A former attorney and Mormon bishop in Vacaville is on trial for the sexual abuse of his then-11-year-old adopted daughter, and other church associates are giving some pretty damning testimony on the witness stand.

In today’s episode of It’s Often Clergy People and It's Never Drag Queens embroiled in real-world child sexual abuse scandals, the Vacaville Reporter brings us the news of the ongoing trial of James Glenn Haskell, a former attorney and Mormon bishop who now faces 16 counts of child sexual abuse in a Solano County Superior Court. Haskell and his wife had four adopted children, all of whom have since been removed from the home.

The most troubling allegations involve the eldest daughter, who was 11 years old at the time of the alleged crimes. Wednesday’s witnesses included a Solano County Child Welfare Services employee who’d visited the home, and two friends of the family and/or church associates who witnessed various suspicious behaviors at pool parties.

The now-16-year-old victim testified herself Monday of last week, describing “inappropriate touching” and a “tickling game” with which Haskell allegedly engaged with the children. She was 11 and 12 years old at the time, and also described that once, as punishment, the parents took away her clothes and made her wear a garbage bag.

On Monday of this week, the East Bay Times reported that jurors heard a phone call police had secretly wiretapped, in which another Mormon church congregant confronted Haskell with the allegations. “She said you touched her private parts underneath her underwear,” the caller told Haskell.

The Times reports that Haskell could be heard “stammering and breathing in exasperation” upon being confronted. And as the conversation goes on, Haskell does seemingly admit guilt, saying “Tell her I’m sorry,” and “If she gives us another chance, we’re all about supporting.” He also added, “I was wrong. I will do better.”

Haskell’s trial continues Monday, though he’s currently out of custody on $240,000 bail.

Related: Richmond Pastor Arrested on Charges of Sex Crimes Allegedly Against Underage Church Members [SFist]

Image: Superior Court of Solano

A funny little news item appeared over the weekend connecting the fact the San Francisco Marriott had signed on as a sponsor of this year's Folsom Street Fair, and the company is still managed by the Marriott family, who are Mormon, and probably not that into bondage. While Marriott itself may not have donated to the Prop 8 campaign, the Mormon Church certainly did, and it's kind of wacky that Marriott would be giving money to such a pervy street fest!

But, as the Chronicle points out, the fair and its vendors have become noticeably tamer in recent years, perhaps in part due to the pressures of big corporate sponsors like American Airlines and Kimpton Hotels. Sure, you still see plenty of erect penises on the street, but not in the vendors' booths anymore, and the crowd is now a mixed bag that includes some families and East Bay tourists and the like.

The hotel is just looking out for its bottom line, of course; and given the massive number of gay and fetish tourists who come to town for the fair each year, they can't afford to discriminate. Still, fascinating...

[Chron]

Dustin Lance Black, Academy Award-winning screenwriter of Milk and a board member of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, will bring California's same-sex marriage brouhaha to the Great White Way. His new Prop 8 drama will hit the Broadway stage later this year with the title 8. New York Times reports: "Roughly a dozen people from the trial are portrayed as characters, including Theodore B. Olson and David Boies, the lawyers for the two gay couples who sued California over the ban; Charles J. Cooper, the lead defense counsel; Kristin M. Perry and Sandra B. Stier, a lesbian couple who were among the plaintiffs; and the judge, Vaughn R. Walker of the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California."

Black's new work "consists mostly" of actual dialogue from the Proposition 8 trial transcripts in San Francisco. And if he cannot find enough drama inside the courtroom, plenty of it went down following the passage of the marriage ban. If you recall, everything from protests to a vividly hateful "Fuck Mormons" banner went up around the city following the days of the 2008 election.

The play, which will first be performed at a fundraiser in NYC on Sept. 19, will be directed by Tony Award-winning actor and director Joe Mantello. Casting will be announced later.

[Official site]

Say what you will about LDS members, difficult on the eyes isn't one of them. Why, just take a look at these jarringly Anglo-Saxon beauties here. Gay activist Michael Petrelis who, in his unyielding attempts to earn his Gay Scout Merit badge for Recruiting Mormon Boys, chatted up these two fresh-faced missionaries today. Describing the duo as "Regular Chatty Cathys," Petrelis stuck up a conversation:

The big guy on the left just arrived in town this week, from Colorado, is here for six months, loves football and didn't want to know about joining a medical marijuana dispensary. His fellow recruiter has been here six months, enjoys practicing his Spanish primarily at the 16th Street BART plaza and hails from Alberta, Canada.

Building bridges, one God-fearing Adonis at a time. Visit Petrelis Files for more.