October Lecture "Joseph Willis Redburn: Forgotten Leader and Father of LGBTQ+ Utah"
Schedule
Thu, 09 Oct, 2025 at 06:00 pm
UTC-06:00Location
Signature Books | Salt Lake City, UT
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Join us for the sixth lecture from the 2025 Mildred Berryman Institute Lecture Series. In-person and virtual options available (see zoom link below).Featured Speaker: Randy Hoffman
In the wake of Stonewall, as LGBTQ+ communities across the country began to emerge from the shadows, one man became the unlikely architect of Utah’s queer public life. Forgotten Leader: Joe Redburn and the Rise of LGBTQ+ Utah tells the story of Joseph Willis Redburn—a pioneering radio host, political firebrand, and the founder of Salt Lake City’s legendary Sun Tavern. Known as the "father of LGBTQ+ Utah," Redburn helped build the early infrastructure of queer community in one of America’s most conservative states.
Through a deep dive into Redburn’s activism, broadcasting career, and audacious creation of queer spaces in the 1970s and ’80s, this lecture not only uncovers the triumphs and heartbreaks of a radical trailblazer but also reveals the fragility of queer institutions and the forgotten fates of our elders. Join us for a powerful conversation about memory, marginalization, and the legacy of those who built our movements—only to be left behind by them.
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**QUEER HISTORY MONTH**
This event is part of the Mildred Berryman Institute’s LGBTQ+ History Month celebrations and serves as a fundraising opportunity to support our mission of preserving and sharing Utah’s LGBTIQ+ history. Help us celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month, build community, and support queer historical storytelling one step at a time! Donate here: https://givebutter.com/7cbzVH
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Remote Attendance via Zoom:
https://utah.zoom.us/j/82305675776 (passcode: 672362)
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Special thanks to Signature Books for allowing us to host this event in their space!
The lecture will take place up a flight a stairs and there is NOT A WORKING ELEVATOR at this time. Please plan accordingly.
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🌈 Past lectures can be accessed on our YouTube channel or on the Berryman Lecture Series web page.
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Where is it happening?
Signature Books, 511 W 400 N, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-4168, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
