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The top national and world news since last issue you should know
BY CRAIG OGAN
Gay and lesbian farmers lose ally
Tractor Supply Co., a 2,200-location, Tennessee-based animal feed and farm retailer, has put its gay and lesbian customers off their feed. The company has reversed long-practiced diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. This includes sponsorship of all nonbusiness-related activities like Pride Month and rainbow displays in retail locations. TSC is also through with the Human Rights Campaign and is no longer sending DEI data for the HRC Corporate Equality Index. The company has scored 95 out of 100 on the HRC CEI. There are more than 20 Tractor Supply stores in Utah. The co-founder of Squirrelwood Equine Sanctuary in New York has suspended the 92-acre, 70-animal sanctuary’s $65,000 annual purchases from Tractor Supply. She took to X, formerly Twitter, to say, “We couldn’t support a company that didn’t support us.” Her online protest has been shared thousands of times, and she estimates it has had 5 million views. John Deere is now under the same pressure to drop DEI policies and activities.
Resignation dike breaks
One of the first U.S. House of Representatives members to call for the current president to bow out of the race is
Angie Craig of Minnesota. She is the first member of the House LBGTQ+ caucus to make this announcement. She has been joined by another ten members, mostly Democrats who have tight races in Republican-leaning districts. The President has lost support among many groups as his age-related infirmities became apparent in debates and other public appearances. The latest blow comes from mega-star and mega-doner George Clooney, who, just a month ago, put on a gala fundraiser in Hollywood. He opined in an article in the New York Times that the President should quit the campaign. Rep. Craig announced, “Given what I saw and heard from the President during last week’s debate in Atlanta, coupled with the lack of a forceful response from the President himself following that debate, I do not believe that the President can effectively campaign and win.”
She has been joined by California’s Mark Takano, another LGBTQ+ caucus member, in calling for the president’s withdrawal. So far, the President has said he won’t get out of the race and an overwhelming majority of Congressional Democrats back his staying.
More convenient PrEP passes test
The pharmaceutical company Gilead has announced that a new pre-exposure prophylactic (PrEP) injectable medication has passed a Phase III clinical trial. The twice-yearly shot, lenacapavir, worked in all patients during the trials. The test group was composed of straight women in South Africa, one of the groups most susceptible to HIV infection due to cultural conditions. The next step will be tests on other populations, including
men who have sex with men, before it can be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. If testing continues to go as planned, it is expected that lenacapavir will hit the market in late 2025.
Daddyland does Dallas, gets dumped
The popular Daddyland circuit party was in full swing at a Dallas hotel when the members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority showed up for their own convention. One of the AKA alums and this year’s keynote speaker is the current U.S. Vice President and maybe Demo presidential candidate. Here’s the rub, according to rumor. The Daddyland boys got rowdy and mostly naked the first night when the AKA were checking in. The action from the “Daddyland Boom, Boom Room,” a dark room for naughtiness, spilled out into the hallway. Complaints from AKA were made to hotel management and, yada, yada, yada, the Daddyland partiers were given two hours to vacate the hotel and take the party elsewhere. Daddyland attendees claimed they had a great convo with the sisters of AKA about their respective party attire. The hotel management said, “No homophobia here; the men were supposed to be wearing clothes, and they weren’t,” which breached the contract. The hotel has hosted Daddyland in the past with no problems but said, “Things went to hell” during the Friday night kick-off.
School board members recalled in Pride flag flap
Two members of a school board in Alameda County near San Francisco have lost board seats in a recall election. They were two of three board members who
voted to approve a policy that banned any flags but official government flags, including the Progressive Pride flags, from flying at schools. The vote turnout was small with just a little over 800 voters from a pool of 8,900 in the Sunon Glen School district. Both lost the election by less than 40 votes, respectively. The vacant seats will be filled temporarily, with a new election scheduled for November.
France’s Out President is In, Out, In
Confused by U.S. politics? Try France’s on for size. The political right won big in European Union delegate elections, which means very little in France. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, panicked and called for an election for the French Parliament, which means a whole lot in France, where he has a slim majority. There are two rounds of Parliamentary elections in France. The political right wins the first round, big. Macron regroups. In the second round, the leftist New Popular Front won
182 seats, Macron’s party won 168, and the rightest National Rally won 143. A party needs 289 seats to be the National Assembly majority. So, no party has a majority and no party likes another party enough to create a coalition. Hence, government deadlock. Why is this of interest to the reader of a gay and lesbian publication? Because the president of France chooses the Prime Minister, who is generally from the majority
Gabriel Attal
party. When he had a majority, Macron chose a young, cute gay man as Prime Minister — Gabriel Attal. Attal is an OUT gay man, IN as PM, then he resigns; so he OUT as PM; the crypto-gay Macron invites him to remain PM, so Attal is sort of IN, again, if he can get 100 votes from the left or the right-wing parties. That’s a lot of blowjobs.
Smashing icons
A collective cheer went up from gays and lesbians in 1997 when Ellen DeGeneres declared “I’m a lesbian” to Oprah Winfrey, who was playing a therapist on Ellen’s eponymous ABC network TV show. It was a brave moment for her as she was the first big TV star to “come out” on TV. Her career then took off with Oscar hosting gigs, movie
roles, sold-out concert dates, and having a very successful daytime talk show. Then came Covid, and people got cranky. Disgruntled staff accused her of creating a toxic work environment. She apologized, paid the cranks some money, and continued “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” until 2022. She is currently on a 27-stop concert tour and announced she will retire after she finishes a Netflix streaming special. “This is the last time you’re going to see me. After my Netflix special, I’m done,” she said at a July 3 appearance. Asked about reprising Dory in “Finding Nemo,” she said, “No, I’m going bye-bye, remember.” Though cleared by an official network investigation, it was clear the accusations took a toll. A celebrity with a famous “nice person” persona, Ellen, said during the concert, “Oh
yeah, and I got kicked out of show business for being mean.” Some icons shouldn’t be smashed, she will be missed.
Survey: What do you want to see?
A recent online survey asked the question, “When it comes to gay male characters in the media, what would you like to see more of?” The answers that got the most “likes” were:
“More positive black gay male relationships. True ones. Not thugs, or overly fem guys.”
“Guys with physical disabilities having a nice healthy relationship.”
“A gay autistic character.”
”Guys not defined by their gayness, whose personality isn’t just being gay.”
“Close friendships between a gay man and a straight man.”
“Stories about gay men
in normal-sized cities (e.g., not NY) who make an average income.”
“Give me a 25-year-old gay guy from Buffalo who works at Starbucks, has funny friends, and is trying to figure out the big questions.”
“Masculine guys, doing something thought of as straight (like working construction).”
“Heroes, like a gay James Bond or other action-hero type of offering.”
“Bears, fat and hairy gay guys.”
“Historical, real-life LGBTQ+ figures in biopic treatments” The most liked comment is not about a type of person, but, well, butts. “Specifically, gay male characters with well-defined behinds.” Some would say that’s stereotypically shallow, others call it discerning. Q
Mpox is still spreading
HRC speaks loudly against Trump’s announced VP running mate
Donald Trump selected Sen. JD Vance, Ohio, as his running mate, which the Human Rights Campaign says “makes clear that a second Trump Administration would build on its legacy of being the most anti-LGBTQ+ in American history.”
“Donald Trump has been a bully for years – and his pick of MAGA clone JD Vance is a reminder that nothing has changed. This is anything but a unity ticket,” said Kelley Robinson, HRC president. “We are not simply choosing between two campaigns. We are choosing between two fundamentally different visions of America. One, with Trump and MAGA ‘yes man’ JD Vance at the helm, where our rights and freedoms are under siege. And the other, with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris leading the way, where we are advancing toward freedom and equality for all. Everything is at stake and the contrast could not be clearer. We must defeat Trump, Vance, and their brand of chaos and division, and send Joe Biden and Kamala Harris back to the White House.”
HRC says that Vance has a history of “spewing anti-LGBTQ+ vitriol and opposes reproductive freedoms nationwide.” He defended the dangerous “groomer” smear campaign against Democratic politicians for their support of LGBTQ+ people, said he “strongly disagreed” that
LGBTQ+ people should be protected from discrimination, railed against the Equality Act, calling its landmark nondiscrimination provisions “an assault,” and argued that victims of rape and incest should be barred from accessing abortion care. As a United States senator, Vance has routinely taken aim at basic rights and freedoms, voted against a bill to codify access to IVF, introduced legislation to charge doctors with a felony for providing medically necessary health care to transgender youth, and promised to support a national abortion ban.
Meanwhile, the Biden-Harris Administration has been the most pro-equality in history, HRC said in a statement.
“Since being inaugurated in 2021, the administration has taken extraordinary steps to advance equality. In 2022, President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law, a landmark piece of legislation that codified federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriages. They have issued new administrative rules protecting LGBTQ+ youth from discrimination and harassment in schools, ensuring LGBTQ+ youth are protected in the foster care system, and protecting LGBTQ+ patients from discrimination in health care. They have also filled the administration with members of the LGBTQ+ community, appointing
a record 200+ LGBTQ+ people across each level of government and nominating a number of LGBTQ+ judges.”
In May, HRC launched its We Show Up: Equality Wins public education campaign to mobilize 75 million Equality Voters nationally in support of President Biden and Vice President Harris’ reelection bid. The campaign includes a $15 million strategic investment in key battleground states, including Pennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Nevada. HRC has had year-round, on-the-ground staff in these states since 2017, and will bring on dozens of additional staffers in these states to organize for November. HRC will also have a strong ground game in California, Texas, New York, and Delaware to support historic LGBTQ+ congressional candidates whose elections are poised to help make the difference in putting a pro-equality majority back in the U.S. House of Representatives. Q
Equality Utah announces Allies Gala Equality Utah is set to host its highly anticipated annual fundraiser, the Equality Utah Allies Gala: Enchanted World, on Saturday, October 5, at the Eccles Theater. This year’s event will be headlined by Andy Bell, the iconic frontman of the beloved Europop band ERASURE.
Bell, renowned for his contributions to the music world and his status as a gay icon, will bring his captivating performance to Salt Lake City. His musical journey with Vince Clarke, formerly of Depeche Mode and Yazoo, has produced timeless hits that have united fans across the globe. Erasure’s debut album, Wonderland, was released in 1985, followed by a string of hit albums featuring classics like “A Little Respect,” “Chains of Love,” and “Oh L’Amour.”
Beyond his musical accomplishments, Bell is a dedicated advocate for HIV/AIDS research and funding. He has leveraged his celebrity status to support various LGBTQ and arts-related causes, as well as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
For a limited time, Equality Utah is offering a 10% early bird discount on individual tickets using promo code “enchanted” at bit.ly/enchantedbell
BY LYNN BELTRAN, S: COUNTY HEALTH DEPT.
Salt Lake County Health Department has seen an increase in mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) cases in the last two months. While it’s easy to think the risk to the community has gone away since the initial outbreak in the summer of 2022, we want people who may be at risk to be informed and protected.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that while cases have declined sharply since 2022, the U.S. continues to identify about 60 new cases per week across the country. Most of those cases are in people who are not vaccinated against mpox, or who only received one shot of the vaccine. (Spoiler alert: It’s not too late to get your second shot, even if your first was in 2022!)
Getting the mpox vaccine is also now a bit of a time-sensitive issue, as the vaccine (called Jynneos) that protects against mpox is about to become costly. With the initial outbreak in 2022, Utah’s public health system received a supply of free vaccines to administer to people
in the community who were most at risk of infection. That initial free supply will expire at the end of October, and after that (or once the free supply is used up), people who need the vaccine will need to pay for it out of pocket ($275 per dose!) or use their health insurance. It is important to know that the illness caused by the mpox virus is not mild. Most people who get infected are seriously ill for several weeks or longer. Most infections include painful lesions on the body or in the genital area, and lesions may also appear on the face. Lesions often continue to appear for several weeks and can be very painful. Many people who have the virus also experience significant flu-like symptoms, and some may have difficulty swallowing or defecating, which can lead to hospitalization.
Mpox is spread through close contact with an infected partner. This could include sexual contact and skin-to-skin contact that’s not sexual. Even prolonged, close face-to-face interactions can spread pox. People who are not
vaccinated or who have only one dose of vaccine are more likely to suffer longer-lasting and more severe symptoms.
It’s an incredible “public health win” to have a vaccine available for a sexually transmitted infection. If most of the people who are at risk in a community are vaccinated, protective herd immunity is more likely to occur, and that can lead to zero new infections.
The mpox vaccine is a two-dose vaccine, where you should get the second shot no earlier than 28 days after the first shot. It is never too late to get that second dose, even if it has been two years since your first shot.
Salt Lake County Health Department still has a few hundred doses of free mpox vaccine to give out before the expiration date. We recommend the vaccine for all men who have sex or are intimate with men, as well as transmen and transwomen who have sex or are intimate with men.
Get your mpox vaccine now, before we run out of free supply, and before you’ll have to pay $550 for it yourself. Call 385468-SHOT from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to make an appointment. Sameday appointments are often available. Q
Utah Legislature special session convenes to stop fed override of trans bathroom, sports laws
In a significant move on Juneteenth, Utah lawmakers convened in a special session to declare the state’s refusal to comply with a forthcoming federal rule extending antidiscrimination protections to LGBTQ+ students under Title IX. The new federal directive, set to take effect on August 1, aims to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation in schools. However, Utah’s resolution asserts that state laws restricting restroom access for transgender individuals and barring transgender girls from women’s high school sports take precedence.
This resolution is the first test of Utah’s SB57, also known as the Utah Constitutional Sovereignty Act, which posits the state can reject federal directives it deems violates state sovereignty. In theory, the act effectively flips traditional framework, enabling Utah to proactively refuse policies without waiting for legal challenges.
DEFENDING STATE SOVEREIGNTY
Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, expressed confidence in the state’s readiness to defend its position against anticipated legal challenges.
“We’re geared up; we’re ready to defend the actions that we’re taking today,” he stated. Similarly, Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, emphasized the need for urgent action to provide clarity for school districts ahead of the new school year.
Both Adams and Schultz believe that the Biden administration’s interpretation of Title IX to include protections for transgender students will ultimately be overturned by the courts. A recent federal ruling temporarily blocking the rule in six states, following similar rulings in other states, bolsters their stance.
LEGISLATIVE PERSPECTIVES
Rep. Kera Birkeland, R-Morgan, the sponsor of the transgender athlete ban and the bathroom bill, led the resolution. She criticized the Biden administration for “politicizing” Title IX protections. Sen. Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton, suggested that the resolution is about
protecting state borders from federal overreach, a tool that he believes would be used similarly by any state legislature in opposition to the federal government.
Concerns also arose about the potential implications of Title IX’s provisions on pregnancy-related discrimination. Speaker Schultz voiced worries about the possibility of state funds being used to accommodate employees who travel out of state for abortions, emphasizing that state law should take precedence.
OPPOSITION AND EMOTIONAL PLEAS
The resolution passed with strong Republican support, but all Democrats and one Republican, Sen. Daniel Thatcher, R-West Valley City, opposed it. Rep. Sahara Hayes, D-Millcreek, the only openly gay member of the Legislature, delivered an emotional plea against the resolution, highlighting the dangers faced by LGBTQ+ students.
“Aren’t these kids just as worthy of health, safety, and well-being?” she asked.
Sen. Jennifer Plumb, D-Salt Lake City, criticized the resolution as another attack on a small, marginalized community, describing it as “salt in the wound.”
LGBTQ+ ADVOCACY RESPONSE
Equality Utah, the state’s largest LGBTQ+ rights organization, condemned the Legislature’s actions.
“Today the Utah Legislature invoked a new and constitutionally suspect law, which will unnecessarily invite litigation, all to once again focus the full weight and strength of the Utah government on the most vulnerable of populations: transgender children. Today’s legislative action seeks to invalidate the authority of the Federal Government’s new Title 9 regulations, which, among other things, make clear that students cannot be discriminated against based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Instead, Utah will undoubtedly now embark on costly and time-consuming litigation, all so that the state can continue to police bathroom usage by children. It is high time that Utah starts focusing its resources on helping our children achieve success rather than using them as
pawns in order to score political points.”
PUBLIC PROTEST AND FUTURE IMPLICATIONS
The session sparked protests, with over 50 people gathering at the Capitol in Salt Lake City to voice their support for transgender rights. Chants echoed through the House chamber as lawmakers conducted their business.
Despite the potential risk of losing federal funding for Utah schools, Adams and Schultz remained steadfast in their commitment to state sovereignty. “Kids come before money,” Schultz declared.
GOVERNOR’S ROLE AND PUBLIC CRITICISM
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called the special session to address the Title IX rule and other bills. However, the decision to hold the session on Juneteenth drew criticism from NAACP Salt Lake President Jeanetta Williams, highlighting the holiday’s significance in commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S.
As Utah navigates the legal and social ramifications of its stance, the debate over LGBTQ+ rights and state versus federal authority continues to unfold, drawing national attention and local fervor.
Rep. Kera Birkeland.
PHOTO: GAGE SKIDMORE
Utah DEI ban forces closure of LGBTQ+ centers
In a sweeping response to Utah’s new anti-DEI legislation, public colleges and universities across the state have started closing LGBTQ and other cultural resource centers. This move aligns with trends seen in other states like Florida and Texas, where similar laws have prompted broad changes in higher education.
The University of Utah announced it shut down three cultural and resource centers, including the LGBT Resource Center, following the implementation of the state’s DEI ban. This decision is part of a larger pattern of compliance with a law requiring the elimination of any programs, offices, or practices deemed “discriminatory.”
The guidance from the Utah System of Higher Education elaborates that anything excluding individuals based on their identities falls under this definition. Despite this, many institutions are choosing to close these centers, following precedents set in states like Florida and Texas.
LEGISLATIVE INTENT AND UNIVERSITY ACTIONS
When Utah’s HB 261 was signed into law in January, it was perceived as a balanced approach. Atlantic staff writer Conor Friedersdorf praised it for its compromises, noting that it would allow the University of Utah’s Black Cultural Center to remain open. However, while the center’s physical space stays accessible, its website has been dismantled, and its resources have been relocated, reducing it to more of a gathering space than a functional cultural center.
Five out of Utah’s six public universities dissolved or will dissolve at least one cultural or resource center due to the new law.
Utah Valley University declined to comment on the matter.
The ban on DEI programs has seen a rapid spread across the U.S., with similar laws taking effect in Indiana, Kansas, Wyoming, and Utah on July 1. These laws typically result in the closure of cultural and resource centers, often due to clauses prohibiting offices promoting certain identity-related ideologies.
IMPACT ON LGBTQ CENTERS AND COMMUNITIES
The closure of LGBTQ centers has raised significant concerns about the impact on minority students. Harry Hawkins, the former director of the University of Utah’s LGBT Resource Center, described a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ students even before HB 261. He criticized the administration for not taking input from DEI officials and for delaying the announcement of changes.
“I was pushing these points and just constantly shut down,” Hawkins said. “I just want to say to our students, ‘I promise, there were many of us who were trying.’”
The University of Utah plans to introduce new centers to replace the resource centers, but Hawkins is unsure if scholarships and mentorships provided through the LGBT Resource Center will continue in their previous form.
“We would work with our recipients, and you could see the effects immediately. The students, you could tell, were having a great experience,” he said. “I don’t know, with the new model, if that’s what they’re going to do.”
REACTIONS FROM OTHER INSTITUTIONS
At Utah Tech University, the Center for Inclusion and Belonging is closing. Mike Nelson, the center’s director, is transitioning to a new role but expressed sadness over the change. Juan Alvarez, president of the university’s Latinx Student Alliance, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the inclusivity of their events and criticizing the legislators for their lack of research.
Southern Utah University is dissolving its Center for Diversity and Inclusion and the Q Center, redirecting student organizations to become independent or university-sponsored clubs.
Utah State University is moving programs from its Inclusion Center to the Academic Enterprise office while maintaining some cultural centers pending state approval.
Weber State University is replacing its Division of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion with a new Student Success Center, aiming to continue supporting students despite significant changes.
“Weber State’s commitment to
student success remains unchanged,” a university spokesperson stated. “The Student Success Center will strive to identify students’ unique needs and help them reach their goals.”
LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE PERSPECTIVES
Katy Hall, the Republican state representative who sponsored the bill, emphasized that the legislation did not mandate the closure of these centers but understood why some universities chose to do so.
“The intention of the law is to promote student success for all students and ensure that support and services are available to everyone,” Hall said to trade journal Inside Higher Ed. “I hope that students who benefited from these centers will still receive the support they need.”
Utah’s higher education commissioner, Geoff Landward, acknowledged the value of cultural centers and expressed hope to preserve cultural education in the long term. He mentioned the possibility of creating a systemwide multicultural center to fill the gap left by the closures. However, he also noted that the decision to shutter these centers might be a prudent approach given potential future legislative actions.
As Utah navigates the implications of its new DEI ban, the debate over the role of LGBTQ and other cultural resource centers in higher education continues, with significant impacts on campus communities and minority students. Q
Utah Rep. Katy Hall, R-Ogden, sponsor of the AntiDEI legislation
Mia Bailey, a 28-year-old transgender woman from Southern Utah, was arrested on charges of murdering her parents, Joseph and Gail Bailey, and attempting to kill her brother. The incident has sparked intense public and media scrutiny, highlighting issues of mental health, familial discord, and the legal and societal challenges faced by transgender individuals.
According to the Washington City Police Department, the events unfolded on June 18. Mia Bailey allegedly broke into her parents’ home in Washington City, Utah, and began her attack. She is accused of shooting her father twice in the head and her mother four times. After ensuring they were dead, she proceeded to the basement, where her brother and his wife were hiding in a locked bedroom. Bailey allegedly shot through the bedroom door but did not hit anyone. Her brother then called the police after she left the house.
Court documents reveal chilling details of Bailey’s actions and her lack of remorse. “Mia described that she returned to her father, who was lying on the ground, and shot him one more time in the head to make sure that he was dead,” police claimed in a booking affidavit. “While doing that, Mia … walked back over to her mother and shot her in the head to make sure that she was dead.”
Bailey was charged with six counts of felony discharge of a firearm, two counts of aggravated murder, one count of attempted aggravated murder, aggravated burglary, and another for third-degree felony discharge of a firearm. As of the latest reports, she remains in police custody.
The day after the killings, police issued a public alert and were on the lookout for Bailey’s yellow Kia Sol, which was seen leaving the crime scene. Officers initially tracked her down on June 18, but she managed to evade arrest by pulling out a gun and threatening to shoot herself. She disappeared from sight before they could detain her.
The following morning, Bailey
turned herself in to the police. During her arrest, she reportedly showed no remorse for her actions and even stated, “I would do it again. I hate them,” according to the police affidavit.
Family Background and Legal Struggles
The Bailey family reportedly had a history of internal conflicts, and Mia had been estranged from her family members for some time. Her brother, Coryson David Bailey, had filed a protective order against her nearly a year before the incident, citing concerns for their safety. Court records indicate that there were multiple hearings related to this protective order, but details remain confidential. Audio from court hearings revealed that the family had been trying to navigate a difficult relationship, with Coryson sug-
gesting their mother act as an intermediary to facilitate limited contact with Mia.
Mia Bailey had legally changed her name and gender marker in 2022. The court-approved change reflected her gender identity, a process that can be emotionally and psychologically challenging, especially within unsupportive family environments.
The case quickly became a focal point for media coverage and public debate, particularly around the topics of transgender rights and mental health. Utah Sen. Mike Lee criticized media outlets for referring to Bailey as a woman, arguing that it confused the public and compro-
mised safety during the manhunt. He labeled the coverage as “woke reporting,” a term used to criticize what some see as excessive political correctness.
In contrast, others defended the media’s approach, emphasizing the importance of respecting Bailey’s gender identity, especially as it had been legally recognized. Critics of Lee’s stance argued that his comments could exacerbate stigma and misunderstanding about transgender individuals.
Mia Bailey’s court appearances have been somber and procedural. In her most recent hearing, she sat silently as her attorney and prosecutors discussed logistical issues. Her defense attorney, Ryan Stout, expressed concerns about communication barriers between Bailey and her legal team, noting that she needed better access to her attorney from jail. The judge ordered the jail to facilitate regular phone calls between Bailey and her attorney and directed prosecutors to expedite the sharing of all discovery documents.
Prosecutors have decided not to seek the death penalty despite the severity of the charges. This decision has been met with mixed reactions, with some believing it is a fair approach given the complexities of the case, while others argue that the brutal nature of the crime warrants the harshest punishment.
The case has also brought to light questions about Mia Bailey’s mental health. While specific details about her mental state at the time of the killings have not been disclosed, her actions and statements suggest deep-seated emotional and psychological issues. Mental health experts and advocates emphasize the need for a comprehensive evaluation to understand her motivations and mental condition. Q
PHOTO: BRENNON HARDING
Mia Bailey by video in a court hearing
Mia Bailey, WASHINGTON CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Encircle nears completion of Ogden LGBTQ+ youth facility
More than three years after breaking ground on a new facility for LGBTQ youth and teens on Washington Boulevard in Ogden, Encircle is nearing completion of its building. Initially breaking ground on March 25, 2021, construction faced numerous delays due to pandemic-related issues. Now, Encircle representatives are optimistic about opening their doors this fall.
existing homes, contributing to the unique challenges faced by the Ogden project.
Encircle, founded in Provo in 2017, aims to provide counseling and resources for LGBTQ youth, teens, young adults, and their families, serving as safe and supportive spaces for the community.
“We ran into delays with material orders and other components due to the widespread and long-lasting effects of the pandemic. We are happy to report we are back on track, and we expect an opening later this year,” said Callie Birdsall-Chambers, the Encircle vice president of marketing and communications, in an emailed statement. While the exact opening date remains undetermined, the removal of scaffolding from the structure signaled significant progress.
The Ogden facility, originally slated for completion in late 2021 or early 2022, marks Encircle’s first newly constructed center. Previous centers in Provo, Salt Lake City, St. George, and Heber City were renovations of
Founder Stephenie Larsen initiated the organization in response to the “alarming” rates of suicides among Provo’s LGBTQ youth, emphasizing mental well-being over political advocacy.
In preparing for expansion, Encircle conducts community assessments to tailor its services to local needs.
Birdsall-Chambers assured that the Ogden facility at 2458 Washington Blvd. will offer similar programs to those at other locations, including individual and family therapy and support groups.
“Specific offerings and their timing will be shared once our opening date has been announced, but friendship circles, therapy, daily programs, community events, and drop-in hours will all be available,” Birdsall-Chambers confirmed. Q
More information on Encircle
QSaltLake Lagoon Day 2024 set for Aug. 11
One day each summer, Utah’s queer community floods Lagoon theme park with red. Members of the LGBTQ+ community and their supporters will take over the park for the QSaltLake Day at Lagoon this year on Sunday, Aug. 11.
The event attracts hundreds of people each year, possibly as many as 2,000. Supporters are encouraged to wear red shirts and stop by the QSaltLake pavilion — the Honey Locust Pavilion — for a group photo at 4 p.m. and to mingle with other queers and allies. The pavilion is open the entire day and is a popular place to have lunch, take a break, and mingle with the Matrons of
Mayhem. The event is also sponsored by Club Try-Angles, which will open at 6 p.m. that day so employees can join in the festivities.
QSaltLake Lagoon Day is open to all participants, and there will also be many people who are not aware of the day, but the overall atmosphere is very open and accepting.
“I couldn’t believe it. I saw two cute young guys eating cotton candy, wearing matching red T-shirts and holding hands, walking through the park. It was a life-changer for me, and I’ll never forget how happy they looked,” said Tyler Bennett after one year’s event.
Lagoon is Utah’s largest
Equality Utah ‘Family Homo Evening’ celebrates queer Mormon joy
On Monday, August 5th, Equality Utah invites the community to “Family Homo Evening,” a special fundraising event at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Arts from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. The event celebrates the release of the new anthology, The Book of Queer Mormon Joy, and aims to support the LGBTQ+ community through storytelling and shared experiences. This anthology, edited by Kerry Pray and published by Signature Books, gathers poignant and uplifting stories from those navigating life as both LGBTQ+ individuals and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Contributors include Equality Utah’s own Eli McCann, Stacey Harkey, and Troy Williams, who will perform spoken-word pieces that range from heartfelt to hilarious.
amusement park, with ten large roller coasters, 38 carnival games, and two original shows. It also has a large water park, Pioneer Village, and a connected RV park. It was founded in 1886 and is located in Farmington.
The park is owned by the Freed Family. Robert Freed was a civil rights activist, and Lagoon set the stage for racial inclusion when it officially desegregated in the 1940s, and many other public venues followed. He was honored in the 1960s by the NAACP for his work.
Lagoon opened its inhouse coaster creation late last year after seven years of construction. It had already been named one
of the 10 most anticipated new theme park rides for 2023 by coaster enthusiasts. Primordial’s mysterious mountain will house what the park calls a “one-of-akind interactive coaster,” though such a combination has been done before with Wonder Mountain’s Guardian at Canada’s Wonderland. Details are still scarce about the ride experience, and the park hasn’t even released official photos of the ride to the press.
A discount code for online ticket purchasing will be available at the end of July and will save $23 from the regular day pass price. Q
For more information about the park, go to LagoonPark.com. For more information about the QSaltLake Lagoon Day, see our Facebook Event.
Partnering with The King’s English Bookshop and the Strangerville Podcast, this event promises an evening of joy, laughter, and community connection. Each ticket includes a copy of The Book of Queer Mormon Joy, highlighting stories that explore the complexities and joys of living at the intersection of these identities.
Pray got her PhD from the University of Wales and taught writing at Brigham Young University for 15 years. She now teaches writing at Stevenson University and lives in Maryland with her wife, Heather, and two children.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date and Time: Monday, August 5, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM MDT
Location: Utah Museum of Contemporary Art Tickets are limited and can be purchased at equalityutah.eventbrite.com
FBI reports recent surge in sextortion cases in Utah
The FBI has reported a significant rise in sextortion cases across the Mountain West region, while the Utah Department of Public Safety noted a record number of extortion and blackmail incidents in the past year.
In 2022, QSaltLake reported on a scam involving Scruff and Grindr users being told that an exchange they had the night before was with an underage child who, the scammer said, claimed had committed suicide after. The scammer demanded money to keep quiet.
According to state data, Utah has seen a steady increase in extortion and blackmail cases over the past five years. By October 31, 2023, 622 incidents had been recorded that calendar year, surpassing the total for all of 2022 and nearly equaling the combined totals of 2021 and 2020.
The FBI Salt Lake City field office, which covers Utah, Montana, and Idaho, receives dozens of sextortion reports monthly. With the advent of technology and online dating, anonymous extortion scams have become easier to execute. Scammers often threaten to expose private photos unless the victim pays them.
A recent media spotlight on sextortion cases involving the website Ashley Madison prompted Jacob G. (name withheld upon request) to share his experience of being extorted on the LGBTQ+ app Grindr. In April, Jacob exchanged explicit photos with someone on the app, only for the situation to quickly escalate into extortion.
“He was demanding that I drive to a gas station and buy gift cards in the amount of $1k,” Jacob recounted. The extortionist threatened to post Jacob’s photos on a website with child sexual abuse mate-
rial, warning that Jacob would face jail time if the photos were found there. “It honestly was one of the most terrifying moments in my life,” Jacob said.
After researching extortion scams and finding similar stories on Reddit, Jacob blocked the extortionist, hoping nothing further would happen. “I’ve had a bunch of friends say the same thing has happened to them recently as well,” he said, hoping his story would raise awareness about these scams.
Grindr acknowledged that bad actors sometimes exploit features on the platform, a challenge faced by all social networking and dating apps.
A Grindr spokesperson stated, “Grindr has always taken its role as a connector for the queer community very seriously and is committed to creating a safe and authentic environment free of scammers, fake and harmful accounts, and spam.” The company employs a dedicated moderation team and machine learning tools to detect and remove violating accounts.
Grindr also provides resources to protect users against scams, including Holistic Security and Scam Awareness Guides and safety tips available within the app. “We encourage users to report any suspicious behavior and use our video calling feature to connect with other users before meeting them in person,” the spokesperson added. Grindr is committed to supporting law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting bad actors.
Immediate Actions to Take:
DO NOT PAY OR ENGAGE FURTHER: Resist the urge to pay the blackmailer or continue communication. Paying or engaging further only signals that you are a profitable target.
SCREENSHOT EVERYTHING:
Preserve all communications with the perpetrator. Capture their Grindr profile details, chat messages, extortion threats, personal photos/videos they have, and any money transfer receipts.
LOCK DOWN YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA: Protect your online presence to prevent sextortionists from contacting your friends, family, or employer. Adjust privacy settings on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to maximize your privacy.
REPORT THE USER TO GRINDR : Use the platform’s reporting tools to document the sextortion attempt. Include all relevant details and screenshot evidence to help Grindr’s security team take action.
CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT: Sextortion is a serious crime. Report it to your local FBI field office or file a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Provide all documentation and details about the scammer’s contact information and any money transferred.
Legal Rights and Support:
Victims of Grindr sextortion have strong legal protections. Under federal law, it is illegal to distribute private sexual content without consent. States also penalize sexual coercion and revenge porn. If the scammer obtained money from you, they could be charged with theft and wire fraud. Legal options include:
RESTRAINING ORDERS: Petition for a restraining order against the scammer.
CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS: Press charges against the perpetrator.
CIVIL SUITS: Recover damages through a civil suit.
Attorneys who work with the LGBTQ community can be found at qpages. com/cat/attorneys/.
FAQs for Victims:
CAN I STAY ANONYMOUS? Yes, your name and identifying details can remain private in public court records. Attorneys will work to seal sensitive documents and evidence.
WHAT IF THE PERPETRATOR IS ABROAD? U.S. authorities can prosecute these crimes with the cooperation of foreign law enforcement. Scammers from various countries have been brought to justice through a global network of investigators.
WHAT IF MY PHOTOS/ VIDEOS ARE SHARED?
Act quickly to file DMCA takedown notices with any platforms hosting your content without consent. Obtain court orders to remove the material from search results.
HOW LONG WILL RESOLUTION TAKE? While criminal investigations may take time, most sextortion cases can be contained within days to weeks with proper intervention.
DO I HAVE TO REVEAL MY NAME OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION? No, all consultations are confidential, and extensive measures are taken to protect your privacy.
Emotional Support and Recovery:
Remember, you are not to blame for the scammer’s actions. Reach out to trusted friends, family, or an LGBTQ-affirming therapist. Join support groups for sextortion survivors and engage in self-care activities. Your sexual orientation and practices are your own, and sharing intimate content consensually is your right. LGBTQ+ Affirmative Psychotherapist Guild of Utah The Trevor Project Online Community Q
views
quotes
Quotes from Trump’s VP choice, JD Vance:
“I’m a Never Trump guy. I never liked him.”
“My god, what an idiot.”
“America’s Hitler”
“Cynical asshole like Nixon”
“Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office.”
“I can’t stomach Trump. I think that he’s noxious and is leading the white working class to a very dark place”
“I think there’s a chance, if I feel like Trump has a really good chance of winning, that I might have to hold my nose and vote for Hillary Clinton.”
“Trump is cultural heroin.”
“Fellow Christians, everyone is watching us when we apologize for this man.”
“Trump makes people I care about afraid. Immigrants, Muslims, etc. Because of this I find him reprehensible. God wants better of us.”
Jim Obergefell: ‘It isn’t a question of if a case to overturn marriage equality will make it to the Supreme Court, but when.’
BY JIM OBERGEFELL
Our nation
marked nine years of marriage equality on June 26, 2024. As one of more than 30 plaintiffs in the U.S. Supreme Court case that affirmed same-sex couples’ right to marry, this anniversary should have filled me with nothing but joy. I did experience joy, but also foreboding — a fear that Obergefell v. Hodges might not survive to its 10th anniversary.
Over these nine years, hundreds of thousands of couples have married, and thousands of families have formed. Whether they want marriage or not, queer people see a future that includes them. A young woman once told me that, if it weren’t for Obergefell v. Hodges, she would have committed suicide. She found a reason to keep living in that court decision, rather than end her life, and countless others undoubtedly found hope when before they had none.
Marriage equality brought dignity, security and a sense of belonging to people across our nation. Regardless of the outrageous claims made by opponents, no religious leader has been jailed for refusing to officiate, and opposite-sex couples haven’t stopped marrying or having children. Their dire claims of the fall of society have, unsurprisingly, proven to be just as hollow as their claims of loving their neighbors as themselves.
It is foolish to believe the right to marry is safe, especially because the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 with their Dobbs decision, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion. This was the first time in our nation’s history the court rescinded a right instead of affirming one. This court has turned its back on its bedrock principle of precedent because of personal attitudes, not law. Justices Thomas and Alito have made it clear that they will overturn Obergefell v. Hodges. It isn’t a question of if a case to overturn marriage equality will make it to the Supreme Court, but when.
What is at the heart of opposition to marriage equality and LGBTQ+ equality in general? What motivates the extreme hatred toward the transgender community? Why is the LGBTQ+ community targeted with hate and discrimination? In a word: religion.
Just as with interracial marriage, opponents of marriage equality used religious belief to justify bans on same-sex marriage. They conflated holy matrimony — a ceremony blessed by a faith leader in a house of worship — with marriage, a civil right requiring a government-issued license but no religious ceremony. They declared that the sole purpose of marriage is procreation, a claim refuted by the lack of bans on marriage between those who are unable to conceive or who are past childbearing age.
Some religious believers frequently point to seven Bible passages they say condemn homosexuality to justify anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and hate, although same-sex attraction and pairing occur throughout the animal kingdom. Transgender people are attacked because some believers say their God created only two sexes, ignoring the scientific fact that people are born with both male and female genitalia or differing numbers of sex chromosomes.
Louisiana law now requires all schools to display the Ten Commandments, and Oklahoma law requires all schools to teach the Bible. Both laws are obvious religious indoctrination rooted in a superiority complex, the feeling that only Christian beliefs and traditions are acceptable, moral and just. This is not religious freedom — it is preference given to one religion over all others in the law and a complete mockery of the religious freedom our founders enshrined in the Constitution.
No Christian has been prevented from practicing or teaching their faith in their home or house of worship. No Christian has been arrested or denied
their rights because of their beliefs. That is religious freedom, not the perverted version being pushed by a minority. Every person deserves a place in We the People, but that will happen only when our nation’s elected officials and judiciary accurately reflect who we are as a people. We can achieve that lofty goal only when every voter votes in every election. Doing otherwise results in what we have now: a Supreme Court unwilling to affirm equal justice under law to all, regardless of religious belief. We must do better as citizens of this nation. If we don’t, I fear not only marriage equality but our democracy itself will come to an end. Q
Jim Obergefell, the plaintiff in the landmark marriage equality case “Obergefell v. Hodges”, is a speaker on LGBTQ+ equality and civil rights and the co-founder of Equality Vines, a cause-based wine label supporting equality organizations. Jim is the President of the WebQ Board of Directors and serves on advisory boards for the GLBT Historical Society and the Mattachine Society of Washington, DC. He has previously been involved with SAGE and Family Equality.. Jim co-authored “Love Wins” and has contributed to various publications and essays. He is also a producer for the documentary series “Just Married.” His diverse career includes roles as a high school German teacher, corporate trainer, relationship manager, software education consultant and real estate agent. Born in Sandusky, Ohio, Jim now resides there after living in Cincinnati, Columbus and Washington, D.C.
Greetingscreep of the month Ron DeSantis
BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI
from sunny and fascist Florida!
Yes, that’s right. I’m writing this column from the least LGBTQ-friendly state in the nation. My wife, son and I are here visiting family. Do I wish that I had no family living in Florida? Why, yes. Yes, I do. Alas. Here I am in the Sunshine State during Pride Month.
Oh, excuse me. I mean “Freedom Summer,” a designation of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis who decided that bridges around the state that have historically been lit up in rainbow colors will instead be lit up in red, white and blue. Way to take the word “freedom” and the colors red, white and blue and use them as a way to tell LGBTQ+ Floridians to go pound sand.
You’d think — or hope, anyway — that the horrific massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando would have changed attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people in the state, but it really didn’t.
In fact, over the last few years, anti-LGBTQ+ policies in Florida have changed the climate here for the worse. And by climate, I mean the social climate, though the climate-climate has also suffered! Wild that Republicans in states most impacted by extreme weather events think global warming is just some woke nonsense.
Karrissa T. Wade, a Jacksonville drag queen, told First Coast News that anti-LGBTQ+ legislation “has just opened the door for more and more hate.”
Which is no doubt the intention.
But while DeSantis and Florida Republicans have gone out of their way to enact an anti-LGBTQ+ agenda, they haven’t been entirely successful.
For example, last year, an Orlando judge stopped a ban on kids attending public drag shows.
But wait, there’s more. “In March, [Equality Florida] announced a settlement with the state over key provisions
of the socalled ‘don’t say gay’ law that DeSantis rammed through the Republican-controlled state legislature in 2022,” The Guardian reports. “Under the terms of that settlement, the state agreed to reinstate the rights of students and teachers to speak freely in the classroom about LGBTQ+ people, families and issues.”
So there’s some gay-sayin’ going on in Florida after all!
DeSantis even dialed down his book-banning fervor.
In April, he signed a bill into law that “protects schools from activists trying to politicize and disrupt a [school] district’s [book] review process,” reports The Guardian.
You’ll remember that, for a time, right-wing conservatives were challenging hundreds of books, demanding a review process to get them removed from library shelves. Books about Black history and LGBTQ+ people were targeted. Some teachers were so afraid of getting in trouble that they removed all of the books in their classrooms.
As The Guardian puts it, even though it was DeSantis himself who was in favor of policies that effectively banned books, he declared that “some people are taking the curriculum transparency and trying to weaponize that for political purposes.”
You don’t say! Gay.
When my family and I arrived at the Orlando airport I saw a Pride display at a book/souvenir store. I half expected to see DeSantis burst through the store’s glass window like a fascist Kool-Aid man and topple the display.
It seems like losing bigly to convicted
felon and disgraced former president Donald Trump in the Republican primary might have something to do with DeSantis cooling his anti-LGBTQ+ jets a bit.
“He wasn’t pushing the more radical elements of his agenda through the state legislature in 2024 as he did one year ago because they didn’t bring him the presidency,” Charles Zelden, a professor of history and politics at Nova Southeastern University told The Guardian. “He is thinking about his future as a politician and what comes next after the governorship — and he seems to be trying to moderate some of his harsher stances.”
Wild if true! Meanwhile, Trump hasn’t moderated any of his stances and Republicans are loving it. So who knows if this is actually a conscious plan by DeSantis or if he’s just so destroyed by his absolutely pitiful showing in the primary that not even hurting the gays brings him joy anymore.
Not that there hasn’t been anti-LGBTQ+ legislation introduced this year. But unlike previous years, the state legislature doesn’t seem to have the same appetite for harmful legislation.
“We stopped or neutralized 21 of 22 anti-LGBTQ bills this session,” Jon Harris Maurer, public policy director of Equality Florida, told The Guardian. “Momentum is on our side.”
I sure hope so! But I also hope that my family members in Florida get the hell out of here. 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.
Those who stop Pride don’t understand the meaning of Pride
BY MARK SEGAL, Publisher of Philadelphia Gay News
ThroughoutLGBTQ Pride month, it was obvious to me that members of the LGBTQ+ community don’t know the history of what Stonewall or Pride represent. And some members even went so far as to disgrace our history and everyone who fought for the privilege that they have to be out.
I was at Stonewall that first night. I’m the guy who wrote on the walls and streets “Tomorrow Night Stonewall,” which helped organize the second night. Yes, Stonewall was more than just that first night, and I’ve been fighting for equality each and every day for the last 55 years.
Over the years, I’ve been angered at how the action my friends and I took has been misrepresented and used for political purposes, but this year has been especially egregious on the part of those seeking to destroy a core part of our movement for equality. As one of less than a handful of those of us from Stonewall and Gay Liberation Front remaining, it’s hard to see the point of Stonewall and Pride being taken so far out of context.
Stonewall and Pride are interconnected, and they both represent the same idea: we will no longer be invisible, and you will no longer have the pleasure of our silence. We will be out loud and proud.
Today, many people have the privilege of being out thanks to the work we did. But back in 1969, 99% of our community was in the closet. Almost everything we did — congregating, intimacy, even being served alcohol, was illegal — many of us, including myself, still have our bail receipts. Thanks to the work of activists over the decades, LGBTQ+ people can now gather freely and be out and work and even rise to a C-suite or a head of a nonprofit. There are even LGBTQ+ nonprofits now, which we literally had to invent. We did all that by one word: visibility. That is what some members of our community tried to erase this year. This year, in many cities, members of our community attempted to stop Pride by attempting to block Pride parades chanting “No pride during genocide.” Others wrote posts asking what there is to be proud of. All of the people who did that do not understand the meaning of Stonewall, our history, or Pride. They forget, or simply choose to disregard, the reason that they’re able to be out of the closet is because of the visibility we brought to the world, because of the rioting at Stonewall, and because of the community created where there was none before. That visibility is more important today than ever with over 450 pieces of anti-LGBTQ+
legislation introduced across the nation designed to make us invisible again. Those who tried to stop Pride want to take us back to the 1950s. They want us to go back to being silent. You can feel strongly about the situation in Gaza, but not at the expense of erasing our visibility. It’s because of Pride that the LGBTQ+ community can publicly exist — with all the differing opinions of any other group. It’s because of Pride that pro-Palestinian LGBTQ+ people can be as public as they want. And now they’ve tried to stop the very thing that allows them to exist in the first place.
I’d like to pose a question to everyone who tried to stop Pride parades this year: What if this year was the first pride for an LGBTQ+ youth? Someone who wanted to come out and not be harassed by members of our community telling them not to be proud, just like those 450 pieces of legislation around the nation. What if you made them feel shame? What if you forced them to go back in the closet because they felt guilty for celebrating themselves for the first time in their lives? Are you proud of doing that? Is that what you want for our community? If so, you are no better than those who want us to stay in the closet. You are no better than those who wished we didn’t exist. Q
Mark Segal is an American journalist. He is the founder and publisher of Philadelphia Gay News and has won numerous journalism awards for his column “Mark My Words,” including best column by The National Newspaper Association, Suburban Newspaper Association and The Society of Professional Journalists.
My mom
Caretakers and microaggressions
BY CHRISTOPHER KATIS
and I have this joke: if she doesn’t behave, I’ll send her to an old folks’ home – not a nice one, the kind you see on “60 Minutes.” She’s seen me be a caretaker for other older family members, so I guess she figures my threat is pretty hollow.
It’s not, however, unusual for the care of parents to fall on the gay kid. Historically, LGBTQ+ people haven’t usually had kids, so families reasoned that the queer sibling had more time and fewer responsibilities and thus could more easily step into the role of caregiver.
But we’re not just helping our parents. Like our straight friends, gay folks are taking care of their spouses, partners, friends, and children. In fact, according to the LGBTQ Caregiver Center, there are an estimated 3 million LGBTQ+ caregivers in the United States, or about 12 percent of all adult Americans.
Being a caregiver can be a scary and frustrating role. Dealing with insurance companies, medical professionals, and support staff can be daunting. And, not surprisingly, for gay people, that means we can face both blatant discrimination and microaggression.
According to Karan Chawla, Chief Product Officer at Homethrive, a solutions-based platform for caregivers, “Microaggressions include everything from dismissing a partner’s role in care decisions to hostile remarks from medical staff.”
A 2021 article in The HuffPost noted that although these microaggressions may seem harmless at first, research indicates a link between them and physical and mental health issues. They can be a root cause for everything from high blood pressure to anxiety in a caregiver.
Although we didn’t recognize it at the time as a microaggression, Kelly and I were subjected to it by a doctor we’d taken our
then-6-year-old son to see. Our regular pediatrician was out of town, and someone else from the practice saw us. In spite of the fact that there were two dads in the room, this doctor repeatedly asked us what mom thought about the medical situation.
We actually did discuss that experience when we saw the boys’ regular doctor a couple of weeks later. But apparently, we were in the minority. According to Chawla, “LGBTQ caregivers often worry about speaking up about microaggression for fear of it affecting their loved ones’ treatment.”
Chawla also warns that this can be especially true in care facilities. Staff might treat a patient differently – and negatively impact care – because of that person’s or their loved one’s sexual or gender identity. Indeed, that fear is so real that he adds nearly half of older queer adults said they’ve never told their doctors that they are LGBTQ.
So, what can queer caregivers do to address microaggressions? The folks at Homethrive suggest companies and healthcare professionals look into sensitivity training, help groups, employee assistance programs, and DEI strategies. And Chawla says, “People need to remember that they are not alone. There are support groups, online classes, in-person and virtual activities, and platforms dedicated to helping with the financial and emotional burdens of caregiving.”
I may tease my mom, but she punches back harder. One day, a couple of years ago, I dropped by her house, and she handed me a newspaper article she’d been saving. The headline read, “Mom reportedly kills son who wanted to move her to a facility” — ouch! Q
Hey, if you want to learn more about gay parenting, check out the podcast Gaytriarchs. The hosts kindly had me on as a guest in June. As the hosts say, it can be found in all the same places you find the podcasts of Barack Obama. And gaytriarchs.com
Landon Cider talks Ogden Pride, his personal journey, and the fluidity of gender
Ogden
Pride is buzzing with excitement as it prepares for its 10th annual festival — Decade of Diversity. One of the highlights of this year’s celebration is welcoming Landon Cider as their Mister of Ceremonies, who will be hosting Sunday of their weekend full of events. Known as the SuperMonster winner of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula Season 3, Landon is coming to Ogden from Long Beach, California. His unique journey and dynamic presence promise to make this year’s festival truly unforgettable. We had the opportunity to ask Landon a few questions, where he discusses his path in the world of drag, his personal take on Pride, and what it means to represent the art of drag kings.
PERSONAL JOURNEY
Can you tell us a bit about your journey in the world of drag and how you became Landon Cider? Growing up as a visual and performance artist, I fell in love with special FX makeup in high school. Coming out in my early 20s and regularly going to drag shows, I always felt inspired by the beautiful blend of musical theater, cabaret, and improv. After fighting oral cancer in 2008, I was committed to return to performing, and creating Landon is how I found my way back to the stage. I was instantly hooked and never looked back.
PRIDE CELEBRATIONS
How do you personally celebrate Pride, and what does it mean to you? Pride celebrations are truly something completely unique to our community, and nothing connects us like it, especially when we remember that Pride is a revolution and not just a party. Hitting up the parades, festivals, performances, and just connecting with strangers bonding over our diversity are my favorite parts of Pride season.
ROLE AS MISTER OF CEREMONIES
What are you most looking forward to as the Mister of Ceremonies for the Ogden Pride Festival? Mainstream Pride season always focuses on drag queens, and I’m so proud to represent the equally important king art form, which has been around just as long but is so often overlooked. Not only am I proud to be a king and a lesbian, but also a woman whose voice on the mic has the potential to reach and inspire a larger audience of youth and adults alike. I hope to validate those in the audience who don’t often see themselves celebrated in these roles and positively impact the local LGBTQ+ community.
DRAG AS ART
What do you think is the most important message or feeling that drag as an art form can convey to audiences? That we can celebrate the beautifully large spectrum of masculinity, femininity, and the fluidity between the two regardless of gender.
ADVICE FOR ASPIRING PERFORMERS
What advice would you give to aspiring drag performers who look up to you? Practice your makeup multiple times before your first show, and know your lyrics so much that if distracted, your mouth’s muscle memory and choreography take over when your mind forgets them, because it will forget them.
FUTURE PROJECTS
Are there any upcoming projects or performances you’re excited about that you can share with our readers? Happy to still be touring the country and internationally performing for audiences, and some super secret projects that I still can’t disclose, but keep an eye out. Q
information on Ogden Pride can be found at ogdenpride.org
Ogden Pride celebrates ‘A Decade of Diversity’
The hard-working organizers of Ogden Pride extend an open invitation to everyone, welcoming all to “share in the joy of this monumental celebration” now in its tenth year.
“Join us as we weave together the threads of a decade, creating a vibrant tapestry of love and diversity. Let’s make the 10th Annual Festival an unforgettable celebration of who we are,” they said.
The event is free and open to the public, with most activities being held at the Ogden Amphitheater in the shadow of the beautiful art-deco municipal building.
FRIDAY AUG 2
Queer Prom
An enchanted night under the glittering lights at Queer Prom, where everyone is royalty on the dance floor. An inclusive all-ages celebration of joy, self-expression, and unity.
Location: The Monarch, 455 25th St Doors: 6 pm
Cost: Free w/suggested donation of $5 at the door
Dress: Your Best Rainbow
SATURDAY AUG 3
Ogden Pride Rally and March
Get ready to celebrate a Decade of Diversity with Ogden Pride on Saturday, August 3rd, to kick off the 10th Annual Ogden Pride Festival with a vibrant rally and march.
The rally starts at 5 pm at the Golden Hours Senior Center park/parking lot leading into a spirited march down 25th Street at 5:40 pm. This year’s theme is all about being seen and heard to stand strong against hate affecting our community — honoring 55 years since Stonewall and ten years of Ogden Pride, . Prepare to be inspired by
dynamic speakers from our community and get ready for a spectacular drag show to launch the festival in style! Our VIP vendors and sponsors will be set up in the amphitheater for Day 1 of the festival, making it a celebration you won’t want to miss.
festival in style! Our over 30 VIP vendors and sponsors will be set up in the amphitheater for Day 1 of the festival, making it a celebration you won’t want to miss.
Location: Ogden Amphitheater, 343 E 25th St
Time: 6–10pm
Cost: Free for all ages
TUESDAY AUG 6
Screening of ‘There Are Things to Do’
An award winning documentary about LGBTQ+ activist Urvashi Vaid that has resonated with audiences at film festivals around the world.
Calling all LGBTQ+ members, allies, and supporters –bring your rainbow flag capes, your loudest voices, and meet us at Golden Hours Senior Center. We need 100 volunteers to help carry the giant rainbow flag we’ve borrowed from our friends at the Utah Pride Center. Step up and be part of this historic march. For more details, to volunteer, or to check out all our festival events, visit ogdenpride.org. Let’s make history together!
Location: Golden Hours Senior Center parking lot, 650 25th St, marching to the Amphitheater, 343 E 25th St
Time: Rally 5pm, March 5:40pm
Cost: Free for all ages
SATURDAY AUG 3
Ogden Pride Kickoff and Festival Day
1
Get ready for a spectacular drag show to launch the
SATURDAY AUG 3
Ogden Pride Festival Day 2
Paint the town with love, laughter, and a whole lot of pride at ‘Decade of Diversity: Celebrating 10 Years of Ogden Pride’! It’s a non-stop party with entertainment rocking two stages, mouthwatering eats, kids’ activities for the little party animals, and a bustling marketplace with hundreds of vendors. Join us in the heart of the celebration as we throw the ultimate pride bash—for free! Let’s dance, feast, and revel in a decade of fabulousness together!
Location: Ogden Amphitheater and Municipal Gardens, 343 E 25th St
Time: 11 am – 8 pm
Cost: Free for all ages
The film focuses on Urvashi’s life in Provincetown, Mass. and decades-long relationship with partner, comedian / activist / author Kate Clinton that inspired her call to action to achieve equality by creating community.
The film, recorded Q&A with Kate Clinton and film discussion guide is being made available through CenterLink (lgbtqcenters. org) as part of an LGBTQ+ Centers screening initiative to create more awareness about Urvashi Vaid & her important movement leading work consistent with Urvashi’s focus on building community.
Location: Pleasant Valley Branch Library, 5568 S Adams Ave, Washington Terrace
Time: Doors 6:30 Screening 7pm
Cost: Free for all ages
More information at ogdenpride.org
Ogden Pride 2024 Entertainment
Saturday, August 3
6 pm – Welcoming & Opening Ceremony with our Emcee SEAN STARR LIQUÉ FROM HELL
6:10 pm – THE HAUS DANCE AGENCY
is a pre-professional dance studio in Ogden that trains dancers 3–19 years old in many studio styles and some styles not seen in studios, such as krump. They have competed twice at the World of Dance and just returned from their fourth nationals.
6:30 pm – AIDAN THE MAGICIAN is a 16-year-old performer with theater experience who is now working his way up in the world of magicians. He will be presenting everything from card magic to mind reading and will be using works from many different magicians. Aiden loves to involve the audience in his tricks.
6:45 pm – BILLY THE KING is a gender-bending drag king from Cedar City, Utah, who was recently crowned Southern Utah’s Drag Performer of the Year. Billy is a professor by day and a performer at night. They may dance with themself or with props that defy gravity. Billy relishes in creating numbers that tell a story and inspire everyone to get up and dance or beg for more.
7:10 pm – THE IMPERIAL RAINBOW COURT OF NORTHERN UTAH Ogden and Northern Utah’s oldest LGBTQ+ community organization, is in its 24th reign. It raises funds for local charities like Christmas Box House, Youth Outreach, Northern Utah Coalition, Lantern House, and the local food bank, as well as national and international causes such as the Pink Ribbon Campaign, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Matthew Shepard Foundation. IRCoNU also supports
individuals with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other illnesses. Volunteers receive no monetary gain. While often associated with drag queens, IRCoNU also provides a creative space for the LGBTQ+ community to express their individuality through elaborate costumes, sets, and performances.
8:10 pm – PETER PANSY is an immortal creature living in a mortal world. The Twisted Fae of Mischief himself emerges from the dark realm of Neverland to bring chaos, shatter the binary, and gather his lost children. One look into his beguiling and nefarious eyes, you will be enthralled forever.
HOLLY RANCHER is a local bio queen and lover of the arts; please welcome to the stage, Holly Rancher
8:20 pm – HOUSE OF LIQUÉ – RYAN NIGHTMARE, JAMES NIGHTMARE, KAT FURR, & VECTOR RILEY FROM HELL AND KYLIE FROM HELL
8:50 pm – HOT! TAKE BURLESQUE is not just a troupe; it is an experienced, vibrant celebration of empowerment and queerness. Its tantalizing performers transport you to a world where naughty meets nice, boundaries blur, and inhibitions fade away. (As this is a family-friendly event, all performances will adhere to the known audience.)
9:15 pm – THE ALTER EGOS are a drag troupe that has existed for 13 years. They arrange talent from drag to live singing
Sunday, August 4
RAMP & QSaltLake Main Stage
11 am – Welcoming LANDON CIDER as our Mister of Ceremonies
11:15 am – CHEER SALT LAKE has been performing with Ogden Pride since the very first year. They are cheerleaders made up by and for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies. They are a founding member of the Pride Cheerleading Association, made up of queer charitable cheerleading across the nation. As charitable cheerleaders, Cheer Salt Lake has raised $20,000 for local queer causes by entertaining you with cheer performances as you are about to see.
11:45 am – LANDON CIDER , Mister of Ceremonies
11:55 am – HVXLII (pronounced “Huxley”) is a producer, songwriter, and vocalist based in Salt Lake City. He specializes in electronic, pop, and genre-blended music. He’s achieved international success and is known for his innovative live show featuring the MiMU Gloves.
12:30 pm – THE ALTER EGOS are a drag troupe that has been in existence for 13 years. They arrange talent from drag to live singing
1 pm – LANDON CIDER , Mister of Ceremonies
1:20 pm – MENDED HEARTS CLUB, an indie folk duo featuring vocalist and singer-songwriter
Aiden Barrick and violinist Judith Rognli, uniquely blends folk rock and beat poetry. Their chemistry on stage is intimate and inviting, with a music catalog rich in depth, honesty, and vulnerability. Addressing themes of politico-religious oppression, romantic love, and self-acceptance, their work resonates with listeners and draws comparisons to Brandi Carlile, Indigo Girls, Tracy Chapman, and Andrea Gibson. Straddling Americana and indie-folk, they focus on delivering comforting melodies, raw vocals, and powerful messages of social justice, equal rights, and inclusion while navigating their identities as queer and trans artists.
2:30 pm – LANDON CIDER , Mister of Ceremonies
2:40 pm – TRIBAL LOVE DANCE, led by Deja Mitchell and Sierra Vashro, is a group dedicated to celebrating uniqueness, inclusivity, and love in all its forms.
3:25 pm – BOMBA MARILÉ was established in 2017 to share Afro-Puerto Rican traditions of Bomba music, dance, and history through interactive events that create a sense of community. They organize Bomba workshops with visiting instructors, social events including dominos and picnics, and educational activities, including showing documentaries discussing issues related to Puerto Rico. They have performed at various cultural events throughout Utah, including the Living Traditions Festival, West Side Dance Cinco de Mayo Festival, Mondays at the Park, and Utah County Fair. They are grateful for the opportunity to highlight their musical traditions from Puerto Rico and
to share them with those who support the cultural arts.
4:50 pm – LANDON CIDER , Mister of Ceremonies
5:10 pm – GINGER AND THE GENTS brings a new spin to a classic story known as rock ‘n’ roll. This merry band of misfits has cut their performance teeth at all things Utah and then some, even venturing to LA’s famous Whisky a Go Go. They are a mustsee live band that commands the stage with passion and movement, powerhouse vocals, and thoughtful songcraft. Their heavy-hitting songs are pulled from their own life stories and the sentiments of greats who paved the way before them.
6:30 pm – LANDON CIDER , Mister of Ceremonies
6:55 pm – SHECOCK WITH A VENGEANCE is Glam Rock from the Salt Block
Project Rainbow Pride in the Park Stage
12 pm – LAVENDER MENACES BRASS
COLLECTIVE is a new Salt Lake City-based performance artist collective dedicated to empowering female, non-binary, and trans people. They welcome all marginalized artists to freely express their creative talents as they break society’s expectations for those who are allowed to take up space by fiercely and unapologetically bringing high-energy brass music and visual arts to the streets and our community.
12:55 pm – DJ HIGHINTENTIONS is Austin, originally hailing from the picturesque Ogden, Utah, who embarked on a transformative journey to Los Angeles amidst the challenging backdrop of the pandemic. Though a dedicated member of the nursing profession, as the pandemic’s grip loosened, Austin felt a stirring within— a call to pursue their true passion. Being a non-binary, queer individual in the heart of a conservative state instilled in Austin a profound sense of empathy and determination. Their experiences fueled a fiery resolve to dismantle barriers and amplify the voices of those too often silenced. The essence of their art is liberation and self-discovery. Through their music, they weave a tapestry of emotions embracing the complexities of freedom, introspection, and the raw vulnerability that accompanies the journey of self-realization, serving as a beacon of empowerment and catharsis a testament to the indomitable spirit within us all.
2 pm – CHEER SALT LAKE BRASS BAND are members of Cheer Salt Lake who share their talents to express joy through music and art. Hear them shout and then turn it up with more ways to bring cheer to the crowd behind various instruments.
2:45 pm – DJ HIGHINTENTIONS transcends Pride and joy on the Pride in the Park stage. Get your groove on while you enjoy a stroll through our many vendors.
3:20 pm – FULL OUT ATHLETICS is an up-and-coming All-Star gym located in South Ogden. It offers cheer and tumbling classes and is a safe place for youth of all ages and backgrounds to belong. The storm is coming. Are you ready?
4 pm – DJ HIGHINTENTIONS transcends Pride and joy on the Pride in the Park stage. Get your groove on while you enjoy a stroll through Ogden Pride’s many vendors.
AM I OKAY TO DRIVE?
BUZZED DRIVING IS DRUNK DRIVING
Trans Pride-nJoy Fest August 9 and 10
Genderbands will be holding their fifth annual Trans Pride Festival with a new monicker — Trans PrideN-Joy Fest. Organizers say the festival “celebrates, centers, and brings visibility to our amazingly diverse transgender community.”
The unique event put on by Genderbands celebrates and brings visibility to the diverse transgender community. Whether in person or virtual, Trans Pride-NJoy is a safe place to gather, share our talents, and soak up the love and support of the community and allies.
“All too often the T is forgotten or an after-thought in LGBT events. Here the T is spotlighted because Trans is beautiful,” organizers wrote in a statement.
The festival will be held at Memorial Park in Provo, 800 E. Center St on Saturday, August 10, 11am–5pm
An all-ages after-party will be held that night from 6–8pm, and a 21+ after party will go from 9pm to 1am.
On Friday, August 9, a Trans Pool Party will run from 6–9pm in Provo at a cost of $10. The location will be announced to those who purchase tickets.
Hand tie-dyed Trans Pride shirts can be ordered for $20 on the group/s website at genderbands.org Q More info can be found at genderbands.org/transpride
Upcoming Regional Prides
Pride of Southern Utah Lake Day 2024
A day of sun, water, food, and celebration at Southern Utah’s annual Quail Creek Lake Day. As in years past, they’ll be located near the waters edge, close to Dig Paddlesports.
WHEN: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1–5 P.M.
WHERE: QUAIL CREEK STATE PARK, HURRICANE, UTAH
INFO: PRIDEOFSOUTHERNUTAH.ORG
Logan Pride Festival
Since 2017, the Logan Pride Foundation has served the Cache Valley community as a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating diversity while promoting LGBTQIA+
visibility, acceptance, and support in our region. While we host many projects and activities throughout the year, our hallmark event is our annual Pride Festival, which occurs each September. This single-day event has notably generated the largest reach and impact in and for our community, with over 3,000 attendees.
Sponsorships are available from $500 to $5,000. Vendor booths are allotted a 10×10 plot, which they can set up as they wish. Last year, the event had 84 booths. Musicians and drag artists are welcome to show interest in performing in
ple performance spaces. The event is free for attendees. Donations to the festival help fund the Logan Pride House, the nonprofit’s home that provides a place for activities and support groups for Cache County’s LGBTQ+ community.
WHEN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
WHERE: WILLOW PARK, LOGAN INFO: LOGANPRIDE.ORG
Pride of Southern Utah Pride in the Park
Pride in the Park returns to St. George this September for a day of entertainment, food, vendors and activities. This is a free all-ages event to celebrate our local LGBTQ+ community alongside friends, families and allies.
WHEN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M.
PARK, 2099 S. CONVENTION
CENTER DR. , ST. GEORGE
SLC Leather Pride
The Salt Lake City Leather Pride Festival is a day of celebration for the Men’s Leather and Kink community. The indoor-outdoor event is set to take place on Sunday, October 6th, from 1 to 8 p.m. at MILK+. Free tickets will be available in advance, granting access to a series of events designed to connect, educate, and celebrate this vibrant subculture.
The highlight of the festival is the MR LEATHER SLUT Title contest, which, alongside various activities, aims to bring together leather enthusiasts from around the globe.
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Dorothy
I was invited to the White House for Pride. Here’s everything I saw and everyone I spoke with.
BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI
Onesentiment shared among some LGBTQ+ people at the White House on June 26 for its Pride picnic: My younger self wouldn’t believe I’d one day be here. To include Q Syndicate, an invitation that came directly from the White House in early June, was more than a huge honor for our LGBTQ+ network of publications — it was an affirmation of our work in LGBTQ+ media, directly from the highest level of government. And that message was made even more resoundingly clear when I arrived enthusiastically to the White House in the late afternoon on June 26. There, I spoke to many people who never imagined as a kid they’d feel this kind of official support from a presidential administration. I was one of them.
First, we filed in through the security checkpoint at the northwest gate of the White House across from Lafayette Square to receive our encoded badge. Then we entered. To be standing on the White House grounds was dreamlike. Even now as I write this, to think about how I was interviewing notable LGBTQ+ attendees about being at the White House for Pride on what is famously known as Pebble Beach, the north grounds of the White House where television news organizations have his-
torically broadcast their reports, doesn’t quite feel real. Nor did sitting in the White House Press Briefing Room, where presidents throughout many decades have spoken to the country through our TVs about, among many human rights issues, advancing LGBTQ+ rights. When I walked up to the podium, I recalled how, in 2021, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre made history as the first Black lesbian to lead a White House press briefing behind that mic.
walked up to our small group of press members. Berk told
the Washington Blade that he had spoken with the Biden-Harris 2024 team the day before about “going on the road, going on the campaign trail, and maybe speaking” at the Democratic National Convention.
At Pebble Beach, when Berk approached me, his face was aglow as he spoke about the significance of being at the White House for Pride as an out gay person. “I think it’s very important to be here because it’s showing the world, showing America, that this administration really does care about everyone and accepts everyone, which is what America’s about, which is what America was founded upon. So it’s amazing.”
This year, he added, “Pride has been more about finding those people that support you,” a sentiment echoed by First Lady JILL BIDEN , the celebration’s featured speaker, when she welcomed hundreds of LGBTQ+ people to her and President Biden’s iconic South Lawn, including myself: “Looking out at all of you, I see America,” she said, beaming. “And it’s an honor to welcome you to our home.” (Though we were told initially that senior administration officials would be speaking to us at Pebble Beach, that did not materialize, and President Biden, who was preparing for the next day’s debate at Camp David, was absent.)
After interviewing reception participants, I entered the sprawling lawn (I worked up a sweat just walking to the bathroom!) through the actual White House — its halls, its doors. This was not
Just outside that symbolic room is where “Queer Eye” star and interior designer BOBBY BERK
a part of the original plan, but I think I have DEBORAH COX , who performed after the First Lady gave her remarks, to thank. She unknowingly helped make this happen by arriving later than expected. Instead of exiting and reentering in the line forming outside the South Lawn, we were led by WESTON WEBER , a queer communications fellow instrumental in making us a part of this event, through the historic halls of the White House. To merely step through that house knowing those colonial walls I was passing by had seen so much history was almost mystical, like Dorothy being swept into Oz. Then, to be taking this walk in the White House as a gay person, felt almost defiant. And it would’ve been in 2020; it could be in 2025. That walk, I realized as I soaked up the moment and walked the White House floor with an awareness of what the next four years could be like, may not even happen.
Even though I was fortunate to have my parents’ support after coming out at 18 while growing up in the Michigan suburbs, my experience at the White House mirrored, in some ways, that of Berk’s as described to The Advocate — it felt like the ultimate affirmation. “To be a little gay kid from Missouri who at one point was homeless when he was 15 because he came out and his family didn’t accept him, to now be here at the White House, not only being here at the White House but being invited by an administration who loves and supports us and not just us, but everyone,” he said. “It’s a big deal.”
My own out-of-body excitement took me to new uplifting heights as I bounced around the lawn wondering, randomly, what my 8th grade govern-
ment teacher might think of me being here. I couldn’t snap photos of White House Pridegoers fast enough: same-sex parents playing yard games with their children, lines of people at the many refreshments tables enjoying hot dogs (all beef) and chips, and others trying to preserve their energy in the 98-degree heat, sprawled out on blankets savoring every last moment of what would be a forever memory. The First Lady encouraged doing cartwheels on her lawn during her remarks, and even if I didn’t spot anyone doing any sideways handsprings, we were all doing metaphorical flips. There was at least some fancy movement going on while Deborah Cox made the community proud by performing for the first time ever at the White House.
“I’m honored,” she told me earlier in the day at Pebble Beach. “My connection and my relationship with the LGBTQ+ community goes deep. It’s just been wonderful to be an ally, to be a support.”
Earlier in the day, I messaged my mom the livestream link. She left me this message after watching the entire event back in Michigan: “I watched the whole Pride celebration. I did look for you but couldn’t find you. There were quite a few people on that lawn, but you’re probably not answering the phone because you’re busy doing a cartwheel. Anyways, such a special time and so proud of you and love you and and wish I could’ve been there, but I’m here virtually with you, honey.”
It’s possible that when she called I was off devouring hot dogs, which after I had my second, I was ready for an ice cream bar (I almost started with one, but didn’t want to spoil my White House hot dog). So was everyone else. Or so I thought! It wasn’t a Dreamsicle everyone was crowding around for — it was Secretary of Transportation PETE BUTTIGIEG and husband CHASTEN , a children’s book author and the advisor, spokesperson and social media campaigner to Pete during his 2020 (and maybe future) presidential campaign. Tucked to the sideline, they were not eating Dreamsicles but meeting and greeting Pridegoers, engaging in brief conversation and posing for photos taken by someone from their team. National luminaries, as reported by The Advo-
cate, included JEAN-PIERRE , Colorado
Gov. JARED POLIS , California U.S. Rep. MARK TAKANO, LGBTQ+ trailblazer
JIM OBERGEFELL , Human Rights Campaign president KELLEY ROBINSON , rapper DA BRAT and former Democratic Pennsylvania state Rep. BRIAN SIMS . It was a nice surprise to see “Pose” Emmy winner and vocalist BILLY PORTER hanging out right in front of the Q Syndicate blanket with a small group of friends and a growing number of queer admirers who recognized him. He was organizing his own meeting line, prioritizing his hellos on a first-comefirst-serve basis and taking photos in sets: first was “smile,” second was “serve.” When I asked him how being there felt as we geared up to a precarious election that would likely come down to Donald Trump and President Biden, he was plain-spoken, expressing the importance of learning from history and the need to remember the struggles and victories of the past while also emphasizing the significance of voting and democracy.
“We stand on the shoulders of giants who already did this,” he told me. “What’s the fear about? Love always wins.
We’ve been in a progressive circle for 60 years. We forgot the fight. Go back. They stopped teaching history in public schools on purpose. Nobody remembers. Nobody remembers. Just Google the fucking civil rights movement. Bitch, look at some shit. We did this already. None of it is new. Show up and show out, the end. And vote. Why are we still talking about that even? Why are we still talking about voting? That’s a no-brainer to me. The choice is democracy or not. That’s right, period. Thank you.”
In regards to what this particular Pride celebration at the White House represented just months before the election, he said, “It’s community. It’s a call to action. It’s a reminder of our power. Fear not, the change has already happened. This is not the time to be scared or terrified. Those words need to be stricken from the lexi-
con. It’s time to fight. We did this already.”
To process the uncertainty, he told me he leans on the wise words of civil rights icon John Lewis: “I just put one foot in front of the other and refuse to give up like John Lewis told me.”
As I write this, I’m still processing my own complicated feelings about the country’s future and seeing that debate in my D.C. hotel (you know the one) while being at the White House just 24 hours beforehand; what I can say right now is that there are big emotions about what simply being there symbolizes to me as a gay person and journalist, which is a profound shift in societal recognition, equality and acceptance. For a gay person, such an invitation represents a milestone in my personal journey and a significant moment in the broader struggle for LGBTQ+ rights. The White House is not
just any venue; it is the residence and office of the President of the United States, a symbol of the nation itself. Being in attendance that day among my community sends a powerful message of inclusion and equality, but the First Lady also sent that message directly, addressing the most vulnerable members of our community — the transgender population — who need our steadfast support and solidarity. “I hope all of you feel that freedom and love on the South Lawn today,” she said in her remarks, “because your home is here too.”
Back in Michigan, going through my numerous photos, I found myself reflecting on the decades-long journey that brought me here, to my role as the editorial director of Q Syndicate. From grassroots activism to this national recognition, the path to this moment has been paved with courage and perseverance; I had to survive my agonizing teen years to get here. Being at the White House, witnessing history in the making, reaffirms my commitment to amplifying LGBTQ+ voices and advancing our collective cause and the promise of working toward a future where every individual can live authentically and proudly.
A future in which we can always, in 2025 and beyond, call the White House “home.” Q
Chris Azzopardi is the editorial director of Pride Source Media Group and Q Syndicate, the national LGBTQ+ wire service. 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 at chris@pridesource.com.
Pride Journey: Pensacola, Florida
BY JOEY AMATO
Nestled along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, Pensacola, Florida, offers a unique blend of history, culture, and coastal charm, along with a vibrant LGBTQ community. From its lively markets to its delectable dining options and picturesque natural wonders, Pensacola has something to offer every visitor. Let’s take a closer look at some of the must-visit attractions in this captivating city.
I began my journey through Pensacola at the Palafox Market, where the community comes alive every Saturday morning. Located in the heart of downtown Pensacola, this bustling market offers a diverse array of locally grown produce, artisanal crafts, and delicious treats. Stroll through the rows of vendors, chat with local artisans, and immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of this beloved community gathering. If I had brought more than a carry-on, I probably would
have purchased a few items to bring home.
After exploring the market, treat yourself to a memorable dining experience at The Kennedy. This quaint but well-appointed establishment is the perfect place to grab a craft cocktail and sample some local fare. I opted for an Old Fashioned, which happened to be a Happy Hour special, as well as an order of the Pork Gyoza and Pork Belly Deviled Eggs. The music-inspired restaurant was right up my alley, and the laid-back atmosphere was the perfect way to start the evening.
if you’re the only one on the sand. I woke up early each day to watch the sunrise, and it was magical.
History enthusiasts won’t want to miss a visit to Fort Pickens, a historic military fort located on the western tip of Santa Rosa Island. Built in the early 19th century, Fort Pickens played a crucial role in defending the Gulf Coast during the Civil War and World War II. Today, visitors can explore the well-preserved fortifications, stroll along the scenic nature trails, and learn about the rich history of this fascinating landmark. Don’t forget to bring your camera to capture breathtaking views of the Gulf and surrounding coastline.
Pensacola boasts a thriving LGBTQ nightlife scene, with an array of bars, clubs, and restaurants that cater to the community. Check out The Roundup and Cabaret, two bars offering a variety of LGBTQ events and activities throughout the week.
Check in to the Holiday Inn Express Pensacola Beach for your stay. Located right on the beach, this is not your everyday Holiday Inn Express. The rooms are elegantly appointed, and every room comes complete with unobstructed views of the Gulf. Stroll along the beach to witness both the sunrise and sunset. This section of the beach is less crowded with tourists, so at moments, you’ll feel as
Conclude your journey with a visit to the Gulf Islands National Seashore, a pristine stretch of coastline renowned for its sugar-white sands and crystal-clear waters. Take a leisurely stroll along the shore, go for a refreshing swim, or simply relax and soak up the sun on one of the many secluded beaches.
Continue your day with a visit to the Pensacola Beach Pier, where you can try your hand at fishing or simply admire the panoramic views of the Gulf and Pensacola Beach. The newly reopened pier is 1471 feet in length and is one of the most popular attractions along the beach. By the time you walk to the end of the pier, you’ll be hovering almost dozens of feet over the Gulf of Mexico. It’s the perfect place to watch the waves or catch the stunning sunset.
Pensacola is a vibrant hub of LGBTQ culture and community along the Florida panhandle. From colorful events and supportive organizations to inclusive spaces and advocacy efforts, Pensacola shines as a
beacon of LGBTQ culture. Pensacola’s LGBTQ community is as diverse as the city itself, encompassing people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities.
PFLAG operates a chapter in Pensacola, and the city is home to numerous events throughout the year, including the Pensacola Pride Festival, held annually over Memorial Day weekend, and is the perfect kickoff to Pride month. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the festival, which will be highlighted with performances by DJ Dan Slater, DJ Abel, and Trixie Mattel and is a highlight of the city’s calendar, featuring a colorful parade, live music, and drag performances. Pensacola Pride draws tens of thousands of visitors and is one of the largest and most unique pride experiences in the country. Another not-to-be-missed event in Pensacola is their annual LGBTQ film festival called Stamped. Stamped Film Festival was spearheaded in 2012 by Sara Latshaw to create a more accepting, safe, and educated community. The film festival board and organization have continued to grow over the years with increased attendance at the annual film festival and by hosting other outreach activities. Stamped showcases the artistic contribution of LGBTQ+ film and filmmakers from
all over the world. In 2015, the festival re-branded itself from Pensacola LGBTQ+ Film Fest to ‘Stamped Film Festival,’ a name paying homage to the days when Memorial Day Weekend LGBTQ tourists stamped their money to demonstrate their significant impact on the local economy. For cat lovers, I highly recommend a visit to the Coastal Cat Café to play with and/or adopt one of their beautiful feline friends. The café is opened a few months ago, and reservations are recommended to visit. About 20 cats roam freely between two rooms where they interact with visitors who are encouraged to give them some of their favorite treats. Unfortunately, my hotel didn’t allow animals, otherwise I may have added a new member to my family. So far, almost 50 cats have been adopted by café visitors.
the flavors of the Gulf as you dine, overlooking the pristine white sands and emerald waters of Pensacola Beach. I ordered the legendary Bushwacker, a milkshake-style cocktail created in Pensacola, to accompany my entrée, which consisted of blackened red snapper with sauteed asparagus. The snapper was cooked to perfection and was accompanied by a delicious sauce.
Foodies searching for authentic Gulf Coast flavors should head to Flounder’s Chowder House, a beloved local institution since 1979. Located on the scenic Pensacola Beach Boardwalk, this laid-back eatery specializes in fresh seafood dishes, including their famous chowder and signature crab cakes. Relax on the outdoor patio, feel the gentle sea breeze, and savor
End your visit to Pensacola with a sunset dolphin cruise with Frisky Mermaid Boat Tours. My particular excursion was led by an all-female crew and was wonderful despite only getting to see a few dorsal fins. The tour lasts for about two hours and the friendly crew try their best to seek out as many beautiful dolphins as possible, although sometimes they can be hard to find. Nature can be unpredictable. Pensacola offers visitors a wealth of experiences. This charming city has something for everyone, from vibrant markets and culinary delights to historic landmarks and natural wonders. Whether you’re exploring its rich cultural heritage or simply basking in its coastal landscapes’ beauty, Pensacola will leave a lasting impression on all who visit.
Enjoy the Journey! Q
Keith’s World
Author Brad Gooch discusses his new biography of the late artist and activist Keith Haring
BY TIM MURPHY
After working as a model in 1970s and ’80s New York City, Brad Gooch became an author. He wrote poetry, novels and memoirs, including “Smash Cut,” about his decade-long relationship with film producer Howard Brookner, who died of AIDS in 1989. He also wrote acclaimed biographies of literary legends Frank O’Hara and Flannery O’Connor.
His latest biography is “Radiant: The Life and Line of Keith Haring.”
It’s a fat, juicy and extremely well-researched account of the brief but explosive life and career of the beloved pop artist, who died of AIDS-related complications in 1990 at age 31.
Below is a short version of a long interview that Gooch, 72, gave to The Caftan Chronicles, the Substack newsletter by longtime POZ contributing writer Tim Murphy.
What is a typical day like? I have two kids — Walter, 9, and Glenn, 5. Today, I woke up at 6:40 a.m. listening to Walter play chess on this kids’ app. My partner, Paul Raushenbush, is 59 and is a minister who is president and CEO of the Interfaith Alliance. We live in Chelsea [in Manhattan]. I make breakfast for the boys. Paul goes to the gym, and I take the boys to school a few blocks away and then go to my separate office nearby. Then I’ll see my trainer. Then I’ll go home, and we have dinner together. The boys and I will watch a short video, and then I put them to bed. I watch PBS Newshour and read, and then I sleep.
positive thoughts
What is it like having kids rather late in life? It’s been great. I think 60 is a good age to start having children. I think I would’ve been a horrible parent in my 30s because I’d have wanted to go out all the time, network, travel or work on my career.
You grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania — just like Keith! There were a lot of things about [writing about] Keith that came naturally to me. We were living in New York City at the same time. Both of us were born in the 1950s. His parents didn’t want him to be an artist, and my parents didn’t want me to be a poet. Both our parents were Republicans. Keith’s mother said to me, “Keith never said the words gay or AIDS to us,” and I completely understood that. I don’t think I ever said the word gay to my parents, but when my lover, Howard Brookner, had AIDS, he’d come home with me in his wheelchair, and my parents accepted all of this, but we never said, “We are lovers, and one of us has AIDS.”
After all this immersion into Keith’s life and psyche, who do you think he was? Keith had this innocent, almost naïve quality combined with this enormous energy. He was really on a mission. He was an unusual artist because he was so generous in terms of [promoting] other people’s works.
He did a huge amount of public and community art that he didn’t seek compensation for.
And he set up the Keith Haring Foundation at age 28 and said that half the funds would go to charities involving AIDS and children, and that’s the case to this day. But there were other aspects to him that I think were mostly explained by immaturity.
For one thing, as your book makes clear, he was a real fame whore. His whole celebrity thing was kind of extreme. I mean, if you have Andy Warhol criticizing you for wanting to have your picture taken so badly. [Laughs.] He had this gaga fanboy quality.
Your book vividly captures the frantic pace of Keith’s work and his entire life, especially as he became aware that he likely didn’t have long to live. I had a far greater respect for him by the time I was finishing the book. I think the way he faced death was amazing. Instead of melting away, he revved everything up and created some of the best work that he ever made. In the ’90s, it seemed like he was going to fade away, but in so many ways, we’re living in Keith’s world now. He’s had a huge surge of popularity in the 21st century. You see his work everywhere. The world caught up to him. So many of the things he was propelled by in his work are now understandable. The idea of democratization, that art is for everybody. Not having this huge distinction between high and low art and the availability of every surface,
Keith Haring at work in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam
activist messaging and the licensing of products that he was so criticized for at the time. All of this is our current world. Your book really captures the mood arc of the ’80s — from a decade that starts as the carryover of the hedonism of the ’70s and then darkens and saddens because of AIDS. It’s true that it started with the infectious, liberating tone of the late ’70s. Then you get this scary article in The New York Times in 1981 [about the first AIDS cases]. I remember someone telling me that year that he had it — whatever we called it — the gay virus, and I almost passed out. You’re HIV negative? I didn’t know that until 1987, when I took an actual test. [Even once the test came out in 1985], people weren’t taking it because there was nothing you could do about positive results. Keith was healthy for a long time in the ’80s, but he assumed he had the virus because of the life he’d led at the baths. But the epidemic didn’t really start manifesting until the mid-’80s. Suddenly, it seemed like every other person was either HIV positive or sick, and you were going to memorial services every night. That’s a tremendously dark period that Keith dies at the end of.
What was modeling like? There were great aspects to it. I was suddenly invited into all these cool places and rich people’s houses and dinners where I sat next to [famed ballet dancer Rudolf] Nureyev, and he put his hand on my thigh. But I watched a lot of boy and girl models get destroyed by all that. Also, gay photographers only wanted to work with straight models, so if they sensed that you were gay, they didn’t want to use you.
Ew, that’s gross. So how do you see your present self in the context of your past self? The main things that define my present life are having this family and writing. I’m living my best life now, but I also have a kind of PTSD from having lived through AIDS and the loss of Howard. In the ’90s, a numbness set in for me emotionally and sexually. I just went to Madonna’s Celebration
concert at Madison Square Garden, and there’s a five-story-high image of both Keith Haring and Howard [when she sings “Live To Tell” as a memorial of her friends and others lost to AIDS].
Howard is wearing this striped shirt from Brooks Brothers. That’s what I was focusing on. [Pauses.] One reason I’m glad to have this book about Keith out there is that it tells the story of AIDS at that moment, because I don’t think young queer people know it. That period is still always with me. Through the 2000s, I’d wake up in the middle of the night with this fear of death. That
didn’t go away until I became a father. Why do you think that is? I guess now I have the feeling or the illusion that there’s a future. In a Rolling Stone interview Keith did when he came out as a person with AIDS, he said, “Well, I don’t have dreams of the future anymore.” That really stuck with me. But somehow, now, with kids, I have this sense that they’re going on into the future.
Tim Murphy is a contributing writer at POZ. This column is a project of TheBody, Plus, Positively Aware, POZ, Q Syndicate, and QSaltLake. Visit their websites for the latest updates on HIV/AIDS.
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2024 Utah Queer Film Festival Announces Film Lineup and Ticket Sales
Festival program highlights LGBTQIA+ stories from international and local Utah filmmakers; HallowQueen theme promises both light-hearted and profound aspects of being queer.
Utah Film Center announced its film lineup for the 2024 Utah Queer Film Festival, formerly known as Damn These Heels. The program features LGBTQIA+ films from international and local filmmakers, exploring and celebrating diverse stories.
“The 2024 festival theme, HallowQueen, promises a diverse selection of films that explore both the light-hearted and profound aspects of queer life — referencing performance, alter egos, and identity itself,” organizers wrote in a statement. “Audiences can look forward to a captivating mix of genres, featuring both narratives and documentaries. The film programming will highlight stories from BIPOC, senior love, musical journeys, family-friendly films, and works by local filmmakers. For those seeking a spooky element, there will be a late-night block of dystopian films, adding an eerie chill of the season to the festival.”
All films were selected by a committee of queer participants, ensuring authentic representation and perspectives. This year’s festival showcases 12 feature
films, 5 short films preceding features, and 15 short films curated into 3 film collections, including a dedicated short film showcase by Utah-based filmmakers. Tickets are now available for purchase.
Utah Queer Film Festival’s film lineup is programmed by a committee comprised of queer community participants who play a crucial role in reviewing, debating, and selecting the festival’s film program. “Our team of 27 programmers have watched hundreds of films and spent countless hours curating the most exceptional international films and local favorites,” said 2024 UQFF Festival Director Cat Palmer. “The lineup features inspiring films that delve into themes of identity, acceptance, and resilience, all within the lively HallowQueen theme, promising a fun and festive atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.”
Tickets are now available for purchase, and in line with the festival’s commitment to inclusivity, a “pay what you can” pricing model is offered. This allows attendees to choose their payment amount based on their financial circumstances.
FEATURE FILMS
A HOUSE IS NOT A DISCO 2024/ USA/ Documentary (Director: Brian J. Smith)
A House Is Not a Disco documents a year-in-the-life in the world’s most iconic “homo-normative” community: Fire Island Pines. Situated fifty miles from New York City, this storied queer beach town finds itself in the midst of a renaissance as a new generation of Millennial homeowners reimagine The Pines for a new, more inclusive era.
Preceded by the short film: ONE STORY AT A TIME: CELESTE LECESNE by Eve Tenuto, Natalia Lyudin
A LONG WAY FROM HEAVEN 2024/ USA/ Documentary (Director & Screenwriter: David Sant)
A Long Way From Heaven tells the story of Brigham Young University’s queer underground, demanding their place in the sunlight. Presented by the Artist Foundry’s Utah Filmmaker Showcase program.
ALL SHALL BE WELL 2024/ China/ Drama (Director: Ray Yeung)
Angie and Pat are a well-off lesbian couple in their mid-60s, until Pat unexpectedly dies, and Angie embarks on a later-life emancipation journey. After 30 years, Angie has no legal right to remain in the flat she shared with Pat and is at the mercy of the dwindling goodwill of her dead partner’s family.
Teddy Award for Best Feature Film at 2024 Berlin International Film Festival
Preceded by the short film: MAKING UP by Ryan Paige
When forced to move to Buenos Aires and her liberal public school behind, Camila’s fierce but immature temperament is put to the test and a feminist revolution is born.
Jury Award (Premio Maguey) at 2022 Guadalajara International Film Festival; Best Director Award at 2022 International Film Festival of Kerala Prix Libertés Chéries
Preceded by the short film: HELLO STRANGER by Amélie Hardy
Twelve-year-old Sav Rodgers watched the film Chasing Amy, and his life was forever changed. Developing a kinship — and maybe a slight obsession — with it as he grew into his queerness, he decides to fund and direct a documentary that examines its role in LGBTQ+ film culture.
Best Documentary Award at 2023 FilmOut San Diego; Grand Jury Prize Feature at 2023 Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival; Jury Award Winner at 2023 Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival; Best Documentary Feature at 2023 St. Louis International Film Festival; Best Documentary at 2024 Omaha Film Festival
CHUCK CHUCK BABY 2023/ United Kingdom/ Drama (Director: Janis Pugh)
Unhappily, Helen lives with her ex-husband, his 20-year-old girlfriend, their new baby - and his dying mother Gwen. Her life is a grind, and like all the other
women she toils with at the local chicken factory, is spent in service of the clock.
Preceded by the short film: MOTHER by Meg Shutzer, Brandon Yadegari Moreno
DESIRE LINES 2024/ USA/ Action (Jules Rosskam
Desire Lines is a hybrid feature documentary that blends personal interviews, archival materials, and narrative fiction as a framework for exploring the complicated and often unwritten history of transmasculine sexuality. Testimonials from transgender men both past and present dissect how cultural expectations, political agendas, and gatekeeping practices shape the locus of desire.
INDIGO GIRLS: IT’S ONLY LIFE
AFTER ALL 2023/ USA/ Documentary (Director: Alexandria Bombach)
Known for stirring harmonies and socially conscious lyrics, iconic folk rock duo Indigo Girls are the subject of this intimate and insightful documentary, which tracks their decades-long career. Sundance award-winning director, Alexandria Bombach, brings us into a contemporary conversation with Amy and Emily—alongside the band’s home movies and intimate present-day verité.
SUMMER QAMP 2023/ Canada/ Documentary (Director: Jen Markowitz)
Summer Qamp is a documentary following a group of LGBTQ+ youth at an idyllic lakeside camp in Alberta. The campers enjoy the traditional summer camp experience in a safe, affirming environment.
Preceded by the short film: BAY CREEK TENNIS CAMP by Michele Meek
THE ABCS OF BOOK BANNING 2023/ USA/ Documentary (Sheila Nevins)
The ABCs of Book Banning reveals the voices of the impacted parties of books banned from school districts, inspiring hope for the future through the profound insights of inquisitive youthful minds.
THE SUMMER WITH CARMEN 2023/ Greece/ Drama (Director & Screenwriter: Zacharias Mavroeidis, Screenwriter: Fondas Chalatsis)
While spending a steamy day together at a nude beach in Athens, best friends
Demos and Nikitas start brainstorming ideas for a screenplay based on the colorful events of a previous summer.
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO ALLEE WILLIS 2024/ USA/ Documentary (Director: Alexis Manya Spraic)
Songwriter/artist Allee Willis, best known for writing the “Friends” theme song, the Earth Wind & Fire mega-hit “September” and “The Color Purple” musical, began filming her life as a kid in 1950s Detroit and never stopped.
SHORT FILM COLLECTIONS
HALLOWQUEEN SHORT FILM SHOWCASE
AMPHIBIAN 2023/ China/ Action (Director & Screenwriter: Jie Zhang, Screenwriter: Jin Yeahzy)
Being amphibious is a forced, reluctant choice, This film aims to make people see- see a few brave souls becoming themselves.
BEACH LOGS KILL 2024/ USA/ Drama (Director: Haley Z. Boston)
A nightmarish queer awakening story set at a high school football game.
FUTURE FLOWERS 2022/ China/ Drama (Director & Screenwriter: Hao Zhou)
A lesbian and a gay man in a sham marriage ambivalently follow a propagandistic program that nudges them toward a single goal: procreation.
PIECHT 2023/ Germany/ Drama (Director & Screenwriter: Luka Lara Steffen) While Johanna’s mother dreams of an alternative ecological life, a real nightmare begins for Johanna.
SAFETY STATE 2024/ USA/ Drama (Director & Screenwriter: Jeanette Buck, Screenwriter: Rani D. Crowe) In the dystopian near future, a gay and a lesbian couple form an unlikely friendship as they flee the midwest for safety in New England.
WILLA JUSTICE: DRAG QUEEN PRIVATE EYE 2024/ USA/ Drama (Director & Screenwriter: Jonathan Andre Culliton) With Willa Justice (Lady Chilane) hot on the trail of high desert murderer Pink Face (Heather Muriel Nguyen), she must follow her heart, and a mys-
terious chicken, to find her beloved boyfriend Jamie Bondopolous (Scott Turner Schofield) and solve the case.
QUEER
BIPOC SHORT FILM SHOWCASE
EMERALD CITY 2024/ USA/ Drama (Director & Screenwriter: Josef Steiff)
Two lone hitchhikers, unknowingly connected by the secrets they carry, cross paths near the US/Mexico border where they develop a tentative friendship that gradually becomes more.
If 2023/ India/ Drama (Director: Tathagata Ghosh, Screenwriter: Buan G.)
An arranged marriage tears a lesbian couple apart, but with a mother’s love, perhaps, another future is possible.
REMEMBER, BROKEN CRAYONS COLOUR
TOO (BIPOC Short Film Showcase) 2023/ Switzerland/ Documentary (Directors: Shannet Clemmings, Urša Kastelic)
Shannet, a Black Transgender woman from Jamaica, shares her journey of healing as she wanders the empty streets of a European city. Special Jury Award for Documentary Short Film at 2024 Flickerfest International Short Film Festival; Documentary Short Jury Award at 2024 SXSW South By Southwest Film Festival; Best Student Documentary Short Winner at 2024 Palm Springs International ShortFest.
UTAH QUEER LOCAL FILMMAKER
SHOWCASE
CANYON CHORUS 2023/ USA/ Documentary (Director & Screenwriter: Chris Cresci, Screenwriter: Makenna Wall & Tim Kressin)
Set against the backdrop
of Desolation Canyon, UT, Mikah Meyer, a world-record traveler and LGBTQ+ advocate, reflects with three close friends and his mentor, Larry Edwards, on their stories and the power of mentorship within the queer community.
DEAR MONEY: A TRANS PERSPECTIVE 2023/ USA/ Documentary (Director: Fletcher Gibbons)
Three trans siblings share about how money has impacted their lives and their gender-affirming care.
FIRST DATE 2024/ USA/ Drama (Directors: Ashlyn Brooke Anderson, William Cowser, and Parker Ralins, Screenwriter: Ash Anderson)
As Andy navigates the vibrant tapestry of queer, non-monogamous dating, they experience a series of humorous and heartfelt encounters.
GROUNDED 2024/ USA/ Drama (Director: Andrea “Andy” Whipple)
A pre-transitioned trans boy is transformed into a harpy and learns the importance of knowing one’s limits.
TRANS PUNK 2023/ USA/ Documentary (Director: Margo Plumb)
Hailed as the “The Narrative of Being a Societal Menace”, Trans Punk explores the hateful rhetoric and hyperbole surrounding the “transgender issue.”
Discover three queens showcasing what it means to “show up” in the vibrant world of drag in Utah. More information can be found at utahqueerfilmfestival.org
Theater on the
Queer-themed ‘Moments That Made Me…Question Everything’ and ‘Save the Cow’ are two entries in SLC’s independent theater festival, in its 10th year.
BY BLAIR HOWELL
The Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival began at the former Deseret Industries on 1100 East. Ten years later, Fringe has grown to theater spaces at the Gateway Mall, the Alliance Theatre, and the Trolley Square Ballroom.
“How time flies,” says Jay Perry, Fringe co-director. “Ten years have gone by in a flash, and as the Fringe has grown, we’ve been incredibly fortunate to find a mix of wonderful spaces to work in.
“Fringe plays a vital role in providing a space and opportunity for local theater artists to produce their work, and it serves as a launching pad for the next generation of original theater to come out of Utah,” he added.
In the 2024 edition of Fringe there are 20 productions written by independent playwrights, from the burgeoning to the well-established.
The lineup includes several stagings creating theater viewed through a queer lens.
Moments That Made Me…Question Everything by Laura Chapman showcases a new group of “drag performers and clowns spreading their deep buttery love with the sweet folks of SL,UT.” The show features characters from film, books, and TV that the actors experienced growing up that “made us queer,” Chapman said. “We’re best buds havin’ a ball makin’ queer magic.” The playwright encourages theatergoers to “come on down for a heapin’ ladleful of these sweet spuds; you’ll love ’em to death!”
There’s also Save the Cow by Merry Magee, described as a drag
finding yourself and starting new chapters.
“Fringe is an unadjudicated, unrestricted, and accessible way for artists to share their work while supporting each other and making new connections,” says Perry. The objective is to “foster opportunities for independent artists to engage with local audiences without the same barriers they normally face when trying to get their work out there.”
With one exception, each of the productions is written by playwrights along the Wasatch Front.
To celebrate Fringe’s anniversary, organizers are partnering with Trolley Square to hold an opening night party on the Trolley Square West Plaza on July 25 beginning at 6 p.m. The festivities include a beer garden, live music, and performances from the artists who will be participating in the festival.
“With 20 companies participating, the party is a great opportunity to check out the shows and plan your Fringe,” enthuses Perry.
According to artist coordinator David Knoell: “Fringe is the best way to celebrate our passion for theater as a community. We all get to produce, perform, and bring our passion to the stage.”
One theater fan is so enamored of the productions that she has called Fringe “a Disneyland for theater lovers.”
July 26 to Aug. 4, tickets. greatsaltlakefringe.org
Films:
CHIASM
CABARET
Science meets seduction in a titillating fusion of burlesque, comedy, and unabashed nerdiness. Local burlesque, drag, pole, and aerialists create 3-5 minute science-themed routines to entertain you while secretly teaching you something about science, technology, engineering, the arts, or math. Get ready for a STEAM-y hour that will leave you yearnin’ for some learnin’.
D’ARCY
D’ARCY is a longform improvisational theatre trio. Improv veterans David Knoell, Chris Last, and Ryan Quenneville join forces to bring their unique, high-energy, free-form improvisational style to the Festival. Inspired by audience suggestions, D’Arcy weaves characters, scenes, themes, and styles into an organic and sublime comedic style. Plus, bonus sketch material!
HARK!
In this absurdist play, a 17th-century pirate and a 1980s businesswoman are stranded on a mystererious island after death, a purgatory-like realm guarded by a giant Kraken. Despite the vastly different backgrounds and their joint inability to find peace, they must
burlesque musical about
confront their pasts, regrets, and desires in an endless cycle of death and awakening as they navigate the absurdity of their situation. As they interact and clash, they begin to question the nature of reality, time, and the meaning of their existence. Through their experiences on the island, they ultimately grapple with themes of redemption, identity, and the search for meaning in a world devoid of logic.
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
“How Did We Get Here?” features Spencer Riley, Nami Eskandarian, Nicholas Don Smith, and Sam D’Antuono. These local comedians are coming to the Fringe this year to tell true stories about thier experiences surrounding their life in comedy.
I’VE DECIDED TO BECOME A DIGITAL PET
A 15-minute comedy about a young man reflecting on the lonely childhood that has led him to an unconventional desire: to become a Tamagotchi.
LADY M
Lady M is a new adaptation of the classic Shakepeare play Macbeth, shifting the titular character to his doomed wife, Lady M. The production aims to explore the untold story of Lady M and examine the Macbeth’s descent into darkness from her perspective.
MÉXICO MÁGICO
Three entertaining monologues that satirically portray the pillars of Mexican society: family, politics, and religion. Come laugh and cry alongside the protagonists, and discover why Mexico is so magical, comical and musical. Performed in Spanish with English subtitles. Written by: Pam GallegOz, Petter Zhan and Héctor Soto.
NON
In this absurdist comedy about the pain of being non-partisan, a “non” is called to break a tie for the Purple and Yellow candidates, Puchis and Lémeau.
PUPPET KARAOKE
Puppet Karaoke is a fun, crazy, audience participation show. No human singing is required, the puppets do all the work. All you have to do is
pick a song you like and a puppet to sing it. Stage shy? No worries. You’ll be tucked safely behind a curtain during the song. Puppets in the City provide puppets to choose from plus the stage and sound. Join Puppets in the City for the fun and highly addictive Fringe show. Puppet up!
SAM D’ANTUONO: SPACE CADET
Sam is a comedian. These shows are going
to be all jokes. If you wanna see standup with jokes in it, this is a show where that is happening. The show has a title. It’s “Space Cadet”.
SAVE THE COW
A drag burlesque musical about finding yourself and starting new chapters.
SEIZE THE INITIATIVE!
A romantic comedy about democracy, climate action, and sandwiches, directed by Fringe audience-choice-award
winner Josh Patterson and written by Yoram Bauman, the world’s first and only stand-up economist. Saul puts the action into climate action, flirting with young women and roping them into volunteering for a carbon tax campaign. But then he falls for Grace. Is there hope for them, or for the planet? Seize the Initiative! A romantic comedy about falling in love… with democracy.
SPIRAL BOUND
When Martha gets fired and learns her sister, Vivian, is moving out of their apartment, she has to consider: What’s next? Call her mom back, grow shockingly enormous boobs, and marry rich – all before her phone kills her. In the debut work of Fickle Mistress Theatre Co., SPIRAL BOUND asks us to face the seemingly impossible task of building a life in contemporary America. Exploring gender in the workplace and family in the weird late-night diner, this funny, comtemplative play raises the question: “What do we do with so much life left to live?”
THE FUNERAL POTATEHOES!!!
The Funeral Potatehoes are a new group of drag performers and clowns in town spreading their deep buttery love with the sweet folks of SL,UT! Come on down for a heaping ladleful of these sweet spuds, you’ll love ’em to death!
THE KITCHEN SINK
A kitchen. In a house. Over the course of 50 years. If the walls could talk, what would
they say? What stories would they tell? The Kitchen Sink, a new play by Cordelia Brand.
THE LAWN
Dale is a standard suburbanite, complete with a soul-crushing job, a son who hates him, and a serially unfaithful wife. The only thing he has left going right in his life is his lawn. He would do anything for his lawn. When his wife keeps hiring external lawn care services against his wishes, Dale has a revenge affair with his client, and his lawn (and marriage) are put to the ultimate test.
THE OPEN SYRUP: OOPS, WE DID IT AGAIN!
In the infamous hotel
The Open Syrup, shenanigans and chicanery are an everyday occurrence (much to the chagrin of the beleaguered manager Rhonda). This time her superintendent Bradley may have gone too far: he’s conjured up some echoes of the past. Will Rhonda keep it together despite the circumstances? Decidedly not. Will Bradley commit all manner of tomfooleries? Decidedly so. Will a zany cast of characters including an aspiring femme fatale, a superhero sidekick in training, and a hardboiled gumshoe show up to complicate Rhonda’s already irksome day? Oh, it’s a guarantee. After all, this is The Open Syrup.
THE POST OFFICE BY RABINDRANATH TAGORE
A young boy named Amal falls ill from an unknown sickness. His
father enlists the help of a local physician who instructs Amal to stay indoors at all times. Longing to be a part of the outside world, he sits by his window and makes friends with various townsfolk passing by. Despite his predicament, his boundless enthusiasm and joy touches those around him. When he learns that the new building across the road is a royal post office, he beigns to dream of one day getting a letter from the king. The Post Office is a story of a boy caught in between his imaginary world and the hard facts of the reality of life. The play begs the question of the value of innocence and whether a lie is kinder than the truth. While this story is a celebration of Bengali culture, its values, truths, and thoughts have nothing with race. The Post Office is about hope, joy, deliverance, acceptance, and community in the midst of hardship.
TO BE FRANK…
20 plays in 40 minutes or we’ll pass out trying! Join us for a whirlwind of original audience interactive theatre.
WESTERN MINERALS AND THEIR ORIGINS
Three amateur rock hunters venture into the deserts of Southern Utah in search of a legendary deposit of Leopard Beryl, the rarest gem in the West. However, deep in the canyons of the Colorado Plateau, the trio encounter something they never bargained for. A play about our relationship to geology and the geology of our relationships, Western Minerals and their Origins excavates why the West calls to us.
WONDERLAND AWAITS
Wonderland Awaits invites audiences young and young at heart to embark on an enchanting journey alongside Alice as she ventures down the rabbit hole. Through interactive storytelling, children become active participants in the adventure, encountering colorful characters and magical moments at every turn. From tea parties with the Mad Hatter to croquet games with the Queen of Hearts, the play immerses children in the fantastical world of Wonderland, encouraging their creativity and imagination.
July 26 to Aug. 4, tickets. greatsaltlakefringe.org
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Interview with Kerry Spencer Pray on her book ‘The Book of Queer Mormon Joy’
BY NANCY ROSS
Kerry Spencer Pray’s new edited volume: “The Book of Queer Mormon Joy” is now available through its publisher Signature Books, The Kings English, and other booksellers. I sent her a list of questions and here is what she told me about her new book.
How do you usually introduce yourself in Mormon spaces? Introducing myself in Mormon spaces was a good deal trickier before Nelson was the prophet! I married a woman before the repeal of the POX, which at the time meant mandatory excommunication. (My local leadership conveniently forgot to make this happen and I did not remind them.) “Ex-Mormon” never felt quite right because you don’t actually stop feeling Mormon when you have been one your entire life! It’s your culture and your heritage and where you come from. I tried post-Mormon for a while. But after Nelson made “Mormon” a forbidden word it got a whole lot easier because Mormon no longer necessarily referred to membership in the institutional church, which I no longer consider myself a part of. So now I tend to call myself a queer Mormon, which suits me.
Your previous book, I Spoke to you with Silence, was beautiful and devastating in the best/worst ways. Your new book, The Book of Queer Mormon Joy, clearly celebrates joy. Can you tell me more about your journey with these two books? What made you want to write this second volume? Jenn Lee Smith and I put the previous book together because we both had felt its absence. When I was deciding whether
or not to come out, to leave my mixed orientation marriage, to leave the church, I looked everywhere I could for stories, for anyone who could offer guidance. I knew literally one lesbian I could reach out to and ask questions and she was not Mormon. She introduced me to Affirmation, where I met Jenn and immediately bonded. Jenn and I talked about how we had found a few stories about gay Mormon men, but we just couldn’t find very many of the other stories. And we were so desperate for them. Jenn had actually been trying to collect them for years. She asked me to help turn them into a form that would bring them to other people and preserve them, so that no one had to have the same experience we did and that there would always be something out there for them to find when they went looking, desperate to find out they weren’t alone. The two things that were the most important to us were that we give a voice to the people who didn’t have one and that we tell the truth. But the problem with the truth is that it is heartbreaking. There is so much sorrow and pain in the queer Mormon community. It weighed on us and publishing the book took a toll that we didn’t expect. And so when Barbara Jones Brown from Signature asked about putting together another book, I knew that it had to do more than simply tell the truth: it had to help create a new truth. Because our lives can be joyful and beautiful and hopeful and wonderful. But it is a choice you have to make. And it is not always an easy one. What do you want readers to get out of this new book? Is there a kind of argument that these essays make about queer Mormon joy? If there is an argument about joy that this book makes, it’s this: take it. It’s yours. It belongs to you. Don’t wait for it. Don’t contort or bend yourself to fit to rules written by those who don’t understand you. God is big enough, whether or not the church is. Mortality is heavy and hard, and it’s even harder when you are different. But difference can be joyful when we let it be. The long arm of history may or may not make room for those of us on the outside in our lifetimes. But in the meantime we
can laugh and sing and dance and be. What has this book mean to you? What drove you to tell these stories? Putting these stories together was healing for me, personally. I started out in a broken sort of place, weighed down by the sorrow and struggle and sense that it was never going to be enough. But I kept editing and kept writing, pass by pass, essay by essay. And by the end I was surprised to find the broken edges inside me had started to heal–to turn into laughter and celebration. Joy is an act of defiance for queer people. We know people don’t want us to exist. We know they find us odd and viscerally upsetting. We know they are unsettled, squicked out, distressed. We celebrate anyway. Because we are, as we are. And we are good. Is there anything from Mormonism that you still hold onto or that is still meaningful to you? I don’t know that I’ll ever stop being Mormon. It’s baked deep into you. As a queer person one thing about Mormonism I actually found very helpful was knowing–however strenuously they currently object–that marriage doesn’t actually have to look one way. Families can be complicated and different. Maybe you have a husband and another wife! God delights in variety and God wants you to choose for yourself. Mormonism taught me that, and it’s something I hold very dear.
Nancy Ross has been teaching at Utah Tech University for 18 years. Her Ph D is in art history, but her current research focuses on the history and sociology of religion. She has co-edited two books and is pastor of Southern Utah Community of Christ. This interview first ran on Exponent II, a feminist space for women and gender minorities across the Mormon spectrum.
Kerry Spencer Pray
Why you need dental insurance in retirement.
Many Americans are fortunate to have dental coverage for their entire working life, through employer-provided benefits. When those benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocket can come as a shock, leading people to put off or even go without care.
Simply put — without dental insurance, there may be an important gap in your healthcare coverage.
When you’re comparing plans ...
Look for coverage that helps pay for major services. Some plans may limit the number of procedures — or pay for preventive care only.
Look for coverage with no deductibles. Some plans may require you to pay hundreds out of pocket before benefits are paid.
Shop for coverage with no annual maximum on cash benefits. Some plans have annual maximums of $1,000.
Medicare doesn’t pay for dental care.1
That’s right. As good as Medicare is, it was never meant to cover everything. That means if you want protection, you need to purchase individual insurance.
Early detection can prevent small problems from becoming expensive ones.
The best way to prevent large dental bills is preventive care. The American Dental Association recommends checkups twice a year.
Previous dental work can wear out.
Even if you’ve had quality dental work in the past, you shouldn’t take your dental health for granted. In fact, your odds of having a dental problem only go up as you age.2
Treatment is expensive — especially the services people over 50 often need.
Consider these national average costs of treatment ... $222 for a checkup ... $190 for a filling ... $1,213 for a crown.3 Unexpected bills like this can be a real burden, especially if you’re on a fixed income.
1 “Medicare & You,” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2024. 2 “Aging changes in teeth and gums”, medlineplus.gov, 4/17/2022. 3 American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute, 2020 Survey of Dental Fees, Copyright 2020, American Dental Association.
“Absolutely love”
“I absolutely love my dental insurance. My dental office files the claims, leaving me with very little balance to pay.”
Dorothy P., TN
Summer Books That’ll Have You Feeling a Sense of Pride
BY CHRIS
Embrace
the vibrant spectrum of LGBTQ+ experiences this Pride Month with our curated list of enlightening reads for readers of all ages. From stirring memoirs to groundbreaking fiction, these books celebrate diversity, resilience and the ongoing journey toward equity.
You’ll find titles suitable for adults, children and teens, ensuring that everyone can find a voice that resonates with them. Whether you’re seeking poignant narratives, empowering anthologies or insightful non-fiction, these compelling voices are sure to inspire, educate and entertain.
More Than Just a Pretty Book
‘PHOTOGRAPHY — A QUEER HISTORY,’ EDITED BY FLORA DUNSTER AND THEO GORDON
The role of photography in understanding queerness from various historical vantage points is vividly detailed by co-authors Flora Dunster and Theo Gordon
in a volume rife with striking images and evocative details on who was behind the lens. Photos dating as far back as 1891, when feminist photographer Alice Austen shot “The Darned Club” — two pairs of women are seen embracing, including Austen, on her lawn overlooking the New York Bay Narrows — is among this collection of less-popularized depictions of queer life. Through time, we see the role of fantasy in lesbian history via “The Knight’s Move,” shot in 1990 by Tessa Boffin, and how a self-portrait by Collier Schor, captured just a few years ago in 2021, illustrates trans sensibility. With the work of 84 artists, Dunster and Gordon help us understand how the history of our documented lives through photography has advanced fights against LGBTQ+ discrimination while awakening our collective sense of self.
‘A GREAT GAY BOOK: STORIES OF GROWTH, BELONGING & OTHER QUEER POSSIBILITIES,’
EDITED BY RYAN FITZGIBBON
Before “A Great Gay Book,” there was Hello Mr., a zine published by writer and editor Ryan Fitzgibbon for five years between 2013 and 2018 that you could just as easily find at your indie bookshop as the ones inside the mall.
Fitzgibbon, a Grand Valley State University grad, was the founder of the magazine, which now serves as a time capsule of queer written and visual works created by some of the most accomplished queer voices of the last decade, including poet Ocean Vuong, journalist Matthew Rodriguez and New York Times critic-at-large Wesley Morris. A stunning decorative addition to any coffee table but foremost a must-read collection of writing and art, “A Great Gay Book” pulls together past work alongside new contributions that altogether accomplish exactly what Fitzgibbon, as he writes in the “Hello Again” prologue, set out to do: to encourage reflection “as a mirror to conceive new possibilities.”
‘GENTLE CHAOS: POEMS, TALES, AND MAGIC,’ TYLER GACA
Tyler Gaca, aka Ghosthoney on TikTok, was a pandemic-era quarantine comfort to many, known for a range of vlog-style videos, from comedic sketches to late-night musings. Now closing in on 3 million TikTok followers, Gaca is the published author of “Gentle Chaos,” which is on this list even though it came out in 2023 because it just may always be relevant given the state of the not-sogentle chaos of the world. “I am still standing off stage in my own living room and gathering myself before I make a little joke, this time for the audience that lives inside my phone,” he writes in the book. Now, however, Gaca has an audience that loves a page flip and not just a finger tap, as his book adapts his TikTok stories into printed personal photographs and the written word, with vulnerable essays and poetry about growing up queer in Oklahoma.
Real Life
‘JOAN
BAEZ: WHEN YOU SEE MY MOTHER, ASK HER TO DANCE,’ JOAN BAEZ
A companion book to Joan Baez’s life-affirming documentary “I Am a Noise,” a moving mustsee that goes to the personal and professional depths of the pioneering folk singer and social activist’s rich life, “When You See My Mother, Ask Her to Dance” presents an equally heartfelt experience through her never-before-published writing. In this collection of unguarded letters and poetry, Baez, who has dated both men and women, writes intimately about her romantic relationships and childhood memories. Much of her writing here was drafted between 1991 and 1997, after Baez was diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, and some are credited to her “inner authors.”
‘COUNTLESS SLEEPLESS NIGHTS: A COLLECTION OF COMING-OUT STORIES & EXPERIENCES,’ EDITED BY CARINA
MAGGER
Few things can remind you that you are, indeed, not alone on your self-discovery journey more than just knowing people around the world also feel the fear, pain and joy of taking the steps to be your authentic self. Editor Carina Magger interviewed 85 people from 16 countries over the course of eight months in 2022. The result is a collection of stories with a diaristic sensibility, like “Not Part of God’s Plan,” about a gay Mormon’s experience in helping to change hearts and minds, even his own Republican father’s, and, via the UK, “Mum, I’m in Love,”
AZZOPARDI AND SARAH BRICKER HUNT
about a lesbian woman’s parents proudly celebrating her newfound romance.
‘CACTUS COUNTRY: A BOYHOOD MEMOIR,’ ZOË BOSSIERE
“This will resonate with anyone who’s longed for escape — from a hometown or their own body — but lacked an exit plan,” wrote Publisher’s Weekly about Brevity magazine editor Zoë Bossiere’s reflections on growing up feeling like a boy in the Sonoran Desert. The boys and working-class men in Bossiere’s orbit when they were an adolescent gave them a startling example of what seemed to define manhood — sexism, racism, substance abuse and violence — and, like so many of us trying to fit in at that age, mirrored their dress and mannerisms. That was until high school, when they gave up being one of the guys and harnessed their feminine power.
The More You Know
‘PRIDE POWER: THE YOUNG PERSON’S GUIDE TO LGBTQ+,’ HARRIET DYER
This adorable little guide to everything LGBTQ+ for ages 11 and up presents an accessible, easy-to-follow look that can help anyone understand their sexual orientation and identity. In addition to breaking down the meaning of the
gay ABCs and how to better understand your gender, the book gives a brief look at significant historical markers in our fight for equality, including Stonewall, and includes recommendations on films, TV and video games that celebrate LGBTQ+ visibility and representation. With allies in mind, “Pride Power” also offers a full chapter on tips for young LGBTQ+ people interested in getting involved in queer activism and how our allies can help to create a more inclusive world.
‘HOLLYWOOD PRIDE: A CELEBRATION OF LGBTQ+ REPRESENTATION AND PERSEVERANCE IN FILM,’ ALONSO DURALDE
One word in pop culture that you’ll keep hearing until we get exactly what we deserve — representation. There’s more of it, and there’s not enough of it, and now thanks to film critic Alonso Duralde, we have a comprehensive history book that charts, when it comes to seeing ourselves represented on screen, where we started and where we’ve yet to go. Through an exploration of LGBTQ+ themes and characters dating back to 1894 with “Dickson Experimental Sound Film,” Duralde charts progress through eras like “Silent Comics in Drag,” from the early 19th century, all the way through to our modern-era “Icons,” like director Todd Haynes, trans directors Lana and Lilly Wachowski, and a major 20th-century turning point in queer film: “Brokeback Mountain.”
‘GAY SCIENCE: THE TOTALLY SCIENTIFIC EXAMINATION OF LGBTQ+ CULTURE, MYTHS, AND STEREOTYPES,’ ROB ANDERSON
You won’t be squirming in your seat waiting for class to be dismissed as you read comedian and TikTok influencer
Rob Anderson’s amusingly satirical guide to understanding gayness through something only anti-vaxxers might argue with: science. Though Anderson is upfront about how this book really is not completely rooted in actual scientific-based facts, if you’re queer, you’ll identify with this body of cheekily presented knowledge, divided into three branches and 29 fields of Gay Science (it is capped in the book, because “science”). I really did laugh at Anderson’s anecdote on why queers can hit snooze on their alarm all they want and still arrive at work at a reasonable time — because we can speed “past slow straight people” to “defy the laws of physics.” To make this present as a real textbook you might bring to Gay Science class, there’s even a gay glossary and some very iconic stock photography.
Fiction
‘THE SAFEKEEP,’ YAEL VAN DER WOUDEN
Yael van der Wouden’s debut novel has received rave reviews from The Guardian and The New York Times, and Kirkus Reviews called it “nearly perfect.” Infatuation is at its mysterious core, as Isabel grows curious about her brother’s girlfriend Eva, who, while staying with Isabel, challenges her to shake up the monotony of her regimented life in the rural Dutch province of Overijssel. As the story unfolds, there’s more than meets the eye, some of which involves self-discovery and queer relationships during the 1960s, when those relationships rarely left the house.
‘FOUR SQUARES,’ BOBBY FINGER
With friendship at its heart, author Bobby Finger’s followup to “The Old Place” finds
more tenderness within community-driven narratives. This time, the story is about Artie Anderson over the course of 30 years, beginning in 1992 in New York City during his 30th birthday, against the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic. Three decades later, as those closest to him move across the country and after sustaining an injury, Artie is faced with the new reality of aging, but finds a warm community of queer seniors at a local center who show him the true meaning of friendship.
‘THE GUNCLE ABROAD,’ STEVEN ROWLEY
One of contemporary literature’s favorite guncles has returned for more cute adventures with his beloved now-teenage niece and nephew, Maisie and Grant. This time, after Patrick O’Hara lovingly cared for them after they lost their mother, they’re heading overseas to Italy, where the waves of change are, for all of them, especially wavey: the kids’ father is getting remarried, much to their dismay; Patrick is coming to terms with his singlehood as he approaches 50 and, naturally, everything comes to a head at a rehearsal dinner that isn’t at all what anyone expected. And if Steve Rowley’s first book, simply titled “The Guncle,” is any indication, this sequel won’t be either. In fact, it may just be the wildly witty, tenderhearted balm this year calls for.
Children’s Books
‘JACOB’S MISSING BOOK,’ SARAH AND IAN HOFFMAN
Fighting through all the noise related to the relentless assault on LGBTQ-centered books in school and public libraries is a simple refrain: Kids want to see themselves and their families reflected in the media they consume. There’s nothing wrong with that sentiment, despite insistence from the far right that loving and supporting LGBTQ+ community members is somehow problematic. “Jacob’s Missing Book” explores book banning and LGBTQ+ rights in a kid-friendly format that encourages discussion in an affirming, straightforward way. There’s plenty of humor here, too, as well as gorgeous, rich illustrations that bring a simple, yet poignant story to life.
‘A CHILD’S INTRODUCTION TO PRIDE: THE INSPIRATIONAL HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY,’ SARAH PRAGER
Presented for kids 8–12, this engaging LGBTQ+ history book celebrates love, hope, equality and progress through the
lens of queer movements and the stories behind key figures like Harvey Milk and Marsha P. Johnson. Think of this volume as a supplement to history lessons in school that don’t often focus on the impact of queer people on everything from sports, music, literature, science and beyond. Bonus: a fun pull-out poster timeline dating from ancient times through recent
events highlighting historical LGBTQ+ milestones.
‘MY GUNCLE AND ME,’ JONATHAN MERRITT
Illustrator Joanna Carillo brings Merritt’s heartwarming book about the special relationship between a nephew and his favorite “guncle” to life in this colorful picture book for younger readers. Henry is having a hard time at school, until Guncle shows up with his puppy and a lesson about why Henry is special, why family is so important and how self-acceptance and feeling seen and loved are the keys to everything.
‘ABC-DECONSTRUCTING GENDER,’ ASHLEY MOLESSO AND CHESS NEEDHAM
Embrace positivity and
individuality with this bright picture book focused on people like Daryl, who is “ so affectionate,” and Alex, who is “gentle with the family cat.” Sage and Kaylin are “ super strong.” And so on. Molesso and Needham, who run the Ash + Chess stationery company, are an artistically blessed queer couple who have clearly poured themselves into creating a work intended to empower kids to embrace who they are and to love who they love with their whole hearts. Inside the book’s jacket is a fun ABC poster ready for display.
Young Adult Non-Fiction
‘QUEER EYE: YOU ARE FABULOUS,’ LAUREN EMILY
WHALEN
Geared toward young adults, especially those who have trouble expressing their feelings to loved ones, this fill-in giftable book is like having the Fab Five beside you, encouraging you to embrace your individuality, compassion and creativity in a way only you can manage. As you fill in the prompts with a friend or significant other in mind, you’ll create a personalized gift brimming with encouragement and love — with plenty of full-color photos from the series to round out the fun.
‘GENDER REBELS: 30 TRANS, NONBINARY, AND GENDER EXPANSIVE HEROES PAST AND PRESENT,’ KATHERINE
LOCKE
While there are several solid LGBTQ+ history books on the market, few focus exclusively on the gender-nonconforming folks who have shaped that particular history. “Gender Rebels” dives in enthusiastically with rich storytelling about 30 trans, gender-expansive and nonbinary heroes representing cultures from throughout the world. Here, readers will learn about Callon of Epidaurus, the first intersex individual to receive surgery, as well as actor Elliot Page and Tomoya Hosada, the first trans politician in Japan. Locke also includes accessible, deep information about trans topics, including the history of the word “transgender,” a reference guide and a glossary of terms.
‘QUEERBOOK,’ VARIOUS AUTHORS
Published by the It Gets Better queer youth support organization, “Queerbook” is a collection of essays, short
stories, photography, poetry and artwork created by young queer adults from across the U.S. inspired by the theme, “What’s Your LGBTQ+ Utopia?” A book truly “for queer youth, by queer youth,” the volume was curated and edited by 10 LGBTQ+ student ambassadors selected by It Gets Better, which promises to direct 100% of proceeds back into its organization.
Young Adult Fiction
‘WISH YOU WEREN’T HERE,’ ERIN BALDWIN
Summer camp is the perfect setting for this queer teen romance novel — a world away from regular life where the characters come alive against the backdrop of rustic cabins, campfire gatherings and the daily rhythm of camp life. Erin Baldwin’s debut novel creates a summer to remember for high schoolers Juliette and Priya who undergo transformations that surprise even them in this enemies-to-lovers romance. Publishers Weekly called “Wish You Weren’t Here” a “charming debut that gives way to electric romance.” ‘GOOSEBERRY,’ ROBIN GOW
A middle-grade novel centered on a non-binary main character, “Gooseberry” is sure to charm readers with a tale about a sweet rescue dog. Poet and author Gow is best known for his acclaimed 2023 novel-in-verse “Dear Mothman,” which told the story of a young trans boy dealing with the death of his friend. “Gooseberry” is similarly tender, a thoughtfully spun story about found family and the importance of hope and self-acceptance, all told through the lens of a nonbinary young person bravely marking their early independence. Q
REVIEW BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER
‘The Guncle Abroad’ by Steven Rowley
C.2024, PUTNAM, $29, 307 PAGES
The cake’s going to be magnificent. You must’ve tasted fifteen different samples and a dozen frostings and considered five unique looks before settling on a showstopper. Next, you have to get invitations addressed and in the mail. You have to confirm the tuxes. You have to get flowers and centerpieces ordered. As in “The Guncle Abroad” by Steven Rowley,” You have to get everyone on board.
Patrick O’Hara couldn’t believe how his life had changed.
A few short years ago, he was living in Palm Springs, having “retired” from making films. He was in love and happy, and he had temporary custody of his niece, Maisie, and his nephew, Grant. Life was good.
Now… oh boy. Patrick and Emory
q
scopes
AUGUST
BY SAM KELLEY-MILLS
ARIES March 20–April 19
A deciding factor regarding a lifestyle choice is what you really want for yourself. Life has a way of providing conflicting goals, so figure out what really matters and aim in that direction.
TAURUS Apr 20–May 20
A competitive nature isn’t your defining trait, but you fight for what you believe in. Choose your battles wisely and fight fair. When the heart is involved, you can never go wrong.
GEMINI May 21–June 20
One major thing is bound to cause a headache, but the pain has its place when you‘re figuring out what you need to work
the bookworm sez
had split-ish (Emory was still living in Patrick’s California home), Patrick was living in Manhattan, making a movie in London, looking for another role soon, and the kids were four years older. Maisie was an attitudinal teen now, Grant was nine and too wise for his age. They weren’t the cuddly kids Patrick once knew – especially since their dad, Patrick’s brother, Greg was getting married again, and the kids didn’t like Livia, their wealthy socialite stepmom-to-be. Patrick suspected it was because Grant and Maisie still missed their Mom. It hadn’t been all that long since Sara died. Was a new marriage an insult to old memories?
Patrick didn’t think so, and he’d prove it. While Greg and Livia were last-minute wedding planning, he bought three Eurail passes, one for him and one each for the kids. He’d give them some culture and some new Guncle rules about love. Maybe – was it possible? – he’d even become their favorite GUP again.
But Maisie and Grant had other ideas. They agreed to go on the stupid trip around Europe with their GUP if Patrick agreed to talk to Greg about calling off the entire wedding. Something old (memories), something new
on. A family matter is complex, but the solution is simple.
CANCER June 21–July 22
Being thankful to others is on your mind this month. There is much pressure and chaos, and the only way forward is to find peace through gratitude. In the end, being social brings joy.
LEO July 23–August 22
In the beginning of the journey the waters seemed rocky. Now it’s smooth sailing but a little boring. Rock the boat by creating waves, and the challenges you seek will come. Enjoy it.
VIRGO August 23–Sep 2
If you do odd things, something strange is bound to happen. Friends and family may wonder why you are willing to shake things up, but they may also be inclined to join in.
(stepmother), something borrowed (trouble), and something blue (two kids) just had to be undone, and soon. There’s an old saying, to paraphrase, that if the wedding is perfectly smooth, the marriage won’t be. With this in mind, “The Guncle Abroad” is covered: add a snarky lesbian with an entourage, a tipsy sister on a manhunt, a Lothario who doesn’t speak English, and lost love, all at a lakeside hotel, and yeah, we’re good.
But here’s the thing: author Steven Rowley doesn’t just make readers laugh. We’re covered on that part, too, because the whole pre-wedding scene in this book is pure chaos and LOL funny. Long before that, though, you’ll be charmed by Rowley’s main character and his desperation to stay relevant, to avoid not avoid love, and by his efforts to connect with his brother’s kids. And after the not-so-storybook wedding, well, you know how those things are. Bring tissues. That’s all you need to know.
If you’re in need of a rom-com this summer, just bring the bubbly, pop a cork, and make it this one. Reading “The Guncle Abroad” is best for a beach, bench, or backyard. Loving it? Piece of cake. Q
LIBRA Sept 23–October 22
You may be worried about a health or financial issue, but rest assured that things will be okay. There are people who care and resources to tap into. Get a grip! Shake off bad feelings.
SCORPIO Oct 23–Nov 21
While it might be a while before the weather cools down, you can get ready for the holidays early. Celebrate on your own terms and schedule and get ready to party. Always a good time!
SAGITTARIUS
Nov 22–December 20
Have you questioned why things turn out the way they do? Look inward at your actions and decide if you might be part of the problem. It is okay to blame yourself to heal yourself too.
CAPRICORN
Dec 21–Jan 19
There are many questions, and there are few answers. Yet you seem to have them in abundance. Share what you know, but be willing to explore alternatives. All sides can be fascinating.
AQUARIUS Jan 20–Feb 18
The causes you fight for are bound to overlap. What you decide today can lead to many different tomorrows. Enjoy variety, and don’t worry about breaking a leg on stage. Act well!
PISCES Feb 19–Mar 19
The end goals you have are sound, though it might be prudent to have plan B in mind. It’s not in case of failure, but a possible change of heart. Passion can spawn many branches.
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 Therapists Guild
lgbtqtherapists. com
* robin@lgbtqtherapists.com
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
linktr.ee/ spectrumqsa
uvu.edu/lgbtq/ * lgbt@uvu.edu
801-863-8885
Liberal Arts, Rm 126
Weber State University
LGBT Resource Center
weber.edu/ lgbtresourcecenter
Shepherd Union Suite 323 Dept. 2117 801-626-7271
Westminster Student Diversity Center
Bassis 105, M-F 8a-5p
bit.ly/westdiversity
BY PETUNIA PAP SMEAR
Thethe perils of petunia pap smear
A tale of ‘No bears are out tonight, Petunia scared them all last night’
road to Bear Jambear-ee is fraught with danger and excitement.
It was July and time for the annual trip to Idaho for the Utah Bears’ Jam-bear-ee camp on the banks of the Portneuf River. I squealed with glee, “Oh boy, a road trip!”
Excitedly, I began loading up Queertanic, my beloved land yacht with all the necessities that any self-respecting queen might need for an afternoon of frolicking with the Utah Bears: Six beehive wigs with matching color-coordinated breasticles – check. Seventeen assorted caftans, lest I spill some BBQ sauce while eating – check. Opera-length driving gloves in both black and white – check. Fifteen footlong sub sandwiches and ten 2-liter bottles of Diet Mountain Dew, to tide me over until dinner – check. And a pillow for Mr. Pap Smear to snooze on while I’m driving. After working up a glisten loading the car (a true queen doesn’t sweat, she glistens), it was time to hit the road. I got into the driver’s seat, turned the ignition key, and the engine roared to life. After I carefully made sure that the AC was working properly, (ABSOLUTLY THE MOST CRITICAL DETAIL) I sat impatiently waiting for Mr. Pap Smear to get in the car so we could get going. He just stood there to the side of Queertanic. After a few minutes, I finally grew impatient with him and honked the horn. He helplessly threw his hands up in the air and exclaimed that all of my stuff had left no room for him to sit in the car. We had arrived at the age-old quandary. Style or husband? Reluctantly, I removed one wig and the pillow, carving out a small pocket into which Mr. Pap Smear was barely able to squeeze. Off we went. My dear longsuffering husband is not much comfort as a co-pilot in these situations. He is very much like Hyacinth Bucket telling me to “mind the pedestrian,” etc. while tensing up and trying to
step on the imaginary brake he foolishly believes is located on his side of Queertanic. I find it safer for all involved to encourage him to close his eyes, lay back, and pretend to be asleep, especially while passing through the potato fields of Idaho. When driving on these long stretches of secluded roads, in order to pass the time, I try and keep a constant vigil to view prime specimens of the North American Homosexual Male in his natural habitat. For scientific research, of course. Barring any actual Homos to view, I succumb to the universal pastime of scoping out any and all hunky drivers of passing cars or farmer boys in the fields. The unwitting straight farm boys caught up in this dragnet have no idea. I classify them into three categories: 1) roadkill, 2) Do-able, and 3) I’m your new fiancé if you’ll just slow down long enough to slip on this ring. I noticed while driving through the Idaho farm country, or the “Potato Parade of Ida-Homos” as it were, that most of the farm boys appeared to be classically handsome BUT covered in dirt and sheep manure from the fields. Any self-respecting queen couldn’t throw a decent hissy fit without running into a fashion-challenged rodeo champion-wanna-be driving a tractor. Quite a rough-looking yet promising crowd, if I say so myself.
Garnering inspiration from “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” in an effort to beautify America I thought that perhaps I should form a roving pack of queens in a fabulous motor home to stop along the wayside and perform roadside Gang-Makeovers. We could call it “Petunia Pap-Smear’s Poofter Powered Pictures of Perfection” or “The Sextuple P.” All we would need is a Winnebago, several tons of lipstick, eyeliner, and glitter. Oh, and lots and lots of industrial-strength girdles. What better way to get the economy back on track?
The highway miles flew by, and we saw some very promising farm boys along the way. And it came to pass as
we neared the Jam-bear-ee camp that I found myself swearing up a storm of foul words enough to make any longshoreman blush. We had just traversed over a rather rough railroad crossing and due to all the bouncing around, I had broken a nail.
HELL HATH NO FURY! It was emotionally critical moments like these that any queen not worth her tiara would surrender to a life of abject squalor, complete with tears and melting mascara running down her cheeks, and begin searching for the inevitable pimp to take care of her. I, however, being a former boy scout and Idaho-Mo of sterner stuff, calmly pulled to the side of the road, got out my emergency manicure kit (a must-have in any 72-hour emergency kit), and began repairing the tortured talon. A true queen cannot, must not, now or ever, appear in public, even in a farmer’s field or, worse yet, a corral full of sheep, in anything less than perfection. AND JUST LIKE THAT, we arrived perfectly in time for dinner, followed by a rousing game of bingo. No bears were harmed in this story.
This story leaves us with several important questions:
1. Should I begin to store some Valium in the glove compartment so Mr. Pap Smear can enjoy the ride?
2. Is there stimulus grant money available to fund farm boy makeovers?
3. Does the handsomeness of the Idaho farm boys determine the tastiness of the potatoes they grow?
4. If I were able to tease one of the Idaho farm boys to leave the potato field and come “play,” would I need fry sauce for lube?
5. Would performing gang makeovers on farm boys qualify me for a Nobel Peace Prize?
6. Should I construct a secret compartment in the Winnebago to hide a farm boy or two?
These and other eternal questions will be answered in future chapters of The Perils of Petunia Pap Smear. Q
