november, 2013 | issue 224 | gaysaltlake.com
man in Salt Lake City in the 1920s and 1930s. He hadn’t any post Stonewall concept that Gay was a state of being and not an action. To him, the word only had a semi-sexual connotation. It was what you did, not who you were. You performed Gay acts only. I read somewhere that the term “Gay Blade” in England did not connote a “happy fellow” but rather a person who was “randy and naughty” and usually was applied to gentlemen who frequented houses of prostitution. For most police officers before Stonewall, and probably to many today, the words homosexual, whore, and prostitute were all synonymous with vice. I know it is the case with Dallin Oaks and Boyd K. Packer. Prior to 1970, only the Radio City Lounge was openly
identified as a Gay friendly bar, although its owners were straight. In 1970 a women’s bar called Perky’s opened on 3rd West in Salt Lake City which had a lesbian clientele, but was not at first identified as an openly Gay bar. It was operated for five years by its lesbian owner. The emergence of a Gay community in Salt Lake City, due to the efforts of the “radicals” of Utah’s Gay Liberation Front in the 1970s, would displaced many of the Gay friendly bars of Pre-Stonewall with openly Gay bars. Joe Redburn’s legendary Sun Tavern opened in 1973 as the first openly Gay bar in Utah and became the most important bar in the development of a Gay identity and community in Salt Lake City and probably in all of Utah. Thank you, Joe. Q
Utah Stonewall Historical Society Read about Utah’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender history as written by Utah’s Gay historian, Ben Williams at
benwilliamswritings. blogspot.com Add check daily for ‘This day in gay Utah history” at
benwilliamsblogger. blogspot.com
VIEWS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 29
Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner Who: Everyone! Date: Thursday, November 28th Time: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Location: Utah Pride, 255 E 400 S Utah Pride will provide the Main Dish (turkey, ham, tofurkey) and beverages. Bring a potluck dish to share and join us for good food, games, and friends. Even if you can’t bring a dish, we want you here! Potluck Items by Last Name: Appetizers: A - G Salads & Side Dishes: H - M Desserts: N - Z Vegan & Vegetarian items also needed! For More information email: megan@utahpridecenter.org
Hosted By:
UtahPrideCenter.org