''QSaltLake'' is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (

LGBT ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term ...

)

news News is information about current events. This may be provided through many different media: word of mouth, printing, postal systems, broadcasting, electronic communication, or through the testimony of observers and witnesses to events. N ...

and

entertainment Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience or gives pleasure and delight. It can be an idea or a task, but is more likely to be one of the activities or events that have developed over thousa ...

magazine published monthly by Gay Salt Lake Inc. in

Salt Lake City Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the capital and most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in Utah. With a population of 200,133 in 2020, th ...

. The magazine is the feature publication for the corporation. Related publications, web sites and a

nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

are among the corporate projects. The magazine includes local, national and world news, an extensive opinion section, arts and entertainment, a bar guide and

classifieds Classified advertising is a form of advertising, particularly common in newspapers, online and other periodicals, which may be sold or distributed free of charge. Classified advertisements are much cheaper than larger display advertisements used ...

. The magazine moved in 2007 to new offices in the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City, and created a news-portal web site.

History

Longtime Utah gay activist Michael Aaron approached Steven Peterson in 2004 to publish what Aaron called a much-needed professional

newspaper A newspaper is a Periodical literature, periodical publication containing written News, information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as p ...

for

Utah Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...

's LGBT community. Aaron had co-published the ''Community Reporter'' newspaper and ''Triangle Magazine'' in the 1980s and 90s. Peterson had published the ''Little Lavender Book'' business and organization

directory Directory may refer to: * Directory (computing), or folder, a file system structure in which to store computer files * Directory (OpenVMS command) * Directory service, a software application for organizing information about a computer network's u ...

. The first issue of ''Salt Lake Metro'' newspaper was published in 2004 by Metro Publishing Inc. with Aaron as publisher and Peterson as sales manager. The newspaper began publishing when an LGBT campaign against a proposed

state constitutional amendment A constitutional amendment is a modification of the constitution of a polity, organization or other type of entity. Amendments are often interwoven into the relevant sections of an existing constitution, directly altering the text. Conversely, t ...

to prohibit

same-sex marriage Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is the marriage of two people of the same sex or gender. marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in 33 countries, with the most recent being Mexico, constituting ...

was developing. The focus on hard news and editorial content was intended to distinguish it from other local publications. ''Salt Lake Metro'' found quick success in attracting readers and web-site visitors, but the business partnership was wrought with disputes as advertising sales failed. Aaron was forced to scale back on writers, editors and syndicated content. By the end of 2005, Aaron was acting as publisher, editor and art director. In 2005, the newspaper created the "Metro Cares Foundation," a nonprofit organization to support LGBT groups in the state. Aaron left Metro Publishing Inc. in 2006 after a failed attempt to purchase it. The remaining writers and office staff went with him and ''QSaltLake'' newspaper was published two weeks later by Salt Lick Publishing LLC. The newspaper featured local and national news, opinion—both serious and camp, arts and entertainment, and sports. Cover stories ranged from the use of methamphetamine in the LGBT community to an interview with entertainer RuPaul. The newspaper created its annual readers' choice Fabby Awards ceremony in 2005. Salt Lick Publishing LLC created Pride365, a series of annual events which celebrated LGBT pride throughout the year in Salt Lake City and which culminated in the

Utah Pride Festival The Utah Pride Festival is a festival held in downtown Salt Lake City in June celebrating Utah's diversity and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. The event is a program of the Utah Pride Center, and includes the state's s ...

. Pride365 ended its activities in 2007 when its director, Chad Keller, died. As ''QSaltLake'' owner and publisher, Aaron won the 2011 Utah Pride Festival "Dr. Kristen Ries Community Service Award." ''QSaltLake'' was redesigned as a magazine in 2012 when Salt Lick Publishing LLC. The corporation continued the management and publication of the magazine and its projects despite a financial-loan shortfall that year.

Editors

*Brandon Burt, April–November 2004 *Jere Keys, November 2004–November 2005 *Michael Aaron, November 2005–February 2006 *Tony Hobday, March 2006 *Kenni Littlefield, March 2006–June 2006 *Michael Aaron, June 2006–February 2011, June 2013–present *Seth Bracken, February 2011–June 2013 *Assistant Editor: JoSelle Vanderhooft, January 2007–February 2011 *Arts Editor: Tony Hobday, March 2006–December 2020

QPages Directory

Salt Lick Publishing LLC also publishes an annual LGBT business and organization directory, QPages Directory, formerly named Gay Salt Lake Directory, Salt Lake PINQ Pages, TheQPages and QSaltLake Pages; and TheQMap, a map of Salt Lake LGBT-friendly businesses for tourists and business visitors.

QCares Foundation

Salt Lick Publishing LLC's nonprofit organization, QCares Foundation, raises funds for Utah LGBT charities, sponsors an anti-

meth Methamphetamine (contracted from ) is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is mainly used as a recreational drug and less commonly as a second-line treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity. Methamphe ...

campaign, and a

hepatitis Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver tissue. Some people or animals with hepatitis have no symptoms, whereas others develop yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes ( jaundice), poor appetite, vomiting, tiredness, abdominal ...

-immunization awareness program for gay men. The organization is also an affiliate of the People With AIDS Coalition of Utah.

Notes

External links