Utah’s Gay and Lesbian Biweekly Newspaper Volume 2 ■ Issue 19 September 15–28
Walk for Life 17th annual fundraiser returns to its roots
Allies Dinner to Raise Thousands Former HRC Director to keynote message of ‘Ripple of Hope’
Camp Drag Troupe Hangs Up the Wigs Cyber Sluts on haitus as they get paperwork in order
Schwarzenegger to Veto Gay Marriage Bill Likely to end historic vote Ruby Examines Straight Guy Drag—Guns and Camo Laurie Has the Packing Blues Gay Agenda
News WORLD AND NATIONAL
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SALT LAKE METRO ■ SEPTEMBER 15, 2005
Marriage Fight Heats Up site KnowThyNeighbor.org. by Ross von Metzke “Everyone’s scrambling to know who in Boston, Mass.—Mass. Governor Mitt Romtheir town would sign this,” Lang told the ney rejoined the war against gay marriage Boston Herald. “And this Web site will give Sept. 5 by urging Attorney General Thomas gay people the tools to know, to defend F. Reilly to clear the way for a 2008 ballot inithemselves and their families, to let them tiative on banning same-gender marriage. go neighbor-to-neighbor and say, ‘I don’t Romney argued in a letter to Reilly that appreciate your signing this.” “to silence the voice of the people on a “I’m going to be aggressive, personally,” question of such great consequence would be a profound injustice. No matter how one he said. “I want to know that the people I do business with are not against (gay marriage). feels about same-sex marriage, we should This is going to be won by economics.” all agree that the commonwealth’s citizens Gay marriage opponent Kristian Mineau, should not be excluded from a decision as fundamental to society as the legal definition of marriage.” Romney’s letter seeks to refute legal arguments by gay-marriage supporters that Reilly should not certify the proposed initiative because it violates a section of the state constitution governing citizen-generated ballot questions. “The sole realistic opportunity for citizens to decide the definition of marriage is being decided by Reilly first,” Romney said. “If he closes off this ballot initiative, he will be saying that Reilly knows best. And in my view, the citizens know best.” Some gay-marriage supporters are suggesting it is Romney who is playing politics. Arline Isaacson, who co-chairs the Protesters remind Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney of a campaign promise. Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Popresident of the Massachusetts Family litical Caucus, said the governor’s letter is Institute, called the Web site “intimidation designed to impress conservative voters in by no other name.” other parts of the country as he prepares Mineau is already listed on the site, for a possible presidential bid. along with the first 30 people to sign the “This is a dog and pony show for the petition, including former Boston mayor radical right,” Isaacson said. “We believe Ray Flynn. the legal argument on our side against Westerhoff already introduced himself certification is strong, compelling and irto one of the first petition signers, Madelyn refutable. Romney is being political. He is Shields of Beverly. Shields told the Boston asking Reilly to make a political decision, Herald she found the meeting “a bit odd,” too, but that’s not Reilly’s style.” but described Westerhoff as gracious. She However, Reilly certified the proposed said she hopes other exchanges between initiative a few days later, clearing the way gay marriage advocates and petition signfor opponents of gay marriage to start colers are as gracious. lecting signatures. “I have a number of gay friends and I Reilly spokesman Corey Welford said, “At treat people the same regardless, but that the end of the day, we’ll do what we always does not change my position of what I do: make decisions based on the law.” believe marriage is,” she said. Two gay activists are vowing to post Separately, state lawmakers are expected online the names and addresses of anyone to consider a proposed 2006 ballot initiawho signs a petition that could lead to a tive on September 14 that would ban gay statewide ban on gay marriage. marriage but allow civil unions. Because Thomas Lang and Alexander Westerhoff, that proposal originated in the Legislature, one of the first gay couples married by the which granted preliminary approval to it state of Massachusetts, made the announcelast year, it is governed by different rules. ment after Reilly certified the ballot initiative Romney told the Boston Globe he that bans gay marriage and civil unions. predicted the Legislature’s amendment Now, the initiative’s supporters must colwould be defeated next month because lect 65,825 signatures from registered votgay-marriage supporters and opponents of ers, and approval from 25 percent of state civil unions are now against it. Therefore, lawmakers to get it on the 2008 ballot. he argued, the citizen-generated initiative Lang, 42, said the name, street address, aimed at 2008 represents the public’s only hometown, and ZIP code of everyone who signs the petition will be posted on the Web opportunity to exercise its will.
Schwarzenegger to Veto Gay Marriage Bill San Francisco, Calif.—One day after the California state legislature approved a measure backing gay marriage, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has promised a veto. In doing so, he cited Proposition 22, the socalled “Knight Initiative,” which banned gay marriage throughout the state in 2000. “The governor believes the matter should be determined not by legislative action—which would be unconstitutional—but by a court decision or another vote of the people,’’ the San Francisco Chronicle quoted Margita Thompson, Schwarzenegger’s press secretary, as saying. “We cannot have a system where the people vote and the Legislature derails the vote. Out of respect for the will of the people, the governor will veto AB849.’’ Schwarzenegger’s decision shocked and angered gay rights activists and many in the Democrat-led senate. “For a man who claims rather grandiosely to be ‘following the will of the people’ when he doesn’t even allow the people to express his will to them as he does with every other bill is a deep disappointment to me,” said California state Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica. Many have suggested the governor’s decision stems from his need for conservative support in the November 8 special election. Additionally, leaders such as Benjamin Lopez, a lobbyist for the Traditional Values Coaliton, one of the nation’s most vocal anti-gay marriage groups, had said earlier that if the governor didn’t veto the proposed bill, “many conservatives will stay home in protest.”—JV
Texas Gay Center Raises Funds for New Orleans Center
NY Fox Affiliate Rejects Gay Candidate’s TV Spot New York City—A New York Fox Television station, WNYW/Channel 5, refused to run a campaign advertisement of a Democratic candidate for Manhattan borough president because of its anti-Bush stance, according to the candidate’s campaign staff. The 30-second spot of Brian Ellner, the candidate in question, features President George W. Bush’s face superimposed over the naked torso of a middle-aged man. Accompanying the image is Ellner saying,
Lesbian Student Files Suit Newark, N.J.—Claming abuse from fellow students that included being pushed down a staircase and having her textbooks stolen and soaked with urine, a lesbian student has filed a lawsuit against the Holmdel Board of Education. Now eighteen, Nancy Wadington said she was forced to leave Holmdel High School during her junior year because of the assaults. The suit, filed with the help of Lambda Legal, seeks unspecified monetary damages and alleges that the district violated state anti-discrimination legislation by not stopping the harassment. Superintendent of Schools Maureen Flaherty said she had not heard of Wadington’s situation before the suit’s filing. “We’ll obviously look at the lawsuit and do our internal investigation,” a Newday article quoted her as saying. She added that the district had adopted an anti-bullying policy in June 1998 that specifically addressed harassment on the grounds of sexual orientation. Alphonso David, a staff attorney for Lambda Legal, said the abuse started immediately after Wadington was “outed” as a ninth grader in 2001.—JV
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Houston, Texas—In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Houston LGBT Community Center has promised to donate money raised in forthcoming events to support the Lesbian and Gay Community Center of New Orleans. The Houston Center will donate contributions from two events to a fund for the New Orleans Center—a “Featured at the Center” performance night, and a movie and game night on September 25. It has also put a separate PayPal button on its homepage to allow visitors to direct online donations to the New Orleans center. “As of today, we haven’t yet been able to reach anyone with the Lesbian and Gay Community Center of New Orleans,” said Houston center board member Tom Brookover, “But those of us in Houston certainly expect that our New Orleans friends will be able to make use of some extra financial support. We know how important a center can be for a community.”—JV
“The emperor has no clothes.” Ellner’s partner, Simon Holloway, also appears in the spot—the first time in the city’s history that a gay candidate has introduced his or her partner in a campaign advertisement, according to Ellner’s campaign. On September 5, Ellner told the New York Times that Channel 5 said it would not show the ad because of its “poor taste.” “It’s pretty clear it’s an anti-free speech decision because of our criticism of the president,” he said. A spokeswoman for the station confirmed the station’s refusal, but said Channel 5 would provide no explanation for the decision. According to Tim Arnold, Ellner’s media advisor, the station was the only local channel that rejected the advertisement.—JV
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Opinion
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Schwarzenegger Missing an Opportunity to be a Real Hero The annual reflection on the 9/11 attacks, the ongoing war in Iraq and the fallout of Hurricane Katrina have had a lot of people thinking about what constitutes a hero these days. Surely we can all agree that emergency rescue personnel who respond to catastrophic disasters deserve the title, even if they’re just doing their jobs. Also in the category of “just doing their jobs,” it’s safe to say that everyone considers soldiers who are willing to risk their lives in service to their country to be heroic, regardless of your thoughts on the reasons for the war itself. There are even some individuals and celebrities who showed true heroic spirit in responding to the gulf coast disaster by pitching in and lending a hand to the recovery efforts. These folks were roused to action even if it wasn’t part of their jobs, and that is, in some ways, more heroic. But there’s one celebrity who’s neither acting like a hero nor doing his job this month. And it’s a shame because Arnold Schwarzenegger used to be the very epitome of what we thought of when the word “hero” was thrown into a conversation. This month, he plans to veto a historic bill passed by the California legislature that would extend marriage to same-gender couples. His excuse that he’s following the law of the land from a 2000 ballot initiative known as the Knight Initiative is shamefully transparent. He’s afraid. He’s afraid of losing support from a conservative Republican base in Orange County and therefore losing his political career. Schwarzenegger claims the legislation is unconstitutional because it “goes against the will of the people.” Well, the will of the people changes and five years have passed since the 2000 vote. In that time, the state of California (and the nation) have further debated the topic as other countries have moved to make gay
marriage legal, San Francisco saw thousands of gay couples race to the altar in February 2004 and Massachusetts made it official. Schwarzenegger has every right to veto the bill. He must represent the people who voted him into office as he believes they would want him to represent them. What he should not be doing is claiming that the legislature acted unconstitutionally. We live in a republic, which means we elect people to make these decisions on our behalf. If Schwarzenegger truly believes that gay marriage is against the will of the people, it will be reflected in their voting choices at the time of elections. But we elect people to make our laws because we assume they will uphold the principals upon which our country was founded (such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness) and because we want people who can devote time to serious research and debate about the issue and not hyped-up hysteria spun by media-savvy talking heads. In short, a republic only works well if the people we elect are willing to look deeper than poll numbers and pass laws that may be unpopular but are ultimately the right thing to do. No one wants to pay higher taxes, but somebody has to decide that schools need more money. That’s why Schwarzenegger is missing an opportunity to actually be a hero instead of just playing one in movies. The California legislature has chosen to look deeper and discovered the truth: that gay marriage is a civil rights issue that has to do with fairness and equality for all American citizens. The legislators who voted in favor of the bill, even if it put them “at risk” come election time (according to popular wisdom), are just doing their jobs. Which makes them heroes, too.
From the Editor Complexity Theory by Jere Keys jere@slmetro.com While I did relatively well in high school mathematics, it was never a subject that held my interest. It was the same with most sciences, such as physics, chemistry and biology. I met all my college requirements with classes such as Math 120: Balancing Your Checkbook for Poets. That said, there are things about science and mathematics that continue to amaze me. An old roommate, a physics major, would boggle my mind with the “for dummies” explanations of some remarkable theories and phenomena. As he would explain the quantum principals behind such things, I’d see them as metaphors for human culture and behavior. I recently learned of another such theory that has captured my imagination. The simplest description I’ve found for complexity theory is: complex phenomena can arise from the interaction of seemingly simple elements. Of course, I could be getting that all wrong and the science egg-heads might be laughing at me right now, but that’s okay. Basically, my understanding of complexity theory boils down to a pretty cool concept. As an example, let’s talk about ginseng. For years, people have used ginseng to treat or prevent a variety of medical problems. Most scientists these days want to determine exactly which molecule it is that produces the desired result of lower blood pressure. If they cannot pin it down to a particular molecule or chemical equation, many will dismiss it as a psychological reaction—we “trick” our body into lowering our blood pressure. Complexity theory, on the other hand, supposes that the complex phenomena of lowered blood pressure isn’t the result of a single element or a psychosomatic response, but the result of the interaction of the many molecules, chemicals and psychological beliefs. In other words, it’s not a single cause, but many causes combined in ways that are difficult to study under current scientific method. The interaction of elements—both chemical and psychological—would be near impossible to study under controlled conditions, and may vary greatly from one person to the next. So what’s this got to do with the price of beer in a Salt Lake gay club? Well, there are metaphorical and practical applications of this theory when talking about the queer community. Like the never-ending search for the “gay gene.” Is being a homo the result of a simple genetic code, or is it the byproduct of environmental factors? Is it a choice or is it something you’re born with? Maybe the answer lies in the frightening gray area that requires people to think. Maybe the only true root of a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity is born out of the incalculably complex interaction of biology and culture. Which side wins the argument if that’s the case? Politicians don’t like complexity theory. It doesn’t make good sound bites. Is the disaster in New Orleans the fault of the federal government, local and state government, poverty, racism, the breakdown of nuclear families, or God’s wrath on us homosexuals? I’ve heard all those offered up as explanations for what happened. As a metaphor, I like complexity theory as a model of how I see the queer community (and a multicultural society, for what it’s worth) as well. It’s from the mixture of many different types and points of view that complex and seemingly unimaginable results can be accomplished. When we combine our unique talents and personalities, only our imagination can limit the possibilities. It’s not a Pollyanna-esque platitude, it’s scientific theory. Or is that idea too complex?
Letters Gender Biased Word Choice? “Who isn’t going to be a pussy about what we really want? Who has the cajones (sic) to tell the world…?” Did I really read these words in the Metro and from the Editor, no less? [“When Did We Lose Our Radicals?” Sept. 1, 2005] Sadly, he wasn’t quoting the captain of some high school football team. These were the best words he could come up with to express his dismay at the GLBT community leadership. Even though sticks and stones can break our bones, contrary to popular myth, words can hurt us. We already have to hear on an almost daily basis that “they” are better than “us.” Straights are better than gays. Twinks are better than trolls. Leathermen are better than drag queens and drag queens are better than everyone else. And now from the Metro, cojones are better than pussies. I hope that in future editorials the Metro will refrain from using metaphors suggesting that men are inherently better than women.
William H. Munk Salt Lake City Editor’s Note: Mea culpa! It was a poor word choice and illustrates the difficulty in finding language that communicates strong emotion without offending someone. However, from an individual and completely subjective point of view—which should not be interpreted as a judgment for the capa-
bilities or worth of any gender identity—I do rather prefer cojones to pussies. But that’s just a personal point of view.
LaVote Matters Dear Editor, I whole-heartedly agree that LaVar Christensen is our worst enemy in the legislature and for all queer Utahns who live in this state [“Public Enemy Number One,” Sept. 1, 2005]. That district was a good Democratic district until he unseated Trish Beck. LaVar Christensen and the Republicans totally smeared her good name by putting out lies about her. We lost that seat by a mere 33 votes and that year, 2000, we could have won some seats from those Republicans by a slim margin of 350 votes in other districts. So don’t tell me your vote doesn’t matter. It does! Now look at the mess we are in. The Stonewall Democrats and the Log Cabin Republicans had better work together to get the evil man out office. That should be our ultimate goal as a community—to give our money to whoever is running against that asshole from HELL. I know I will give what I can to see that man not elected again.
Mark Swonson Salt Lake City
Hang Around the E.R. Editor, I keep reading David Nelson’s insane letters
Lambda Lore High School Daze
Darrell Johnson Salt Lake City
Stats Can Prove Anything You Wish Dear Editor, Mr. Nelson and I may never see eye to eye on the subject of gun control, but I respect his right to voice his opinion [“Offer Rape Victims Advice About Defending Themselves,” Letters, Sept. 1, 2005]. But since opinions are like assholes (everyone has one), and statistics can prove nearly anything, I offer the following… Fact: In 1998, women were 101 times more likely to be murdered with a handgun than to use a handgun to kill in self-defense. Women were 302 times more likely to be murdered with a handgun than to use a handgun to kill a stranger in self-defense. Women were 83 times more likely to be murdered by an intimate acquaintance with a handgun than to kill an intimate acquaintance in self-defense. Fact: Guns are rarely used by rapists. In
By my junior year, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy had been murdered, the Tet Offensive in Vietnam was sending home weekly 300-plus young men in body bags, and LBJ said he would not run for re-election. His noble visions of the Great Society and War on Poverty were in shambles due to America’s military-industrial complex, which President Eisenhower had warned us against. The anti-war movement, the free speech movement, the beatnik-hippie movement, the free sex and birth control movement, and the Black Panthers were nightly distractions in the news. But since I was still in high school, these weightier issues didn’t seem very important to me. I was much more concerned with how to avoid gym class and when the next Superman comic would hit the stand. At twelve cents an issue, even I could afford to escape into the world of superheroes. I especially liked it when DC Comics started shadowing Superman’s crotch. It weaned me away from the Sears’ catalog underwear models, which were airbrushed to avoid any hit of bulginess. My high school years were a series of drudgeries to be endured. There is no other way to put it. There were no proms for me, no lettermen sweaters, no student
My sophomore year is a blur with the most vivid recognition being of the day Walt Disney died.
Utah, that number is 2.4% based on the studies we reported in the article Mr. Nelson mentions, and 93.4% of Utah’s sexual assaults involved no weapons of any kind. Women would be safer knowing self-defense to fight off an attacker than using a gun that can be turned against them. Fact: 86.2% of rape and sexual assault victims reported the attack taking place before their 18th birthday. In fact, the only time the average age for rape victims climbs above 18 is when victims are unable to consent or are drugged—situations in which guns would be useless for the victim—and even then the average age is only 19. Utah’s laws require all applicants for a concealed carry permit to be a minimum of 21 years of age. State law restricts juveniles under 18 from possessing handguns and juveniles under 14 from possessing other firearms without parental permission or authorized supervision. As to whether or not owning a firearm helps reduce crime, the arguments continue to fly back and forth with both sides citing many resources and statistics. Unless Mr. Nelson is advocating that minors be allowed to purchase and carry concealed weapons, I fail to see how gun rights apply to the topic of Utah’s rape problem.
Burt Angel Salt Lake City Salt Lake Metro welcomes letters from its readers. Please email letters@slmetro.com or mail your letter to: Editor, Salt Lake Metro, 352 S. Denver St. Ste 350, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. We reserve to right to edit for length or libel.
councils, or any other type of recognition. I said to myself at the time that I really didn’t want them, but in reality, I did not know how to achieve what seemed so easy for others, for I was a gay boy in the openlyhostile heterosexual world of high school. Now don’t think for a moment that I had any hint of gay pride! I should have said that I was a queer boy, with disturbing fantasies of being sexually aroused by other boys. I was highly ashamed of these “pathological abnormalities” and at all cost had to hide them from even the closest of friends. “Friends” is not quite the right word because if one was queer, as I, true friendships based on trust and confidentiality were not available. I was outside the pale of what others took for granted. And yet I tried to pass as normal, but I was far too artsy. I was just a tad bit too effeminate for my own good. Society had taught me well that I was contaminated by these feelings of male eroticism, therefore it became paramount not to draw attention to my sissy boy ways by being singled out or being noticed by anyone. To survive insurmountable labeling by sex-deprived teenage boys, it was necessary to be a chameleon, lest I incurred the righteous and pure indignation of someone intuitive enough to know that I was queer. After all, everyone knew that being queer was infectious, something you caught from others. Unclean! Unclean! Outside of the military, there was probably no more hostile, intimidating, and unreceptive environment than high school if one was gay in the sixties. And definitely —continued on page 23
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by Ben Williams ben@slmetro.com I read with great interest the three views of today’s queer youth in the last issue of the Metro. It got me to thinking about my own high school days some 40 years ago. I began high school in September 1965 and finished in June 1969. Lyndon B. Johnson was president and the world outside of high school was volatile. To say there was unrest in America in the sixties is, as they say, an understatement. By the time I was a high school freshman, the Vietnam War was already into its second year and would not end until I was a senior in college. That war was the single major milestone event of my generation. Here, in the land of the free, race riots erupted — not in the South where civil unrest led to marches and sit-ins, a source of constant agitation to my Texas relatives — but rather in northern cities such as Detroit and Chicago. I was not immune to these things by living in “white as wonder bread” Orange County, California either. Once, riding on a train coming home from a summer vacation in Texas, my sister and I rode through Los Angeles as the Watts Riots were in full fury. Standing between passenger cars with a black porter, I remember
at one railroad crossing a white couple getting out of their car and screaming racial obscenities at the porter. Even among my Texas relatives I had not seen such vileness directed against blacks. My sophomore year is a blur with the most vivid recognition being of the day Walt Disney died. I spent my childhood and much of my adolescence watching Disney explain things to us in his kind, reassuring tone. Whether it was the Mickey Mouse Club or the Wonderful World of Color, Walt Disney was almost like a member of my family, especially since I grew up in the shadow of Disneyland. Between the summer of my sophomore and junior year, it was the Summer of Love. I went to my first and only “love-in” at Irvine Park, where my sister drove me and my friend Jerry around while hundreds of flower children sat on the hoods of their cars or on blankets, tapping on tambourines and saying such cool things as “groovy,” “flower power,” and “peace,” while flashing two fingers, which in my father’s times stood for victory. In all that scenario of love, I didn’t see any type of love like that which secreted in my heart.
about packing guns and second amendment rights [“Offer Rape Victims Advice About Defending Themselves,” Letters, Sept. 1, 2005]. He used to be the voice of reason and still writes well, but whatever his disability or medication, something is messing with his head. As someone who sees firsthand the destructiveness of bullets, I would encourage Mr. Nelson to hang around the emergency room of the nearest hospital on a Saturday night. Perhaps this would temper his asinine stance on packing heat. Guns don’t make your penis grow or make you a man.
drinking milk is sure to shoot it right out his nose. Now I’ve made it sound more dangerous than funny.
FAITH PRINCE SEE FRIDAY, SEPT 16
8pm, Capitol Theatre, 50 W 200 South. Tickets $25 at 355-2787 or arttix.org
THE GAY AGENDA 16FRIDAY Time again for the monthly Salt Lake Gallery Stroll, which is good for several reasons: it’s your chance to see the opening of some terrific shows and exhibitions in a number of our fine Salt Lake galleries, it’s a possibility that you’ll get free hors d’oeuvres and sometimes wine, and it’s a chance to have a truly fantastic night out that costs you nothing. Here’s the skinny on a couple of new shows opening tonight: A new Group Sculpture exhibition will open tonight at A Gallery and run through Sep. 30th. The show features 3D works by Utah artists in ceramic, bronze, glass, metal, fabricated steel and natural stone. Reception 6-9pm, A Gallery, 1321 S. 2100 East. Admission is free, 583-4800
Skyscapes, the new show at Horne Fine Art, is the latest in the gallery’s series of theme exhibits. This time around, more than a dozen artists have created work based on the theme of sky. In an array of media, the artists explore the idea of the sky and the effects of weather, time of day, and light. Reception 6-9pm, 142 E 800 South. Admission is free, information at 533-4200 or hornefineart.com
Finally, two of Utah’s best loved artists, Suzanne Simpson and Jacqui Larsen, have collaborated on Lost, What’s Found, a collection of digital montages from Simpson and collages and paintings from Larsen, all based around the idea of loss. Reception 6-9pm Art Access Gallery, 339 W Pierpont Avenue. Admission is free, information at 328-0703 or accessart.org
Then again, if art ain’t your thing but you do like a good show tune, you could check out Broadway baby Faith Prince at her appearance with the Utah Symphony. Prince has a big voice that is as rich, brassy, and warm as a trumpet. She’s like Ethel Merman, but with better tone and not as much cussing. Swell! 8pm though tomorrow, Abravanel Hall, 123 W South Temple. Tickets $20-$48 at 3552787 or arttix.org
17SATURDAY Although it’s an indecorous expression, the phrase “bust a gut” was created to describe one’s reaction at seeing something like Friends of the Bob and Tom Show. A klatch of hot comedians from around the country will take the stage tonight at the Capitol, and my guess is that many a knee will be slapped and anyone
Sure, improv looks easy, but try it sometime for thirty seconds and, unless you know what you’re doing, you’ll experience a very unique sort of hell. But have no fear— master improver Jason Anfinsen, is in town today to teach an Organic Improv Workshop. It’s a five-hour intensive class that will teach students to use their entire instrument—body, voice, and mind—to create long-form improvisation. Even if you’re not a performer, studying improv is a great way to free your mind from the everyday and mundane and explore the spontaneous imp who lives inside you. Which is a fun thing to trot out at parties. 11am-4pm, Jubilee Center, 309 E 100 South. $50, 560-4507 or utahimprov.com.
20TUESDAY Yay yay yay—it’s time for the new Salt Lake Acting Company season! SLAC can always be counted on to treat you to the most brilliant new plays from around the country, and tonight they’ll open Swimming in the Shallows, a hot new comedy dealing with everything from Buddhist monks to Mako sharks to pre-wedding jitters. Oh, SLAC … you’ve gotta love a theatre that thinks Neil Simon is for sissies.
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7:30pm, continues Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm and 7pm through Oct. 16, Salt Lake Acting Company,
168 W 500 North. Tickets $20 to $30.50 tickedts at 363-SLAC or saltlakeactingcompany.org
21WEDNESDAY Once a year, Utah’s queer community comes out en masse, dressed to the nines, to celebrate our accomplishments and plan to meet our challenges. Equality Utah’s annual Allies Dinner is our annual opportunity to honor our straight advocates and one another. This year, we’ll also get to hear from Tim McFeeley, executive director of the Center for Policy Alternatives and former ED of the Human Rights Campaign. Spending $100 on dinner was never so worth it. Cocktails 6pm, Dinner 7pm, Salt Palace Convention Center. Tickets $100 at 355-3479 or equalityutah.org
22THURSDAY Join Ririe Woodbury Dance Company tonight for the premiere of Voices, an evening of three brand new dances set to music from Mexico, America, and Europe. Renowned Mexican choreographer Alicia Sanchez will premiere new work alongside the legendary Joan Woodbury and the acclaimed Charlotte Boye-Christensen. 7:30pm through Saturday, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W Broadway. Tickets $30 at 355-2787 or arttix.org
23FRIDAY There is a reason that Beethoven’s 9th is one of the most recognizable pieces of music in the world—because it’s damn good. And until you’ve heard it live, you’ve never heard it at all, which is why
you should come hear it at the Utah Symphony this weekend. Just listen for the moment when the chorus thunders into the “Ode to Joy” theme in the finale— you’ll be amazed that your heart could beat so fast while you’re sitting still. 8pm, Abravanel Hall, 123 W South Temple. Tickets $12-$42 at 355-2787 or arttix.org
24SATURDAY If you’re like me, you’ve never even heard of, let alone seen, Rodney, comedian Rodney Carrington’s ABC sitcom. While it may be true that just telling someone you’re a comic is probably enough to get you a sitcom these days, this guy seems to be the real deal, at least according to his website. Anyway, I leave it to your judgment. 8pm, Kingsbury Hall, 1395 E Presidents’ Circle. Tickets $32.50, 355-2787 or arttix.org
26MONDAY Not just anyone has the chops to play a duo tour with Dave Matthews, but Tim Reynolds has done it more than once. Reynolds is a musician’s musician, the kind of songwriter that Ben Harper and Jack Johnson listen to for fun. In other words, if you’re a Kylie Minogue kinda person, this show probably ain’t for you.
27TUESDAY Cathy Rigby was a gymnast or something in, like, the 1920s, and ever since then she’s been on a non-stop bus and truck tour playing Peter Pan. That said, this is a show that never loses its charm—that first moment when the children start flying is as magical the twenty-fifth time as it was the first. See it now before Cathy is replaced by some whippersnapper like Mary Lou Retton or Nadia Comaneci. 7:30pm through Thursday, 8pm Friday, 2pm Saturday, Capitol Theatre, 50 W 200 South. Tickets $30-$57.50 at 355-2787 or arttix.org
28WEDNESDAY If you don’t already know who Emo Phillips is, this is not the place for me to try and explain it to you. Suffice it to say that the guy’s a comedian and he is funny. FU-N-N-Y. Not quite Eddie Izzard funny, but certainly more than Rodney Carrington funny. I’m guessing. 8pm, Wise Guys Comedy Café, 3500 S 2200 West. Tickets $10 at 463-2909 or smithstix.com.
8:30pm, Suede, 1612 Ute Boulevard, Park City. Tickets $12 at 467-TIXX or smithstix. com
SEPTEMBER 15, 2005 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 21