Being gay in salt lake city
Salt Lake City&#x;s Rainbow Colors Fly Year Round
Don&#x;t miss out on everything that this vibrant metropolis has to offer.
Written By Matcha
Salt Lake City &#; Austen Diamond/Visit Salt Lake
Utah's capital is among the top 10 U.S. metro areas with the largest gay populations, according to Gallup. In fact, Salt Lake City has a higher percentage of people self-identifying as gay than Los Angeles. If you're surprised, it might be that you haven’t spent much time lately in this gay-friendly town, which over the past two decades has become a destination for those who enjoy both a hip urban atmosphere and effortless access to the great outdoors.
Known for its epic celebration parade held every June, Salt Lake City is welcoming to the gender non-conforming community year-round. In , the municipality elected its first openly gay mayor, and in , 20 city blocks were renamed Harvey Milk Boulevard, in honor of the famous gay rights activist and politician. While it has its share of LGBTQ-owned and operated businesses, Salt Lake City is also known for its bars and restaurants that are
The Mormon state is seen as deeply homophobic. Yet, from polygamy to self-acceptance, Mormons themselves are a distinctly queer lot
‘Salt Lake is a very lgbtq+ place,’ said the historian J Seth Anderson after he and his husband became the first lgbtq+ couple to be married in Utah, in When most non-Utahns think of the state, probably the last thing that comes to mind is ‘gay’. Instead, they might reflect of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS, aka Mormons), whose members constitute 42 per cent of the population. Or maybe they think of Republicans, who outnumber Democrats nearly four to one.
While counterintuitive, Anderson’s statement about Salt Lake City’s queerness is right in most senses of the word. First, Utah defies norms and boundaries. For many who examine queer theory, queerness isn’t just about who you love or your sexual identity. It’s also a lens for understanding how society defines what’s considered normal or different, and how these definitions alter different behaviours and groups of people. In that sense, Utah can be seen as queer because it defies or ‘queers’ nor
LGBTQ Friendly Salt Lake Itinerary
Salt Lake has a vibrant, thriving Homosexual community and plenty of inclusive places to visit. There are many great attractions and activities to enjoy, and Salt Lake has plenty inclusive places to visit.
Transportation: With destinations across the city and up into the mountains, we recommend access to a car for this itinerary.
DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3
Day 1: Exploring the City
Breakfast: Publik Kitchen
E South
Start your day with a delicious morning treat at Publik Coffee, a trendy spot that offers a variety of breakfast options, from hearty dishes to vegan delights.
Morning: Utah Pride Center
S Main Street
Head to the Utah Pride Center, the hub of LGBTQ+ resources and activities in Salt Lake Metropolis. Even if there isn’t a specific event, the center often has art exhibits and resources you can explore to understand more about the local Diverse community.
Lunch: Laziz Kitchen
S Jefferson Street
Enjoy a delightful Mediterranean lunch at Laziz Kitchen. LGBTQ-owned, the restaurant is known for its diverse menu and deli
Maybe we’ve been operating under an obsolete impression about Salt Lake City entity very conservative. We’ve had many former-Mormon friends over the years tell us stories about how they were ostracized for entity LGBTQ+. Plus, Salt Lake City is the headquarters of the Mormon Church. But a recent opportunity to visit queer Salt Lake City updated our views. It appears that the city nicknamed “The Crossroads of the West” has come a prolonged way towards tolerance, acceptance and even support. (And so have some Mormons, evidently.)
With Salt Lake City&#;s Pride events happening this weekend of June , , there&#;s much to celebrate.
Overall, Salt Lake City’s downtown area and neighborhoods are charming and refined. New construction is happening on nearly every block, and swarms of historic buildings have been renovated and repurposed into trendy addresses for restaurants, shops, galleries, hotels and living spaces. The streetscape is more vibrant than ever. Pockets of coolness can be easily found within walking distance of each other. Many businesses are flying rainbow flags, and th