QSaltLake | 207 | June 2012

salt lake magazine

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

June 2012 Issue 207 GaySaltLake.com

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6 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | FIRST PERSON

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

from the publisher

staffbox publisher Michael Aaron

What happened to my Q?

editor Seth Bracken arts & entertainment editor/ofc mgr Tony Hobday

by MICHAEL AARON

graphic designer Christian Allred

michael@qsaltlake.com

sales Josh Jones contributors Chris Azzopardi, Lynn Beltran, Paul Berge, Dave Brousseau, Chef Drew Ellsworth, Jack Fertig, Greg Fox, H. Rachelle Graham, John Hales, Bob Henline, Gus Herrero, Tony Hobday, Christopher Katis, Annalisa Millo, Petunia Pap Smear, Anthony Paull, Steven Petrow, Ruby Ridge, Ed Sikov, A.E. Storm, Ben Williams, D’Anne Witkowski distribution Ryan Benson, Peggy Bon, Michael Hamblin, David Kelly, Nancy Burkhart publisher Gay Salt Lake, Inc. 1055 East 2100 South, ste 206 Salt Lake City, Utah 84106 tel: 801-649-6663 toll-free: 1-800-806-7357 Contact emails: general: info@gaysaltlake.com editorial: editor@gaysaltlake.com sales: sales@gaysaltlake.com Check us out online at:

GAYSALTLAKE.COM facebook.com/gaysaltlake TWITTER @GAYSALTLAKE

QSaltLake Magazine is a trademark of Gay Salt Lake, Inc. Copyright © 2012, Gay Salt Lake, Inc. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted or reproduced without written permission from the publisher. 15,000 copies of QSaltLake Magazine are distributed free of charge at over 300 locations across the Wasatch Front. Free copies are limited to one per person.

For additional copies, contact us at 801-649-6663. It is a crime to destroy or dispose of current issues or otherwise interfere with the distribution of this newsmagazine. Publication of the name or photograph of any individual or organization in articles or advertising in QSaltLake Magazine is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons. Printed in the U.S.A. on recycled paper. Please recycle this copy when you are through with it.

Changing

Hearts, Changing Lives?

How about changing almost everything you know about QSaltLake?

This has been an incredible few months at Q Towers. We had our 8th anniversary, put out our Fabby Awards issue, sold and distributed our phone directory, now called Gay Salt Lake Directory, and produced our annual Utah Pride Guide, which you are now holding in your hands. Obviously not just any Pride Guide, but a whole new look-and-feel for our publication, and a whole new attitude.

Earlier this year I put a call out to the crew: If we were to start in this business all over again, today, what would it look like? Forget what we’ve been doing. Forget what anyone else is doing. What are today’s realities, today’s market, today’s community needs? Nothing was sacred, including our name.

(Though my tongue-firmly-planted-in-cheek suggestion of changing our name to Fagazine didn’t fly too well on Facebook or Twitter.)

What you have in your hands is the beginning of our reinvention. Our new size, our new attitude, our new look and feel, our new monthly schedule. Next issue, due out toward the end of June, will be our next step.

We have asked some new and exciting writers to come on board next issue with content we haven’t yet tapped into. You will definitely find something — many things — to read in every issue of the new QSaltLake Magazine. We want to leave a bit of surprise to keep you intrigued, but here are some things we guarantee you will see: a wider variety of articles and columns, more edgy content, more sexy content.

There will be much more approachable, shorter content and many more graphics. For those who actually read entire articles, you will also find more thoughtful, in-depth articles.

What about everyday, breaking news? We know you get most of it online and we will be focusing a ton of resources to our ever-growing online presence. We know you already use our websites, as our ratings are twice that of any and all web sites directed to Utah’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and ally community — combined.

We are in the process of combining our many websites into a single mega site: all your news, entertainment, nightlife, and gay-friendly businesses in one stop. Think of us as your Utah Gaygle.

Want today’s news? GaySaltLake.com. Need to find a florist or doctor or landscape specialist? GaySaltLake.com. Want to know what’s going on this weekend? GaySaltLake.com. Need a new roommate or a new place to live? Place an ad on GaySaltLake. com. It’s free.

Upset that we chose GaySaltLake.com? You may go to GayLesbianBisexualTransgenderSaltLake.com.

Try it! It works.

I wrote in August that QSaltLake was in financial trouble. In the last nine months, we revamped our sales team, tightened some overhead costs and came up with over a dozen ideas to bring in cash flow. For some, we just couldn’t afford the personnel to make them happen. Some are still on the back burner, ready to come forward. Others just never caught hold. While we are not yet out of the woods, I believe we are pointed in the right direction.

I can also announce that, beginning with our next issue, we will be published as part of a My tongue-firmlynonprofit orplanted-in-cheek ganization.

Yes, you may suggestion of now feel free changing our name to to donate cash, goods or Fagazine didn’t fly time and have too well on Facebook that warm fuzzy feeling (and potential tax break) for doing so. We are bringing on interns and volunteers alike. By helping us, you help this community grow and become more informed.

What hasn’t changed in all of this is our core mission: to inform, educate and entertain our community with integrity, accuracy and gaiety.

I’m excited about our new direction and focus. I believe these changes will help us grow in leaps and bounds to become an even greater asset to our community. With your help, we can get there.

I hope you enjoy our first step and I hope you will seek out our next. Take a ride with us, join our team.

Evangelize for us. As we grow, so does our community. And so do you.

Thanks for being part of QSaltLake. Oh, and Happy Pride! Q

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

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news

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

10 things you should know happened last month (Full stories at gaysaltlake.com.) does not support civil unions for gay and lesbian couples.

1. Obama likes gay marriage President Barack Obama has finally come out supporting marriage equality for all Americans.

In a reversal of opinion based on what he called an “evolution,” Obama said conversations with his staff members, gay and lesbian service members, and with his family led him to back a platform of full marriage equality. He also faced rising pressure from his own Democratic base.

“At a certain point I’ve concluded that for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married,” Obama said.

2. BUT Utah gubernatorial candidateS DON’T Utah Gov. Gary Herbert spoke out against gay marriage after President Obama announced his support, and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Cooke joined him in opposing marriage equality.

However, Cooke reiterated his stance supporting a statewide nondiscrimination ordinance protecting against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace and in housing.

“Marriage is the recognized union between one man and one woman only. That is all that needs to be said,” Herbert’s statement reads. He has also said he supports Utah’s Amendment 3, which bans gay marriages in Utah and that he

3. Hatch calls for investigation into NOM donor list leak Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch has called for an investigation on the possibility an Internal Revenue Service employee improperly disclosed of the National Organization for Marriage’s confidential donor information. Hatch, the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, wrote IRS Commissioner Douglas H. Shulman indicating that “evidence suggests that the IRS may have been the source of the unauthorized disclosure of donor information.” NOM leaders assert the Human Rights

Campaign illegally obtained internal documents revealing donors and campaign strategies.

4. Colorado civil unions bill killed Colorado House Republicans killed a bill on May 14 that would have legalized civil unions and offered some marriage-like benefits to gay couples. The bill had already cleared the Senate and had the approval of Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, who called a special legislative session to vote on the measure. This was the second year the bill was heard by the Colorado Legislature. Hickenlooper said the vote was needed to address a “fundamental question of fairness and civil rights.”

5. Iran to hang Four gay men Four Iranian men have been sentenced to hang for their alleged violation of the country’s anti-sodomy laws. Saadat Arefi, Vahid Akbari, Javid Akbari and Houshmand Akbari are due to be executed after the recent verdict by a high court judge was delivered, according to a report from the Human Rights Activist News Agency in Iran. More than 4,000 people have been executed for violating the anti-sodomy law since Ayatollah seized power in 1979, according to the HRANA.

6. HRC offices evacuated after bomb threat An anonymous bomb threat led to the evacuation of two queer-rights advocacy offices in Washington, D.C. on May15. The Human Rights Campaign and the Human Rights Watch buildings were evacuated after a call was made to a California police department claiming an imminent threat to national gay-rights groups. The buildings were searched by police and have since been cleared.

7. Donna Summer dies at age of 63 The queen of disco, gay icon and drag-queen inspiration, Donna Summer, has died at the age of 63.

The five-time Grammy-winning artist passed away from cancer on May 17. Summer was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach number one on the Billboard chart. She also had four No. 1 singles in the United States in a 13-month period.

8. Gaydar ruled effective Most people can recognize the sexual orientation of someone just by looking at his or her face, according to a new study. The survey released by the University of Washington found that college students could detect sexual orientation at a better rate than chance just by looking at a photo of a face. For women’s faces, par-

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june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

ticipants were 65 percent accurate in guessing sexual orientation.

For men’s faces, the accuracy was 57 percent, which is statistically better than mere chance guessing. These accurate responses continued, though at a slightly diminished rate, when the faces were inverted.

9. Twilight Concert Series to charge $5 Salt Lake City’s popular Thursday night Twilight Concert Series will cost $5 per concert starting this year. This year’s concert lineup, being held again at Pioneer Park, includes: July 5 » Beach House/ The Walkmen; July 12 » Raphael Saddiq/ JJ Grey & Mofro; Aug. 2 » My Morning Jacket; Aug. 9 » Passion Pit/ Austra (Whose singer Katie Austra Stelmanis identifies as queer); Aug. 16 » Iron and Wine/ Kathleen Edwards; Aug. 23 »M. Ward/ DeVotchKa; and Aug. 30 » Common.

Information at twilightconcertseries.com

10. Prisons to step up anti-rape efforts The Obama administration ordered all prison officials to adopt a zero tolerance policy for prison rape. It also issued mandatory screening, enforcement and prevention regulations to reduce the number of inmates who are raped or molested by other prisoners and prison staff. The regulations were announced after the Justice Department released a survey of prisoners that showed that almost one in every 10 reported at least one incident of sexual victimization by prison staff or inmates. Q

Colorado civil-unions bill killed Colorado House Republicans killed a bill on May 14 that would have legalized civil unions and offered some marriage-like benefits for gay couples.

The bill had already cleared the Senate and had the approval of Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, who called a special Legislative session to vote on the measure.

This was the second year the bill was heard by the Colorado Legislature. Hickenlooper said the vote was needed to address a “fundamental question of fairness and civil rights.”

The bill’s failure was expected by Democrats, who have already started to use the issue as a line in the sand to illustrate how out of touch Republicans are with the wants and desires of the general public. The GOP-controlled House assigned the bill to the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, which voted 5-4 along party lines to kill the measure.

“My family is the same as every one of yours,” said Rep. Mark Ferrandino, the gay lawmaker who cosponsored the civil unions bill.

not as I do Romney supports traditional marriage, sort of After President Barack Obama made the announcement that he backs marriage equality, his Republican opponent came out in full force condemning gay marriage. On May 12, Romney said, “Marriage is an enduring institution that’s reserved for one man and one woman.” This is in line with the Republican establishment that contends gay marriage should be banned. But it’s quite out of line with his previous statements made on May 13, 2007 when he said, “I have a great-great grandfather. They

Republican Rep. Don Coram, who has a gay son, said civil unions are too similar to same-sex marriage, which Colorado voters banned in 2006. He accused Democrats of using the issue to only gain votes and said the issue wasn’t about human rights.

Ferrandino denied the argument and said Democrats were pursuing the issue to grant gay families, like his own, equal rights. He said he was optimistic that the bill would pass eventually, and said it was a matter of when, not if.

“I will tell you that ’when’ keeps getting closer and closer and this will happen soon,” he said.

Republicans control the House with a 33–32 advantage, but there was substantial and more than enough support for the civil unions bill to pass last week after three committees approved it.

Some Democrats tried to bring the bill up for debate, but Republicans filibustered by talking at length about other bills. The bill did not make a key deadline before the session ended, but the governor called a special session to hear the bill.

were trying to build a generation out there in the desert. And so he took additional wives as he was told to do.”

Because Jesus wouldn’t listen to the gays A Catholic school in Michigan uninvited an openly gay graduate speaker after his engagement announcement was posted on Facebook. Dominic SheahanStahl’s alma mater, Sacred Heart Academy, originally invited him to deliver this year’s keynote address at graduation because his little brother was the last of three generations to attend the school. Unfortunately, leaders at the religious school that allegedly teaches to love others and follow the teachings of a

loving leader (Jesus Christ) saw a Facebook post that announced he was engaged. To a man. This was too much for the conservative institution, which promptly told him he was not welcome.

Catholic support of traditional marriage A prominent Catholic priest who is a frequent guest on television news stations around the nation has been exposed for fathering a baby with a secret lover. Father Thomas Williams acknowledged that he was the father of a child and apologized for anyone hurt by the revelation. The Catholic Church has been in ardent opposition to gay marriage and has condemned all worldwide efforts to advance marriage equality.

Landis Salon is proud to recognize Ashlie McIntire for 5 years of exceptional service at Landis Salons.

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ASHLIE MCINTIRE

10 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | NEWS

primary election

Both Democratic Congressional candidates support gay marriage

By Seth Bracken

President Barack Obama’s verbal support of gay marriage is trickling down, reaching as far as Northern Utah. Both Democratic candidates Ryan Combe and Donna McAleer, who will face off in the primary election this June, are verbal and outspoken supporters of gay marriage. The winner of the intraparty race will face Republican Rep. Rob Bishop, a member of the Tea Party caucus and five-term congressman.

Primary elections for Democrats and Republicans is June 26. Congressional District 1 is the only congressional Democratic primary election; the boundaries of the district extend to the northern end of the state and encompass Park City through Kaysville. For more information about your district or to find a polling location, go to vote.utah.gov.

Ryan Combe Although he has always been interested in politics, this is Ryan Combe’s first attempt at an elected position, which is entirely the point, he said. While the approval rating for Congress usually hovers in the single digits, the reelection rate is usually more than 80 percent, and career politicians are one of the biggest issues the country is facing, he said.

“By the time they’ve been elected to city councils, then county councils and the state legislature, then to Congress, they’ve made so many deals, it’s nearly impossible to stay impartial and connected to your average, everyday American,” Combe said. “We need people who have a variety of skills and diverse backgrounds.”

The descendent of Italian immigrants, Combe has hard-work and an entrepreneurial attitudes instilled in his DNA. After attending Snow College and Weber State University, he founded Zenyo LLC, the parent company of Spoon Me and Spoon Me Franchising. As the head of the company, he helped Spoon Me grow

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

from one location to more than 70 around the world. After selling his stake in the company, he founded Counter Culture Consulting, and later became the director of marketing for the Weber State Alumni Association.

“I don’t believe we have a money problem in this country. I think we have a priority problem,” he said.

Instead of focusing on investments that do not have returns, the budget should be used more wisely on issues such as education and health care, he said.

Bishop first entered politics in 1979 when he was elected to the Utah House of Representatives. After serving as Speaker of the House for two years, he ran for Congress in 2003 and has crushed all Democratic opposition on the ballots. In 2010, he was reelected with nearly 70 percent of the vote. His Democratic opponent, Morgan Bowen, received less than 30 percent of the vote.

The challenge doesn’t shake Combe, who said he’s excited for a challenge.

“We need someone that looks different than Bishop. We need someone who has a vested interest in making the right decisions because I am going to have to live with the consequences for decades,” he said.

While not making it a campaign issue, Combe voiced his support of gay marriage after Obama’s earlier declaration.

“I support gay marriage,” Combe said. “I’m not going to beat around the bush about rights. I am not going to try and hide or disguise my opinion. I support gay marriage. It’s that simple.”

Acknowledging the view may be somewhat unpopular in a conservative area of Utah, Combe said that focusing on more relevant issues for voters worried about the economy is the only way to win.

“We need someone who isn’t afraid to stand up and say, ‘I’m different.’ We need someone who doesn’t look and act like Rob Bishop,” he said.

Combe has thrown his support behind the Ogden OUTReach Center, a center for queer people, said Marian Edmonds, the Center’s director.

“He has been fantastic with the youth at the Center. I appreciate so much the support he’s given our youth,” she said.

Information at combeforcongress.com.

Donna McAleer After graduating West Point, McAleer served in Germany as a platoon leader, company executive officer and deputy public-affairs officer. She left the service to pursue a career in the private sector where she served as the vice president of global logistics for a global electronics test equipment company. She works with orphanages in Cambodia and a local clinic to provide health services to those that can’t

afford insurance. In 2002, she nearly qualified for the Olympic Games as a pioneer female bobsled team driver.

Making no qualms about her complete and thorough backing of gay marriage, McAleer said, “I support marriage equality. Period.”

McAleer isn’t just coming out now as a supporter of equal rights after the president’s controversial remarks. She’s been fighting for decades, and saw the military’s anti-gay policy as discriminatory and unacceptable. She is a member of Knights Out, an organization of West Point alumni who support the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender soldiers to openly serve their country.

In a series of articles written for foreignpolicy.com, she iterated her stance against the discriminatory policy which banned gays and lesbians from serving openly. She is also an outspoken advocate for equal treatment of women in the U.S. Armed Forces.

“The military should make decisions based on performance and ability to complete a job, not based on who they go home to or which gender they might be,” she said.

She said she’s seen firsthand the damaging effects of the lack of rights in Utah as she watched a lesbian couple try to adopt a child, and the difficult parting they later had because only one partner was considered the legal guardian by the Utah government.

McAleer has been involved in various charity efforts and plans on using those experiences in Congress.

“I will absolutely be able to beat Rob Bishop,” she said. “We need a candidate and representative that is going to represent and fight for working Utah families.”

Her district extends through Northern Utah and snakes around to Park City, where she lives. Her liberal policies could be a tough sell to voters who have selected conservative Republicans since 1979, when K. Gunn McKay, cousin of the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was elected.

McAleer promises to focus on investments in the future and working for equality for women, gays and all other minorities. While not a Utah native, she’s come to love the outdoors and is a frequent visitor to many of Utah’s stunning natural attractions and preserving access to public lands is one of her top priorities. Q Information at dmcaleer.com.

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

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gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

Utah governor, Demo. candidate denounce marriage equality Utah Gov. Gary Herbert spoke out against gay marriage after President Barack Obama announced his support and Democratic gubernatorial candidate

Gov. Gary Herbert

Peter Cooke joined him in opposing marriage equality. However, Cooke reiterated his stance supporting a statewide nondiscrimination ordinance protecting against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace and in housing.

“Marriage is the recognized union between one man and one woman only. That is all that needs to be said,” Herbert’s statement reads.

He has also said he supports Utah’s Amendment 3, which bans gay marriages in Utah and that he does not support civil unions for gay and lesbian couples.

Cooke, on the other hand, told Fox 13 News, he supports, “Not discriminating against any-

body for their race, color, creed, religion, gender or sexual preference… Never had an issue in 39 years in the Army of any kind of discrimination. I wouldn’t put up with it, period.”

While failing to support marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples, Cooke added that he has a gay brother and a gay brother-inlaw and hopes that he does not face or see any more discrimination.

In addition to opposing marriage equality, Cooke has declined to comment on whether he supports updating Utah law to allow for gay couples to jointly adopt children in the state.

Cooke is trying to make ethical governing and a focus on job growth the primary issues in his campaign.

Romney reiterates anti-gay marriage stance Earlier this month Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney reiterated his opposition to marriage equality for same-sex couples during a commencement speech at Liberty University, an anti-gay school that bans attendance by openly LGBT students.

Romney made his remarks just days after President Obama announced his historic support for marriage equality.

“The American culture promotes personal responsibility, the dignity of work, the value of education, the merit of service, devotion to a purpose greater than self, and, at the foundation, the preeminence of the family,” Romney said. “As fundamental as these principles are, they may become topics of democratic debate.

So it is today with the enduring institution of marriage. Marriage is a relationship between one man and one woman.”

The ultra-conservative crowd broke into cheers.

A USA Today/Gallup poll released yesterday shows that a majority of Americans — and an even larger majority of independent voters — approve of the President’s position on marriage equality.

“This morning, Mitt Romney spoke out against marriage equality at a school that does not even allow openly LGBT students to enroll,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.

“It is unbelievable that in this day in age — when a majority of Americans support marriage equality and a majority of Americans explicitly approve of President Obama’s leadership on marriage equality — Mitt Romney instead is taking up the mantle of far-right, anti-gay organizations who seek to demonize LGBT families. Mitt Romney continues to insist he’s against discrimination, but his remarks on marriage equality and the company he keeps paints a very clear and

Peter Cooke

“We live in a time when jobs and investment capital move around the globe at the speed of light. We live in a time when Utah is changing faster than at any time in our lives,” Cooke said. “Utah will need real leadership, stronger leadership, to guarantee Utah’s prosperity in the 21st century, and we need it now.”

Hundreds gather in So. Utah

a very disturbing picture of the anti-LGBT forces that are driving Romney’s campaign.”

Among those honored at Liberty’s commencement was S. Truett Cathy, founder of the fast-food chain Chick-fil-A, who has made significant financial contributions to anti-LGBT organizations.

Romney made his remarks hours after Rick Santorum called on the GOP nominee to use marriage equality as a “potent weapon” in his campaign.

A crowd of 400 gathered in the Southwestern-themed community of Kayenta in Ivins, Utah, calling for an Equality Evolution.

Hosted by Equality Utah, the $75 a plate banquet supported Southern Utah’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

EU Executive Director Brandie Balken inspired guests with her message, “Our Evolution and Our Promise,” emphasizing that the community deserves to live free from discrimination, to protect loved ones, and to secure a fair and just Utah. She also spoke of progress made in Utah’s Dixie.

“One of our first steps was billboards,” Balken said, with the saying: LGBT Let’s Talk Equality.

Balken told a story of a young boy in Panguitch, driving in a car with his mother to Walmart, seeing the billboard and realizing he was not alone.

She also noted 15 ordinances have passed across the state that prevent discrimination in housing and employment, including in Springdale.

NEWS | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 13

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

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gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

QSaltLake summer events

LIZZ WHITE

Summer is starting to heat up, and along with the Pride Festivals around the state and country, we’ll be celebrating QSaltLake Day at Lagoon and Family Night Out at the Bees game. The pair of events are some of the biggest and best of the year and combined will attract thousands

of queers and their supporters for fun days in the sun.

QSaltLake Day at Lagoon will be held on Aug. 5, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and people who attend are asked to wear red to show solidarity. Seriously, everyone will be doing it. Since the event started, it has grown exponentially and last year it attracted more than 2,500 attendees. This year, it’s expected to be bigger and better than ever.

Lagoon Day is designed as an opportu-

Qmmunity Wade in the Music The Salt Lake Men’s Choir returns to the stage of Libby Gardner Hall with an unforgettable evening of traditional (and not-so-traditional) pop, folk and jazz. From the haunting melody of “Loch Lomond” to the rousing shouts of “Zion’s Walls” this show has something for every music lover.

WHEN: June 9, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Libby Gardner Concert Hall, 1375 Presidents Circle INFO: kingtix.com

nity to gather as a group and just have an enjoyable day, said Michael Aaron, Gay Salt Lake publisher.

“It’s a day when we can go with a large group and let our hair down a little bit and be a bit more honest with ourselves,” Aaron said. “I love Lagoon and I like going and being surrounded by my people.

And I don’t think I’m the only one.”

Discount tickets are not yet available, but QSaltLake will soon release the coupons for a discounted admission.

They will be available at a variety of locations throughout the valley. We will also be hosting a terrace and will have a group picture. More details will be released as they are made available. However, as with other similar gay days at theme parks, such as Disneyland, Lagoon does not support or sponsor the day. It is merely a host location.

Along with QSaltLake, the Pride Softball League will be hosting a community event at the Bees game on Aug. 18, at 7:05 p.m. Along with the traditional beer and hotdogs (who doesn’t want a wiener from the ballpark?) the group will be sitting in the same section for camaraderie, debauchery and group cheers.

More information about the evening will be made available as the date nears.

For all the up-to-date happenings of QSaltLake, go to gaysaltlake.com. Q

5 Gays, 1 Girl

What happens when one stunningly gorgeous straight girl gets up close and personal with five incredible gay men? A whole lot of “OMG, did they really just say that?” Gina and her fabulous five — Dalton, Frank, Jake, Omar and Riley — get down and dirty in this “live action talk show meets 20 questions” event. Featuring 100 percent honest, unscripted answers to jaw-dropping questions about life, love and sex.

WHEN: May 30, 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: 20 W. South Temple INFO: utahaids.org COST: Free

sanctity of marriage Fox News produces socalled marriage support poll After several consecutive Gallup and ABC News polls, and various other studies, indicated that most Americans support gay marriage, Fox News entered the fray. With an embarrassment of a poll, the results indicated that a mere 37 percent of Americans support samesex unions. However, even by their own standards, this is nearly double the last Fox News poll in 2004, which indicated only one in five Americans supported marriage equality.

Absent-minded The victim of an assault told police he couldn’t remember talking dirty to, or groping, the wife of a neighbor who punched him in the face. Declan Berkely, 45, pleaded not guilty to assaulting his neighbor Anthony McGann, 54. The Irish couple had gone out with friends and come home, only to find that McGann had been coming onto and groping Berkely’s wife, police said.

HRC Dinner & Gala

Join the Human Rights Campaign’s “Make Equality Count,” dinner and auction. The event brings together many influential leaders in this realm and is a significant revenue-raiser for HRC’s work.

Former president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Julian Bond and Broadway star Gavin Creel will speak and perform. Both outgoing president Joe Solmonese and incoming president Chad Griffin will also be in attendance.

WHEN: June 9, 6 p.m.

WHERE: The Grand America Hotel, 555 S. Main St. INFO: hrc.org

Women’s suffrage A Wisconsin man who tried to block his wife from voting in the election to oust Gov. Scott Walker was hospitalized with head, neck and back injuries when she struck him with her car. Jeffrey Radle, a Walker supporter, was standing in the driveway, attempting to prevent his wife, Amanda Radle, a recall proponent, from voting. She was in a Dodge Durango. Needless to say, the Durango won in the game of chicken.

Hospital visitation hours When one Signapore woman was visiting her husband in a hospital, the talk strayed to his unfaithfulness, which escalated into a full-fledge argument. She then took a knife from her bag and swung it at him, stabbing him in his face and shoulder. Quek Chin Fern, 38, was fined $4,000 for the assault. Lim Peng Kiang, 40, was already in the hospital for acid burns inflicted from an earlier assault by three unknown assailants.

Rainbow of Weddings

In a demonstration of the desire for marriage equality, come symbolically marry someone of the same gender: your best friend, your significant other, or just some nice stranger that happens to want equality too. Ordained reverends will be in attendance to perform non-legally binding ceremonies for supporters of the cause. Feel free to dress up as much or as little as you would like.

WHEN: June 16, 6 p.m.

WHERE: Pocatello, Idaho (Venue TBD) INFO: http://on.fb.me/KlqnVy

NEWS | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 15

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

Quips&Quotes

“ “

I don’t care. I don’t see what the big deal is, why some people are so against [gay marriage]. Why would you be so against it if it doesn’t affect you or your lifestyle? … If something doesn’t affect you, you should not take a strong position against it.”

—T.I. voices his support for marriage equality

I’ve always thought it as something that was still holding the country back.

What people do in their own homes is their business and you can choose to love whoever you love. ... I think [supporting gay marriage] the right thing to do, so whether it costs him votes or not — again, it’s not about votes. It’s about people.

It’s the right thing to do as a human being.”

—Jay-Z supporting President Obama’s stance on gay marriage

“ “ “

I stand behind President Obama and support gay marriage. I’m an American citizen and I believe people should live their life the way they want.”

—Five-time world champion boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“Romney’s job: remind others, alone with consciences in booth on Nov. 6, that they are voting on same-sex marriage.”

—American Family Association spokesperson Bryan Fischer

It would’ve been helpful for him to explain to Malia and Sasha that, while her friends’ parents are no doubt lovely people, that’s not a reason to change thousands of years of thinking about marriage. ” —Bristol Palin attacking President Obama on his support of marriage equality

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Our online story about President Barack Obama’s big announcement supporting gay marriage made quite the splash on our website. Everyone seemed to have an opinion, and not all of them were positive.

Scottie Vaughn Day on Facebook said he thinks Obama’s chances at re-election would hold up high as long as those concerned turn up and vote.

But reader and Facebook friend Trisha Clark said she thought the move was more political.

“I don’t know if I am the only one that sees this as a tactic to keep him in office. I don’t think it will work. I am sorry, but he has had four years do something and has not,” Clark said. “Saying he supports gay marriage means crap to me. California is still fighting to get gay marriage back. North Carolina just banned it and Utah did that a while ago. Saying and doing are completely different.”

Sounding off about Obama’s big announcement, Utah Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Cooke joined his Republican competition in condemning marriage equality and said he only supported marriage benefits for heterosexual couples.

Astute reader Michael Wallentine said, “So what is Gen. Cooke’s definition of discrimination, then? Bob can claim Sally’s body from the morgue for burial, but Steve can’t claim Larry’s body for burial?”

The gay caucus of the Republican Party, the Log Cabin Republicans, denounced the president’s announcement as a purely political move to shift focus away from the economy. Locally, representatives from the LCR were not quite as harsh, but remained skeptical.

“As for Utah and our views, I am grateful the President made the statement he made today.

As a political junkie I am still suspicious about whether this was pure politics or if this was just a sincere timing issue,” said JAMES HUMPHREYS. “Log Cabin National may not endorse Romney this year either. We have been equally critical of Mitt for his flopping on GLBT issues… while I

views

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

10 things we heard last month

do appreciate this step forward, it will have no impact on Utah as a whole. In fact, here it will not even really move the conversation forward much.”

Turner Bitton pointed out the list of candidates in Utah, even Democratic candidates that support full marriage equality is sparse.

“The only candidate I heard that supported the president was [Ryan] Combe for Congress. It was so refreshing to have actual support from a candidate,” he said.

On the Republican side of the aisle, a story about Mitt Romney bullying a young, gay student while they were both in high school lit up the site and comment boards. While Romney

denies having any memory of the event, QSaltLake Magazine readers debated whether or not this incident is still relevant in this year’s election, along with his anti-gay stances.

“My thoughts/views/opinions on such things have changed quite a bit through my twenties, and Mitt Romney has clearly had much more time to change. However, if Lauber is telling the truth and Romney did do something a horrid and possibly life-altering (for Lauber) and Romney doesn’t even remember it, that’s scary,” said Erin Van Berkel Tennant.

Doug Frank simply stated, “He needs to go back under his rock.” And Utah Common Ground

QSaltLake Magazine welcomes your letters to the editor.

Please send your letter of 300 words or less to letters@ gaysaltlake.com.

We reserve the right to edit for length or libel if a letter is chosen for publication.

said, “Mr. Romney’s family history includes polygamy. So much for his enduring ‘one man one woman’ marriage institution.”

Nick Ross went so far to say, “He is waging war on LGBT people. The Republican Party has been at it for years now. They will lose this battle just as they did with interracial marriage.”

D.J. Gregory replied to Ross’ comment with, “And the discrimination and hatred against each other continues. Thank you, Mitt Romney, and self-righteous Christian haters for continuing to fuel the fire on our modern-day oppression. Civil Rights movement II, here we come. No vote for Romney 2012!” Q

VIEWS | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 17

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

from the editor ‘Deseret News’ editorial board, stop the whining

by Seth Bracken seth@qsaltlake.com

Dear

Deseret News editorial board, In a Sunday morning editorial, you raked President Barack Obama, and all other supporters of marriage equality, over the coals for so-called intrusion on the form of traditional marriage you claim to support. You called it one of the most important issues of our time and said that your definition must be upheld to continue society as we know it.

Of course, the irony is almost laughable.

Pointing out that the Mormon heritage would suggest that marriage and relationships are nothing but nontraditional and specific to each individual family would just be too simple.

So keen to pretend to have been victimized, you claim to have evidence of a surviving structure of marriage remaining a union between one man and one woman.

Indeed, you’re falling into the all too common fallacy that because more states have voted to reject gay marriage, that somehow that makes it OK to remove and ban civil liberties to gays and lesbians.

But what happens when the tide shifts? What happens when more states vote to legalize marriage equality? Will you then change your tune and call it the will of the people, or will you again call foul at media outlets and activists who voice support for gay marriage? Let’s not forget that democratically elected representatives in Washington, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Maine and New York have all voted to legalize same-sex marriage.

“But the elite media’s truncated story of a tectonic shift on this profoundly important concern flies in the face of the way these

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issues are working themselves out at the grass-roots level,” the editorial reads. “So despite the unilateral way contemporary media has portrayed same-sex relations culturally, and despite the punditry that talks of watersheds and inevitability, each time the issue of preserving marriage as between a man and a woman has been put to voters, voters have chosen to preserve and protect traditional marriage.”

Deseret News editorial board, are you so keen to forget that in order to enter the union Utahns and Mormons had to completely disavow their support for polygamous, or nontraditional, marriage. Had the nation held a vote on your marriages, those too would have been invalidated. Hell, your precious Mitt Romney even comes from a line of polygamous Mormons.

As the second-largest print publication in the state and part of a media conglomerate that includes television news, radio news and an enormous online presence, I regret to inform you, my dear Deseret News, you are part of the elite media. You are part of the near monopoly that the Mormon Church-owned media company owns and operates as part of its public relations branch.

So seriously, stop whining.

Marriage, like families and society, is constantly changing.

Women are no longer killed for not being virgins before being married and they’re not property.

Black men can marry white women and hell, in Utah first cousins can even marry. Women are not bought and sold through marriage and divorce is legal.

Having your personal set of values is fine. But leave my life and your imposition of morality over me out of it. Q

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18 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | VIEWS

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

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I’m several

days into a fi v e - w e e k bike ride up the Mississippi River, from New Orleans up to its source in Minnesota. I’m taking a slow journey through the very middle of Middle America, along with 30 other women from around the country, and beyond. I’m doing this for the physical challenge, sure, but more so, I’m doing it to learn about my country.

At the risk of offending some readers, I’ve got to be honest: I’m seeing a part of America that my social circle (NPR-listening “elites,” to put it in Fox News parlance) routinely dismisses as a lost red-state wasteland.

I get it. Back home, we too have our gay-bashing loonies, but being a lesbian is about as scandalous as dryer lint. It’s easy to write off the “other” America whenever I hear about a Koran bonfire or another “don’t say ‘gay’ in our schools” bill making its way through some state’s legislature.

It seems to happen most often in those places, in the other America — not mine. Which is probably why it’s good that I’m on this trip.

I often talk about the importance of keeping one’s doors open to unlikely allies. Still, I’m nervous about wearing my New Orleans rainbowpride shirt in the Winn-Dixie down the road from my motel in New Roads, La. It’s a shame, too, because since I started my ride, strangers have treated me with more genuine kindness than I can remember experiencing in any seven-day period, ever.

When my foreign traveling companions say the same thing about their own experience this week, I feel a rush of American pride that almost makes me choke up. Not that chestthumping U...S...A! kind of pride, but more like how I feel when my partner takes a brave, positive stand for something important, just because it’s right and that’s who she is. It’s what I love about her.

Nothing has happened thus far to make me think I will be treated

with anything less than genuine respect as I continue to pedal up the river. Yet, as I roll along the levees and look out across acres of ridiculously green fields; and as I spin through peaceful old neighborhoods with ancient sprawling trees, tire swings and swaths of soft Spanish moss; and through perfect town squares with places called Ma’ Mama’s Cafe and Dottie’s Flower Pot, I have to rein in my romantic imagination. How cozy and friendly it appears, compared to any city I know ... but for other people, certainly not for me.

I know that most of the bazillions of churches I’m passing are places of belonging and community to most of the folks I’m meeting. And that those churches have most likely declared people like me to be sinners, or even a threat to this American way of life.

So, does that invalidate the kindness and warmth? I see too, behind the old plantations that have become elegant inns and tourist attractions, there are the remains of old slave quarters. Does that make it all a lie?

It can’t be that simple.

We, as humans, are still on our journeys. I am on mine as much as anyone else is on his or hers. These moments of goodness have to count for something in our human progress, even if we’re still caught up in fear and small-mindedness.

When I’m writing off fellow Americans so easily, based on selective reports about what they’re doing way over there somewhere, I’m hardly being evolved. I think, then, that my resolution for tomorrow’s ride is to accept those gifts of kindness I’m offered and return the favor somehow. I might fix someone’s flat on the levee, or maybe I’ll find the courage to talk about my partner to a stranger, because it’s the right thing to do. They might turn cold and wary, or maybe thrilled to hear about her. I really won’t know until I try. Or perhaps I’ll let someone know that she’s not the only lesbian in town, at least until I go on my way. Q

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

the straight line Candidate profile: Josie Valdez

by BOB HENLINE bob@qsaltlake.com

The next

in this series of candidate profiles is one of my favorite people in the Utah political scene. She is an honors graduate of Westminster College with a degree in business and economics, and a Certificate in International Business. She is retired, having served a distinguished career with the Utah Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration. She currently serves on a number of boards, including the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the United Way, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People–Salt Lake Branch and the Utah Stonewall Democrats. She is none other than the incomparable Josie Valdez.

Josie is running for Utah Senate in District 8, the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Karen Morgan. In her words, “Utah must have a voice of balance and a voice of reason at the Capitol — I will be that voice. Utah must have diversity in thought and we must have diversity represented at the Capitol — I will be that representation. I will bring energy and vitality to the Democratic side of the aisle and speak loud and clear on issues affecting justice, equality, and fairness.”

I first met Josie when she was running for Lieutenant Governor on the ticket with Bob Springmeyer in 2008. She came to a meetthe-candidates event that I helped organize in Tooele. I was immediately impressed by her energy and her passion for the political process.

She is a champion of equality for all people, and works tirelessly for the benefit of the people of Utah.

Josie’s first priority has always been, and will always be, the issues affecting Utah’s families. Josie believes that we must do everything

we can to help strengthen and protect our families — traditional and non-traditional alike.

I asked Josie the same four questions I’ve asked all of the candidates whom I’ve met, and these are her answers.

First, with regard to statewide nondiscrimination ordinances for housing and employment: “I support the adoption of a statewide nondiscrimination law in both housing and employment.”

Second, with regard to shared insurance benefits: “Benefits should be extended to domestic partners, as should hospital visitation rights and funeral rights.”

Third: “There should be no distinction about adoption when it comes to LGBT adoptions.”

And finally, “I believe there should be recognition of civil unions for everyone in the state of Utah.”

Josie is a candidate that doesn’t mince words. She says what she feels and she means what she says.

In my (less than humble) opinion, Josie Valdez is a voice that we need in the Utah Senate. She is a kind and compassionate woman, but she will never shy away from the fight that needs fought.

Josie is currently in a primary, which will be held June 26. If you live in Senate 8 (Murray, Midvale, Cottonwood Heights), it is imperative that you register and vote. This will be one of those elections in which every vote not only counts, but is crucial.

I encourage all of you to get involved in Josie’s campaign. She needs voters, she needs volunteers and she needs donations. You don’t need to live in Senate 8 to be a part of the campaign, and we all need Josie to win this election.

Her voice will be your voice on the hill. Q

VIEWS | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 19

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20 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | VIEWS

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

lambda lore An empire reorganized

by BEN WILLIAMS ben@qsaltlake.com

A deposed

emperor, a mysterious sister, alleged affairs with a Utah state Senator and Mormon apostle, death by AIDS. God, I love living in Utah. Who said history is boring? The following is a continuation of the turmoil in the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire, Utah’s oldest queer-related charity.

It was not quite the Ides of February, when on February 12, 1980, the Imperial Court of the Wasatch Empire of Utah held its last board meeting. While no daggers in togas were present at the Denny’s restaurant, located at 300 West and North Temple, resistance to tyranny was on the agenda. The emperor, wary of the danger of impeachment, brought his attorney/ bodyguard to the meeting.

After a vote of ‘no confidence’ in the emperor and his consort, and their refusal to abdicate, there was no other course of action. The entire Imperial Court pulled out their membership cards, turned them in and resigned.

The meeting lasted 10 minutes. The members walked out leaving Steele and Candy to preside over a phantom court.

Unbeknownst to Steele, the jubilant rebels had already filed new papers with the state to form the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire. They had reworked their charter and bylaws and had submitted Articles of Incorporation. Fred Sexton, also known as Dusty LeManns, and Joe Conti were escalated to being the first monarchs of the new Royal Court.

However, to honor the former monarchs, the pair retained the titles of the fourth empress and emperor. Bill Lanning and Herman Moore, aka Donnie Marie, assumed the vacant positions of prince royale and princess royale. On March 25, 1980, the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire was officially registered in the state of Utah.

With all the turmoil behind them, the RCGSE held their first charitable event, an annual Golden Spike Awards banquet. It was held in April 1980 and the Humanitarian Award was given to honor Stephen Holbrook’s creation, KRCL, for its commitment to local gay programming.

One of the changes instituted by the new Royal Court was to move Coronation to Memorial Day weekend. This move made Salt

Lake City’s Coronation a popular venue due to a long weekend of partying. On May 25, 1980, Emperor IV Joe Conti, “The Memory of the Spike” and Empress IV Dusty LeManns, “The Balance of the Spike,” stepped down at the court’s fifth Coronation. It was the end of a year of discontent.

Larry Kasper, aka Lois Lane, would later rejoin the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire and was given the honorary title of “The Liberty Empress.” On June, 1, 1987, Kasper died of AIDS at the age of 34.

A darker side of Steele emerged after he lost control of the Imperial Court. He told his family that he was involved with a certain senator who was deep in the closet and threatened his life if he told anyone. Due to this relationship, he said he was burned out of two apartments and had numerous threats against his life. He went underground then, living under an assumed name for the last year or so he spent in Utah. One of the assumed names was that of his older brother from whom he stole his social security number and got him into legal trouble “before the Feds and IRS nailed Gordy.”

When he did not get his way, his sister wrote, Steele, “would pay big males to take his ‘enemies’ back into a dark alley and beat the crap out of them... I am now wondering if some of these big males went beyond merely beating these guys half to death. This thought really frightens me… He even had our brother beat up when he discovered his identity had been stolen and he was filing charges against Gordon.”

At that point Steele was literally fleeing for his life. He moved to Chicago in 1981. However, while there he continued his pattern of trying to control all events. His sister wrote of his time in Chicago, “Whatever was left of Steele’s sweetness was destroyed by the lifestyle he chose to live in Chicago. Incredibly self destructive. He evolved into what I would term as a sick trick.”

This sister did not see Steele again until he was terminally ill in 1990. “I got a call from Gordon and he asked me to come to Florida and help him. A friend of his had stolen thousands of dollars from him, which I was able to get back — and he weighed about 85 pounds. I about died when I saw the condition he was in.

No one should have to die from such a devas-

The entire Imperial Court pulled out their membership cards, turned them in and resigned. The meeting lasted 10 minutes. tating illness. So I ended up staying for several months. Learned more than I ever wanted to know about the ravaging effects of the disease.

He not only had AIDS but also very advanced syphilis. Both diseases cause dementia and he got to be very far mentally gone due to this.

When I was caring for Gordon at the end of his life, he would sometimes fly into horrible rages for no seeming reason. Often times the hospital in Tampa had to call me in the middle of the night to come and try to get control of Gordon. They would have to truss him up in a straight jacket to keep him from harming both himself and others.”

Steele died of AIDS in Tampa, Fla. on March 13, 1991, at the age of 38. He was interred in Florida although his sister hopes to someday have him moved to Salt Lake City to be buried next to his grandparents. She wrote of Steele, “My kids adored him, he always bought them gigantic milkshakes.” Steele’s sister-in-law wrote, he “ was always so good to me, very sweet...

Stubborn? You bet! He stood his ground for what he thought was right. Self centered? Yes, but not so much to forget about others. He was always doing something for others.”

As for Candy Steele, the woman he passed off as his sister and claimed to be Empress IV of the Imperial Court, she was a fraud. This woman was not his real sister, who was married and living in Alaska during this time. The phony sister fooled people into thinking she was Steele’s sibling and kept up the ruse for years. She remained in Salt Lake City, to the annoyance of many people, and worked as a prison guard at the Utah’s state correction facility for many years. When I met her in 1986 she treated me kindly and I even worked with a woman who said that this person was her sister-in-law, so you can imagine my surprise when Michael Aaron forwarded me an email from the real Candy Steele.

The real Candy Steele was just as surprised to find that some woman had passed herself off as her. However, she informed me that Steele also falsely claimed that a nephew of his was his son and that “Gordon was certainly not beyond stretching the truth when it suited him to do so.” So who was this mysterious woman who posed as Gordon’s sister? No clue. It’s an enigma. Q

VIEWS | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 21

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

who’s your daddy?

The sin, the joy, of Pride

by Christopher Katis christopher@qsaltlake.com

Pride is

one of the Seven Deadly Sins. It’s right up there with lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, apathy and anger. And thanks to it, I’m a big old sinner!

Yeah, I’m proud to be gay. But I’m also proud to be American, proud to be of Greek descent, proud to be my parents’ kid, proud of my nearly 25-year relationship with Kelly, and I’m really, really proud to be a dad. And this Pride season I’m giddy with ... well, pride!

I was two-thirds done with my column for this month when something amazing occurred, something that made me burst with pride: President Obama announced that he has changed his mind and now fully supports same-gender marriage.

What a remarkable moment for our country and for our community: a sitting president, facing a tough re-election campaign, came out in favor of gay marriage. To me this showed great integrity and courage.

Yes, cynics will tell you it was a political move, something Obama needed to do to shore up the left wing of his base, for which this is an important issue.

But they forget that because of this announcement, the presidential race in some key swing states has become a lot tougher for him.

I know that coming out for gay-marriage I bet pollsters would rights is a far cry from a stroke of find a correlation the pen making between support of it the law of the land. And gay marriage and naysayers will actually knowing argue that more than five times openly LGBT people as many states have laws barring same-sex marriage as do allow them – Utah among them – but the tide is turning. Marriage equality is very much a generational issue: older folks think it’s the end of the world; young people don’t understand what the big deal is all about. According to The Economist that’s true even among Evangelicals; the younger generations of the hallelujah crowd don’t care who marries whom.

What really thrills me about this all is how he came to his decision. One of the most eye-opening experiences for me about being a dad has been how much my children influence and teach me. Well, Obama

credits his daughters, Sasha and Malia, with helping him come to support gay and lesbian marriages.

In his comments, the president said that during dinner, the first family discussed the very same topics that millions of other families around the world discuss every night at the dinner table – school and friends. Like many other kids in this country, the president’s daughters have friends with gay or lesbian parents. The girls couldn’t understand why these families were any different than their own, why their friends’ parents were denied the same rights the president and first lady enjoy. And slowly, the president began to wonder those same things.

So I’m proud of the contribution my family made to helping the president understand and finally support the equity of same-gender marriage. No, my kids don’t hang out with the Obama girls. We aren’t one of the families discussed over the dinner table at the White House.

But we’re doing our part by simply being a happy, average family – that happens to have two dads in it.

By doing so, we help increase awareness that translates into support for gay/lesbian marriage, which in turn reflects in the polls. You may say our little family in Utah helped give the president some political cover to come out as pro-gay marriage.

And every other openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender person should also take credit. It’s only my theory, but I bet pollsters would find a correlation between support of gay marriage and actually knowing openly LGBT people.

So, what better time for the president to make his announcement than on the cusp of Pride. The conservative right is in the midst of a campaign to retake the word “gay” because they contend homosexuals cannot be happy. They argue we’re sad, sad people, who have stolen a positive word in order to bamboozle the world about our sorry lives. Never mind that no one has used the word “gay” to mean happy in 60 years.

The president is sending a message that gay men, lesbian women, and bisexual and transgender people are just like everyone else: happy, loving, supportive people, who deserve all the rights and privileges everyone else enjoys. I think we all need to send the man a thank you note!

So as you revel in Pride this year, please remember to celebrate the changing times, the evolution of society’s opinions, and the promise of a better, brighter and more equitable future for our community.

In other words, sin a little and be proud! Q

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22 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | VIEWS

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

guest editorial RCGSE Reign I: The birth of a community

By Mikki Whitworth

“What a

great trip,” Henry Bender announced upon return to Salt Lake City from Portland, Ore. “We should create a court of the Imperial Court system here.”

“What the hell is that?” George Winklekotter asked.

Henry began telling about the Portland Court’s Coronation. He explained an empress and emperor reigned over a group of gay men, lesbians and others. Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon raised money to help people in need. The group sitting around the table listened intently. Cherisse, Empress I of the Emerald Court of Eugene, Oregon began visiting the city to help assisting building the new court. During this process, Henry asked Pepper Prespente to become Salt Lake’s first emperor and Henry started performing drag as Deanna.

Pepper needed to know more before she could make a decision, but as Henry explained the

court system to her, Pepper wanted to become a part of this new community.

According to the Utah Stonewall Historical Society, a group of “more than 20 people, straight, lesbian, drag queen, activist, and businessman met over the Veteran’s Day [1975] weekend to create a Founders Council to organize an Imperial Court system for Utah.”

The diverse group wanted to move forward with visibility for the LGBT community. Acting mostly as a social group, they desired to be nonprofit. The money earned through their events helped the build the group and start planning who they could assist.

Several changes have occurred since the inception of the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire. First, it was called the Imperial Court of the Wasatch Empire of Utah. Plus, unlike all future emperors and empresses, Deanna, Empress I, The Origin of the Spike, and Pepper, Emperor I, The Spice of the Spike, were appointed. Annual elections choose the leaders of the Court. Another difference between the early Court and the modern Court is the empress was president of the board then, and now, the empress and emperor are co-presidents of the board.

On Feb. 22, 1976, with about 100 people in attendance, Deanna and Pepper were crowned

by Cherisse, Empress I of the Emerald Court of

Eugene, Oregon and Scotti Carlyle, Empress II of the Imperial Court of The Rocky Mountain Empire of Denver. At the same time, Cherisse granted the Imperial Court of the Wasatch Empire of Utah its official charter. With the crowning of Pepper, Emperor I, she became the first female emperor in the fledgling International Court System.

Over the next fourteen months, the Court continued to grow. The events held by Reign I developed a community as a social group for Salt Lake’s new queer community. When the first reign ended April 30, 1977, it began a tradition of caring for the community around it.

However, it did not end Pepper’s involvement in the Court. She is currently a member of the board and a driving force in the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire.

On May 27, 2012 the Court holds Coronation XXXVII in the Red Lion Hotel Ballroom.

The doors open at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 6. This year’s theme celebrates the past by highlighting Reigns VI, XVI and XXVI. Tickets are on sale now at all Court events, during voting and at the door and cost $40. Pepper, Michael and Nick invite you to join them to meet your extended Court family. Q Mikki Whitworth is a junior at Westminster College pursuing a degree in English with a creative writing emphasis. She is a disabled veteran.

The Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire and Reign XXXVI Present:

SUNDAY MAY 27, 2012 161 West 600 South (801) 521-7373

The Red Lion Hotel Ballroom

Doors open at 5 p.m. Show begins at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $40 and available at all Court functions, Voting for Reign XXXVII, Hospitality during Coronation Weekend, and at the Door of Coronation.

Voting for Reign XXXVII will be Saturday, May 19th at the Red Lion Hotel from Noon to Midnight.

For complete information regarding all of the weekend events, please visit our website at rcgse.org.

rcgse.org

VIEWS | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 23

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

creep of the week Mitt Romney

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su rely a l ready know, President Obama came out of the closet last week as totally gay — for gay marriage, anyway. Obama’s support for marriage equality had been, let’s face it, an open secret of sorts. I mean, everybody knew he supported it, but he pretended to be all conflicted about the issue, going so far as to say he believed marriage was a one-man, one-woman show.

This, in spite of the fact that back in 1996 he told Outlines, a gay newspaper, “I favor legalizing same-sex marriage, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages.” Needless to say, Obama’s painfully slow “evolution” on the issue was a sore spot for many lesbian and gay folks.

Hell, even after he said publicly and on purpose into a TV camera that marriage equality is cool with him, it’s still a sore spot for some.

The Log Cabin Republicans were quick to piss all over the announcement and the Internet was atwitter with grumblings about the whole thing being too little, too late.

But I say, screw all that. The bottom line is, for the first time in history we have a sitting president who acknowledges that our families not only exist, but they are valid and should be afforded equal treatment enshrined in law. And this is huge.

Oh, but that Newsweek cover with the neon rainbow halo over Obama’s head with the headline, “The First Gay President?” That shit is crazy. Obama is no more gay than Bill Clinton is black.

Still, with Obama giving the thumbs up to marriage equality and talking about repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, the choice between him and Mitt Romney is starker than ever.

After Obama’s pro-gay marriage announcement, Romney told the audience during a commencement address at Liberty University, “Culture matters. As fundamental as

Customer Appreciation Day these principles are, they may become topics of democratic debate.

So it is today with the enduring institution of marriage. Marriage is a relationship between one man and one woman.”

On May 10, Romney said, “And if two people of the same gender want to live together, want to have a loving relationship, or even to adopt a child — in my state individuals of the same sex were able to adopt children. In my view, that’s something that people have a right to do. But to call that marriage is something that in my view is a departure from the real meaning of that word.”

The very next day Romney backpedaled, saying that he was just saying that same-sex couples adopting kids together was something that does happen, not something that should.

And then there’s that horrifying report out of The Washington Post about Romney bullying a kid everybody thought was gay in high school, complete with an episode recalled by “five students, who gave their accounts independently of one another.” Evoking that terrifying scene from Mommie Dearest, Romney hacked the kid’s hair off with scissors while Romney’s friends held him down.

Oh, and don’t forget that Romney’s foreign policy advisor, Richard Grenell, was given the ol’ heave ho after right-wing conservatives pitched a fit because Grenell is a homo.

It’s no wonder that Bill White, a “well-known, openly gay supporter of Mitt Romney” according to CNN, switched teams. White, who now supports Obama, even demanded Romney refund his big campaign contribution. Ouch.

My guess is that White isn’t the only LGBT defector. And with good reason. Even this early in the 2012 election, it’s pretty clear that any LGBT person who votes Romney might as well beat themselves with a wire hanger. Q

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24 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | VIEWS

like

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

At-home HIV test nears

clinics. More than 50,000 new cases of HIV are reported each year and nearly one in five people infected are unaware of their positive status.

An FDA committee gave a preliminary go-ahead to the nation’s first in-home HIV test that could be distributed on a mass scale.

The OraQuick rapid HIV test is already being used in many health

Way to go, Nebraska!

identity in the workplace and in housing. There were two Republicans who abstained from voting, rather than voicing their own, slightly more bigoted opinions.

The Lincoln City Council unanimously passed the state’s first nondiscrimination ordinance protecting against bias based on sexual orientation and gender

Eight years ago, on May 17, 2004, the first legal gay marriages in the United States were performed in Massachusetts. In the years

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since, 18,462 same-sex couples have tied the knot in the state, according to MassEquality. Now, more than 28 percent of married gay couples in Massachusetts are raising children, and 93 percent of them reported that their children are happier, more stable and better off as a result of their marriage. Still no word on how this is destructing the family unit.

wtf?!

Lady Gaga barred from Indonesia The uber-fabulous and diva extraordinaire Lady Gaga, practically royalty in most parts of the world, was banned from performing in Indonesia.

Islamic and other conservative groups voiced concern over her provocative lyrics and said her performance would be a blight on the otherwise completely holy nation.

Gay-friendly bar firebombed A gay-friendly bar in Armenia that is famous as a haven for free-thinkers was firebombed because the owner is a queerrights activist, and had once marched in a gay pride parade.

The suspects were bailed out of jail by members of the parliament.

communit y projec t

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

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VIEWS | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 25

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1st Saturday 11:11 am–5:55 pm: 2727 Event Psychic Fair. 2 Twenty minute readings – $27 2nd Saturday at 12–2 pm: Chakra Class. Learn how to Balance your Chakras – $18

26 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | PRIDE

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

Utah Pride serving the LGBTQ Community

Celebrating our 20th Anniversary

Support

Advocacy

Celebration

Mental Health Project Crisis Response & Support Line

Media Advocacy & Watchdog Working with LGBTQ Youth

Utah Pride Festival Pink Dot

SAGE Utah HIV Prevention & Testing

Working with LGBTQ Elders LGBTQ Competency in Health Care Settings

Queer Prom National Coming Out Day

Family Preservation Project

UP365

Youth & Young Adult Programs Youth Drop-In Center Women’s Wellness Potluck Program Transgender Program Cyber Center

Utah Pride Golf Classic

Workplace Advocacy Queer Straight Alliances Policy Support Utah Pride Junior Board

Tobacco Prevention No Bully Hotline

Grand Marshal Reception HONOREES

Friday, June 1st at 7:00 pm at The Leonardo 209 E. 500 S. Salt Lake City, UT Tickets are $40 and available online (via SmithsTix)

Dustin Lance Black Grand Marshal

Valerie Larabee Dr. Kristen Ries Community Service

Sen. Ben McAdams Pete Suazo Political Action

Pat Bagley Local Hero

UtahPrideFestival.org

355 N 300 W ~ www.UtahPrideCenter.org ~ 801.539.8800

PRIDE | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 27

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

4 Stages! 38 Acts! Don’t Miss It!!

SUNDAY, JUNE 3

FRIDAY, JUNE 1 7:00 pm

9:00 am

Grand Marshal Reception & Awards Ceremony with Dustin Lance Black

Utah Pride Parade

11:00 am

Festival Gates Open

(The Leonardo)

12:00 pm

Club Karamba

SATURDAY, JUNE 2

12:00 pm

DJ Harry Cross

Pride Day 5K Run

12:30 pm

3113

12:30 pm

The KlezBros (West Stage)

(Capitol Hill)

12:30 pm

10:00 am

Interfaith Service

(South Stage) (North Stage)

(East Stage)

1:00 pm

Plan-B Theater’s Hedwig & the Angry Inch (North Stage)

1:30 pm

Sambo Fogo

Interfaith March

1:30 pm

Melody & Tyler

2:30 pm

Dyke March

1:20 pm

2:30 pm

Transgender March

Salt Lake Taiko Drummers (North Stage)

3:00 pm

Opening Ceremonies

1:30 pm

Melody & Tyler

3:00 pm

Festival Gates Open

1:50 pm

Club JAM Idol

3:30 pm

Family Hours

3:30 pm

Kids Carnival Show with Junior Hubrich (East Stage)

4:00 pm

DJ Nick James

4:00 pm

Paper Moon

4:30 pm

Slap Percussion

5:00 pm

Four Leaves Left

5:30 pm

(The Cathedral Church of Saint Mark)

2:00 pm

Dyke Rally (State Capitol)

2:00 pm

Transgender Rally

2:30 pm

(City Creek Park)

(3:30pm - 6:30pm)

2:00 pm

u

(West Stage)

(West Stage)

(North Stage)

(South Stage)

Saturday’s Voyeur (North Stage)

2:20 pm

Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire (Main Stage)

2:30 pm

Folk Hogan

(East Stage)

2:30 pm

Stonecircle

(West Stage)

3:00 pm

Saliva Sisters

Magician Paul Brewer (East Stage)

3:30 pm

Swedish-ish Fish

6:00 pm

Under the Covers

3:30 pm

Red Desert Ramblers

6:00 pm

Club JAM

3:50 pm

Junior Hubrich

7:00 pm

ROTC-SLC

4:00 pm

Kristine W

(North Stage)

7:15 pm

Dustin Lance Black, 2012 Utah Pride Festival Grand Marshal (North Stage)

4:00 pm

Metro Bar

(South Stage)

4:30 pm

Juana Ghani (West Stage)

(South Stage) (East Stage) (North Stage)

(North Stage)

(South Stage) (North Stage)

Ms. Frenchie Davis 8:00 pm, Saturday

(North Stage) (East Stage) (West Stage)

(North Stage)

7:30 pm

Prince Poppycock (North Stage)

4:30 pm

Sister Wives (East Stage)

8:00 pm

Ms. Frenchie Davis

4:45 pm

DJ Dances with Wolves

9:00 pm

Latin Dance Party (North Stage)

11:00 pm

(North Stage)

Festival Gates Close

7:30 pm, Saturday

(East Stage)

2:10 pm

(North Stage)

Prince Poppycock

(North Stage)

6:00 pm 7:00 pm

DJ Panama

(North Stage)

Festival Gates Close

Kristine W

4:00 pm, Sunday

UtahPrideFestival.org

28 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | PRIDE

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

Our annual

Guide to

pride This is the ninth year QSaltLake has brought our Guide to Pride to Utah’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and ally community. No event generates more excitement than Pride.

Check these pages to find all the entertainment and event options, a map of the parade and festival grounds and a welcome from Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker.

Congratulations to the hardworking people who put Pride together.

Past Grand Marshals 1996 Chasity Bono, now known as Chaz, the child of iconic duo Sonny and Cher. The first Grand Marshal of Utah’s Pride Parade.

1997 Candace Gingrich, the lesbian sister of U.S. Congressman Newt Gingrich.

1998 Debra Burrington and Charlene Orchard, founders of the Utah Chapter of the Human Rights Campaign.

1999 Dan Butler, Openlygay actor who played “Bulldog” from the Emmy-winning television series Frasier, was official Grand Marshal

while Gary and Millie Watts were our local Grand Marshals.

2000 Utah Rep. Jackie Biskupski, Utah’s first elected gay woman to the state Legislature.

championed queerrights legislation, and Steve Kmetko, host on E! Network entertainment news.

2005 Utah Sen. Scott D. McCoy, Utah’s first elected gay man to the state Legislature.

2003 Kate Kendall, Utah native, executive director of National Center for Lesbian Rights.

2006 J. Boyer Jarvis, Ph.D., 83-year-old humanrights activist and ally to the gay community.

2001 Ross C. “Rocky” Anderson, the mayor of 2004 Salt Lake City.

Bruce Bastian, WordPerfect co-founder 2002 Utah Sen. Alicia Suazo, and philanthropist. wife of Pete Suazo who

2008 Ralph Becker, mayor of Salt Lake City.

2009 Cleve Jones, founder of the AIDS Quilt.

2010 Sister Dottie S. Dixon, a beloved fictional character portrayed by local actor Charles Lynn Frost.

2007 John Amaechi, Utah Jazz player, first NBA 2011 player to speak publicly Roseanne Barr, actress about being gay. and activist

PRIDE | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 29

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

Dustin Lance Black represents Utah Pride

By Michael N. Westley

Dustin

Lance Black is a storyteller.

The story is one of change.

His arrival in Utah to lead the Utah Pride Festival Parade as this year’s grand marshal is as timely as it is important.

So begs the question, why?

There was no hesitation in his response.

“It’s my people,” said Dustin Lance Black, “I gotta move my people.”

The Texas-raised, Academy award-winning screenwriter, producer and human rights activist said his relationship with Utah began the day he was born.

“I have a personal investment in equality in Utah. I have uncles and aunts and grandparents and cousins who all live under the law in that state, and I have an investment in them living in a more equal state,” said Black.

Being raised Mormon in a military family in the Lone Star state, Black said the atmosphere couldn’t get any more conservative.

“I was told from an early age how wrong, sick and less than the other kids that are out there I was. The toll it took on my self esteem — I contemplated hurting myself and I know that I’m not alone.”

Black left Texas to study film in California.

He made some movies. He wrote a screenplay that earned him an Oscar. He has teamed up with the industry’s greats — actors, directors, producers — to tell the stories that open eyes, touch hearts and change minds.

And as he takes the reins on Utah’s annual lineup of the best and brightest of Utah’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer community, so goes his message of change.

Black’s recently released stage work, 8, is spreading like wildfire across the country, opening in community theaters and college campuses, including in Utah later this summer.

The play is based on the court case surrounding the historic passage of California’s Proposition 8 which banned state-sanctioned same-sex marriage.

“It’s exciting. And it’s amazing how fast all of this happening,” said Black, who has joined forces with Rob Reiner and Castle Rock Entertainment to make the play into a movie.

“I knew if America could see it, it would be mind-changing.”

Storytelling, Black said, is the most potent tool we have in our fight for equality. Telling our personal stories in the way that we come out personalizes the struggle. The way to correct political and social inequality and injustice is to humanize the story — a strategy

PHOTO: Phil Bray/Focus Features

mastered by slain San Francisco Supervisor and gay-rights activist, Harvey Milk.

“And so I, much to the chagrin of my agents, continue to take jobs that are telling the stories of LGBT people and their struggle,” said Black.

Black, like much of the nation in the wake of Proposition 8, is keen to keep an eye on the politics of Utah. He noted the importance of Utah’s political climate during his speech in Washington D.C. in 2009 when the gays stood at the nation’s capitol and demanded a new era of acceptance and equality.

“They say as goes California, so goes the nation. But it seems lately, as goes Utah, so goes the nation,” said Black, who was worked with the leaders of Utah’s LGBTQ community to engage leaders of the Mormon Church in a meaningful dialogue.

“Those conversations have been long and truthful and I count some of the leadership of the church as my friends again,” said Black.

Politically and socially, the gays and the LDS Church are moving in the same direction in at least one very important issue: family.

“We are at this interesting moment, where gay and lesbian people are fighting for what the Mormon Church has been telling people is important for a really long time,” Black said. “And in that, we are realizing we have more in common than not.”

Black said he has never attended a gay pride in Salt Lake City.

“I was the grand marshal at New York Pride.

But you do feel like you’re preaching to the choir a little bit.

In Utah, there are far less people but it feels important and productive. That’s what I hope it can be.”. ● Q

30 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | PRIDE

Guide to

pride

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

Kristine W is blown away by Salt Lake

by Seth Bracken

Club diva

and fabulous gay icon Kristine W is much more than a pretty face. The former beauty queen holds the world record of 16 No. 1 Billboard dance club hits — more than the likes of Madonna, Whitney Houston and Beyoncé.

So what’s her secret? How has she managed to stay relevant through a career that spans nearly two decades? Well, the gays, of course! Since she started performing at the Las Vegas Hilton while attending the University of Nevada Las Vegas, gays have flocked to her outrageous shows, where she’s donned in almost drag-style costumes and belting out anthems.

Kristine W will be performing at the Utah Pride Festival, Sunday, June 3. She recently chatted with QSaltLake about her upcoming show, her new album and some of her Utah memories.

I see from your website that you’re performing at Pride festivals around the nation, including in Miami. How’s the Pride tour been so far? It’s been amazing. Miami was actually our first tour date with the dancers and the full show. We’ll be bringing a similar show to Utah, with the Vegas dancers, Jeff and Stefan. The show couldn’t have gone any better.

The Utah show will be a little different and we’ll be debuting a couple of the songs from my new album.

When will your new album be out and what can you tell us about it? It’s kind of in that mode right now where it’s close to come out, but we still don’t have a date. We’ll have a single out in June. We’re working with overseas producers — Skyping at 5 a.m. because of the time difference is so crazy. We’re also working with an international production team who are all producers and DJs. They’ve all got their own tour schedules and so it can be so tough to arrange everyone’s schedule.

The album is called New and Number Ones because it has eight new tracks and four classics that are all re-mastered and redone. We’re cutting all new vocals and arrangements for songs like “Land of the Living.” It’s a daunting task, but it’s exciting because I get to work with new people and see these songs with new eyes.

Your last album, Straight up with a Twist, was a beautiful jazz mixture and now you’re experimenting with remakes of songs. Do you feel more freedom to play with your sound than you did before? Because I have my own label I feel free.

When I was with record labels, and I was with all the major labels, it was only about the dollar sign. The record execs would say, “This doesn’t sound like Beyoncé or Madonna’s latest hit. How come you can’t make a record like this person or that person.” All you’d be doing is chasing that last hit.

I really have to credit Dolly Parton, who started her own

PRIDE | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 31

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

record label in 2007 or 2008. I remember listening to a Larry King interview where she was absolutely inspiring. I thought, “I’ve got to get enough courage to do this.” It took me a while to figure it out.

It’s been scary and expensive and I’ve gone through my savings account accomplishing it. But it’s going to be so worth it. I can make music for the people I care about.

Do you make music for yourself, or mainly your fans? I never really wanted to make music for myself. Even when I’m picking other people’s songs, my goal is to move my audience. There’s nothing better than having a fan say, “That’s my song!” or “That’s my anthem!” Nothing makes my hair stand on end quite like it.

You’ve managed to stay relevant and fabulous over a career that spans nearly two decades. What’s your secret? Honestly, I think listening to your audience and remembering why you’re doing it are the best ways. It was never about being famous for me. I want my songs to be a part of the tapestry of people’s lives.

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How have your performances changed over time? I think I enjoy it because I’m not doing it six nights a week. We can put more time into the show and make it a little different. With a Vegas show, you have to use the same costumes and numbers because so much time and money went into developing that show. But now I can take feedback from Facebook friends and see what the fans want. It’s so much easier to change the show now. There’s a lot more creative freedom.

You’ve been to Utah before. What do you remember about your visit? I remember we had a good time and stayed at a really nice hotel. We were blown away by how pretty the city was. We went out that night and hit a bunch of the restaurants and found a Russian place. We were nervous because we’d never heard of Russian food, but we went in and really loved it.

We had a competition on our Facebook page for a fan to ask you a question. The question comes from reader Jerry Buie who said he’s heard you write many of your own lyrics. Is that true and what’s your writing process like? That is true. I write or co-write my songs with other people. My song writing process is a bit unorthodox. I always carry a pad of paper in my purse and whenever something comes to mind I write it down. It might be a dream I had or something from a fan’s letter. And a lot of times I’ll be on an airplane when I start to write. That’s a place that seems to click on my creative process. I usually go back after a few days and read what I’ve written down and go from there.

In Utah, we’ve been faced with some very tragic suicides of young gay people. Do you have any advice for your young gay fans that are growing up in a conservative area? Perhaps your own miniature ‘It Gets Better’ moment? I also grew up in a conservative area. I grew up in the Tri-Cities, Washington area.

It was hard for me but luckily I had a mother who was very open and embraced everyone. She had a lot of gay friends and followers — she sang jazz in nightclubs. I was fortunate to have a mom with an open heart.

The only reason why people hate others is fear of the unknown.

People hate what they don’t understand and hate and fear are both four-letter words. I think that people are starting to understand that gays aren’t threatening anyone and I just hope you remember that you’re the stars of the new galaxy. Don’t let your light be diminished and don’t be dissuaded by fear and hate.

Be out, be open, be proud and embrace who you are, you’re going to add something amazing to the world. Focus on the gifts that you have to offer and work on being the best you can be. ● Q DecideToDrive.org

news_3column.indd 3

2/23/11 9:17 AM

32 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | PRIDE

Guide to

pride

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

Prince Poppycock packs 29 inches, 50 pounds of fabulous

By Seth Bracken

Vaudevillian,

operatic and classic anthem-rock dandy Prince Poppycock is a true original. The native Virginian, also known as John Quayle, sings standards, opera classics and other provocative numbers all while dressed in a traditional Victorian-style drag — complete with white, powder wigs and makeup.

show? When I perform, the biggest challenge I face is the amount of luggage I travel with. I bring between eight and 12 suitcases and prop cases per show, and I’m doing it without roadies.

My makeup bag alone — a 29-inch hard case Samsonite and four-way roller — always pushes 50 pounds, and I need at least two suitcases for wigs, three suitcases for wardrobe, two suitcases for props and two broad-shouldered blonds who’d like to volunteer to carry them for me! I hear Utah has gorgeous blonds.

Send them to me!

As for preparing for performances, learning takes a lifetime! But on the day of a show, I need to start getting ready four hours before showtime.

Your musical repertoire is astoundingly diverse. Have you always had such a wide array of influences? I think my song selections might indicate the stories I want to tell more than they indicate my influences.

One of the reasons why I do big productions is because I’m interested in portrayal as part of the performance.

As for my taste, I love good music of all kinds.

Your numbers seem to take on a life of their own. Can we expect a theatrical production this year at Utah Pride? With no wings or a backstage it’s very difficult to properly produce theater. But let’s face it, I can’t help but be theatrical, darling!

He was a finalist on NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2010, and has been touring the nation since. Prince Poppycock makes a stop in Utah as a featured performer at the Utah Pride Festival on June 2. For tickets and information, go to utahpridefestival.org.

Prince Poppycock spoke with QSaltLake about his upcoming show, how he came up with his phallic name and what we can expect from him in the future.

How did you come up with the idea for your persona and name, Prince Poppycock? I was thinking of hot ... bothered ... popcorn.

I jest! ‘Prince’ because I wanted to bring out the royalty inherent in myself and that I believe is there in everyone; ‘Poppycock’ because inflating yourself is really such a lot of nonsense anyway, isn’t it?

What are some of the biggest challenges to your act? How long does it take for you to prepare for a

Aside from being a beautiful and entertaining performer, Prince Poppycock seems to have more depth of character than just a simple androgynous portrayal. Was that intentional and what themes do you try to have him address? I would beg to differ that androgyny is ever simple. However, behind the masque, I believe deeply the power to create that all humanity shares.

What can we expect from Prince Poppycock in the future? I wish I had a crystal ball! The only thing that’s certain is that the adventure is far from over!

In Utah, we’ve been faced with some very tragic suicides of young gay people. Do you have any advice for your young queer fans who are growing up in a conservative area? Perhaps your own miniature ‘It Gets Better’ moment? I’ll let one of my songs handle that for me.

“It all started with a pop and it’s not ever going to stop. Life’s an explosion, can’t you see? So, darling, let’s go! There’s so much to do and so much to know. It sure looks like a party to me!” Q

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

PRIDE | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 33

Frenchie kisses the gay community

By Tony Hobday

Franchelle

“Frenchie” Davis, 33, popped out, literally, on the music scene in 2002 when her semi-finalist status on American Idol was stripped away after her controversial past was re-evaluated by the show’s execs. It wouldn’t be until 2011 that Frenchie Davis would return to reality television, securing another semifinalist position, this time on The Voice, and bringing national attention back to her singing career. Her renditions of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” and Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” on the show “tore the house down” — a mainstay description of Frenchie’s performances.

Between the stints on the popular television shows, Frenchie was making a name for herself in musical theater. She landed ensemble roles in the 2003 Broadway musical Rent. She remained with the show until 2007. Other performances over the years include in regional productions of Dreamgirls, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Cinderella.

Also, according to Frenchie, since the seedling of her singing career, she’s been performing for the LGBT community — a fan base she is humbled by, and immensely grateful for, their continued support. The R&B diva, while on the 2012 Pride circuit, performs at Utah Pride, June 2, 8 p.m., on the festival grounds at Washington Square.

You were a contestant on The Voice last season, so what prompted you to join another singing competition? I never imagined that I would end up on another singing reality show. I was performing in West Hollywood and a woman came up to me after my performance to let me know how much she enjoyed it. She said she didn’t think I was given a fair chance to show the world how amazing I am when I was on American Idol, and that she was a casting director for a new show on NBC that would be all about singing. She said would really love if I’d consider auditioning for it.

Fast forward months later, I’m on The Voice. Life is funny that way.

The Idol controversy aside, what parallels and/or differences between The Voice and Idol have impacted your career? I think both shows gave me a lot of exposure and allowed me to share my talent with audiences that I wouldn’t have otherwise had immediate reach to.

How did this gig at Utah Pride come about? What was your motivation behind the decision to be a part of our festival? Well, I love performing at Pride festivals. My relationship with the gay community began years ago when I was a college student in Washington, D.C. I performed at gay bars and clubs for extra money and it grew from there.

The gay community represents an audience that has supported me since the very early stages of my career. So naturally, I would say YES!! to being asked to perform at Utah Pride.

Having performed at Carnaval in West Hollywood, among other LGBT events, I’m sure you’re aware that gays are quite discerning — you have this unique wow-factor — but what do you have planned to get Utah’s LGBT community on their feet at Pride? I plan to sing my heart out and make sure they have a good time.

Right now, who’s your object of affection? Someone amazing, supportive, loving, and sexy (giggles).

naturel way up top. It’s sexy — what’s behind the look? I just love short hair.

The strangest thing, I feel pretty with my hair short. When I get dolled up, I don’t want to focus on “Oh God, what am I doing with my hair?!?” I want to focus on my face being beat. I don’t want to be worried about messing up my hairstyle when I go swimming or anything. ... I love wearing my hair short. I may change the length and color depending on my mood. For instance, Utah fans can expect to see a blonde Frenchie at Utah Pride but it will still be short because that’s what I love. Q

For as long as I can remember, you’ve sported a hairstyle cropped close, and now you’re ... let’s say you’ve gone au

Her debut album, “Frenchie,” will be released later this year. To learn more about Frenchie Davis visit www.DivasAndDjs.com or frenchiedavis.org.

I understand you are riding the same pride festival circuit with Kristine W, are you two pals? Yes. I adore her. She is fierce and so sweet and I love sharing the stage with her.

Tell us about your debut album, what can your fans expect from it? It’s going to be mostly dance music ... a couple of power ballads, and I am so excited about the single, “Love’s Got A Hold On Me”, which will hit iTunes in June.

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What Pride means to me

Mike Jensen

Jack Strickland

Pride means throwing off the shackles of a life full of self loathing and fear and replacing it with the inner peace and self love that comes from finally living my authentic life. It took me 48 years to get here and I will never look back. Life truly is beautiful.

Pride. Something so easy to say you have, so easy to display. It is displayed in how we conduct ourselves in our day-to-day lives. It is in using our manners and being polite to others.

Regardless of how others may be, or treat us. It is in being fair in our dealings with our detractors, not demanding something of them that we are not willing to give ourselves. It is being true to ourselves.

Being gay is not an identity, being ourselves is. Being gay is part of our person, not our entire person. Pride is being the best that we can be and not worrying about what others may see. Pride comes from inside, others of like mind know it when they see it. Be it the bright rainbows, pink triangles, or the simple smile that we give a complete stranger.

What is Pride to me? Being the best that I can be.

Pride by the numbers

15,000 115+ $140,000 Water bottles used by festivalgoers

Parade entries, up 15 from last year

Expected proceeds from the festival to the Utah Pride Center

3,000+ 1,440

People participating in the parade

Volunteers who will consume 33 pounds of fruit, 466 bags of cookies, chips or crackers and 1,800 sodas

600,000

Pages printed for the QSaltLake Pride Guide

Riley and Kim Hackford I feel pride when I stay in my seat at school and don’t yell out the answer. I have ADHD and sometimes just not bouncing is a challenge.

I feel pride when my little brother does something smart and I know it is because I taught him.

I also am proud that I am from a gay family. Not everybody understands that it is all right to have two moms and no dads. Sometimes I wish I had a dad because all my other friends do. They tell me that I am missing out and maybe I am a little but they are missing out on having two moms!

My Mama Kim teaches me how to mow the lawn and take care of the garden and she teaches me how to cook. My Mama Ruth teaches me how to think differently. She can do the Rubik’s puzzle in one minute and is teaching me tricks so I can learn. She helps me with my multiplication tables and is there for me to hug and cuddle when I am sad. Basically I am proud to have two moms and one brother. We are a really good family.

Going to Pride also makes me feel Pride. I like going to Pride because I see a lot of families like mine in Salt Lake City and that is not very common.

Stefanie Lauritzen Dennette Oram Pride as defined in the dictionary is a sense of one’s own dignity or value.

When I first came out I felt ashamed to have disappointed my parents. They had always done everything for me and given me everything I needed and most of what I wanted. They are always loving and usually supportive. Finding pride in myself meant finding myself and who I really am and not who my parents want me to be. Now I have confidence in who I am. I have a smile on my face and don’t question myself constantly.

I am proud to be gay and while I know its not what my parents want, I know its my life and what makes me happy. We have grown to respect our differences and they are happy to call me their daughter again.

Pride is all about community, understanding, self respect and knowing that we are beautiful. We come in all sizes and colors, and each and every one of us has worth and meaning. It’s the place we feel comfortable with no judgment around. We stand up for what we strongly believe and show what we are made of and have a good time with smiles on our faces.

Dana Barger Pride to me is being able to wake up every day to my beautiful wife and our precious baby boy and our loving dog. We are prideful of each other and lift each other up everyday to be proud of our family and proud of who we are.

Celebrating pride is being who we are, and knowing that we are a family.

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Pride marches, rallies, interfaith service

For more information, go to UtahPrideFestival.org. See the map on page 40 for the specific route and meeting locations.

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Utah’s commuter train provides two stops near the parade route and festival grounds. Parking is free at the Trax stations on 2100 South and 1300 South and your car will be safe in the wellpoliced parking lot all day. Also, Club Try-Angles, at 251 W. 900 South, is offering free parking in its lot, so as festivalgoers can take Trax from the 900 South station to the grounds. The Trax fare is $2.35 for a one-way ticket or $5.75 for an all-day pass. To arrive at the festival grounds on Saturday, ride the Red Line-

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University of Utah to the Salt Lake City Library stop. This will With an estimated attendance of put you on the northeast corner 25,000, it takes planning for the of the festival. The trains will individual festivalgoer to save time, run until 1 a.m. To arrive near the parade route on Sunday mornmoney and make the experience ing, take the Blue Line to the more enjoyable. Salt Lake City’s Gallivan Plaza stop. More info at parking rules and regulations are basic and the public transit is one RideUTA.com. of the best in the nation.

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rally and march and the groups will intersect and walk into the parade grounds to kickoff the festival.

To have two rallies, the routes for the Dyke and Transgender Marches will be different. The lesbian marchers will gather at the Utah State Capitol and walk down to the festival grounds.

The transgender marchers do

Package Includes:

not have a starting location yet, but it will be posted on utahpridefestival.org as the festival nears.

This year the annual Pride Interfaith Service will be held at The Cathedral Church of St. Mark, 231 E. 100 South, where the service first began 11 years ago. The service begins at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 2. The theme of the interfaith worship is “Changing Minds, Healing Hearts.” Speakers are drawn from a diverse group of faith communities that embrace and celebrate the LGBTQ community, including Rev. Scott B. Hayashi, Episcopal Bishop of the Utah Diocese. Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker will welcome people to the city during the Pride Interfaith Service.

After the service, the Interfaith March will join the Transgender and Dyke Marches to form the Utah Pride March, which all end at the Festival grounds.

N

On Saturday, June 2, 3 p.m., the Pride Festival will host two marches, one for lesbians and supporters known as the Dyke March, and the Transgender March, for transgender people and supporters. This is the third annual

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between the groups. The lesbians and supporters will begin at the State Capitol. The location of the Trans March is still being determined.

The two marches will join together, along with the interfaith group on 200 South and 200 East as everyone continues into the festival grounds.

Hosted by Kate Burkart, the musical experience follows as three musicians cover three famous artists: Tom Petty, Davis Jones and Lucinda Williams.

7 Pm

7:15 Pm ROTC

North Main Stage

The Righteously Outrageous Twirling Corps of Salt Lake City is a spectacular modern-day color guard. Twirling flags, spinning rifles and batons, the group is made up of gays and lesbians.

3:30 Pm Junior Hubrich

June 2

Junior Hubrich has been playing the accordion for 18 years and is now a true musical wizard.

9 Am

4 pm

Pride Day 5K

DJ Nick James

State Capitol Building

North Main Stage

Run, walk or jog your way to the third annual Pride Day 5K. The course begins to the east of the State Capitol Building and will wind through City Creek Canyon.

The trail ends in Memory Grove.

Strollers and dogs on leashes are welcome.

DJ Nick James has been spinning and remixing for more than 10 years. He’s been a featured performer at past festivals and the Sundance Film Festival. He’s also an award-winning disc jockey on KRCL 90.9.

Pride Interfaith Service First United Methodist Church, 203 S. 200 East

Join more than 15 faith groups as Pride and diversity is celebrated through song and words. The event is open to the public and will lead right up to the equality marches.

3 Pm Dyke/Transgender Marches State Capitol Building

The march routes have changed in order to provide a greater distinction

Four Leaves Left is a melodic, heartpumping rock band from Salt Lake City that’s really starting to gain notice and traction on local radio stations and at local clubs.

North Main Stage

Grand Marshal Reception

2 Pm

North Main Stage

Under the Covers

June 1

Saturday

Four Leaves Left

6 Pm

Friday The official start to this year’s Pride festivities includes Dustin Lance Black as the grand marshal and the winners of the Kristen Ries Community Service Award and the Pete Suazo Political Action Award.

Tickets are $40.

5 Pm

4:30 Pm SLAPercussion East Café Stage

SLAPercussion has been jamming on buckets, pots and pans and the like just for fun for several years and has turned into a fan favorite at all of the places you see them play, including the Utah Arts Festival, Urban Arts Festival and Powellapalooza.

Grand Marshal Dustin Lance Black North Main Stage

musical styles and artists like David Bowie, Depeche Mode, opera, madrigals, Gregorian chant, The Smiths and many others.

8 Pm Frenchie Davis North Main Stage

Davis is a Grammy-award nominee, Broadway star, and was a top finalist on both The Voice and American Idol. Her career includes Billboard Dance Chart hits, a four-year run in Broadway’s Rent, and a national tour of Dreamgirls, where she played the role of the formidable and talented Effie White.

9 Pm Latin Dance Party.

North Main Stage

Local DJs and a sexy, fun crowd will focus on Latin music and influences.

Sunday June 3 10 Am

The fabulous Academy Awardwinning screenwriter and activist Dustin Lance Black will address festivalgoers.

Utah Pride Parade

7:30 Pm

12 Pm

Prince Poppycock North Main Stage

The roguish operatic dandy Prince Poppycock made his way into the public sphere in 2010 as a finalist on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. Prince Poppycock’s look and sound combines elements of glam rock, light opera, synthetic pop and Western art music in a way that is fresh, sometimes startling and always entertaining. Prince Poppycock was inspired by a love in a wide range of

The most fabulous parade in Utah with dozens of floats and thousands of participants.

DJ Harry Cross Jr. North Main Stage

The local and Fabby award-winning Club JAM resident DJ, Harry Cross Jr. will be spinning some of the top hits with his own fabulous flair.

Club Karamba South Dance Stage

12:30 Pm 3113

East Café Stage

Rachel and Candice have both performed with several local projects, but their latest adventure is all acoustic and all fabulous.

The Klezbros

The West International Stage

Klezmer music was originally associated with instrumental music of the Eastern European Jewish community. The Klezbros have been continuing that traditional music in Utah for nearly two decades.

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1 Pm

1:50 Pm

Plan-B Theatre’s ‘Hedwig & the Angry Inch’

Club JAM Idol

North Main Stage

Plan-B Theatre’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch gets a special reboot and the incomparable Aaron Swenson will be performing a three-song set from the show.

North Main Stage

The exciting conclusion to a karaoke competition held at the local club throughout the month.

Club Pure

South Dance Stage

2:10 Pm Saturday’s Voyeur North Main Stage

The Salt Lake Acting Company’s satirical look at life in Utah is always fresh, hilarious and fabulous. Watch an excerpt from the musical comedy preview.

1:20 Pm

2:20 Pm

Salt Lake Taiko Drummers

Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire

North Main Stage

The Salt Lake City-based group of musicians shows not only drumming, but also Japanese culture.

North Main Stage

The oldest and most prestigious drag and queer charity group in Utah is sure to impress as they strut their stuff on the main stage. Stop by for the best sequins and glitterific outfits in the state.

2:30 Pm Folk Hogan East Café Stage

1:30 Pm Melody & Tyler East Café Stage

Melody & Tyler began performing together after many years of solo work about five years ago in Logan, Utah. Soon after they moved to Salt Lake City they began building their own version of acoustic music that they describe as a country-infused acoustic rock.

Samba Fogo

West International Stage

Drawing on rich Afro-Brazilian traditions and mythology, Samba Fogo fuses Brazilian dance and the Afro-Brazilian martial art of Capoeira, all choreographed to live music, creating a unique, exciting and culturally rich choreographic style.

Folk Hogan is a high velocity, folk, punk, gypsy music experience that is high energy. With a six-piece lineup, consisting of accordion, mandolin, banjo, bass, guitar and drums, Folk Hogan brings a mix of experienced entertainers, humor and energy that will keep a crowd dancing.

Stonecircle

West International Stage

Stonecircle has enchanted music-lovers throughout its 17-year history, with driving rhythms and haunting melodies unique to their Celtic-fusion style.

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3 Pm The Saliva Sisters North Main Stage

These raucous and outrageous performers are Utah Pride Festival regulars. After performing for groups as varied as the gay rodeo and the Western Republican Governors, they know how to please a crowd.

—Continued ON NEXT PAGE

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3:30 Pm

4 Pm

Swedish-Ish Fish

Kristine W

West International Stage

The Red Desert Ramblers play bluegrass, classic country and swing music blending harmonies with smoking instrumental breaks.

Iconic dance diva Kristine W has nine consecutive Billboard No. 1 club hits and an astounding 16 No. 1 dance songs to date.

Metro Bar

South Dance Stage

North Main Stage

The Sister Wives East Café Stage

Ranging from soulful blues to fiery rock to all-out dance, the Sister Wives defy the conventional norms typically set for all-women bands with the range and depth of their musical energy and virtuosity.

DJ Dances With Wolves

North Main Stage

Local, electronica house DJ Dances With Wolves is a fixture in the Utah trance scene.

RESTROOMS

LY ON IT EX

VIP LOUNGE

BOOTHS

WATER

HEALTH ZONE

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RESTROOMS

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ART ZONE

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SAGE ZONE

FOOD

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With more than 20 years of spinning experience, DJ Panama has rocked some of the hottest nightclubs in Utah, Curacao, Panama, China and many other major metropolitan areas around the world.

The lively and dark gypsy-infused rock band is a gathering of incredibly talented musicians.

4:45 Pm

4:30 Pm

400 SOUTH EX IT ON LY

DJ Panama

ENTRANCE

The Red Desert Ramblers

North Main Stage

SODA

Swedish-Ish Fish is a multi-instrumentalist out of Portland, Oregon and Salt Lake City. She has played in several queer core bands from the Northwest, touring all around the country and in Canada.

West International Stage

BEER

East Café Stage

6 Pm

Juana Ghani

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Schedule at a glance

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Saturday, June 2 9am Pride Day 5K @ Memory Grove 12:30pm Pride Interfaith Service 2pm Dyke & Transgender Marches 3pm Festival gates open 3:30–6:30pm Family hours & kids carnival 7:30pm Prince Poppycock 8pm Frenchie Davis 9pm Club Latin Music Dance Party 11pm Festival gates close

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Gear up for Pride Perfect

for rockin’ a pink boa, the Utah Pride Festival is just around the corner. Leather harnesses, platforms and a full-size rainbow flag will give your sashay down Second South all the style needed to be caught by Fox 13 News at 9. But finding all the rainbow and glitter gear necessary to bedazzle and amaze during the most fabulous weekend of the year can be such a chore! No need to fret, because QSaltLake has recommended some the best shops, boutiques and gift stores to stock up on everything from jewelry and Tshirts to rainbow collars for you and your animal companions.

Unity Gifts: Since opening the gift and adult toy store last year, owner and operator Amber Draper has gained a reputation for trendy, cute and very queer-friendly gifts.

A recent shipment of Pride gear makes this a must-see for all festivalgoers. The stellar Pride selection includes sweat bands, beanies, hats, boas, tote bags, flip-flops, belt buckles, hair clips, hats, jewelry, flags and pet pride gear.

“I see some people walk past the rainbow section and just turn around and leave,” Draper said. “I don’t care. I mean seriously, they need to get with the times.”

Unity Gifts is located at 1700 S. 380 East in Salt Lake City. The store is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cahoots: This adult store and toy gift shop is a staple in the Utah gay community and is conveniently located in one of the queerest areas of town, the 9th & 9th District. From rainbowcolored socks to coffee mugs and all the gay magazines, Cahoots is a one-stop shop for all your Pride gear. The Pride selection is available yearlong, but is really beefed up during the early summer months.

Feather boas, T-shirts, adult toys, lube, bracelets, belt buckles, beer cozies and other trinkets are available at this queer-affirming store.

Cahoots is located at 878 E. 900 South in Salt Lake City. It is open daily, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Cabin Fever: This eclectic store has an enormous selection of gifts, cards and other fabulous items. Pride flags, pins and other items are stocked yearlong. Located in Trolley Square in the building next to Whole Foods, Cabin Fever is one of the best options for rainbow-shopping in Utah.

Cabin Fever is located in Trolley Square at 700 East and 600 South in Salt Lake City. It’s open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

Pride Clothing: Nothing says pride like a rainbow T-shirt or a ‘Legalize Gay’ tank top. While shopping for all the other gear, stop by Hot Topic in the Gateway or Fashion Place Mall, American Apparel in Trolley Square, and Our Store in downtown Salt Lake for all the queerthemed clothing.

Unhinged: The local boutiquestyle clothing and vintage store for men and women will transport you out of Utah and into a place where well-dressed

individuals are the norm and the stores aren’t all corporations. Think Urban Outfitters, with a Utah twist. Stop by for bright-colored jeans and other adorable handmade and locally made items.

It’s located at 1121 E. 2100 South.

Hot Topic is located at the Gateway at 82 S. Rio Grande St. in Salt Lake City and at Fashion Place Mall, 6191 S. State St., Murray. American Apparel is in Trolley Square at 700 East and 600 South. Our Store is located at 358 S. 300 East.

Underwear: Nothing says Pride like strutting around in a pair of low-cut Andrew Christian briefs or a rainbowcolored pair of Calvin Kleins. For a great pair of undies to show off your ‘pride,’ visit Spark/Cockers and Mischievous Pleasures. From jockstraps to wrestling singlets and all the latest designer briefs and swimwear, these two locally owned stores are just chock full of Pride!

They’re both great to stock up on lube, condoms and other Pride necessities.

Spark/Cockers is located at 629 S. State St. and is open MondaySaturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 1–6 p.m.

Mischievous Pleasures is located at 559 S. 300 West and is open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Q

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What’s new at Pride

Pride around the globe

Nearing three decades of pride festivals, Utah Pride is constantly changing and always improving. Here’s just a smattering of some of the big changes festivalgoers should be aware of before showing up to this year’s celebration.

D.C. Black Pride May 24–28 International Mr. Leather May 25–28 Disney World Gay Days May 29–June 4

Ground Expansion

Capital Pride, Washington D.C. May 30–June 10

To accommodate thousands of visitors, the Utah Pride Festival will once again be expanding to portions of the Salt Lake City Library grounds. This area will be a quiet place to grab a table, rehydrate and chat with friends. This will also allow for an expansion of the Kids Zone and volunteer area.

Drink Ticket System Also new to this year’s Pride is a friendlier drink-ticket system. Festivalgoers may purchase, in one transaction, as many drink tickets as they wish and simply redeem them throughout the weekend.

The system may appear somewhat complicated at first — there are lines for tickets and others for drinks — but after purchasing the tickets once, attendees will save time by cruising through the drink line.

New Entrance and Pass Information To accommodate the growing number of attendees, tickets to the Utah Pride Festival are on sale now through all Smithstix outlets. Ticket price is $10 each with a $3 service fee. Purchasing tickets in advance will keep the lines short and make the experience that much more pleasant.

Also, a new entrance on the west end of Washington Square will open. This will help divert foot traffic around the festival and alleviate congestion at the south and north entrances.

Parade Route The parade route made a dramatic shift last year, opening up a long, straightshot from 400 East, down 200 South, ending at West Temple. The route is the same this year, but with many of the kinks ironed out — there are now pointers of where to wait and watch.

The judges table will be located in the middle of the route, along State Street.

To see the best performance of all the floats, show up early and wait between State Street and 200 East. For the most shade, grab a spot between Main Street and West Temple on the south side.

June

Utah Pride June 2–3 Honolulu Pride June 2

Pride by the numbers

28,000 45 175+ 25 13

Last year’s pride attendance

Number of sponsors of the festival, including QSaltLake

Exhibitors and booths at the festival

New vendor spaces

Zone areas, including the History Zone, Art Zone and many more

800+

Number of people expected to participate in rallies and marches

25% 33+ 37

Increase in festival grounds size from last year

Number of performances to watch at the festival

Number of consecutive Pride Festival-like celebrations held in Salt Lake City

Tel Aviv Pride June 3–9 Razzle Dazzle Dallas June 6–10 Key West Pride June 6–12

July London Pride July 5–8 Provincetown Bear Week July 7–15 San Diego Pride July 21–22 San Fran. Dore Alley July 29

August

Vancouver Pride Aug. 5 PBG Carnival, Provincetwon Aug. 12–18 Montreal Pride Aug. 14–19 Pocatello Pride Aug. 18

Los Angeles Pride June 8–10

New Orleans Southern Decadence Aug. 30–Sept. 3

Athens Pride June 9

September

Boston Pride June 9

Las Vegas Pride Sept. 7–8

Key West Pride June 6–10

Orlando Bear Bash Sept. 13–16

Portland Pride June 15–17

Dallas Pride Sept. 16

New York City Pride June 16–24

Austin Gay Pride Sept. 22

Denver Pride June 16–17

Folsom Street Fair Sept. 22–23

Folsom Street East June 17

Moab Pride Sept. 28–29

Chicago Pride June 22–24

October

New Orleans Pride June 22–25 Toronto Pride June 22–July 1 Cleveland Pride June 23 San Francisco Pride June 23–24 Seattle Pride June 24 LA Black Pride June 28–July 2 Paris Pride June 30

Gay Days at Disneyland Oct. 5–7 Orlando Pride Oct. 6 Rio de Janeiro Pride Oct. 11–15 Atlanta Pride Oct. 13–14

November

Buenos Aires Pride Nov. 3 Palm Springs Pride Nov. 4

42 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | PRIDE

Guide to

pride

History of Utah Pride

By Ben Williams

Celebrating

Pride Day in Utah is part of a directive originated in 1969 when the Eastern Regional Conference of Homophile Organizations adopted the motion to hold “parallel demonstrations on the last Saturday in June to commemorate the rebellion on Christopher Street.” The reference to the rebellion, of course, refers to the Stonewall Inn riots in New York City.

Utah has celebrated being “gay and proud” for the last 36 years and perhaps for some people, even longer.

70s

A “Beer Bust Kegger,” sponsored in 1974

by Joe Redburn, owner of the Sun Tavern, was the first attempt at bringing people together to celebrate the emergence of an openly gay community in Utah. More than 200 gay men and women celebrated “Gay Pride” along the shores of the Great Salt Lake at, what was once known as, “Bare Bum Beach.”

The first official community-sponsored pride celebration was called “Gay Freedom Day” and was held June 1, 1975. Sponsored by the Gay Community Service Center, it was held in City Creek Canyon where festivities included free beer, food, soft drinks, volleyball, an all-day “do your own thing” talent revue and sing-a-long, games for prizes, and a white-elephant auction. A shuttle service from local gay bars provided additional transportation.

80s

In 1983 members of the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire met to revitalize the true concept of a pride day. Tim Leming, Marshall Brunner, Larry Pacheco and Mel Rohland, among others, formed a committee and put together an event billed as a “Basket Social” held in Fairmont Park.

In 1987 the newly formed Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah took over the responsibilities of Utah’s annual event. Donnie Eastepp, Emperor XII of the RCGSE, was elected chair of the Pride Day Committee. He created a community service award, which was presented to Dr. Kristen Ries for her efforts treating AIDS patients when no other doctors in Utah were willing to do so. The award was established to recognize outstanding service to the gay and lesbian community. Eastepp also moved the location of Pride Day to Sunnyside Park where it remained until 1989.

90s

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

In 1990, on the 21st anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, the Salt Lake City queer community held its first Gay and Lesbian Pride March. Nearly 200 people gathered on the steps of the state capitol and heard speeches from Connell “Rocky” O’Donovan, Becky Moorman, Angela Nutt and Robert Austin. The Pride festival was held at the Northwest Community Center.

Under the direction of Kevin Hillman and his co-chairs, Pride Day expanded, and in 1991

moved to the Salt Lake County Fairgrounds in Murray. The 1991 Pride Committee added to the festival a pride guide, an art show and contest, sponsored by Angela Nutt and David Thometz, and a Utah Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, created by Marlin Criddle.

They also brought in a nationally syndicated columnist, Dell Richards, as keynote speaker. For entertainment, Lynn Lavner, a nationally known lesbian singer performed, with interruption by a contingency of neo-Nazi skinheads who marched into the celebration and were met by Anti-Violence Project founder Michael Aaron. While no violence occurred, it was a tense situation. Dozens of festivalgoers surrounded the skinheads and turned their backs on them, making them invisible to the crowd and, thus, negating the reason they were there. They left after less than 10 minutes.

O’Donovan’s second pride march was also disrupted by neo-Nazis who stood on the east steps of the City and County Building taunting the marchers rallying at Washington Square.

Pride Days under the directions of the GLCCU transformed the celebration from simply a day in the park to a major annual event where Salt Lake City’s politicians began to attend, and the quality of entertainers and speakers increased.

In 1994 the first parade was organized as the kick-off event to Pride Day. The late Emperor XV, Bruce Harmon, assisted by his partner Rev. Bruce Barton, established the annual parade that continues to this day. Bruce Barton nearly single-handedly, on his own sewing machine, created the 100-foot rainbow flag that is carried annually in the parade.

In 1996 Chastity Bono, daughter of Sonny and Cher and spokeswoman of the Human Rights Campaign’s National Coming Out Project, was invited to the first grand marshal of Utah’s Gay Pride Parade.

00s

With the new millennium came controversy as Pride Day began to expand exponentially. Kim Russo became director of the new corporation for two years, assisted by co-chairs Adam Frost and Billy Lewis.

During the Russo years, Utah State Rep. Jackie Biskupski and Mayor Rocky Anderson served as Grand Marshals for the parade, and Marlin Criddle, Brenda Voisard, Unfortunately without the community’s oversight, fiduciary problems surfaced during 2001.

Pride Day 2002 was run by a committee headed by Sherry Booth, with Chad Keller as chair of the parade. Steve Kmetko, host of E! News Live, was Grand Marshal and the tradition of a Grand Marshal Reception was started. Additionally in 2002, the Community Volunteer, Organization of the Year and the Pete Suazo Political Action Awards were created to recognize contributions to the community. The Utah Pride Interfaith Service was also added to Pride Day. The 2002 committee tried to rebuild the image of Pride Day, but because Pride Day, Inc. had found itself in serious debt, the committee elected to be absorbed by the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah, a move that generated much controversy in the community because of the secrecy surrounding the move.

The Utah Pride Center has provided direction for the event for the past decade and even changed its name to reflect this. Under the auspices of the former Gay and Lesbian Community Center, the volunteer position of director of Pride Day, Inc. became salaried for the first time in 2003. The same year a Dyke March was added to the annual Pride Day Parade. Donald Steward was the parade coordinator for three of those years.

In 2004 the Salt Lake City Film Center was asked to curate a series of films during Pride Week that reflected the best in gay cinema.

The Damn These Heels film celebration was held annually thereafter.

For the first time there was a $5 admission fee for the events on Library Square and Washington Square in 2005. This move generated considerable discontent but eventually provided for higher quality performers at the celebration. By 2010 Utah’s Pride Day Parade was listed as Utah’s second-largest parade and, in 2011, more than 100 float entries were listed. Q

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

PRIDE | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 43

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44 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | PRIDE

Guide to

pride

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

People with Pride

By Seth Bracken

Each year we acknowledge a few of the influential movers and shakers in the Utah queer community. But with so much moving and shaking going on, there’s not enough room to give thanks to all of the wonderful people who make a difference. Following this year’s theme, Changing Hearts and Lives, we want to feature some of the people that make a difference and truly exemplify these virtues. So without further ado, here’s the 2012 People with Pride.

David Daniels

ment. Since joining the board of directors about four years ago, it has been my objective to not only facilitate this, but also to help save lives and help make our community a safer and more amazing place to live.

Jon Jepsen Utah Pride Center

Jon Jepsen is a sitting member of the board of directors for the Utah Pride Center and is often working behind the scenes to bring some of the most important changes to Utah’s LGBT community.

How did you become involved in the Center and why do you think it’s important? The Utah Pride Center has a history of reaching out to many segments of Utah’s LGBTQ community and its allies. I initially became involved with the Pride Center through volunteering for one of its programs and, as a leader for another queer organization, later became involved in a partnership to plan Pride WinterFest.

Through that valuable experience and partnership, I became more intimately aware of the UPC programming and was very impressed with the talented, experienced and passionate leadership within the organization.

All individuals who know or who are questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity deserve a safe, nurturing environ-

How have you seen Utah’s queer community change or evolve? I certainly have not witnessed our queer community change or evolve as much as the likes of Ben Williams or Nikki Boyer, but I have indeed seen significant change in the last decade.

In spite of (or maybe because of) our differences, I have seen the community come together in greater numbers than ever before for our greater good. So much has happened in 10 years — both good and bad. On a political level, we have seen things like Amendment 3 become law. On the other hand, as a commissioner on the Salt Lake City Human Rights Commission, I was able to help draft and implement housing and employment nondiscrimination ordinances and the mutual commitment registry.

This was not only a big step for Salt Lake City, but also for Utah.

Because it required enormous support and work from the queer community, allies, and politicos, it was a monumental step and positive change that helped bring us together.

Why should people utilize and volunteer for the Pride Center? UPC is not only a safe and nurturing environment for queer and questioning individuals, it’s a social service organization that works diligently for the benefit of the entire community.

Although someone may not directly utilize the services of the Center, the entire LGBTQ community benefits from its programs, leadership, and presence.

UPC and its 30 plus programs belong to Utah’s LGBTQ community. It’s a difficult proposition for a single organization to accomplish such a hefty responsibility, but somehow, with its talented staff and hundreds of dedicated volunteers, it gets done extremely well. By participating, utilizing, and volunteering, we can all show pride in our community and make a real difference in changing hearts and saving lives.

community? UGFA is first, and foremost, a safe place. We are a growing nonprofit with the primary goal of providing a healthy place to find support from other gay fathers (fatherhood is not a requirement to be involved). We transcend culture, religious background, language, ethnicity, and degrees of being out. We have men, like me, who are completely “out,” men who are completely closeted, and everything in between. We are a completely secular group. We work diligently to provide a place that all men feel comfortable regardless of religious affiliation, and we do have members who range from Catholic, Muslim, LDS to atheist, agnostic, etc.

Ben Visser has been involved with the Utah Gay Fathers Association since its inception and leads as example for dozens of other gay men who are fathers, or want to be fathers. The UGFA is quickly becoming an example for other similar groups around the nation.

Who can become involved in the organization? Everyone!

While “gay fathers” is in our name, all are welcome. We have a few gay men who have never and/or may never have children, but they find our safe, loving support system valuable. Our main focus is fatherhood and raising healthy kids, but we aren’t one dimensional. Dating, partnerships, jobs, coming out, self-acceptance, etc., are among many of the topics our group discusses. We have men from all stages of life. It provides a chance to share experiences as well as learn from others. We do have several closeted men who remain totally anonymous, even to me.

You don’t have to be out to feel welcome and loved for who you are. We respect everyone’s journey.

What is the UGFY and why is it an important addition to our

When did you first become involved with the organiza-

Ben Visser Utah Gay Fathers

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

PRIDE | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 45

stonegroundslc.com

PRIDE We Celebrate Salt Lake City’s diversity

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46 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | PRIDE

tion? UGFA is a group that has evolved over four years. When I came out four years ago there were no resources available that really addressed who I was: gay, father, ending a heterosexual marriage. When there is no bridge, you build one. I attempted to meet other men like me in a group-lunch setting. It wasn’t very successful. Luckily I met a few good men and one of them created our first Sunday meeting with great success. Through a few years of trial and error we gained traction in February 2011.

Our meetings are now at a constant time and venue. I stepped in as director a year ago. I have so many talented men who have built this organization into what it is today. We have had some great successes, but we are hardly feeling complacent. There are thousands and thousands of gay fathers who need our help.

Elizabeth Owens Utah Pride Center

Relatively new to the position, Elizabeth Owens has taken the helm as Transgender Programming Coordinator at the Utah Pride Center. Services are available for gender-queer and transgender people of all ages and the Center offers much-needed support to hundreds of Utahns.

Can you tell us a little bit about the programs and services offered for transgender and gender-queer people and UPC? UPC offers a variety of

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

support, services, education and advocacy for and about the transgender community. The Tolerant Intelligent Network of Teens Center is open Tuesday-Saturday, 3–9 p.m. for ages 14–20. Other programs include Genderland, TransAction, Transgender Youth Support Group, TRANStastic, Transgender Adult Support Group, TransParent Support Group and Kids Like Me Play Group.

What is your favorite activity, project or event offered by the Center that benefits trans people? I stepped into this role in January, so I haven’t yet experienced all that the Trans programming has to offer in terms of events and projects. It’s hard for me to settle on one favorite activity or project. I’ve really enjoyed our lobbying training and political panel as well as T-shirt making, game playing and ice cream socials with TransAction.

I’ve had great conversations and company over coffee for Transtastic, and I adore our wonderful children’s play group Kids Like Me; I’m also very proud of our support groups and all of our amazing group facilitators, interns and volunteers.

How did you become involved with the Center and why is supporting Trans issues and people important? My professional background is in rights-based gender issues, specifically women’s rights and human rights. I’ve recently returned from London where I worked for a women’s rights organization for several years. I became involved with UPC specifically for this role.

Supporting trans issues and trans folks are important to me for many reasons because people are important; because trans issues and trans people have been sidelined and marginalized within our mainstream culture — even within the LGBT community; because four trans women of color have been murdered this year (Coko Williams, Paige Clay, Deoni Jones and Brandi Martell); because trans folks face discrimination every day; because I’m angry, energized, passionate and committed

to human rights and gender equality; and as cheesy and cliché (and maybe naive?) as it sounds, I do believe every single person deserves to be treated with fairness, respect, equality and dignity.

everyone’s help for that, it’s not just on me, but it does keep me up at night. I have a 16-year-old gay daughter, and as a mom, each loss of life breaks my heart but also strengthens my resolve to make a difference.

What services does the center offer and why should people get involved? Each Wednesday about 40 or so youth crowd into the basement of the Unitarian Church. We have classes, activities, speakers, a queer-straight network, an in-house psychologist, the church ladies make dinner — it’s a blast. We always need more fabulous adults to be mentors and role models, and if you know a cool skill to share, that’s a bonus!

Marian Edmonds Ogden OUTreach Resource Center

You’re relatively new to Utah, what do you think of the LGBT community in general? In Ogden? Well, the queer community is home to me, and I adore it. What I love about Utah is the LGBT people I have met who are wonderfully artsy, talented, and passionate about taking care of each other; for example, my amazing friend Charles Frost, who has more talent and passion for youth in his little finger than most people feel in their whole body. There are such strong groups here; for example, the new OWLS group that suddenly appeared and is thriving and makes me tired just seeing what they do every weekend. And Ogden, it has a fabulous artsy feel and great restaurants and a vibrant queer community that centers around 25th Street.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face as the executive director of the Ogden OUTreach Center? Oh, I could bore you with administrative things, but really, the toughest challenge is to stop the epidemic of queer youth suicide and homelessness in Northern Utah. I need

Kelly Lake Le Croissant

Kelly Lake is one of the owners and operators of Le Croissant, a full-service caterer that is always there to lend a helping hand to the LGBT community. From Utah AIDS Foundation events, to gay weddings and even the Girl Scouts, Lake is a true ally to the queer community.

You’ve worked with and donated food and services to just about every queer organization and cause in the state. Why is it so important to you? At Le Croissant we all come from food backgrounds, so it feels very natural to us to celebrate with food. Especially in states like Utah, food is a component of everything from family gatherings to welcoming someone to the neighborhood to sharing impor-

PRIDE | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 47

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When did you start being involved in the community? I can’t really remember a time when members of the community weren’t part of our friends and family. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more outspoken and less willing to witness discrimination without acting.

What other changes and advancements do we still need? Obviously we need to see more legal protections in place.

We need to see an end to the casual acceptance of systemic bullying from politicians and the mainstream community at large.

When bullying is accepted on either a personal level or on a larger stage — employment, marriage rights, etc. — then it becomes widespread bigotry and discrimination. If everyone who cares about someone in the community steps forward, these changes will come.

How have you seen it change over the time you’ve been involved? Many of the younger people we know haven’t seen and experienced the harsher realities that were part of the gay experience even 20 years ago. That’s a step in the right direction. Also, more people are willing to step forward and loudly demand human rights for everyone. I think the biggest change is just that — more voices being raised and heard.

What does this year’s Pride theme, Changing Hearts and Lives, mean to you? When you realize that someone you love is gay, hopefully your heart changes. You don’t demand that your child or sibling or friend become someone different in order to fit your idea of what’s proper or accepted.

When your heart changes, your mind follows. When your heart and mind change, then real growth is inevitable. Q

tant events. Hospitality is such a part of who we are, and many of our LGBT friends aren’t included in this. We want to bring some of that sense of belonging to everyone we care about.

SUPPORT TEAM The only official LGBT team to ride the Harmon’s Best Dam Bike Tour June 23–24.

All funds raised will go to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation of Utah.

Donate at bit.ly/teamtryangles or scan the QR code below TeamTryAngles@gmail.com for info

BBQ Fundraiser at Club Try-Angles

Sunday, June 10 – 2pm

251 W 900 SOUTH

48 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | PRIDE

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

UTAH STATE CAPITOL

DYKE (SAT) TRANSGENDER (SAT) INTERFAITH (SAT) PARADE (SUN)

#1

300 N

NORTH

200 N City Creek Park

N TEMPLE

Utah Pride Parade

The annual Utah Pride Parade has grown to be one of the largest parades in Utah, both in terms of entries and spectators. This year the parade continues to feature new businesses and organizations. The parade begins at 10:00 am on Sunday, June 3. Show up early, check out all of our great parade entries and join us after for the second day of the 2012 Utah Pride Festival at Washington Square.

#2

S TEMPLE

St Mark’s

#3 Cathedral

100 S Salt Palace Convention Center

200 S

#4 300 S 400 E

300 E

200 E

STATE

STAGING

MAIN

W TEMPLE

DISBANDING

400 S

500 W

2012 FESTIVAL GROUNDS

#5

#1 Dyke Rally & March #2 Transgender Rally & March #3 Interfaith Service #4 Interfaith, Dyke, and Transgender Marches converge making PRIDE March #5 PRIDE March Ends at Festival Grounds

Interfaith Service - The Catherdral Church of Saint Mark, 231 E 100 S. Begins at 12:30 pm on Saturday, June 2 Speakers are drawn from a diverse group of faith communities that embrace and celebrate the LGBTQ community.

Transgender Rally - City Creek Park, 2nd Ave State Street.

Begins at 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 2 with speakers and entertainment.

Dyke Rally - State Capitol Building on Saturday, June 2 starting at 2:00 pm. This will include speakers and entertainment before begining the March at 2:30 pm.

Marches - Marches begin at 2:30 pm, following the routes above. All three groups will come together at 200 S 200 E for the Pride March. As a full group, the Marches continue to the Festival Grounds.

www.UtahPrideFestival.org

Saturday, June 2, 7:15 am Check-In. Race begins at 9:00 am. Runners, joggers and walkers of all stripes are invited to participate. The 5K course will take runners past Salt Lake’s beautiful Capitol Building, City Creek Canyon and finish in Memory Grove.

Early Registration (until 5/31/12) - $30 Late Online Registration (6/1/12) - $35 Day Of Registration (6/2/12) - $35 Pre-registered packet pickup and late registration will take place near the starting line on race morning 7:15-8:45 am. You must bring photo ID to pick your packet up and/or to register. Family members and/or friends are not allowed to get your packet for you. (Day of race registrations ARE NOT guaranteed an event hat/visor!)

Proceeds from the Pride Day 5k benefit the Utah Pride Festival’s Scholarship program.

Register online: wasatchracing.com/prideday5k

Produced By: Wasatch Area Race Productions

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PRIDE | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 49

Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors!

DIAMOND RENTAL

Parties

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Tents

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Events

Salt Lake City Suites Hotel

UtahPrideFestival.org

50 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | TRAVEL

travel Riding the railroad, rest-assured

By Gary Jordan

For as

long as I can remember I’ve been in love with trains. In fact, as a kid I pretty much usurped the family basement of our split-level for my H.O. gauge model-train layout. I spent thousands of hours in the basement laying track, painting mountains and building entire cities by hand, all the while wearing my favorite engineer’s cap that was given to me by my grandmother one Christmas.

Looking back, I’m surprised I never pur-

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

when I was a kid.

So, I finally decided my next business trip to California was going to be done by rail, well at least one direction of it would be anyway.

After spending several hours pouring over Amtrak’s ‘Route Atlas,’ an interactive map which allows travelers to explore all the cities Amtrak serves, I determined my possible date with destiny would take place on Amtrak’s Lake Shore Limited train from Cleveland to Chicago, or more likely perhaps on the Southwest Chief somewhere between Chicago and Los Angeles.

The Lake Shore Limited

The Lake Shore Limited is the descendant of the former New York Central Railroad’s train of the same name, along with the 20th century limited that plied the same route, albeit with all-Pullman sleeping car named for The Pullman Palace Car Company, founded

by George Pullman — which, by the way, was manufactured in the historic Chicago south-

and the Berkshires. The train splits in Albany offering alternate routes to either Boston or New York.

I would then connect with The Southwest Chief, an indirect successor to the famed Santa Fe Super Chief, operated until Amtrak took over provision of the nations’s passenger services. It had been the first Diesel-powered and all-Pullman train in the U.S., and was that railroad’s standard bearer, making its maiden run in 1936. Known as the “Train of the Stars,” it was famous for its gourmet meals and Hollywood celebrity clientele, fairly setting the bar for luxury rail travel. At the height of its popularity, it made daily departures from both ends of the line.

Booking the Trip Planning and booking my long-distance train trip on Amtrak was a snap, though choosing which sleeping car configuration took a bit longer as they offer several varieties, and I had several questions like, “will there be a shower onboard?” and “Does my room have a private bathroom?” That’s where Amtrak’s Sleeping Car Virtual Tour is so helpful.

This invaluable interactive tool puts you onboard so you can survey the various room options in each type of sleeping car before booking. Using it, I was able to explore the layouts of the cars through the interactive floor plans and take a closer look inside each room. I viewed the rooms from different perspectives in 3-D and learned about the rooms details, unique features and amenities available, including bedrooms, bedroom suites and roomettes, each of which come complete with shower facilities and storage areas, and in most, a private lavatory.

Five-Star Service

sued a career in railroading. I guess it probably never occurred to me back then that a gay man could engineer a locomotive. I went the other direction instead and became a flight attendant. However, throughout my entire 22-year flying career, I romanticized taking a longdistance passenger train trip, accompanied of course by the “man of my dreams.” The man hasn’t materialized yet, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let that little detail stop me from taking the trip anyway. Besides, who knows, I might find true love on the rails, just as I did

side neighborhood of its namesake service.

Making its first run in 1902 out of New York’s Grand Central Station, the train ran for almost 70 years. So rich and famous were its passengers that paparazzi would often wait at its terminus with the expectation that somebody in the public eye would step off the train.

The LSL follows some of the nation’s most beautiful shorelines, and combines scenic beauty with interesting history, while traversing the shores of Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, the Erie Canal, the Mohawk River, Finger Lakes

The Viewliner and Superliner Roomette I finally decided on was ideal for one, but could easily accomodate two passengers comfortably, with two reclining seats on either side of a big picture window. My sleeping car attendant Michael, (a charming French Canadian, with nearly 40 years of service with Amtrak under his belt) on the Southwest Chief was responsible for providing me and all my fellow passengers ticketed in sleeping car number 330, with what I can only describe as exemplary five-star service, including preparing my room each night, assisting me with my luggage both on and off the train, and if that weren’t enough, he was even kind enough to serve my dinner in-room on the first night of my trip.

At night, he would convert my seats into an extremely comfortable bed, and an upper berth folded down from above if I should have had a companion along with me. Roomettes are located on both upper and lower levels of the double decker Superliner train cars.

TRAVEL | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 51

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Romance I’ll admit that before my trip, I did have some moments of doubt; I worried about boredom, stiffness and whether I’d be able to sleep or not. But those worries were all for not, because just as the brochure promises there’s still some romance left to travel, especially when done by rail. I met so many wonderful people, and all of them with the most interesting stories to tell, like the grandmother from Albuquerque who writes children’s books; and Bill from Fort Wayne, a dead ringer for Michael Gross (the father on Family Ties) who was kind enough to let me bum a smoke from him during one of our many “quick stops” while enroute from Chicago to Los Angeles. I’d packed several books, movies, hours of music and my laptop, figuring I’d need all of

at preferred seating times. Due to the lack of space in the dining car it was community seating, but for me, that is another charming aspect to train travel as you will make a new friend, or in my case several.

Shortcomings There were some minor shortcomings of course. The bathrooms are small, water sprays everywhere when you least expect it. And while both my trains arrived on time and even 45 minutes early into Los Angeles, on many occasions they’re not. Railroads such as Union Pacific and BNSF own the tracks, so Amtrak — a guest on the rails — is really at the mercy of the freight trains’ schedules.

And even though I didn’t find true love on the rails that trip, I know there will be many more op-

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them to kill the time, but I can honestly say I never pulled any of them out the entire trip; instead when I wasn’t regailing my fellow passengers with stories or listening to theirs I had my nose pressed against the huge windows, enthralled by the simplistic beauty of the stark Southwest landscape, I’d forgotten I was suppose to be bored.

Each morning, Michael slid a USA Today under my door and there was a 24-hour coffee bar upstairs just above my compartment where I could help myself to coffee, juice and bottled water whenever I wanted. Later in the afternoon I made a dinner reservation in the dining car when the maitre d’ announced they were taking reservations, those ticketed in a sleeper car got first dibs

portunities to find him, as Amtrak has become my official mode of transportation. In fact I’ve already booked my next trip to Los Angeles on the Calfiornia Zephyr.

With Amtrak Vacations, you can travel to a wide variety of exciting destinations. Just one call will take care of all the details, from reservations and tickets to hotels, sightseeing, car rentals and more. Select one of their popular vacation packages or create your own itinerary. For reservations, information and to request your free Amtrak Vacations brochure, call 800-AMTRAK-2 or online at amtrak.com. Q Bob East at ATB WorldwideTravel atbworldwide.com will help plan the perfect long-distance Amtrak train trip for you. You can reach Bob at 818-633-6179 or atbworldwide@gmail.com.

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54 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | A&E

interview

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

The Trouble with

Adam Lambert Pop star talks ‘novelty’ of his homosexuality, being an unfit role model and his peculiar sex toy

By Chris Azzopardi

Remember

t he fu ss A d a m Lambert caused when he tongued his keyboardist in front of the world? Of course you do. The controversial kiss drew both homophobic outbursts and so-what shrugs, and it’s an American Music Awards moment that won’t soon be forgotten.

Especially by Lambert himself.

“That was an interesting night,” he says, snickering in his charmingly guy-next-door way about that seminal smooch. “That AMAs performance

was trespassing, in a way.” And, on his latest album, he’s not done crossing the line: Trespassing is the defiant second to the American Idol spawn’s 2009 debut.

In this candid interview with Lambert, the pop star opens up about the “redundant” press questions regarding his sexuality, becoming more confident as an out celebrity, and breaking the rules — and going to jail for it.

What does the album title, Trespassing, mean to you? Being who I am in this music environment is trespassing, and that’s why Pharrell [Williams] and I wrote it about that. We had a big conversation about the music industry and the business and being an artist, and then on top of it, being somebody that’s different, being a gay man and being in an industry where it’s not very common, not very present.

Kind of feeling like I’m gonna own this, march forward and ignore any kind of sign or person telling me no. I’m gonna do what I wanna do and not feel sorry for myself.

Is anything you do for shock value premeditated? No; I don’t think, “OK, I want to piss people off now” or “I want to shock people.”

I kind of ... especially after the [AMAs], go with what I want to do musically.

That’s been more in the forefront for me in my decision-making. I think just kind of being, and being unapologetic for being, is a risk in and of itself in today’s music industry.

Was the AMAs kiss good for you? I don’t even know. I was in such autopilot. It was one of those weird moments that just kind of happened.

Some of the choreography earlier in the number was planned, but that whole moment with him was just, “Oh my god, now we’re kissing!”

You’ve spoken with gay publications and mainstream publications. How is it different talking to each? I try not to make it any different. That’s been one of

my big goals, especially with this album. This time around I’m trying to adopt a post-gay mentality about it, because I’m so proud of who I am and I’m 100 percent positive about it and I celebrate it — but I also think it’s a bit dated to harp on it and to lean on it and to constantly be defined by your sexuality. I think that gay men and women who live their lives as gay men and women understand that, and understand that it’s just another part of who they are. Unfortunately, with some mainstream publications, it’s such a novelty for them to be able to talk about it. It’s such a hot-button issue that it becomes the focus of a lot of discussion.

Does that bother you? (Hesitates) It gets a bit redundant. Gets a little old. It’s something I’ve made peace with; I’m trying to just look at it from the other point of view and realize that a lot of the questions are legitimate for someone who doesn’t understand. I think the way to progress and confront ignorance is information. You start talking about things and we get past them. So yeah, it gets a bit redundant, but I feel like at this point, it just comes with the territory that I’m trespassing on.

What challenges have you run into not just as an artist but a gay artist? Well, there’s a huge double standard. Straight artists are constantly toying with images of sexuality and double entendre lyrics; when a gay male artist does, it raises a lot more eyebrows. I’m trying to find the balance, and I think this album has found a balance. It’s not shying away from it at all — my sexuality or who I am or my identity — but it’s also universal. All of these ideas are universal: how I feel, wanting to go get laid, to go have a couple drinks with my friends and get a little nasty. Hopefully, for an open-minded individual, no matter what their sexual preference is, they’ll relate.

Everybody feels that way. Everybody wants to have a good time, let go and feel free, no matter who you are. What’s cool about the album is that it does specifically address my lifestyle and my experience in nightlife and in relationships, but I think it can reach anybody.

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

Does being a gay celebrity put pressure on you to spearhead the gay movement? To have to be more political? I don’t feel pressure to be political, but I do feel pressure to raise social awareness and to help be a confident voice for perhaps a young gay teenager who doesn’t really have a lot to look up to. I also find it dangerous, because I don’t always consider myself the best role model in the world. (Laughs) Why do you say that? Because I’m not here to teach anybody how to be gay and I’m not here to teach anybody how to be the best person. I’m not always the best example. I make mistakes and I do things that are out-there sometimes, but what I hope to inspire is the sense that people can be who they want to be.

I always say, “Don’t do what I do; do what you want to do.” I hope that I can inspire people to take control and charge of their own reality.

What can we expect from this album? One of the best parts about the album, as well as it being about an out and proud gay man, is that the first half of the album is very upbeat and electro-funk-dancepop, and a lot of the things expressed in the first half of that album are rebelliousness and liberation and these kind of anthemic calls to arms.

It explores, as gay men and people in general, that when we go out into the world we have to put on our game face.

You want to go out and feel —Continued ON NEXT PAGE

A&E | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 55

56 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | A&E

Adam Lambert Continued from page 55

fierce, and that fierce thing that we all put on is sometimes like an outfit: We dress it up and we project fierceness, but what lies underneath is sometimes weakness and vulnerability and pain and darkness. The album transitions into that place midway through — it’s very dark and quite sad and it’s dealing with heartache and insecurity. It shows a lot about what lies underneath the surface of me, but I think we all can relate to that. We all want to be our fiercest self, and it takes a certain amount of posturing and peacocking to be that. I hope people can find themselves in this music.

Tell me about the song “Outlaws of Love.” That song actually is about everything — it’s about gay marriage, it’s about every challenge that we face as a community, including gay marriage, but it’s more about that emotion of what it feels like when you’re being persecuted or outlawed or shunned because of whom you choose to love.

You’ve been reluctant to talk about politics in the past. But something seems to have changed in you; you’ve been more open to discussing politics and equal rights. What changed? You know what I think? It’s so fast.

All of a sudden everyone’s talking about me and I’m on the cover of a magazine. No matter how well-adjusted you are, that’s a weird thing to get used to. Over the past several years, with the first album and the first tour, I’ve got more comfortable in the public eye and I’ve gotten to know my fans more and I’ve sussed out who I want to be as an artist.

But not just as an artist. As a gay man in the public eye too, right? Yeah, as a person.

Totally. I’ve kept a lot of my close friends close and my family is still close to me, but of course this type of experience and this flip in your lifestyle causes you to adjust — and that includes as a gay man. I’ve had to adjust and reassess things and evolve a little bit, and that’s because of age, too. When I started I was 27, and I just turned 30 — those three years are a big three years. My perspective is just different — it’s different because of celebrity, but also just because of life.

What’s one piece of advice from American Idol that you’ve held onto? I had a lot of support from my circle of friends who were like, “Just do what you’ve always done. It doesn’t matter that you’re on TV now; just do what you’ve always known.” The hardest thing about the show is all of a sudden, there’s all

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

this pressure and all these factors that you aren’t used to as a performer, and you have to tune it out and just trust your own gut and try to maintain that sense of integrity.

And it’s not easy. Then, transitioning into the music industry is the same challenge. You’re like, “OK, well, I gotta play the game but I also want to do what I want to do, so how do I do that?”

You were in the slammer for a few hours for fighting with your boyfriend, Sauli Koskinen, outside a gay bar in Finland. Did it fulfill any fantasies of yours? (Laughs) Uh, no. Actually, it was horrifying. I was by myself; there wasn’t anybody else in there. It was a private cell. It was a very embarrassing moment and not something that I’m proud of.

I have plenty of friends who have had crazy nights and things have happened, and these things do happen to regular people; I am a regular person, but I just happen to have a higher profile. I’ve tried to walk away from the experience and learn a lesson from it and make some adjustments and try not to let it ever happen again. It definitely wasn’t as dramatic as the media made it out to be, but it also wasn’t something to laugh about.

without getting married myself.” I don’t need to get married for my people. That’s silly.

What does it take to be a Glambert? Reckless abandon. (Laughs) I think that any sort of die-hard fandom is a crazy, surreal mentality. That’s part of the fun for the Glamberts; they’ve given themselves permission within that community to be kind of insane. And it’s gorgeous and it’s fun and it’s an escape. It’s not real life — it’s something else. Everybody wants that in some form or another. We all have our different versions of it. For people who are die-hard

So it’s not true what they say about young guys in jail? Not from my experience!

What’s different about maintaining a relationship in the public eye versus out of it? People wanting to know what’s up and asking questions. But I don’t know. To be honest with you, I only maintained one relationship out of the public eye, so I’m kind of inexperienced either way. (Laughs) I was a bachelor for a long time! I definitely played the field. So I think just being in a relationship that’s become quite domestic actually feels really good; it’s something I hadn’t really experienced much before, and I’m really enjoying it. It actually fits in quite well with my new lifestyle because it’s more private, it’s more at-home, and that’s nice.

Do you want to be married and raise a family? Yeah, someday. I definitely want that for myself at some point. I don’t know when that’s going to be. In fact, I don’t know if it’s anytime soon. I’m really excited that our society is progressing. Everybody has the divine right to marry whomever the fuck they want. The funny thing about being a gay celebrity is all of a sudden it’s like, “Oh, are you going to get married since that’s the new big struggle and that’s the thing everyone is fighting for?” And I’m like, “I can fight for it

fans, that’s their way, that’s their obsession and that’s their outlet.

Tell me your best crazed-fan story. Well, I’ve gotten a lot of very interesting gifts. I don’t know what they’re called specifically, but I remember opening up this small box and it was this metal sex toy and I think you stick it in the tip of your dick — a urethra rod or something. I don’t know what the fuck it is. (Laughs) Did you use it? I definitely did not use that.

That is not my style. I looked at it and said, “What the hell is that?” And somebody had to answer that for me and then I went, “OK, I’m gonna pass.”

Did you at least re-gift it? As a joke, I did. I think I gave it to Raja (season-three winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race). He actually was my makeup artist on my tour that same year. I think I gave it to him. I doubt that he kept it, but I know he laughed quite hard.

Who knows where it is right now. Or what Q it’s being used for! ● Chris Azzopardi is the editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBT wire service. Reach him at chris-azzopardi.com.

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

NEWS | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 57

58 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | A&E

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

Study finds gaydar exists, is effective Most people can recognize the sexual orientation of someone just by looking at his or her face, according to a ground-breaking study. The survey released by the University of Washington found that college students could detect sexual orientation at a better rate than chance just by looking at a photo of a face.

The gaydar of the student participants proved proficient in judging both male and female faces, which flashed for 50 milliseconds on a screen. The successful rate of response didn’t change much even for inverted photos. “(The images) were so briefly shown, they were grey-scale, and they were turned upside down. Let that sink in for a minute and it’s shocking that people could make these judgments so efficiently,” said lead author Joshua Tabak, in the online journal PLoS ONE. “Now we know it’s not enough to look at differences in individual features — like, ‘Oh, gay men’s eyes look like this, and straight men’s eyes look like that.’ The relationships between the features are obviously a component.”

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Tabak and co-author Vivian Zayas had 129 participants view 96 photos of young men and women. Half of the photos were of people who selfidentified as gay. The images were cropped so that hairstyles weren’t visible and all makeup, glasses and piercings were removed.

For women’s faces, participants were 65 percent accurate in guessing sexual orientation. For men’s faces, the accuracy was 57 percent, which is statistically better than mere chance guessing. These accurate responses continued when the faces were inverted.

“Overall, gaydar is more accurate when we’re judging women than men, which is a little surprising since the concept of the gay man is so much more prevalent in popular culture,” Tabak said. “But the reason accuracy was lower for men’s faces was that there were more false alarms: incorrectly labeling a straight person’s face as gay. So maybe it’s because we have so much more exposure to the concept of a gay man that we’re more liberal in labeling a man’s face as gay than a woman’s.”

K I N G S B U R Y

H A L L

P R E S E N T S

April 4

November 20

HENSON ALTERNATIVE’S STUFFED AND UNSTRUNG

BALLET FOLKLÓRICO DE MÉXICO

February 13

March 9

THE CHIEFTAINS

JOAN RIVERS

Bu y Now a n d S av e !

2012 – 2013 Season*

Morrissey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 4 Ballet Folklórico de México. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 20 Trey McIntyre Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 27 HAIR – The National Tour** . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . January 19-20 Branford Marsalis Quartet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 5 The Chieftains. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 13

The Banff Film Festival. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 19-21 Here to Stay: The Gershwin Concert Experience . . . . . . . . .March 2 Joan Rivers**. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .March 9 Stuffed and Unstrung**. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 4 University Lyric Opera Ensemble: Falstaff . . . . . . . . . . . . April 19-20

All performances at Kingsbury Hall | Nancy Peery Marriott Auditorium * Additional shows to be added. Subject to change. Check our website for the most up-to-date performance schedule.

Q-Pass tickets on sale June 11 – August 1 To get details about the new season or request a season brochure, visit www.kingsburyhall.org or call 801-581-7100.

** For mature audiences

62 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | NIGHTLIFE

Pride party guide As thousands of people descend into the city to celebrate the annual Pride Festival, some of the biggest parties are found outside the Festival grounds. With guest drag queens, disc jockeys and more, Pride extends throughout the city.

Club Try-Angles: The party gets started on June 1 with a special Leather and Gear Night. Grab a harness, a uniform or other kinky fetish-wear to see the busiest, sexiest night of the month. The festivities continue throughout the weekend. From Thursday, May 31 to Sunday, June 3, the neighborhood bar will be packed with some of the hottest guys in town. After the parade on Sunday, the patio will open for the annual Pride Steak Fry. 251 W. 900 South

nightlife

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

What’s going on at the clubs for Pride?

(More suggestions @ gaysaltlake.com.)

Club JAM: The annual PrideIdol karaoke competition is well underway, and the winners will be performing at the festival. JAM is also having Pride parties all week.

Fabby award-winning DJ Harry Cross Jr. will be spinning all weekend and it’s sure to be packed so get there early.

has the perfect solution – Bloody Mary and mimosa specials.

Conveniently located near the parade route, this is the place to be on Sunday morning to get your pre-festival buzz going. And the Sunday night karaoke is guaranteed to be one of the biggest and best bar-crowds of the weekend.

751 N. 300 West

201 E. 300 South

The Tavernacle: After partying all night on Saturday, making it to the Pride Parade despite the morning hangover might be nearly impossible. Luckily, The Tavernacle

Paper Moon: The eighth annual White Party on Friday, June 1 will bring all the sexiest and scantily-clad women in Utah to the Paper Moon. This is the place

to be for the ladies. Tickets can be purchased at the door, but to avoid lines, stop by the bar before Friday and buy advance tickets.

3737 S. State St.

The Trapp: Watching all the eye-candy at the parade and festival can be exhausting and builds up quite an appetite, which is why The Trapp has an annual Steak Fry and Royal Court of The Golden Spike Empire carnival fundraiser on Sunday afternoon. Stop by for some fun, games and a hunk of meat (oh, and the steaks are pretty tasty too.)

102 S. 600 West

Metro Bar: This year’s RuPaul’s Drag Race finalist Yara Sofia makes her Utah debut at Metro Bar on Saturday, June 2. She’ll be showcasing her unique Latin-infused, almost extra-terrestrial, style for her rabid Utah fans. With more than 700 attendees at last year’s Metro party, this is the place to be.

173 W. 300 South

Club Pure: The Friday night party will be off-the-hook with headlining circuit DJ Phil B and the famous Lady Gaga impersonator Gigi Monroe. Take advantage of the rooftop patio lounge, and enjoy the views of the dancing mass on the main floor below. On Sunday, June 3 the annual pride barbeque and party will open up the rooftop and back patios.

579 W. 200 South

Club Karamba: Salt Lake’s sexiest Latin night will be the place for dancing, drinking and all-around debauchery on Sunday, June 3. With go-go dancers and all the post-pride partying Salt Lake can handle, Club Karamba should not be missed.

1051 E. 2100 South

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

An unconstitutional proposition.

An unprecedented decision.

An unforgettable event.

August 4 at 8pm | August 5 at 2pm Tickets $25 | Cash bar 801.355.ARTS | planbtheatre.org

Sponsored by Bruce Bastian, City Weekly and QSaltLake

NEWS | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 63

66 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | PRIDE

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

Sexy @

pride

Sexy Utah Pride-goers from over the past several years

Stop by the QSaltLake and Utah Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce booth at Pride to get your photo taken for next issue!

NIGHTLIFE | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 67

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

girl talk A fresh concert series campaign

By Annalisa Millo annalisa@gaysaltlake.com

With

all the talk over domestic and world issues, it’s important to keep in mind ways that you can be involved in matters that directly support your local community.

And no better to do so than while having a blast as well.

A new nonprofit organization, Artists For Local Agriculture, launched a grassroots campaign this year to engage in supporting the community in local, sustainable agriculture by way of a statewide concert series that was held May 15–20 at several venues: Why Sound in Logan, Poplar Street Pub and Urban Lounge in Salt Lake City, The Basement in Ogden and Muse in Provo.

These concerts featured prominent Utah bands such as Muscle Hawk, Dark Seas, John Ross Boyce and His Troubles, and Cornered

By Zombies, as well as independent artists Keith Hanes, Patric Bates and more. AFLA was founded under a theory that people are drawn toward art; that through art we can engage and involve communities with positive change as the best possible route to do so.

Proceeds from the events will directly benefit farmers, community-garden associations, AFLA, and the sustainable food movement. At least $1 per patron in attendance at each show will be donated to promote sustainability.

Additionally, AFLA announced the launch of their website, AFLArevolution.org, that will provide education on issues surrounding corporate food production, artwork, interviews, exclusive song and video downloads, and how to engage in action to help involvement for positive change in their local communities.

Coming up on May 25 is the Rock Your Tits Off fundraiser at Bar Deluxe, organized by friends of Aaron Bain, an FTM person who identifies as transgender, will be undergoing top surgery.

Donations from local businesses will be raffled off, and revenue from the event will be used to help Bain fund his surgery.

Organizer Mauricio Casteñeda Melgar stated, “Now this is not being organized by queer people only — it has a lot of heterosexual people contributing to the cause for the benefit of someone to be who they deserve to be.”

The event will be $5 for entrance, but it is encouraged to donate more if possible. Think of it as skipping that Starbucks for the day and instead donating to the cause. Even this starving columnist can swing that.

In addition to the raffle, Rock Your Tits Off will feature performances from The Broken Spells, Handicapitalist, Nostrum Girls and DJ Melissa Lewis, and gourmet cupcakes will be available for purchase from Lady Cakes.

How does it get much more exceptional than drinks, good music, a good cause and cupcakes? I’m compelled to believe it doesn’t.

With no lack of events and festival programming this summer, we all have the choice to throw our money at corporations, or to make that crucial and awesome decision to support members and businesses in our neighborhood.

This summer, I will be making it a point to attend events and patronize businesses that directly support our local community, and it is my hope that you will be joining me. Q

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68 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | COMICS

Jane’s World

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

anagram An anagram is a word or phrase that can be made using the letters from another word or phrase.

Rearrange the letters below to answer:

What is John Quayle’s AKA

preppy cock in cop ______ _________

cryptogram A cryptogram is a puzzle where one letter in the puzzle is substituted with another. For example: ECOLVGNCYXW YCR EQYIIRZNBZN YZU PSZ! Has the solution: CRYPTOGRAMS ARE CHALLENGING AND FUN! In the above example Es are all replaced

by Cs. The puzzle is solved by recognizing letter patterns in words and successively substituting letters until the solution is reached.

This week’s hint: U = V

Theme: A quote by Dolly Parton about the late, great Donna Summers

B juogm sgf fgnufmt.

Tsg art ksg mbtnu clggi, rim abjj fghrbi tu. _ _____ ___ _______. ___ ___ ___ _____ _____ , ___ ___ ______ __ .

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ARE ON PAGE 74

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

COMICS | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 69

70 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | HEALTH

HIV 101: Prevention and testing

health

U.S. exceeds 30 years of AIDS and HIV, the impact of the disease is undeniable. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are more than 1 million people living with the virus in the U.S., and more than 33 million people living with it worldwide. In 2009 1.8 million people died from the disease and there are more than 3,000 people diagnosed in Utah.

“Being diagnosed with it is scary. It’s really, really scary,” said Toni Johnson, executive director of the People With AIDS Coalition of Utah.

Practicing safe sex and protecting against

the person topping during anal sex is also at risk of exposing himself to the disease. Both partners are at risk for sexually transmitted infections, many of which can be cured or treated.

While oral sex is not as high-risk as anal sex, there is still the possibility for infection if there is an open sore or cut in the mouth, he said. Wearing a condom, even during oral sex is advisable, but not realistic for many. You can reduce your risk by not flossing or brushing your teeth before giving fellatio, and having your partner “pull out” before ejaculating.

“When it comes down to it, some people aren’t going to use condoms; maybe they weren’t planning on having sex and didn’t have one around or maybe they don’t want to,”

the disease is a mindset that can, and should, be done before the moment when the decision has to be made, said Josh Newbury, HIV-prevention coordinator at the Utah AIDS Foundation.

“A lot of us who were raised in public schools got really scary sex ed,” Newbury said.

“We heard about all the scary things that can come from sex, but almost nothing about safe sex and harm reduction. But it doesn’t have to be that way.”

When having sex that involves penetration, the safest practice is condom use, which is effective 99.9 percent of the time when used effectively, Newbury said.

When participating in anal sex, the receiving, or bottoming, partner is at the highest risk for HIV infection due to the possibility of tearing and other abrasions, Newbury said. However,

Newbury said. “In those cases there are other so many safer sex alternatives that can be considered. We need to talk about these as much as we talk about condoms.”

Other than condoms, there are a variety of other ways to lower the risk of contracting HIV while having sex, Newbury said. Toys, hand jobs, massaging, limiting exchange of fluids are all ways to reduce the risk of contracting HIV while still being intimate, he said.

“We can get really creative,” Newbury said.

“There are all kinds of safe sex activities that people can think of, probably even more than I can.”

If anal sex is going to be performed without a condom, it is advised to use large amounts of lubricant, which could help reduce the possibility of tears or open abrasions, Newbury said.

It’s not a fool-proof solution, but it is a better

By Seth Bracken

As the

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

alternative. And while it is still possible to be exposed to the HIV virus while giving oral sex, the likelihood is less and if the choice is between giving oral or bottoming, oral sex might be a safer alternative, Newbury said.

“And ejaculating outside of the body is always safer than inside,” Newbury said.

The purpose of the UAF is not to intimidate or scare people into having safe sex and the HIV-prevention counselors are well trained to be accepting and helpful, Newbury said.

“When people come in, they can expect to feel comfortable with the HIV-prevention volunteers,” Newbury said. “We train them not to make people feel like they did something bad. Everyone takes risks and while we want to help and educate, there’s no judgment.”

Being diagnosed with HIV or AIDS is terrifying, Johnson said. Coming out to family and friends about an HIV-positive status can be absolutely intimidating, she said. Aside from health factors, the disease can be devastating financially, due to loss of employment or rising healthcare costs, she said.

“Finding that area of comfort, where you can be comfortable with your status can be tough,” Johnson said. “At the PWACU, we offer a variety of programming and avenues of support for people with HIV and AIDS.” The PWACU has a huge selection of resources, including a writing group, a women’s group, a Latino group and different services such as free haircuts, Johnson said. The PWACU is one of the most valuable resources available to people in Utah who are HIV positive, she said.

“Getting to the point where you can say, ‘Hello, I am HIV positive,’ isn’t easy to do,” Johnson said. “People can expect to find a safe and affirming space here.”

Whether recently diagnosed, or simply seeking testing or education, Utah has a wide array of programs and assistance options, Newbury said. Q

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HEALTH | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 71

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

HPV and men

By Lynn Beltran

The

human papi l lomavirus, that causes genital warts and cervical cancer, has historically been a topic only of concern to women. Recently, however, it’s been discovered that HPV is becoming a much bigger concern to men as it’s leading to a rise in cases of anal and oropharyngeal /upper throat cancers, particularly in men who have sex with men.

HPV has long been one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Most people who are infected do not develop any symptoms and can carry the virus for years without knowing it. There are more than 40 strains of HPV, each of which can act differently.

HPV can often lead to genital warts, which appear as small white bumps in the genital area. In other cases, HPV can lead to cancer when the skin that carries the virus mutates and becomes cancerous. The site of the cancer is based upon the site of the exposure, or the type of sexual contact that occurred.

For years, woman infected with HPV ran the risk of developing cervical cancer, and public health campaigns were solely focused on increasing awareness about cervical cancer and HPV. Now that we are seeing more and more men developing HPV-related cancerc, the focus of these campaigns is changing, and it’s time for men to understand how the virus works.

Unfortunately, I find that I can sit and talk to a patient one-on-one about HPV, and never get past that “glazed-over” look, so here is a summary of what guys need to know about HPV. How and what: HPV is spread through intimate, skin-to-skin contact with someone who is carrying the virus. Most infected people are asymptomatic, but are still shedding the virus during contact. The number of cases being transmitted rectally and orally is on the rise and that is leading to many more cases of cancer. Men comprise between 70-90 percent of HPV-related anal and oral cancers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MSM are 17 times more likely to

develop anal cancer than men who have sex with women. HIV can severely complicate the treatment of genital warts or HPV-related cancers. Treatment often requires surgery and/or radiation and chemotherapy. HPV-related cancers can be fatal. The strains of HPV that lead to genital warts are different than the strains that lead to cancer.

What to look for: Many of those with anal cancer do not show any symptoms, however some will experience rectal bleeding, itching or unusual discharge from the rectum. Some cases report swelling in the lymph nodes of the groin or anal area. Symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer often include a sore throat or hoarse voice that does not go away, difficulty swallowing or a swelling in the neck region. Also, as is symptomatic of many cancers, people will report unusual weight loss and fatigue.

What is frustrating is that there is currently no test for HPV in men other than a clinical diagnosis of genital warts or cancerous tissue that tests positive for HPV. What to do: In 2006, the Federal Drug Administration approved the Gardasil vaccine for girls and women to provide protection against the most common strains of HPV. In 2010, the vaccine was approved for use among boys and men ages 9 to 26. This vaccine provides protection against the two most common strains that lead to genital warts and the two most common strains that lead to cancer. The younger at time of vaccination, the more likely it will provide protection.

It is given in a three-dose series.

The ideal situation is to vaccinate before the first sexual encounter, or essentially before there is any chance of an exposure to HPV. The vaccine is not a cure for someone who has already been exposed or infected with HPV. Reducing your number of sexual partners as well as 100 percent condom use greatly reduces the risk of exposure.

For those interested in finding out how to get the Gardasil vaccine, ask a primary care physician.

Some insurance companies will cover the cost of vaccination. The Salt Lake Valley Health Department also provides the Gardasil vaccine to the public, and for more information call 385-468-4242. Q

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72 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | FUN

Kopaid in Full

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74 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | SEX

sex talk

Oral satisfaction

For direct attention to the penis — but only in one direction.

Saliva may be enough for this depending on the situation, but the addition of a favorite lube could be a boon. Starting at the base of the dick, slide a hand up toward the tip, placing the other hand at the base. Just before the first hand comes off the tip of the penis, start the other hand moving up from the base to the tip. Keep the base-to-tip sliding with alternate hands up and try getting faster and faster. This works well with a fully erect penis, and it’s also a great trick on a guy who’s not hard yet or has problems getting hard. Of course you can go the other way if you have a hard dick in your hands — or use a combination of the two.

The drum Remember that some guys don’t like having their balls played with, so only try this on ‘ball-friendly’ guys. Gently wrap a thumb and index finger around the balls to pull them gently away from his body, until you have a sort of ‘surface tension’ on the bit of his scrotum furthest away from him. Then, starting gently, run your tongue in a circle around

• Alcohol tightens the throat muscles so it’s best to avoid it (especially spirits) if you want to relax your throat.

• Drinking orange juice can suppress the gag reflex. If you feel like you’re going to gag when you’ve got a cock in your mouth, take a swallow. Don’t worry, it won’t go down.

• Breathe through your nose.

Exhale before taking his cock in your mouth. It will increase your oral capacity by about 33 percent.

• Flatten your tongue. Say “mmm” or “aaah” to relax your mouth beforehand (you may want to do this quietly or he’ll probably think you’re a bit weird).

• Take the cock into your mouth slowly and allow your throat to relax around it. If he tries to force it in, you’ll gag for sure.

• You’ll find it easier if you have plenty of saliva. If your mouth feels dry, have a glass of water handy.

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• Don’t just use your mouth, use your hand as well. You can use your hand as a stopper to control the amount of cock you take, as an improvised cock ring to keep him really hard, to wank him as you work him, or to play with his balls, ass, nipples or perineum (the taint — ’taint butt, ’taint balls).

Giving someone a blow job is fairly low risk for HIV. You can reduce the risk even further by avoiding cum in your mouth – there are probably only a very few cases where someone has caught HIV without ejaculation into the mouth. It’s more likely that you would pick up another STI, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis or herpes, so it’s worth getting regular sexual-health checkups. If you want to reduce the risk even more, use a condom when giving fellatio. Q

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The pull

this ‘end’ area. You’ll know when you are getting it right from his reaction. It won’t bring most guys off, but it feels pretty damn good.

If he likes that, try using a finger tip on the same area.

Giving a good blow job without gagging is a skill that we aren’t born with, we have to learn. Here are some tips that could help you:

4 7 6 3 9 1 2 8 5

MEET

is to use your hands. Here are two tricks to add to your repertoire:

3 2 5 6 4 8 1 9 7

is a core sexual activity for most gay men, but different men like different things. Some like a lot of activity around the head of their penis; others find the head too sensitive and prefer activity along the shaft. Some men don’t enjoy deep-throating, and more men than you may think aren’t keen on fellatio at all. Ask your partner his likes and dislikes; if you’re too shy to ask you’ll have to try to interpret his pleasure areas.

Men tend to be quite visual; they like looking at what’s going on to help get them turned on, so give them a chance to watch your technique down there. A good blow job doesn’t only involve the cock. There are plenty of other sexually sensitive areas close by — his balls and ball sac, for example, so try licking those too.

While some guys just want rhythmic pumping on the end of their cock, many like variation. By alternating the amount and speed at which you suck or lick, there are hundreds of combinations to choose. You can also alternate hot and cold sensations by rinsing your mouth with a warm drink and iced water in turn.

One way to vary your technique (and to give your jaw a rest)

9 8 1 2 7 5 3 6 4

Oral sex

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

Pride

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

dance party

NEWS | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 75

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76 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | A&E

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Mercury conjoining Jupiter in Taurus offers new practical ideas. Then he enters Gemini stirring up new ideas to build on those foundations. Sun and Mercury squaring Neptune can create confusion or inspiration.

Conversation and logic will keep things clear.

ARIES (March 20–April 19) New information, important as it is, points to a more important larger picture. Don’t get too hung up on details. Taking the broad view is worth the effort. Keeping cool at work is a challenge too, but could get you a raise.

TAURUS (April 20–May 20) Even with good reason to feel sure of yourself, cockiness can stir up arguments with your partner. Is financial stress driving your competitiveness or the other way around? Don’t jones on keeping up with the Joneses!

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Instincts to keep quiet are good, but temporary. When you get the urge to talk, first employ your partner as an editor. Being mature and responsible, especially with information, is not only effective, but could prove to be fun.

CANCER (June 21– July 22) A breakthrough in old memories is just the beginning of illumination. Work with that information and get some real insight. Balance your social activities with time alone to charge your batteries. If you wear out so will your welcome.

LEO (July 23–August 22) Strictly speaking friendship is a benefit. You and a pal may have some confusion about what benefits are included. Awkward? For a bit. True friendship endures much worse. Dreams of future accomplishments are nice. Doing it now is better.

VIRGO (August 23–Sept. 22) Promoting your own ideas can take you far. Listening to new ones can help you get further.

The next few weeks are excellent for work, but don’t neglect issues at home. Invite the boss home (or somewhere) for dinner.

LIBRA (Sep. 23–Oct. 22) Nobody is right all the time; admitting when you’re wrong makes you right more often. Staying one step ahead of your partner is not acting as a team. If you must be competitive, make it the two of you against the world.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Arguments at work could get worse over the coming months.

Your real brilliance will show when you challenge your own ideas. Think hard about where you want to be in two years and how you need to adapt to get there.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22– Dec. 20) Devotion to your partner could come across as bossiness.

Devote some attention to yourself!

If you’re single, speed dating could prove amusing. Even if you don’t find The One you could meet lots of interesting folks.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 21– Jan. 19) Connections you’ve been building with colleagues need repair.

That will take time. A sense that they’re not reliable is probably more about miscommunications than intent. Talking with them is part of the solution, but first look inside yourself for keys to the problem.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Anxieties can be a great source of creative expression.

The next few years will be difficult but even in your pessimism a clear idea of the dangers ahead can offer a clue to making the most of it.

PISCES (Feb. 19–March 19) Nestling into cozy domestic fantasies will only create trouble and confusion. Express your ideals and your dreams with your family or roomies, clear up misconceptions, and take responsibility for creating a cozy domestic reality.

Jack Fertig is in New Orleans this week at the United Astrology Conference, then on to Houston. Available for personal consultations, he can be reached through his website at starjack.com, and by email at QScopes@gaysaltlake.com.

june, 2012 | issue 207 | gaysaltlake.com

NEWS | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | 77

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78 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | final word

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

the perils of petunia pap smear The tale of a put-down

By Petunia Pap Smear

The road to Pride is fraught with danger and excitement.

There are

two real dangers of marching in the Pride Parade. First, the driver of the float following me could be dazzled by the sunshine glinting off of my sequined gown, thereby being blinded and running over the top of me. My only hope would be that it was a float full of Speedo-clad go-go boys.

The second and most dangerous outcome of marching in the parade is that I might fall off my heels and break my delicate ankle.

Naturally, the handsome motorcycle cops in the tight, tight pants would rush to my aid, urgently trying to determine the least disruptive way to bring a crane in and lift my motionless immensity from the street and into a dump truck. Much to my chagrin, Salt Lake’s finest would be confused by the proper course of action from the gathering hordes chanting “Put her down, put her down,” as if I were the race horse Barbaro who shattered her leg at the Preakness and had to be “put down” as a result. Placing these fears aside, I gladly march “onward, ever onward.”

I recall that last year during the parade, as I was promenading down the street in my finest crinoline skirt, cotton candy-pink beehive hair, twirling bosoms and a fuchsia sequined cape, a reporter asked why I was there. I replied with something about the excitement of the event, gathering with like-minded folks and enjoying the diversity of the community. Over the course of this last year I have been pondering more deeply my answer to that question.

Why do I march in a Pride parade? Just what is it that I am “proud” of? Is the fact that I occasionally like to “take it up the bum” an

adequate reason to march in a parade? Is the detail that I enjoy looking at a scantily clad, hard-body men reason enough to ride a float?

I hardly think so.

I looked up the definition of pride in the dictionary.

pride \'prahyd\ n: Having or showing self-re-

spect or self-esteem.

2: A satisfied sense of attachment toward one’s own or another’s choices and actions, or toward a whole group of people, a product of praise, independent self-reflection, or a fulfilled feeling of belonging.

Historically, society called us unnatural. The church calls us sinners. Our families cast us out.

Government treats us as second-class citizens.

The medical profession called us sick. Literature called us the “Love that dare not speak its name.” Bullshit! I dare speak its name! In my case his name is Kelly. He is the love of my life and damned be anyone who attempts to subvert, denigrate, deny it or try to separate us.

So, there it is! Pride is not to celebrate my sexual proclivities. Pride for me is the rejection of the negative, sinful attributes and shame with which society has tried to label me.

I include in this the negative comments even from within the gay community. I recently felt it necessary to cast aside a young, gay man who stated that older, heavier gay men should just go away and die. I will not give such insensitive uncaring people any power or influence over my life.

My strategy is thus: Name it — Don’t accept negative labels “THEY” try to assign to me. Call things as they

rightfully are. I’m not a “sinner.” I am an equal child of god, and we disagree about definitions.

Claim it — Own my identity. Yes I am gay, queer, fag, queen, pansy, fairy, homo, friend of Dorothy and I’m fabulous! Like there was anything wrong with that.

Tame it — Learn to be the best damned fag I can be. In my case that’s going to mean learning how to sew. These sequin capes just don’t grow on trees you know.

Frame it — Take charge of how I present myself to the world — don’t let others force me into their preconceived stereotypes. I think I just might run out of sequins and rhinestones.

Believe it or not, but when I’m not marching in a parade, I’m a truck driver.

Pride for me is to stand up in public, in front of God and everybody and claim my rightful place as a citizen, equal to all and inferior to none. “THEY” do not get to define me, that’s my job.

Happy Pride Day everyone! Q Like always these events leave us with several eternal questions: 1. How does one remove tire marks from taffeta?

2. Should the public safety commission regulate high heels?

3. Is CPR performed by scantily clad go-go boys more effective than by men in uniforms?

4. Should all EMTs be required to wear Speedos?

5. Could the beehive hair perform the dual function of crash helmet?

6. To prevent leaving a “smeared queer” on the parade route, should I consider wearing flats?

80 | Q SALT LAKE MAGAZINE | NEWS

gaysaltlake.com | issue 207 | june, 2012

JUNE 21-24

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