Sac gay

The bar was also known for its rainbow-colored triangular sign, which read, “You are entering a gay bar! The Sacramento Bee highlighted the growing visibility of the community, noting that gay couples were becoming common in areas like Curtis Park and Land Park. This inclusive worldview stood in contrast to the rigid norms imposed by European colonizers, whose arrival introduced laws and beliefs that condemned gender nonconformity, which persisted despite the Gold Rush’s gender imbalance.

Even amid persecution, LGBTQ+ expression found moments of celebration in the public sphere.

In Sacramento, this atmosphere led to the formation of early support organizations like the Association for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) in the 1960s, which provided a safe space and community for gay men and women.

At the same time, ongoing discrimination and legal restrictions prompted LGBTQ+ people to create their own spaces outside of official scrutiny.

In 1984, Gay activist Rev. Jerry Sloan of Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) successfully sued Rev. Jerry Falwell in 1984 for televised comments Falwell made against MCC, Sloan used a portion of the money awarded to him to later open the first physical iteration of the SAC Center, Lambda Community Center.

In 1985, Faces Nightclub was the first gay club in Sacramento when it opened its doors at 20th and K Street.

By the late 1970s and into the 1980s, LGBTQ+ life in Sacramento had become a more vibrant and recognized part of the city’s social and cultural landscape.

By 1982, an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 residents in Sacramento identified as gay. To explore the full report, including detailed narratives, historic sites, maps, and more, you can read the complete Historic Context Statement below.

Read Full Historic Context Statement Here

Highlights from the Sacramento LGBTQ+ Historic Experience Project:

LGBTQ+ identities have long been part of Sacramento’s story, even if they went unrecognized for much of the city’s official history.

The establishment of Faces paved the way for other LGBTQIA+ businesses to open in the immediate area, which earned its name Lavender Heights.

1986, the Lambda Community Center opened to serve the broader cross-section of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. Programs served LGBTQ+ people to lead self-sufficient, healthy, well-adjusted lives, and provided advocacy for issues of importance within the community.

In 1998, the Lavender Library was founded by eight community members as a research and information institution for LGBTQ+ people in Sacramento and continues operation today on 21^st Street.

In 2001, the Rainbow Chamber of Commerce was founded to unify and support LGBTQ businesses, as well as to foster a more equitable business climate.

In 2015, Sacramento City Council member Steve Hansen, Sacramento’s first openly LGBTQ+ council member, invited the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce to be part of a community coalition to pursue official city designation of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood of Midtown Sacramento historically known as Lavender Heights.

Below see a brief timeline of LGBTQ+ history from 1978 to today!

In 1978, just nine years after the Stonewall Riots, the Lambda Community Fund, now known as the Sacramento LGBT Community Center was originally incorporated as a special assistance program based in Midtown, Sacramento. The neighborhood is rich with the history of Sacramento’s vibrant community; and attracts local and regional residents and tourists to the area’s many LGBTQIA+ owned clubs, restaurants, salons, galleries, and retail stores.

At the time, most gay and lesbian individuals stayed closeted to avoid social or professional consequences. It became especially known for creating a welcoming space for gay Black men at a time when many other bars were not as inclusive. The bar had developed a reputation for attracting older gay men and continued to serve as a cornerstone of Sacramento’s LGBTQ+ nightlife.

In 1985, Terry Sidie opened the gay bar Faces, aiming to create an inclusive space for all communities.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Downtown Sacramento became known for its theatrical performances featuring male and female impersonators—early examples of gender fluidity being expressed and applauded on stage. The center is a proven leader in LGBTQ health issues, including HIV and AIDS health issues, and is regarded as a safe space for LGBTQ community members to receive healthcare.

Outword Magazine: Outward Magazine is the leading LGBTQ magazine for Central and Northern California.

The crosswalks are maintained and supported by the Midtown Association, which is committed to ensuring Midtown remains a thriving center for culture, creativity, and vibrancy.

In 2017, a documentary was released about a woman who founded the Sacramento LGBT Community Center (then called the Lambda Community Center) after bringing a successful lawsuit against a reverend.

“When I opened it, it was where everyone who was gay could go, that was 33 years ago,” Faces owner Terry Sidie said, in an interview with ABC10 in 2017. Operating as a bar since 1938, it became The Western Pacific Depot after TJ Bruce and his mother Marjorie purchased it in 1997. During the 1980s, under the management of Ernie Brown, the Merc became a vital gathering place for Sacramento’s gay Black community.

Another important bar in the area was The Western, located at 2001 K Street.