From Perky's to Paper Moon: The Rise and Decline of Lesbian Bars in

In 2015, Salt Lake City's last lesbian bar, Paper Moon, closed after more than two decades in operation, marking the end of a forty-five-year history of lesbian bars in the State’s capitol. This lecture examines the rise and decline of lesbian bars in Salt Lake City from 1970 to 2015, exploring how a mid-sized city formed a lesbian community distinct from anywhere else in the country. Drawing on oral histories, local newspapers, and archival research, this presentation will reconstruct the history of Salt Lake City's lesbian bars.