Utah HRC Dinner with Tipper Gore!

Tonight was the big gay bash at Bruce Bastian's house. The Utah Steering Committee of the Human Rights Campaign put on the fabulous event. Have you ever seen a movie where someone is getting married and the wedding is held at a mansion? In the movie, there is a quintet playing classical music, expansive lawns where guests mingle, and lots of people. Well, that is exactly what the event was like! I have not had as much fun as I did tonight!

Megan was my date and Fernando went with us. If you meet Fernando, you will know within 5 minutes that he is on the board of Equality Utah. He's a really fun guy and Megan says he is my twin because he is fun like me and half-Hispanic.

When we first got there, I was surprised to see protestors at the scene. I really don't like protestors who protest at things that will not change anything: protestors at gay events, protestors at the Mormon general conferences, protestors at the DNC or RNC conventions. Protestors, especially those who are protesting against gays, really unnerve me and make me nervous (did I just repeat myself?). Fernando wanted to hold my hand to get in their face, but I declined. I don't like rubbing my "gayness" in people's faces.

Right before I took this picture, the yellow sign could not be read clearly. I asked the people to stretch the banner out so I could take a picture. They obliged.

There was an open bar, but I really didn't take advantage of it. Brian doesn't like me drinking, and although I asked him if me drinking tonight would bother him and he said no, I really didn't want to drink. Well, that was at the beginning of the evening.

About 2 years ago, Elizabeth Birch, who was then the executive director of the Human Rights Campaign, came to Utah to speak. Adam Bass and I hosted an event for young people and I was able to meet her and get to know her. She liked me so much that she flew me (and Ryan Oliver Hansen) to Washington D.C. for the HRC National Dinner! Free plane ticket, free food, and a whole lot of fun! Well, I saw her tonight and said hi. She was so excited to see me and we chatted for a few minutes. She asked me when I was going to run for Congress and I laughed; I told her that I like state politics more to which she said, "So you'll have to get advice from [Senator] Scott [McCoy]. I then asked her, "Well, when I do run for office, can I count on you for a donation?" She replied, "Yes, if you do anything, make sure I am one of the first people you call." Not only is Elizabeth Birch amazing, she has a huge heart and makes a little gay boy from Salt Lake City excited.

I loved the event because I saw so many people I knew! It was nice to see all of the gays and supporters of gays out for such a nice event! Brian says it was the gay elites, and I kind agree with him; depending on how you look at it, it can be a good or bad thing. It was nice to see so many people supporting gay equality and not see a preponderance slutty gay people (which reside at the clubs), but I feel badly when I am at those events because I think of how lucky I am and how unlucky most of the world is. Here I am enjoying free alcohol in nice clothes and halfway around the world a mother, whose husband has died of AIDS, cannot put food on the table for her five sickly children. Sometimes, I want to be part of elite culture, and other times I chastise myself for the thoughts.

Megan under the big tent.

Bruce Bastian's Backyard.

As I was mingling, Adam introduced me to an "old friend" that I met back in Washington D.C. when I was there for the HRC National Dinner. When I first saw Rick, I honestly cannot write what I was thinking. It was really weird to see someone you thought you'd never see again. The one thing that bothered me the most was Adam's enjoyment from it all. I was uncomfortable for about 5 seconds, but Adam had a big smile on his face. I don't like when other people enjoy my discomfort.

Honestly, it was more interesting to see Rick than any other emotion. Because I never thought I would see him, I was really interested in getting to know him better because the opportunity presented itself. Being an interpersonal communication major (haha!), I was really interested in what Rick and I had to say to each other.

Soon after that, the organizers told us to sit at our tables for the program to begin. We sally forthed toward our table and Fernando and I checked out all the hot guys that were there. Though I was Megan's date, I wasn't able to sit with her due to various reasons. I actually wasn't going to go because of this, but I decided (well, Megan decided for me) that I should go. You can imagine my surprise when Rick sat next to her. I was irked because I really wanted to sit by Megan, but I got over it.

The program started with the University of Utah band playing, "We are Family" and having the 600 guests start dancing to it (I was actually one of the first on my feet). One of the funniest moments was seeing the Republican Attorney General, Mark Shurtleff, dance to the song with all the gays (I actually voted for him). I think I'm going to send the picture to him because it's really funny.

Democratic Party Chair Wayne Holland, Democratic State Senator Patrice Arent, Republican Attorney General Mark Shurtleff

As dinner was being served, I ran out of water and asked Fernando where the pitchers of water were. He laughed and handled me a bottle. I couldn't believe my eyes! Water in a nice glass bottle?! I thought it was a little over the top. Tap water is fine with me.

See my VIP wristband! Yay!

The rest of the night gets a little fuzzy. I started drinking white wine and getting tipsy. At one moment, I finished Senator Arent's glass of red wine (and her daughter Sarah just laughed at me). Tipper Gore spoke (which wasn't very exciting...Scott Lowe asked me if I was excited to hear her speak and I said, "Who? Mrs. Dukakis?"), the new executive director of HRC Joe Solomonese spoke, and Gary and Millie Watts (PFLAG parents who received an award) spoke. I really was just waiting for the dance to start.

And it did. Here's a picture of me with Senator Arent. I thought it was so funny that I was dancing to disco music with a Utah State Senator. I don't think there is any more proof that politicians are people too!

Me and the Senator.

Megan and Me dancing to Donna Summer's, "Last Dance"!

Tonight, I vowed that at my wedding, the band will play disco music all night long! After the dance, I rode home with Rick and we talked about a lot of things that I won't write about here. Megan and Fernando met us in his hotel room and we just sat around and talked. I got home about 2AM and went directly to bed. I had more fun tonight than I have in a long time. I really want Brian to come with me to the dinner next year...and I'll kill if they don't have it next year!