Blind Prophecy

“Peace Cradle” – Russian Garden – International Peace Gardens – Jordan Park – Salt Lake City, UT – April 2005

Saturday night, I went to a concert by the Kinsey Sicks. They were fabulous, of course. They’ve been to Vegas a number of times while I lived there, but this was their Utah debut. We all laughed so-damn-hard. In the intro to a song about safe sex: “Everything has risks, including Victorian patriarchal denial of the world we live in.”

On Sunday morning, the two Salt Lake Unitarian churches did a minister-swap (how does that sound for a reality show? Is anyone from FOX paying attention?) so our sermon came from Rev. Tom Goldsmith of First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake. The sermon, (“The Limits of Tolerance”) explored the basic flaw in tolerant ideology (we have to be tolerant of hate-mongers, bigots and Republicans). Basically, Rev. Tom defended his church (First Unitarian has the rep of being much more political than my congregation) and left most of us feeling rather energized and excited.

For those of you not living in Utah, this weekend was also the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) biannual General Conference. This weekend we learned that Mormons don’t like pornography.

“You young women, when you dress immodestly and deliberately cause these feelings in men, you become pornography.”
- Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve

Anyway, while my family watched General Conference, I escaped to the parks. First I stopped at Farimont Park (voted best place to cruise by readers of Salt Lake Metro), where the Gay and Lesbian Soccer League was beginning their season. I watched cute guys play soccer for a while, then headed over to Jordan Park where the Pride Softball League was doing season sign-ups. I got there too late to actually talk to anyone from the league (they had all cleared out by then), but I did get to spend a few hours wandering along the river and exploring the International Peace Gardens. The very earliest signs of Spring were showing up in the park, so I took lots of pictures (which I’ll be posting over the next few days – see above).

Later, I went to the Affirmation (GLBT Mormon support group) Conference Sunday Mission Reunion and Fireside. Normally, I skip Affirmation events (I’ve been non-Mormon for a decade now, I don’t really need a support group), but my friend Stephen Fales (see his website here) was the speaker. He gave a fabulous talk about topics as varied as narcissism, drug addicition and rediscovering spirituality for GLBT people. He’s such a stud (and I mean physically and intellectually).

Anyway, that was my weekend. I’ve got lots of work and meetings this week. It’s going to be one of those work weeks. Also, Wednesday marks my 6 month anniversary with Salt Lake Metro. How time flies.

Filed under: livejournal by Jere Keys