This Week in Utah: Cleve Jones and a gay bashing

Jennifer Dobner's AP report in the WaPo: Gay rights activist calls for march on Washington

JoSelle Vanderhooft interviews Cleve Jones for QSaltLake here.

Deseret News reports:

Bursts of torrential rain did little to dampen the spirits of those gathered to cheer Jones, who served as the parade's grand marshal; local political figures; and the dozens of floats that made up this year's procession — a highlight of the three-day Utah Pride Festival at Washington Square that drew more than 20,000 attendees. After the parade, Jones told a festival crowd that it is time to reprise a 1979 march for gay rights on the nation's capital and demand full equality. He said the march, planned for Oct. 11, will coincide with National Coming Out Day.

"We seek nothing more and nothing less than equal protection under the law in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states," Jones said. "It is time to march again."

"I've got a message for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," he said. "Thank you. Thank you for uniting us. Thank you for galvanizing us," he said, referring to the efforts of the church and its members to win passage last year of California's Proposition 8, which overturned a court ruling legalizing gay marriage.

Cleve Jones sits down with Utah's Fox13:



Cleve Jones in Salt Lake City: Thank you, Mormons!



Cleve Jones Announces LGBT March on Washington DC for October 11:



Meanwhile, ABC4 reports on a gay bashing in Ogden:



By the way, check out this Facebook event page: Pray and Fast New York

It's ostensibly an appeal to New Yorkers, but funny thing is, all I see are the names of Mormons from Utah and California on that page (e.g., Angela Rockwood, Emily Dyer). So, even if you're not from New York, please feel free to drop by and leave a snarky comment (leaving a comment is the only interaction allowed on that page - after several NOM Facebook debacles, they've gotten smart and hidden the guest list this time around).