The Utah Pride Center as we know it today is the result of the advocacy, activism, and hard work of many individuals in our state and worldwide throughout centuries. The legacy of the Center accompanies the work we do every day, and we feel grateful and honored to share history with all those Utahns before us who fought hard for LGBTQ+ rights, pride, visibility, and community.
The Early Years
There have been several LGBTQ+ centers in Utah since the 1970’s, and their names and locations have changed. The Utah Pride Center adopted its current name in 2005.
Founding in 1986
In 1986, the Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah (GLCCU) was established to foster communication between the queer community and law enforcement in Utah, with programs and activities geared around outreach, anti-violence, and AIDS awareness. GLCCU also managed and organized the Utah Pride Festival.
The 1990s
In 1991, GLCCU founded the Utah Stonewall Center with a mission to provide a safe and supportive meeting places for the community members along the Wasatch Front. It included an art gallery, library, and coffee shop, and offered meeting places, support groups, workshops, information materials and seminars. The Utah Stonewall Center officially separated from the GLCCU in 1995, and in 1997 it briefly closed to open its doors again as the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah. The new center had a cafe, lending library, meeting space, and a youth activity center. Its programs included support and social groups, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention programs, gender-based book clubs, and coming-out groups.
2003 to Now
In 2003, its name changed to Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Community Center of Utah, until 2005, when the Utah Pride Center was formed.