Good morning world. On this 4th of July weekend my little Sugarhouse, Utah neighborhood is hosting a 5k run, a flag-raising ceremony and doughnuts with no coffee. This activity is centered in a Mormon church parking lot across the street from my house. I hear voices there. I might join them when they break out the watermelons.

I have had a busy time performing lately for various outdoor events, the core of my playing in the summer months. The all-present sunshine and long comfortable evenings of this region are conducive to plentiful outdoor events. But as always, present here is--the Mormon/non-Mormon issue. For instance, I virtually never perform in Provo, UT. I did once many years back, at a house concert, but have not performed my own music there since. The Freedom Festival, held on the 4th of July weekend every year in Provo, has a contract that states a dress code of 'no sleeveless shirts'. I suppose because shoulders can be sexy, or not, depending on the shoulders, I guess. Although I've lived here for 30 years, I'm still perplexed to notice blank stares from eyes of Mormon church members in an audience, as I am assessed; they are trying to decide if I am "safe" to listen to or not. This phenomenon is noticed by us musicians more at this time of year when outdoor festivals bring together large audiences from different backgrounds. Necessarily my performances are primarily relegated to the areas of Salt Lake City, Park City, ski areas, Moab, and sometimes Cedar City. You can probably tell by now, that I am not Mormon. I listen to musicians of all backgrounds, and find diversity to be more interesting than not. But conceptually, I understand how the mysticism in my lyric style might not correspond with a dogmatic religious context of thought. On the worldly side of this, I have to wonder how many people out-of-state who think of hiring me, worry if I am of that religious faith. I've experienced several people who were, people who would actually come out and say so. If that is the case, there must be more who just don't mention it. And maybe some who assume and don't even bother considering me. I encountered a very friendly sound man at one of my concerts in Illinois, who mentioned that he was worried that I might be Mormon because of where I've lived for so long, and since he was gay worried about our encounter. That made me sad.

I'm an easy-going person who can get along with just about anyone and can fit in with just about any cultural group. I was raised on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. and experienced diversity from the start. I continue to perform in Utah and in the surrounding region, but it has become more difficult over time for me to do so without saying something about what I experience. And so, I am writing here, about my experience.