallied around the concept of sustainability and the understanding we needed to diversify our economy, take care of our assets and replenish our human capital.

Revitalization, I would point out, started with the water and sewer project in 2013 and was completed in 2016. That infrastructure project gave life to new public spaces

and beautification efforts you see today. Main Street was designed by and for the citizens who built it over the course of nine weekends, and they have real pride and ownership in it. It comes down to great people motivated to keep Helper viable. They are tough, dedicated and have a huge amount of pride in their community. What drove you to run for mayor? Initially, I worked as a volunteer co-chairing the Helper Arts Festival and a Helper Revitalization committee. Serving in these roles introduced me to the community and delivering results earned their trust. In 2017, I secured a grant on behalf of the city — the Sustainable Design Assessment Team grant supported by the American Institute of Architecture based out of Washington DC. This grant was a hard look at our challenges and how we could rally together to address them. Community participation was off the charts — people cared and shared their ideas and visions of what Helper could be. We then received a blueprint of actions we could take to improve. I did not want to see a plan shelved and not exercised so this prompted me to run for office. I spoke with family and friends, and one in particular (shout out to Mrs. Mike O’Shea!) who all agreed being mayor was the right role to pursue to make these ideas a reality. I was elected by a landslide and am currently serving a second term, in which I ran unopposed.

Tell me about the people of Helper. The people of Helper continue to be our best asset. They are genuine, kind, and welcoming. But don’t think they don’t have grit. They have seen industries boom and bust and still get up everyday for that next

A proud mayor in a proud town that held its second Pride

HELPER

PHOTO: FACEBOOK

battle. They are strong-willed, tolerant and want Helper to be everything it can be. Most importantly, and the biggest gift of all, is they have hope for our future and with hope, nothing is off the table. I remember being asked when designing Main Street people were terribly concerned about “how much money” did we have to make it happen. My response was, why not dream it and then let money determine if any compromise was necessary. And that’s the Main Street you see today. How did the first Pride event in the town come about, and what was the reaction?

Helper Vibes hosted the first Pride event a few years ago. As a small, rural community without much of a budget, we are not really capable of hosting events. In fact, the various events Helper proudly reflects include numerous ones such as First Friday, the Helper Arts, Music & Film Festival and Christmas Town, which are owned by community organizations and citizens. The same holds true for Helper Vibes. Helper is the lucky recipient of dedicated people who love our town and understand events are a fun way to come together and celebrate. As is true of any town, there are people who are not supportive of the Pride theme, but in the true nature of tolerance which runs deep in Helper, they do not have to participate as they see fit. The majority of the town, however, supports and celebrates all of the different community members, and have no issue with Pride, or any of the other themes event sponsors select. While we were there for Helper Vibes’ Pride event, we couldn’t miss people’s positivity and pride in their downtown. It is all about our community. We have wonderful people who are committed to building a space for everyone. The Main Street you see is all about adhering to our cultural identity and past while directing our future. I think it

is important to be an authentic place that is grounded in who the community is and to be proud of our industrial past as a mining and railroad hub.

Over the years we have achieved what is known as “positive proximity.” That means together we can be and do more than any of us can achieve individually. We respect our differences and capitalize on them to get the best results in our efforts.

Helper’s future is bright, but there is still work to be done. Infrastructure needs such as updating the electric grid, road maintenance, park upgrades, river restoration work and more are on the horizon as we continue to focus on sustainability.

From the outside, it appears the fact you have a wife has little impact on what the town thinks of you. How is it living in a town of just over 2,000 people? I find it refreshing in that I can be who I am and serve all of our citizens to the best of my ability. I would point out I am also the first woman mayor of Helper and have secured broad community support by those who understand my approach is inclusionary, regardless of race, gender, orientation, age or any other attributes people come to the table with.

Kate has done a ton for the community and

has earned their respect on her own as a local area artist and active volunteer across a variety of community activities. I think when people see and know you, labels fall away and they see you — your attributes and qualities. And the trust we have earned by our actions has made Helper our home — a safe space to create, to grow and to give back to so others may enjoy it as well.

I am honored to lead such a community and bound to my ethics and integrity to ensure we honor its past, work hard to improve its present and focus on its future. Q

Find out more about Helper Saturday Vibes at helpervibes.com

HELPER PHOTO: ROGER COX

pride quotes

“Drag queen story time opens kids’ eyes to a world that is diverse and reflective of reality. It offers queer kids an opportunity to see themselves. If queer kids don’t see themselves represented in this world, how can they envision a future with them in it?”

—@ReubenKaye

“[Four anti-drag bills] are attempts to criminalize free expression and ostracize the LGBTQIA+ community both implicitly and explicitly...”

— Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs as she vetoed 4 anti-drag bills “It’s neither gay marriage nor drag queens destroying the sanctity of marriage. It’s ‘Christian Conservative’ Republicans like Tim Moore, NC Speaker of the House who forced a married woman to continue an illicit affair with him so she could keep her job.”

—@TheSGTJoker

A reminder of why we must protect trans people

BY JUAN MICHAEL PORTER II

We should

fight

for

the rights of transgender people because it is the right thing to do and because trans rights, like Black rights, queer rights and HIV rights are human rights — point blank, period.

I recently spelled that out to a former friend and fellow same-gender-loving man who asked why I kept getting “distracted” by supporting transgender folks. This person felt that I should stay in my lane and focus on HIV instead. He insisted — erroneously — that our trans siblings “don’t have it as bad as we did back in the day,” and were therefore less deserving of support.

It was almost as if he had transformed into a conservative commentator and forgotten about the existence of intersectionality — the overlay of existing discriminations that oppress various groups — and that we are all in this together.

BIGOTRY BY ANY OTHER NAME IS STILL BIGOTRY

After reminding him that he was mirroring the same coded language that xenophobic bigots have long used to deny aid to immigrants, I told him that I’d been hit with similar rhetoric from people who should’ve been standing in community with me: queer folks who have told me that people living with HIV “mess it up for gay people,” heterosexual artists who have claimed that my homosexuality was a perversion or that the only reason I was successful was because I am Black, and supposedly liberal — but actually racist — white gay men who’ve insisted that Black people “don’t have it as bad as [gay people] do and need to sit down.”

Not that the fight for collective liberation needs to be a case of the oppression Olympics, but it is obtuse to ignore the reality that if neo-Nazis show up, they are going to target Black folks first. Reductive comparisons aside, I speak of racism because the foundation for oppressing others in this country is rooted in anti-Blackness — equating the richness of one’s skin with “dark evil,” all while connecting the notion of “pale superiority” with purity — and that this same ideology has been seized by homophobes to associate queerness and especially transgender existence with negativity. Hence the rush by right-wing extremists, such as the so-called Proud Boys, to target drag performers, who they equate with trans people.

What it all comes down to, I told my no-longer friend, is that there will always be a reason to hate people who are different — especially when it helps one to divide and conquer. Or as the activist and artist Qween Jean recently put it, “How are we fighting for Black liberation while denying it for our queer and trans siblings? The assignment was to dismantle the master’s house — not move into the guest house.”

But moving into “master’s guest house” — by becoming white supremacist adjacent and allowing proxy wars to turn us against each other — seems to be the name of the game for some people. And what’s it all about? Ultimately, the collective eradication of anyone who exists outside of white Christian patriarchy’s ideal.

ARGUING FOR FREEDOM OF THOUGHT WHILE PROMOTING GENOCIDE

Following our fractious discussion, I told my former friend that our relationship was over, at which point, he suggested that I was the actual bigot because I was judging him for holding a different opinion. I responded, “Harriet Tubman would have left you,” and walked away. Snappy retort and calm exterior aside, I felt sadly about this breakup. I got over it by reminding myself that while I respect one’s right to disagree with me, I refuse to share my time with anyone who argues for the invalidation of another person’s right to exist — or who peddles anti-liberation talking points.

The most recent rush of anti-liberation (and decidedly anti-queer) hate seems to have broken past years of anti-trans bathroom and sports legislation and found a new standard bearer in the governor of Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law — which forces educators to out children who might be queer to their parents. The genesis for that law can be tracked to the Helms Amendment, which was introduced in 1987 by then-Republican Sen. Jesse Helms. That “no promo homo” law prohibited any funds provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from supporting HIV prevention materials and advocacy that might “promote or encourage, directly or indirectly, homosexual sexual activities.” This included mentioning anal sex.

Though Helms could be called the modern day progenitor of recent anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, its original blueprint was laid by a group of people who fled religious persecution in England, only to oppress others

in this country — all while enshrining the rights of white Christian male landowners to eliminate Indigenous people, enslave and medically experiment on kidnapped Africans, and oppress their descendants. Presently, there is a move to erase this history because it might make white kids feel badly — all while ignoring how global majority children might feel or the fact that such history could inspire white youth to feel positively by aligning themselves with collective freedom.

DRAGGING US BACK IN TIME

These efforts to legislate global majority and queer people out of existence are part of a multi-pronged attack to deny historically marginalized people access to sexual health or basic care, are the literal manifestation of “Silence=Death,” and have disastrous implications for all people — because what affects one will eventually affect all.

Though there has been some racial and sexual progress over the last two decades, with this year’s introduction of over 400 anti-LGBTQ bills, it seems that conservative activists have returned to saying the quiet part out loud. To wit, the conservative commentator who — during the Conservative Political Action Conference, held earlier this month — stated, “transgenderism must be eradicated from public life entirely.”

This brings us back to Helms who, during his arguments against funding HIV prevention, stated, “Some senators believe the AIDS epidemic is so bad that we should disseminate whatever materials anyone wants to produce regardless of content. But I still flinch when I hear the word condom on television... We’ve got to call a spade a spade and a perverted human being a perverted human being, not in anger but in realism... I just want the American taxpayer’s dollars to be spent in a moral way.”

By 1993, Helms’ morals had contributed to HIV becoming the leading cause of death among people aged 25–44 years in the U.S. Though he was considered extreme in his day, he still held the ear of Pres. Ronald Reagan and was able to push forward his amendment with a vote of 94-2. As Lori Behrman — then-spokesperson of Gay Men’s Health Crisis — foresaw, “This kind of amendment only sets a precedent that will come to haunt everyone at a later date.”

That date is now. And if we aren’t all in this together — if we don’t support transgender people who currently bear the brunt of these attacks, even as they fight for our collective right to thrive — we will be taken down piece by piece until there is no one is left. Q

Juan Michael Porter II is a senior editor at TheBody and TheBodyPro. He has been living with HIV since 2015. This column is a project of TheBody, Plus, Positively Aware, POZ, Q Syndicate, and QSaltLake Magazine.

A Magical Kiss at Pride

BY MARK SEGAL / 3 MIN. READ

call to action as only she can. Carson Kressley charmed us like he always does to all and spoke of the importance of visibility with bringing smiles to all.

Myhusband

Jason kissed me at brunch. It just so happened that I was on stage in front of an audience of 250 people at the PGN Pride Brunch and Stonewall Awards.

Let’s start at the beginning. Pride in Philadelphia this year, in many ways, is historical and reaching new heights. While around the nation it seems there’s a new weapon against LGBT rights being born every day, we in Philadelphia have reason to celebrate making change. The Stonewall Awards were designed to celebrate those in our community who have given a lifetime of fighting for our community and to celebrate a new generation of leaders.

Gov. Josh Shapiro kicked off the awards by delivering a passionate speech on the commonwealth’s long road of LGBT history and the battles that lie ahead. Our next mayor, Cherelle Parker, gave what has been described as a “come to church” talk and the crowd fell in love with her. She brought Congressman Dwight Evans, State Sen. Vincent Hughes, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Councilman Mark Squilla, State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, State Sen. Sharif Street, Estelle Richman, and Rue Landau on stage with her. She even

surprised yours truly with that moment. There were even more wonderful moments. When Rue Landau, the first out nominated city council member, was recognized at the ceremony, the room went wild. The Attic accepted the Youth Empowerment award and explained how over the years they have helped 20,000 young people, many of them in critical situations. Galaei, led by Tyrell Brown, received the Community Unity Award. What Brown accomplished this year by uniting us for Pride is nothing short of a miracle.

David Fair, a man whose activism speaks to me, received our legacy award and brought me to tears. The lifetime achievement award went to Estelle Richman, and for me to explain what she has done for our community would take an entire issue of PGN. She told one story that exemplifies her contribution. When she funded William Way Community Center’s elevator, they used the funds to pay long overdue bills, so she funded it a second time. She has advised more organizations in this community than any other person I know. We are a better community for both David and Estelle.

If that weren’t enough for one event, Amber Hikes brought healing and a

The ceremony was hosted by WPVI’s Adam Joseph, who we surprised with an award at the very end of the show. He thanked everyone and gave an empowering speech about how difficult it is to come out, especially for someone in his position, and how WPVI General Manager Bernie Prazenica and the station stuck with him all the way. He was joined by his husband Carl on stage for an embrace. Tears were everywhere.

When it was my turn to thank everyone and send them off. My mind at that moment, in lightning speed, had visions of that very first Pride march in 1970 and everything since. I decided to share my story about coming out to my mother. When I told her, she was silent, and when I asked why, she said “I’m afraid that when you’re old, you’ll be alone.” If she were here today, I could tell her “Mom, I’m old. Mom, I’m happy. And guess what Mom, I’m happily and legally married.” I was in tears. And Jason noticed, and he came to the stage and kissed me.

Dreams for a son from a mother, dreams from an activist for the future, and 50 years in the making for me, can all be explained now, by that kiss. Q

Mark Segal is publisher of Philadelphia Gay News. His best selling memoir “And Then I Danced, Traveling The Road to LGBT Equality” is a National Lesbian Gay Journalist Book of the Year.

Nikki Haley

BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI

Whenit comes to running for president as a Republican, there is one big requirement: You have to be The Worst.

Donald Trump has already established himself as such in a myriad of disgraceful, impeachable and disgusting ways. So for every Republican lining up to run against him, the race to the bottom has, well, no bottom. There is no level too low, no hate to flagrant, no lie too big.

Take Nikki Haley, for example. Haley, former South Carolina governor and Trump’s Ambassador to the United Nations, appeared at a town hall on CNN, America’s favorite False Equivalence News Network, during which host Jake Tapper asked her to define “woke.” This comes after Trump claimed, in a dig at a certain Florida man, that most people couldn’t define what it means.

Spoiler alert: Haley couldn’t define it, either. But did she stand there with her jaw open and no words coming out? Of course not. She said lots of words. Garbage words, to use a linguistic term.

She started with what she called “the women’s issue of our time,” which is, of course, “biological boys playing in girl sports.”

“My daughter ran track in high school,” Haley said. “I don’t even know how I would have that conversation with her. How are we supposed to get our girls used to the fact that biological boys are in their locker room?”

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a parent, it’s that I shouldn’t have to have

difficult conversa-tions with my child. Instead, I should ban difficult topics, especially those that require any kind of critical thinking or nuance. It’s simply not fair to kids and parents today to have to grapple with a changing society. Kids shouldn’t have to think about issues like gender identity when they should be thinking about issues like how to survive when a “bad man” with an assault rifle bursts into their school and mows down their classmates. Like real Americans.

Also, the way that Haley phrases “get our girls used to the fact that biological boys are in their locker room” implies that this is some kind of widespread thing. That in schools across the Unit-ed States, trans girls are dominating girls’ sports, destroying the sacred gender boundary that ne-cessitated the passage of Title IX, for fuck’s sake. There is no rampant trans war on girls’ sports. There are, however, some trans kids who want to kick a goddamn soccer ball or swim some laps. And it’s those kids who are besieged with hateful attacks from some of the most powerful people in the country.

Haley then says something unforgivably untrue and incendiary: “And then we wonder why a third of our teenage girls seriously contemplated suicide last year.”

This makes me so angry I want to scream into the void until my body turns inside out and I be-come the void itself. It’s so wrong on so many levels.

First of all, transgender kids aren’t increasing the number of cis girls who think about suicide. It is an abso-

lutely disgusting correlation to make and there is absolutely no evidence to support it. Haley is simply articulating that she, someone who hates transgender people, thinks that having to play on the same sports team as a trans kid would make a cis kid feel like her life just wasn’t worth living.

Secondly, there is no doubt that teenagers need far more mental health treatment than they are getting. Teens today have spent their entire lives hiding from gunmen in their schools from preschool on up, for one. They also had a big chunk of their childhood disrupted because of Covid. And then there’s the fact that the country they live in went and elected a serial rapist and openly misogynistic garbage person as president — a man who bragged about grabbing women “by the pussy” and still won. A man who the country might even elect again! What is THAT saying to our girls?

“We should be growing strong girls, confident girls,” Haley continued.

But how are we supposed to when people like Haley think that having to compete with a transgender athlete is the biggest threat girls face?

Predictably, the mainstream media that conservatives liken to radical left-wing propaganda re-sponded as if Haley was a shining beacon of rational sensibility. The New York Times compared “her reasoned manner” to the “displays of dominance” by Trump and DeSantis.

But what she said wasn’t reasonable. It was outrageous and a lie. The Republican party has swung so far to the right that it’s nearly impossible to not seem hyperbolic when reporting on the dangerous shit they are saying and doing. And so, the media is apparently not even trying.

And that, folks, is how fascists come to power. Q

D’Anne Witkowski is a writer living with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBTQ+ politics for nearly two decades. Follow her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.

who’s your daddy

Of gnomes and fathers

BY CHRISTOPHER KATIS, 2-MINUTE READ

Thiscolumn

is coming out a few days after Father’s Day – or at our house, Fathers’ Day. I’ve never been one for these made-up holidays, so it’s never been that big of a deal to me. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate the sentiment. I mean, my 75-plus gnome collection started with a single pointy-hatted little guy that the boys gifted to me when they were young.

Although I’ve been a father for 20 years, it’s no easier now than it was that first night a baby slept in a crib next to our bed. In fact, in some ways, it’s actually a lot more difficult. That’s probably true for every parent, no matter their circumstances.

Not long before we legally became parents, I bought a book of essays and sayings about fatherhood written by dads. Some were funny; some were heartwarming. All these years later, two stuck with me (one from each of those categories):

Never ask what your 14-year-old son is doing all that time in the locked bathroom; he’s doing exactly what you were doing in the bathroom at that age.

After a little boy was freed from a storm drain, he was asked if he had been scared. He said, “No. My dad was there, so I knew nothing bad could happen to me.”

That’s how I always felt about my dad. When he was around, there was nothing in the world that could harm me. But I’m not my dad. And that’s OK.

What that book of essays, purchased on a whim, taught me was that there is no right nor wrong type of father. Sure, being abusive in any way or abandoning your kids is obviously wrong on multiple levels. But every guy comes into this situation the same way — his own upbringing and his own experiences.

My experiences as a gay man influence every aspect of my life. That includes being a dad.

One of those experiences that LGBTQ+

people bring to parenthood is a strong sense of self-identity and expression.

That’s why neither Kelly nor I blinked an eye when 11-year-old Gus asked to dye his hair magenta and pierce his ear. Of course, he could do both. And since Niko has always shown amazing talent for the culinary arts, when he asked Santa for a kitchen set, that’s exactly what showed up under the tree.

As gay men, we also know that sometimes rules are made to be broken. After all, that’s where the fun is had. Naturally, no one was going to be doing anything outrageous, but it was fun to see our little boys get so excited about breaking the bedtime rule so they could stay up a few minutes longer to watch a movie or finish playing a game.

And I believe being gay helped us parent with greater empathy. We both know what it’s like to be on the outside, to struggle with self-identity – at levels probably greater than straight parents – and in my opinion, those experiences led us to be more open as dads.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that only gay parents can provide this type of parenting. Nor are we always great, or even good, parents. I’m just saying that, for Kelly and me, being gay men proved to be a positive contribution to our parenting.

A friend once told me that no matter how old they are, dads will always try to parent their kids. It was true with my dad, and I imagine it’ll be true with me. I just hope the boys keep giving me gnomes.

Happy Fathers’ Day, everyone! Q

THE STORY OF JORDY

BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI

Emergingpop artist

Jordy,

who graced the stage at Utah Pride a few weeks ago, challenged himself on his recent tour and failed. The challenge? “I tried getting through the whole tour with one manicure,” he says over Zoom. “I got almost to the end of it, but I was like, ‘I need new nails,’ so we have new nails now.”

In addition to his manicure, Jordy also has a new album out. His bop-heavy second full-length, “Boy,” was released in April. The album’s first single, “Story of a Boy,” is a queer take on the nostalgic classic “Absolutely (Story of a Girl),” which was a hit for the rock band Nine Days in the early 2000s. Twenty-three years later, Jordy’s version has inspired a TikTok viral moment, as the trans community has used bits from his reimagining to represent themselves and their own journeys in videos posted to the social platform. Though Jordy now calls L.A. home, he’s originally from the suburbs of Chicago. During our recent interview, Jordy chatted about his recent life-changing appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” and the overwhelming response to “Story of a Boy” from the trans community.

How does it feel to have this album out in the world? I just got off of a tour, so I can be at home and that feels so good. But I mean, post album, it feels incredible. I’m

just so happy these songs are out in the world, and I’m excited to keep promoting them and just spreading the good word. It feels like all of that hard work has come to fruition, and it’s really awesome.

What was the tour like? Is there a moment that really stands out to you as something that meant a lot to you? I mean, the whole tour was amazing. It was great to start in my home city of Chicago. That’s always fun. I think the highlight on this tour was that I sampled “(Absolutely) Story of a Girl” for my album, which my version is called “Story of a Boy,” but in New York and L.A., I was able to bring out John Hampson, the original singer [from Nine Days]. He performed it with me, and it was so amazing, so I’m very grateful for those opportunities I had with John, just because it’s so cool to honor the original writer and the singer of the original song. He’s been so supportive and lovely over the past couple of months. It was really special to share that together.

What was your initial exchange with John before you put your own twist on “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)”? We found the contact for his team a year ago and pitched the idea, and they were intrigued, for sure. They sent the demo to John and, supposedly, he really liked what I was doing with the song, and then he listened to my other music and he really enjoyed it, and so he was like, “Let’s do it.” So we ended up meeting for the first time when he flew to L.A. to be in the music video, because he has a little cameo in the music video as well. That was the first time we were able to sit down and really chat about each other and our journeys, and I was able to really express to him what this means to me and for my inner child and all of that good stuff.

Who musically influenced you as a kid? Younger childhood years was Avril Lavigne, Spice Girls and Michelle Branch. When I was in high school, Sam Smith. They were always very inspirational to me because I’ve always been a singer, and that was always really inspiring to me. Then as I got older, more so in this space of my life, [queer pop artist] Fletcher’s a big inspo to me. I adore her. I love her boldness and her lyricism and her performances and her voice. I’ve been listening to [openly queer pop musician]

Jake Wesley Rogers, who I adore. I love Betty Who. There’s too many to count, but so many inspirations along the way. When did you know you wanted to be a musician? When I’ve been a professional, the goal has always been to do music. So when I moved to L.A., I was DoorDashing and Postmate-ing and barista-ing and side hustling and assisting and doing odd jobs that I found on Craigslist, just anything that was flexible and that would pay me money. But yeah, when I was younger, I was performing all the time. It was always something I wanted to do. There was never a point where I didn’t want to be a performer or a musician. I was a theater kid, choir kid, a cappella kid. Did anything I could to be on stage. So by the time I graduated college, I was like, “This is what I want to do, and I will do whatever side hustles I need to do to achieve this.” By then I was probably living in L.A. for three years, and then I was able to quit my side job and do this full-time. What job did you quit to pursue music fulltime? My last job, I was a client services person at this post-production studio in L.A., which sounds fancy, but it was really me making coffee and bringing people food and doing whatever they told me to do.

Tell me about your theater roots. I feel like I am where I am because of my school, which was a public high school that put a lot of money into the arts program, which is really important. I know that that’s not the norm for most high school programs around the country, but we did “Rent,” “Chicago” and “West Side Story.” Big, big productions. Big, big productions. We did “Phantom of the Opera,” kind of crazy. Such talented people came out of my class, which was so cool. This musical called “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” that was a moment for me because I got to sing some fun, big songs. Then when I was in college, I did “Urinetown” and “Shrek.” I did it for the first couple years in college and then I got to a point where I wouldn’t necessarily say I would never do theater again — I think that would be fun to do in the future — but where I was like, “I’m kind of just sick of auditioning.” I wanted to make my own stuff and do my own thing and not have somebody tell me I can’t be something. I just got tired of it,

so I shifted to music and here we are. And then you recorded “Mind Games.” How did you go from where you were to recording that album? Before “Mind Games” came out, I put out my first song in 2018, and “Mind Games” came out in 2021. So there were many years of me putting out music. It was when the pandemic hit and TikTok really started happening for me that “Mind Games” started forming. My song, “Long Distance,” went viral and that was a huge stepping stone for me. After I signed my record deal, after that song did its thing, that was when I had my team looking at me being like, “I think we’re ready for you to do an album. Let’s do an album.”

In your eyes, how does “Boy” compare to “Mind Games”? “Boy” felt more intentional. I think when I started writing the songs on “Mind Games,” I didn’t know I was making an album, and it became an album. I think “Boy” was more about me getting older and being a little bit more reflective and still talking about my specific experiences that I’ve lived over the past couple years. Every song is very specifically me and things that I have felt and gone through. I think it’ll always be that way.

Did you write songs when you were younger? I was way more of a singer when I was younger. I studied English in college, but it really was moving to L.A. and learning how to write songs. That was college too, for me. Being here and learning from the people I’d worked with really helped me figure out how to tell these stories in a melodic and fun, pop-y way. I obviously did dabble in writing as a kid. I went to summer camp and would write songs at camp and sing them around the campfire and that kind of thing, so it’s always been a part of me. What song on the album are you especially close to? From a songwriting perspective, I love “Unburnable.” That’s one of my favorites off the album. I wrote it with Madi Diaz, who’s an incredible writer and artist, and this producer-writer, Mikey Reaves, in Nashville. This was the only song I wrote in Nashville off of the record. It just feels like some really real, honest storytelling. I love the way we phrased it and explained this weird feeling of not letting go of certain items from a past relationship. I love the way that we were able to craft and create that story. It just feels very special and very close to my heart.

What has it been like to experience the TikTok reaction to “Story of a Boy” from the trans community? Very surreal, very inspiring. I did not expect that this would become a song for the trans community. That’s not what I anticipated. When I first uploaded the sound, it was really just to compare the original version to my version and to show people what I was doing with the song. The second I saw the first video of a trans person using the sound to showcase their journey from, this is the story of a girl to this is the story of a boy, I was like, “Oh, this is cool and this makes sense, and how did I not even think of this before?”

Then it just caught on and more people started doing it. Then I started duetting it and showing my reactions to these transitions because I wanted people to one, feel loved and seen, and I wanted to showcase my love and also use my platform to lift these voices because the trans community is under attack right now.

It’s really a scary time to be queer, and especially trans, in this country. So, for me, I just started using my platform to show these videos and duetting them and getting my mom involved, because she’s amazing. I feel like people need to see supportive mothers and my friends to get involved. I wanted people to feel seen and loved. Now just scrolling through, there’s thousands of videos using the song, and it’s really special. I love that. And then there’s your recent appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” What was that like? I have been a fan of Kelly ever since I watched her win “American Idol.” I was very little, and me and my whole family saw the moment as it happened. So she’s been an inspiration for me. The image of her holding my album, I’ll just never get over. It is a constant “what the hell is happening?” kind of moment. It was very surreal. I get speechless when I talk about it because it doesn’t feel like it happened, but it totally did.

How many times did you watch your episode afterwards? Oh, I’ll check in on that clip every day. I’ll just be like, “I’m feeling low. Let’s look at Kelly Clarkson saying my name,” and I suddenly feel a lot better. Q

Chris Azzopardi is the editorial director of Pride Source Media Group and Q Syndicate. He has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi.

The Godfather of Queer Film

ACROSS

1 Where Dr. N. Kim works

5 Tail for Pluto?

9 Head of men who don’t sleep with women

14 Stick it in milk

15 What “let” means to Mauresmo

16 River of Rimbaud’s land

17 “See ya!”

18 Ian Schrager’s ___ de Cuba restaurant

19 Lesbos and more

20 With 26-Across, Book series by Kenneth Anger

(1927-2023)

22 Billie Holiday’s “God ___ the Child”

23 Loads, as software

24 West of Hollywood

25 Cathedral of Hope area

26 See 20-Across

30 “The Silence of the ___”

33 Diva’s piece

34 A porn star may have a big one

35 Kind of stimulation

36 PC drive insert

38 Arsonist, in slang

39 1947 homoerotic experimental film of Anger

41 Helps reelect Tammy Baldwin, e.g.

42 Pro partner

43 “What a shame”

44 Gay in the library

45 “Reduce Speed”, on a sign

46 Dairy animal

47 Toto’s Dorothy

48 1963 biker film of Anger

54 “The African Queen” author

56 “And another thing...”

57 Where to find your first mate

58 “Screwed again!”

59 Collars, as a perp

60 Concerning one’s coming out?

61 Hand with attitude

62 Timothy Daly’s sister

63 Fairy tale character

DOWN

1 ___ Minh City, Vietnam

2 Hunter in the night sky

3 Elite divers

4 Furniture piece with cushions

5 Moves barely

6 Fix a sneaker, maybe

7 Lorca’s “Later!”

8 One with a long tongue

9 Arabian Disney character

10 Mr. C. portrayer on “Happy Days”

11 Ill humor

12 Rock group?

13 Madonna’s “Dick Tracy” character

21 Shrill barks

24 Hurt, like a Broadway Auntie?

26 The Brewer twins, for short

27 Island of the Philippines

28 Shrek and others

29 It may slip over one’s head

30 Artists’ pads

31 Plath poetry collection

32 Long-tailed monkeys

33 Beth Simchat Torah scripture holders

36 What people are dying to use?

37 Offensive tactic in Esera Tuaolo’s sport

38 Little Bear constellation’s brightest

40 Baylor’s city

41 Prince of comics

44 It gets laid in the streets

47 Poke in the backside

49 “Camelot”’s “___ Moi”

50 Library ID

51 Words in an analogy

52 Scott of “Beautiful Thing”

53 Balls of brass

54 Sandy’s sound in “Annie”

55 Queer in Quebec

Luke

Leetham is still at the beginning of his music career, but he regularly graces stages up and down the Wasatch Front and in San Francisco, including Youth Pride at last year’s Utah Pride Festival.

Known to some as “one of Salt Lake City’s favorite queer pop artists,” Leetham’s music is upbeat and contemplative at the same time.

He just dropped a new song, “Empty” June 16, which he says is about “celebrating loneliness.”

Please tell me about how you got involved in a music career. I got involved by just doing it! I put my mind to it and pushed and pushed. I watched a lot of DIY videos on YouTube and just experimented with different agencies and companies who wanted to help me expand my career. I’ve played countless shows and have collaborated with a lot of artists. I learned when and where to put myself. I guess, all in all, I was and continue to be good at being in the right place at the right time.

What drives you to produce music?

I want to be the best I can possibly be. I try and produce/write something every day. Even if it’s total crap, I see the idea

through. This art form requires practice constantly. I also just love it and can’t imagine spending my time any other way.

If you’re in the shower belting a song, who are you singing? I love to pretend I can sing along to Demi Lovato. They hit notes that are so unbelievable! I love to sing along to “Cool For The Summer” by them. Does it sound good? Probably not [laughs] but it’s fun practice!

What other musicians have helped shape your music? I’ve pulled inspiration from so many artists. I’d say my biggest inspirations at the moment are JORDY, Gorillaz, and Kim Petras. Who would be a dream musician to collaborate with? I would totally lose it if Kim Petras did a song with me. I have no clue what it would be about or how we’d do it. I just know I could die happy if she hit me up!

Tell me how being in the LGBTQ community affects your music I think being queer helps me approach music at a different angle. I can write a love song or a breakup song and make it simple, but have it be queer.

I’d also say that the LGBTQ community is the most supportive community

for new music. I’m always getting hyped up by my community. It’s the best!

What are your short-term and long-term dreams and goals? I would say my short term goal is to play a festival soon. I don’t really care what it is. I just want to do it!

Long term goal would be to release another album and reach an audience that would be excited if I toured! Big stuff, but I think I can do it!

Is there anything else you’d like the LGBTQ+ readers of QSaltLake Magazine to know? If you want fun music to jam out to, and want to support a local gay boy, stream Leetham, come to a show, buy some merch! Anything and everything helps. I wouldn’t be where I am without the people backing me, specifically the queer community. Thank you for your continued support! Love y’all!

Leetham will be at Metro Music Hall supporting Blindlove on July 6 and The DLC at Quarters supporting Girlfriend On the Moon July 28. He’s often seen at Kilby Court and The Boardwalk in Orem. His new song can be heard on all of the music channels. Q

You can find more information about Leetham on his LinkTree, linktr.ee/Leetham

REVIEW BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

Big Gay Wedding

BY BYRON LANE, C.2023, HOLT, $26.99, 336 PAGES

Few things are cast in stone. Which means that you’ve usually got time to change your mind. Do a little research, listen to other voices, get educated, think about things, and pivot. No one will criticize; you may, in fact, be commended for your new open-mindedness. As in the new book, “Big Gay Wedding” by Byron Lane, you might like the new outlook, too.

Chrissy Durang, “Farmer Mom” and owner of the Polite Society Ranch near New

q scopes

JULY

BY SAM KELLEY-MILLS

ARIES March 20–April 19

As the heat rises, so do your expectations. There is nothing wrong with having a high standard, but keep your priorities straight. You may find that the longer you go without caring, the better off you will feel. Take care of yourself first!

TAURUS Apr 20–May 20

Even if you have no plans, there is a lot you need to do. Make a list and get a grip in a way that feels good. Order is the opposite of the chaos you experience when laying in bed at night, so sleep with your list close to your pillow.

GEMINI May 21–June 20

A faraway buddy could be hitting you up out of the blue. Enjoy the reunion, even if you don’t understand the

Orleans, checked two things off a list in her notebook. The school bus filled with noisy children arrived for their tour of the ranch, check. Barnett should be arriving later, check.

Thirty-four-year-old Barnett was the light in Chrissy’s world, her son, her only child, the near-exact image of his late father. She was excited for his homecoming; surely, Barnett was flying from California to tell her he was ready to take over the ranch now, take care of the animals, take care of her.

Instead, not long after he arrived, Barnett dropped a bombshell about “The Big Thing” that they never discussed: he was engaged. To be married. To another man. And he wanted to do it there in Mader, at Polite Society Ranch.

Chrissy could think of a million things she didn’t like about Barnett’s intended, Ezra, and they all went into her notebook. Hair a mess, check. Controlling,

reasoning behind it. The time for fun times and good feelings is here, so make the best of it. The heat is on, and so are you.

CANCER June 21–July 22

Whatever you decide to do this summer, there is no denying that it’s a good time for reflection. Find something that makes your heart shine. Spend time with friends and/ or lovers, and let the good times roll! Just keep your head clean.

LEO July 23–August 22

Nothing is stopping you from doing your best, but doubts still plague your mind. Take some time to understand the choices you have and could make. Only then will you be good with letting things flow naturally in all aspects of life.

VIRGO August 23–Sep 2

The changes you want to make are waiting for your attention. Focus on what counts and take a leap of faith. The matter of money demands

check. Butt-kisser, check. Dream-killer, check. And yet, Barnett loved Ezra. It’d been a long time since Chrissy’d seen her son this happy. She talked to her priest about the situation, but he disappointed her in a terrible way. It was clear that her father-inlaw, Paw-Paw, was supportive of Barnett and Ezra, which was no surprise; Barnett was always Paw-Paw’s favorite. Chrissy didn’t have many friends in her small Louisiana town, but she was absolutely sure of three things: nobody would approve of any sort of gay nuptials, Ezra’s family was downright weird, and everybody in Mader would blame her for what was about to happen...

At face value, the story inside “Big Gay Wedding” seems awfully familiar: homophobic mom, gay son, wedding, Kumbaya moment, the end. Keep thinking that, though, and you’ll miss one truly wonderful novel.

some attention, but your love life is what really provides you the comforts you are craving.

LIBRA Sept 23–October 22

Trying out new things is a welcome idea, and with the help of a friend or family member, you can do just that. See about exploring new places and finding new ways to explore the better parts of life. Even if you fail, you tried!

SCORPIO Oct 23–Nov 21

It’s time for some wine and dine, share stories, and perhaps work on your love life. There are so many options that you might not know where to start. Get involved with new groups or rekindle the past. It’s all about social life now.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov 22–December 20

Nothing is going to stop you from getting what you want this year, even if that means breaking a few rules. Don’t let the rebel in you get the upper hand, but a

From the paraprosdokian sentences to the Misfit Toys cast of characters, author Byron Lane takes readers from a deep dive into a box of tissues to a good snorting belly laugh, often in the same paragraph. So many unexpected, delightful things occur inside this story, in fact, that you may become disappointed when something conventional occurs.

Which it does, often enough.

Gay bashing, protesters, haters, misunderstanding, it’s-aphase thinking, all the bad old tropes show up in this story, alas. Still, readers will be happy to know that they’re dealt with properly, just as you’d expect from a prissy mother, an alcoholic society matron, two men wild in love, a light-fingered grandfather, and a dying sheep named Elaine.

Summer is always a time for weddings, and it’s a great time to enjoy this sweet, funny, excellent novel. Simply, “Big Gay Wedding” rocks. Q

few small risks could be worth the reward. Strutt forward and win!

CAPRICORN Dec 21–Jan 19

It might be tempting to reflect on your current situation, but rest assured that there are no true emergencies right now. A new perspective could come and go like the wind, but the experience of holding a belief lasts a lifetime.

AQUARIUS Jan 20–Feb 18

No one can tell you what to do, and if they try, you won’t hear it. Take matters into your own hands but don’t grip too tight. Slow and steady is the way to go when dealing with personal matters. You don’t want to hurt anyone.

PISCES Feb 19–Mar 19

Distress is not on your radar. In fact, you might feel better now than you have in ages! Even so, take the time for projects that have long gone neglected. Get back in touch with past associates and work on spicing up your life.

Read these 15 new queer titles before the homophobes ban them

Support your local bookstore with must-read fiction, memoir, kids books and more

BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI

In an era when books by or about LGBTQ+ people are being taken off library shelves and banned in grade schools, there’s never been a more important time to support queer literature. Remember: Representation not only matters, it saves lives. LGBTQ+ people will not be erased, as the pages of these books prove.

Fiction

“THE SALT GROWS HEAVY”

CASSANDRA KHAW

A mermaid, a prince and a plague doctor all walk into a bar. Actually, it’s not a bar but a village of bloodthirsty children. Author Cassandra Khaw’s wildly original novel is a dark fairy tale that defies easy explanation. Part nightmare, part romance, Khaw crafts this story with poetic prose and an eye for the macabre.

“THE

ADULT”

BRONWYN FISCHER

A college freshman. An older woman. An affair. Bronwyn Fischer’s “The Adult” is a beautifully written novel about what it means to find yourself as a young person and whether finding yourself is even really possible when you’re consumed by a relationship with someone older and, presumably, wiser than you.

“CONFIDENCE”

RAFAEL FRUMKIN

A novel about a couple of gay scalawags who con the rich? Yes, please. After meeting at a juvenile delinquent boot camp, Orson and Ezra become partners in a life of crime. When they embark on the biggest scam of their career,

targeting unfulfilled rich people, things don’t exactly go as planned. Written in an engaging voice, “Confidence” is a book about how it pays to be morally bankrupt. Or does it? Non-Fiction

SEE

ANDERSON

If you start every morning with the “What A Day” podcast, then you already know that Black trans journalist Tre’vell Anderson is engaging, hilarious and smart as hell. In “We See Each Other,” Anderson traces both a personal and on-screen history of transgender visibility through movies and TV shows like “Some Like It Hot,” “Boys Don’t Cry” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” This is an absolute must-read.

“HI HONEY, I’M HOMO”

MATT BAUME

You can learn a lot about cultural attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people by watching TV. Decades of it, in fact. And if you’re thinking, “Well who has the time for that?” worry not. Matt Baume has you covered. “Hi Honey, I’m Homo” examines how the fight for LGBTQ+ equality has been reflected through TV history. From “All In the Family” to “Soap” to “The Golden Girls” to “Modern Family,” Baume illustrates how sitcoms shaped and continue to shape the way people see LGBTQ+ people and how LGBTQ+ people see themselves.

“WE SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE: IGNITING THE GAY REVOLUTION”

MARTHA SHELLEY

During this time of intense backlash against LGBTQ+ rights, it’s wise to turn to the activists who were on the forefront of this movement to remember our history and how far we’ve come. “We Set the Night on Fire” recounts lesbian founder of the Gay Liberation Front Martha Shelley’s story of fighting for equality. It’s a personal history that cannot be separated from the history of the larger Civil Rights Movement. May this book inspire more LGBTQ+ people and allies to take to the streets and fight for our lives.

Memoir “BOY WANDER”

JOBERT E. ABUEVA

In University of Michigan alum Jobert Abueva’s memoir, he navigates multiple identities as he grows up. A star student at a Catholic boys’ school in Tokyo and, after school, a call boy for rich foreign men. A child born in Manila and coming of age in Kathmandu and Bangkok before moving to the U.S. in the peak Reagan 1980s. A young man craving his family’s love and acceptance but afraid to be fully honest. Abueva’s road to self-acceptance was not an easy one, and this memoir is not always an easy one to read, but Abueva’s honesty makes it ultimately rewarding.

“PAGEBOY”

ELLIOT PAGE

They say celebrities have no private lives, and to some extent, with paparazzi around every corner, that’s true. But one’s interior life is a whole different story, and for Elliot Page, that life was very different from the public life on display after “Juno” brought Page wide acclaim and stardom. “Pageboy” tells the story of Page refusing to be crushed by Hollywood’s demands and society’s expectations and deciding to live his truth.

“WE

EACH OTHER: A BLACK, TRANS JOURNEY THROUGH TV AND FILM” TRE’VELL

“TWEAKERWORLD: A MEMOIR”

JASON YAMAS

How does one accidentally become one of San Francisco’s biggest crystal meth dealers?

You start with Beanie Babies. OK, not exactly. But like a lot of Yamas’s life — past, present and future — it’s complicated. “Tweakerworld” explores Yamas’s history of addiction, from Adderall to meth, his career as a filmmaker, gay culture, his relationships with his family and boyfriends and his often drug-fueled sex life. “Tweakerworld” is brutally honest and beautifully told.

Young Adult

dating and more in a voice that sounds like you’re listening to your new best friend.

“NAYRA AND THE DJINN”

IASMIN OMAR ATA

A graphic novel that follows Nayra, a Muslim girl, through Ramadan as she deals with classmates who bully her for being Muslim and a complicated relationship with her best friend. Just when she’s at her breaking point, a djinn (a mythical being in Islamic folklore) named Marjan appears. Marjan has a complicated relationship of their own and the two characters help each other find resolution.

life of a young Tamil boy and his grandmother, who share a love of saris, as they prepare for a family party. A beautifully illustrated tale of acceptance, love, cultural tradition and intergenerational family bonds.

“SHE

PERSISTED:

RACHEL LEVINE”

LISA BUNKER; ILLUSTRATED BY ALEXANDRA BOIGER AND GILLIAN FLINT

U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine is the latest subject of the “She Persisted” series. Levine is not only the first woman to hold this position, but also the first openly transgender person to serve in a role requiring Senate confirmation. Levine has been a favorite target of anti-trans hate and this book, which recounts her childhood and portrays her

as someone who really loves to help people, is a great antidote to this hateful rhetoric.

“ABC-DECONSTRUCTING GENDER”

ASHLEY MOLESSO AND CHESS NEEDHAM

There is no “A is for Apple and Z is for Zebra” in this ABC book. Each letter is used in a sentence that illustrates a drawing of people doing people things. Some of them challenge gender stereotypes (“Mohammad likes to do makeup and get beautiful with his sister”), but the themes throughout are showing empathy, helping others and being yourself. The illustrations are delightfully retro. D’Anne Witkowski is a writer living with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBTQ+ politics for nearly two decades. Follow her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.

“TEGAN AND

SARA:

JUNIOR HIGH”

TEGAN AND SARA QUIN, TILLIE WALDEN

“NOT EVERYONE’S GOING TO LIKE YOU”

RINNY PERKINS

In her collection of short essays and engaging graphics, author Rinny Perkins dishes out the kind of advice that young adults need to hear, like: “Your existence is not validated by anyone’s dusty ass opinion” and “You can mute the family group chat.” Perkins explores issues of mental health, racism, family,

A prequel of sorts to Tegan and Sara’s acclaimed memoir “High School,” this graphic novel, illustrated by Eisner Award–winning artist Tillie Walden, follows everyone’s favorite twin-rock star duo through the trials and tribulations of middle school with a blend of fiction and autobiography. If you’re a fan of the Quin sisters, Walden or just charming and frank pre-teen stories, you’ll want to pick this up.

Children’s Books

“MY PAATI’S SARIS”

JYOTI RAJAN GOPAL; ILLUSTRATED BY ART TWINK

The story of a day in the

Five cocktails that are perfect Summerfor nights

Summer is here and if you are anything like me, you have been spending these hot summer nights staying up late and enjoying life. A crucial part of every fun summer night is a well-chosen cocktail. There is nothing more refreshing than a fancy cocktail served like it was styled for a magazine cover. It will refresh your body and spirit. Choosing the perfect cocktail can make or break your night, so choose the one with an interesting story.

1. The Manhattan

You heard about the cocktail but do you know the story behind it? This drink has been around since the 1800s and there are many legends about its origin. One famous legend tells the story about a young Jennie Churchill and a gubernatorial election. In 1874 Samuel L. Tilden won the New York gubernatorial election and his friend Jennie Churchill threw a party in his honor. The celebration was held at the Manhattan Club where a talented bartender invented a cocktail to mark the event and named it after the club. Jennie might have been the reason we now drink the Manhattan but she is better known as Winston’s mother. To prepare a Manhattan you will need 50 ml of rye whiskey, 20 ml of sweet red vermouth, and a dash of Angostura bitters. Stir the ingredients over ice and serve them strained, in a cocktail glass. You can also garnish the cocktail with a single cherry.

2. Peter Pan

This newcomer to the world of cocktails was created by Mateusz Szuchnik for the 2013 Polish edition of the Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition. Although a new cocktail, it has quite a following. It’s easy to see why with the cocktail’s rich and complex flavor. It can be enjoyed on its own but it also goes great with desserts. The cocktail was popularized in the USA by Igor Zukowiec the founder of ALCHEMIQ Catering.

For this cocktail, you will need 30 ml of Bacardi Superior rum, 20 ml of Bacardi Oakheart rum, 15 ml of maraschino liqueur, 1 cup of coffee, and 10 ml of cinnamon syrup. Shake all the ingredients well and serve it strained in a coupe glass. The cocktail should be served garnished with cardamom.

3. The Sazerac

The Sazerac is believed to be one of America’s, if not the world’s, oldest cocktail. It was invented by Antoine Amedie Peychaud. Peychaud was an apothecary who sold his own medicine. After inventing a medicinal mix for curing ailments, people soon began frequenting his drugstore just to sample the drink. Peychaud would serve the cocktail in an egg cup, but today it is served in an old-fashioned glass. Making the Sazerac includes preparing the glass first. After the glass has been chilled it should be rinsed with 10 ml of absinthe. After rinsing the glass discard the liquid. In a shaker, combine 50 ml of rye whiskey and two dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters over ice.

Discard the ice and serve the strained drink garnished with a lemon peel.

4. The Kir

This has been a popular drink in France for ages but it became known to the rest of the world only after World War II. Prior to its rise to international fame, the cocktail didn’t even have a name. Felix Kir was the mayor of Dijon who used every opportunity to serve his guests his favorite cocktail. Among his guest were many visiting dignitaries who spread the word about the famous Kir cocktail. To this day the cocktail bears the name of its patron.

There are numerous variations of the Kir but to make the classic you will need 90 ml of dry white wine and 10 ml of crème de cassis. Take a wine glass pour crème de cassis first and top it up with white wine.

5. Margarita

This happy accident is definitely a great drink to refresh you during summer. This drink has many legends surrounding its origin but my favorite is about a bartender from Tijuana. A long time ago he was making a Daisy and when he unknowingly grabbed a bottle of tequila instead of brandy, he stumbled upon a hit. The cocktail was named Margarita, the Spanish word for a daisy. Take a margarita glass and rub its outer rim with a lime slice. Sprinkle the rim with salt so it sticks only to the outer rim. Shake 35 ml of tequila, 20 ml of Triple Sec and 15 ml of lime juice with ice and serve it with a slice of lime as garnish. Q

THE SAZERAC

Q mmunity groups

BUSINESS

LGBTQ-Affirmative Psycho-therapists Guild of Utah

 lgbtqtherapists.com

* jim@lgbtqtherapists.com

Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce

 utahlgbtqchamber.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

 bit.ly/ppauslchiv

654 S 900 E 801-322-5571

Salt Lake County Health

Dept HIV/STD Clinic

610 S 200 E, 2nd Floor

Walk-ins M–F 8a–5p

Appts 385-468-4242

Utah AIDS Foundation

 utahaids.org

* mail@utahaids.org

150 S 1000 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

LEGAL

Rainbow Law Free Clinic

2nd Weds 6–7:30pm probono@law.utah.edu

POLITICAL

Equality Utah

 equalityutah.org

* info@equalityutah.org

376 E 400 S 801-355-3479

Utah Libertarian Party Mail address: 129 E

13800 S #B2-364

Draper, * chair@ libertarianutah.org

866-511-UTLP

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

SOCIAL

Alternative Garden Club

 utahagc.org/clubs/ altgardenclub/

1 to 5 Club (bisexual)

 facebook.com/ groups/1to5clubutah

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

OWLS of Utah (Older, Wiser, Lesbian Sisters)

 bit.ly/owlsutah

qVinum Wine Tasting

 qvinum.com

Seniors Out and Proud

 fb.me/soaputah

* info@soaputah.org

801-856-4255

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

 fb.me/utahmalenaturists

* 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

 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, All Saints Episcopal Church, 1710 Foothill Dr

Tues. 7p Live & Let

Live, Mt Tabor

Lutheran, 175 S 700 E Wed. 7p Sober Today, 1159 30th St , Ogden

Wed. 7p Bountiful

Men’s Group, Am. Baptist Btfl Church,

1915 Orchard Dr, Btfl

Fri. 7p Stonewall Group, Mt Tabor

Lutheran, 175 S 700 E

Crystal Meth Anon

 crystalmeth.org

USARA, 180 E 2100 S

Clean, Sober & Proud

Sun. 1:30pm

Leather Fetish & Kink

Fri. 8:30pm

Genderbands

 genderbands.org

fb.me/genderbands

LifeRing Secular Recovery

801-608-8146

 liferingutah.org

Weds. 7pm, How was your week? First Baptist Church, 777 S 1300 E

Sat. 11am, How was your week? First Baptist Church, 777 S 1300 E

LGBTQ-Affirmative Psycho-therapists Guild of Utah

 lgbtqtherapists.com

* robin@lgbtqtherapists.com

Survivors of Suicide Attempt

 utahpridecenter.org/ mental-health/sosa/

YOUTH/COLLEGE

Encircle LGBTQ Family and Youth Resource Ctr

 encircletogether.org

fb.me/encircletogether

91 W 200 S, Provo, 190 S 100 E, St. George 331 S 600 E, SLC

Gay-Straight Alliance Network

 gsanetwork.org

OUT Foundation BYU

 theout.foundation

 fb.me/theOUTfoundation

Salt Lake Community College LGBTQ+

 slcc.edu/lgbtq/

University of Utah LGBT Resource Center

 lgbt.utah.edu

200 S Central Campus

Dr Rm 409, M-F, 8a-5p 801-587-7973

USGA at BYU

 usgabyu.com

 fb.me/UsgaAtByu

Utah State Univ. Inclusion Ctr

 usu.edu/inclusion/ Utah Valley Univ Spectrum

 instagram.com/ spectrum.uvu

Weber State University

LGBT Resource Center

 weber.edu/ lgbtresourcecenter

Shepherd Union Suite 323 Dept. 2117 801-626-7271

Westminster Diversity Center

Bassis 105, M-F 8a-5p

 westminstercollege. edu/diversity

JOIN OUR GROUP OF ACTIVE OUT SENIORS

Our Vision is to reduce social isolation and loneliness, improve the health and well-being of older adults and to empower them to lead meaningful and connected lives in which they are engaged and participating in the community.

Our Mission is to reimagine aging by empowering older adults to live life to the fullest potential guided by these five pillars:

• Cherish the Journey

• Encourage the Body

Recent events: Snowshoeing, Bingo, Valentines Pot Luck & Dance, Movie Night, Walking Groups, Theater groups

• Inspire the Mind

• Nurture the Spirit

• Empower the Future

Find us at SeniorsOutAndProudUtah.org and Facebook.com/SOAPUtah

Utah Pride Center

Weekly drop-ins and activity nights held at the Utah Pride Center, 1380 S Main St. Some require registration at utahpridecenter.org/ programs/

ADULT & SENIOR

Silver Pride Senior (50+) Mon 2–4 pm, in-person.

Neurodivergent

Support & Social Club, Mon 6–7 pm, In-person & virtual Bi+Pan Support & Social Club, Mon 6:30–7:30 pm, Inperson & virtual registration req’d Trivia Night (21+ Mon 7:30–9 pm, in-person (no more than 6 per team).

Health Insurance

Help From Take Care Utah, Tue 3–5 pm, in-person, 18+.

Gay Men’s Peer Support Group, Tue 6:30–8 pm, in-person, 18+ * billblevins@ hotmail.com

Pride in Recovery, 18+ Tue 7–8 pm, in-person

Gay Men’s Sack Lunch, Wed, Noon–1 pm, in-person, any gay male-identifying humans 18+.

Women’s Support Group, Wed, 6–7 pm, in-person & virtual, registration req’d

LezBee Honest Support & Social Club, Wed, 7–8 pm, In-person & virtual, registration req’d

Trans/Nonbinary Support Group, Thurs 6–7:30 pm, In-person & virtual, registration req’d

Queer People Of Color Support & Social Club, Thurs, 6:30–7:30 pm, Inperson & virtual, registration req’d

Parents & Caregivers

Support Group, Thurs 6:30–7:30 pm, In-person & virtual, registration req’d Game Night, 18+ Fri 5:30–9 pm, in-person, Families Like Ours, Sun 3:30–5:30pm, in-person

YOUTH & FAMILY

PROGAMS

Youth 10–13 Support Group, Tue 5–6pm pm, registration req’d Youth 10–13 Activity Night, Thu 5–6 pm, registration req’d Youth 10–13 Free Time Hours, Tue/Thu 3–8 pm, reg. req’d Teens 14–17 Support Group, Mon 5–6 pm, registration req’d Teens 14–17 Activity Night Wed 5–6 pm, registration req’d Teen 14–17 Free Time Hours, Mon/Wed 3–8 pm, registration req’d

the perils of petunia pap smear

A tale of bingo and glitter and studs, Oh My!

by Petunia Pap Smear, 4-minute read

Theroad home from bingo is fraught with danger and excitement.

Everybody knows that April showers bring May flowers. So, last month at Third Friday Bingo, I decided that my dress theme needed to be The Lusty Month of May. I wore my most lurid and lustiest floral print caftan, complete with flower-covered breasticles and accompanying floral wrist corsages. Of course, I complemented the outfit with a flaming red beehive wig and a bright red glitter mustache to match the dominant color in the dress. One bingo patron commented that with all of the flowers and glitter I was wearing, I resembled a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade. I had a banging good time at bingo.

You can call me anything you want but late for dinner. Due to my incessant whining, the whole world knows that I enjoy a good buffet and will think nothing of driving my beloved land yacht Queertanic to Las Vegas for a proper feast. Well, bless my soul and pass the salad/massage oil. There, placed before me at bingo, at a table within three breasticle lengths and easily graspable, was a beefcake buffet consisting of eight gorgeous hunks of burnin’ love, who looked like they probably just escaped from being greeters at an Abercrombie and Fitch store, complete with tightly fitted t-shirts and well-packed blue jeans. Obviously, they were bingo virgins, because they had innocent deer-caughtin-the-headlights looks in their eyes.

As soon as I spotted the tableful of breathtaking eye candy, my beehive wig began to overheat as my brain began trying to devise any number of party fouls that would cause these studmuffins to gyrate and wiggle their hips before me while flexing their muscular biceps, gathering money for the charity.

Striving to be the hostess-with-the-mostess or, more accurately, totally hidden predator, I stealthily moved near the table before they could form an escape

plan. Just like any other ambush predator about to pounce, I quietly snuck up behind the stud who I determined to be the shyest of the bunch, and placed his head directly between my breasticles. This subtle hunting tactic can often cause dismay or panic among my prey. This time, however, I was caught a touch off guard as this pretty boy quickly spun around, grabbed each of my breasticles with his strong hands, plunged his face deep into my cleavage, and began motorboating my breasticles while the rest of the superstuds at the table cheered him on. To my immense joy, this was just the kind of excuse I needed. I called a party foul on the dreamboat for engaging in watersports without a boat, or even water skis, for heaven’s sake. At my urging, they all quickly got up, put on the party foul hats, and began dancing around the room, gathering tips for the charity. They were dancing around and about me, rather reminiscent of the dance of the seven veils, and I became somewhat overstimulated.

Come what may, I got too caught up in the excitement of the evening and did a little more running around dancing with the hunks than I probably should, considering my advanced age (I’m thirty-nine and counting! That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!) and the ever-increasing magnitude of my buttockus rotundus. Needless to say, I got just a little bit winded.

After the end of what I considered to be a very successful night of bingo and hunting, I went home and proceeded to begin my glitter removal ritual. As always, every time I wear glitter, it is nigh unto impossible to remove it all. Usually, there is residual glitter clinging to my skin for a couple of days.

As I sat in my recliner, getting ready for bed, I began to feel unwell. I took my blood pressure, and it was extremely high. Mr. Pap Smear nagged me until I relented and let him drive me to the emergency room. I must have been staggering or

something because, as I entered the E.R., the nurse at the counter took one look at me and ordered a wheelchair for me. A cute orderly wheeled me into a small room where a beautiful, tanned, and toned male nurse of Polynesian heritage and imposing size began to take my vital statistic readings, etc. Halfway through his observations, he paused, looking closely at my face, and asked, “Just what have you been doing, that you have glitter all over you?” One of my biggest fears in life is to have a medical emergency or be pulled over by the police while in full costume. Thank God I had been able to remove my dress, wig, breasticles, and most of the glitter prior to feeling ill.

Afraid that he just might not be friendly to drag queens and such, I suddenly concocted a cover story. I told him that I had been playing princess tea party with my granddaughter, and she sprinkled me with magic glitter before coming to the hospital. He seemed to accept that version of events. Over the next hour, I received that same question from three other doctors and nurses. This story leaves us with several important questions:

1. Do I need to take some container gardening lessons to accommodate the flowered breasticles?

2. In my floral dress, could I blend into the background at the Red Butte Gardens and disappear?

3. Could the vibrations from motorboating double as a massage vibrator?

4. Could placing a victim’s head between my breasticles be considered entrapment/kidnapping?

5. Could motorboating be considered assault?

6. Just how many days does residual glitter last?

7. Does the emergency room have anything for glitter removal?

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