May 27, 2019

Leonard Matlovich | Activist, Mormon, Gay Man

Technical Sergeant Leonard Philip Matlovich was a Vietnam War veteran, race relations instructor, and recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. He was a fierce advocate of LGBT rights and fought to end discrimination of sexuality. Matlovich was … Read the rest here

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7 hours ago

Love knows no timeline, and Vivian Boyack & Alice “Nonie” Dubes are proof of that. In 1942, the women met in their hometown of Yale, Iowa, sparking a love they kept secret for decades, presenting themselves as “friends” to shield their bond from a world not ready to embrace them.

For over 70 years, they nurtured their relationship in private. Vivian inspired countless students as a teacher, while Nonie excelled in payroll management. Behind closed doors, they built a life of adventure—traveling to all 48 contiguous U.S. states, Canada, and England twice—sharing laughter over bridge games and quiet moments that spoke volumes. “I think a lot of people knew, but didn’t ever say anything,” Nonie once said, “and we didn’t tell them.”

Their love, though hidden, was unshakable. “We’ve had our ins and outs,” Nonie reflected, “but that’s how it goes.” After Iowa legalized same-sex marriage in 2009, Vivian and Nonie initially felt no need to marry, content with their private commitment. But by 2014, encouraged by a few friends and their faith community, they decided to publicly affirm their love.

On September 6, 2014, at ages 91 and 90, they married at First Christian Church in Davenport—the first same-sex wedding held there. Holding hands in wheelchairs, they exchanged gold rings, their smiles radiant as Rev. Linda Hunsaker declared, “This is a celebration of something that should have happened a very long time ago.” They embraced this moment, saying, “It’s never too late to begin a new chapter.”

Over the years their families suspected their relationship—some attended the wedding, showing support—they respected their silence, as the couple often spent holidays apart to maintain discretion.

Vivian passed away in 2016 at age 93, after 74 years with Nonie. Nonie carried their love until her passing in 2022 at age 98, marking 80 years since their story began.

Their once-secret love now shines as a beacon of resilience, showing that love can endure in the shadows and bloom in truth. Vivian and Nonie’s legacy inspires us to honor every love story and build a world where no one must hide. 🌈💜

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1 day ago

Sorry, but if we let people choose their own gender then what's next? Something else that's none of my business and won't harm me in the slightest?

I mean where does it end?

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2 days ago

Utah Representative Trevor Lee, who sponsored a bill banning pride flags and was linked to fake Twitter accounts posting anti-LGBTQ content, is now proposing to rename Harvey Milk Boulevard in Salt Lake City through legislative action.

On Friday, Lee posted on X, citing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s call to rename the USNS Harvey Milk—a Navy ship honoring the assassinated San Francisco supervisor and gay rights activist—as justification for renaming Harvey Milk Boulevard, ironically, Trevor Lee misspelled the ship’s name in the post.

Lee also falsely claims Milk was a pedophile, an accusation rooted in anti-LGBTQ misinformation with no credible evidence. Historical records confirm Milk was a dedicated gay rights advocate with no criminal record. During Milk’s era, California’s age of consent was 18 for same-sex relationships until 1976, when it equalized to 16, and New York’s was 17; Milk’s documented life shows no violations of these laws.

Critics argue Lee’s proposal to rename the street targets the LGBTQ community, driven by Lee’s personal and religious biases as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, rather than reflecting the broader interests of his constituents. Many of Lee’s supporters (and followers on X) align with fringe alt-right groups like DezNat, known for anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and hate.

Governor Spencer Cox publicly called Trevor Lee’s pride flag ban bill “dumb,” underscoring ongoing tensions between state and local leadership over issues of inclusion and representation.

The threat to rename Harvey Milk Boulevard remains in its early stages, with public and political reactions continuing to develop as the debate unfolds. Salt Lake’s pro-LGBTQ city council is expected to dismiss Lee’s proposal.

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Leonard Matlovich | Activist, Mormon, Gay Man

Latter Gay Stories

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