LGBTQ+
Although individuals of the LGBTQ+ community have always existed their rights have only recently been recognized. Due to any sexuality or gender identity that deviated from heteronormative being seen as “deviant” almost all people who were part of the LGBTQ+ community never came out, even in their private dairies. For this reason, while we can theorize who was or was not queer in past centuries, it is difficult to say for certain as the only person who knows how they identify is deceased. [1]
Despite this there are records of people in Utah in same-sex relationships and dressing in drag, so although we cannot definitely say how these individuals would have liked to be identified we can speak to what we do know.
Edith Chapman was the daughter of a survivor of the Martin Handcart Company trek of 1856. She inherited her parents house after their death in 1923 and decided to open it as a boarding house to other queer women. Her tenants included Grace Nickerson, an instructor at the LDS School of Music, Dorothy Graham whose family owned a restaurant known to host drag performances, and Edith’s partner Mildred ‘Barrie’ Berryman. Edith worked as a Critic teacher for the University of Utah and Barrie conducted an informal study ‘The Psychological Phenomena of the Homosexual’, not published until 1978. [2]
In the mid-20th century, the US emphasized the nuclear family and “strong family values” as a way to counter-act the perceived spread of communism. One of the results of this was the Lavender scare, which led to gay men and lesbians being considered “security risks” and actively conducting un-American acts. During this time many celebrities, politicians, and average citizens were blackmailed, denied jobs and fired from military service due to their perceived sexual preferences. [3]
Salt Lake Pride, year unknown
In the 1960’s New York police increased their crackdown on spaces where gay people hung out, especially bars. The Stonewall Inn was considered the preeminent gay bar in New York City, and often was raided with people arrested if they were found in drag. On Saturday 28th, 1969 police raided Stonewall Inn again, baring over 200 customers inside for interrogation. Two female police officers took the individuals they perceived to be women to the bathroom to visibly confirm their sex. The women testified that they were assaulted by the police and “feeling some of them up inappropriately”. [4]
When attempting to transport the individuals to police cars outside the cops encountered a large crowd who had heard about the raid. This crowd eventually began throwing bricks and bottles at the police and their cars, leading to a full riot. The Mattachine Society newsletter said this when asked what caused the riot:
“[Stonewall] catered largely to a group of people who are not welcome in, or cannot afford, other places of homosexual social gathering… The Stonewall became home to these kids. When it was raided, they fought for it. That and the fact that they had nothing to lose…” [4]
Wedding between two women, held at Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah, 1990
One year later in 1970 Perky’s, a secret lesbian bar, opened in Salt Lake City. It wasn’t until 1973 that Salt Lake had an openly gay bar, Sun Tavern, owned and run by a gay man, Joe Redburn. The first Gay Freedom Day was sponsored by Joe a year later, on the 5th anniversary of Stonewall. [5]
The Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah (GLCCU) was established in 1986 to create a safe space for the queer community, with activities and initiatives aimed at outreach, anti-discrimination, and AIDS awareness. The GLCCU is known today as the Utah Pride Center, leading the first Utah Pride in 1990 with 270 participants. [6]
Utah recognized same-sex marriage in 2014, when it was ruled on by the supreme court overturning Utah’s 2004 Constitutional Amendment. [7] In 1991 the University of Utah prohibited employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. According to the Public Religion Research Institute, 86% of Utahns support LGBTQ anti-discrimination laws in Utah as of 2023. [8]
[1] Adam, B. D. (1987). The rise of a gay and lesbian movement. Twayne Publishers.
[2] Who is Edith Chapman? Utah’s early LGBTQ+ History in a Salt Lake City House | Utah Historical Society. (2023). Utah.gov. https://history.utah.gov/who-is-edith-chapman-utahs-early-lgbtq-history-in-a-salt-lake-city-house/
[3] Johnson, D. K. (2004). The Lavender Scare: the Cold War Persecution of Gays and Lesbians in the Federal Government. University of Chicago Press.
[4] Carter, D. (2005). Stonewall : the riots that sparked the gay revolution. St. Martin’s Press.
[5] Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement (2021, August 16). Salt Lake City’s LGBTQ+ Communities and the Pioneer Park Neighborhood - CCE. CCE. https://community.utah.gov/salt-lake-citys-lgbtq-communities-and-the-west-side/
[6] Utah Pride Center - History. (2022). Utahpridecenter.org. https://www.utahpridecenter.org/about/history
[8] Public Religion Research Institute. (2023). PRRI – American Values Atlas. Prri.org. https://ava.prri.org/#lgbt/2023/States/lgbtdis/m/US-UT