Connell O'Donovan

Connell O'Donovan (born in 1961) is an American historian, biographer, and professional genealogist.[1] He was born in Utah, but spent much of his life in California. He has written on LGBT Utah history,[2][3] and Black Mormon history.[4][5]

Connell O'Donovan
Born1961 (age 61–62)
Syracuse, Utah, US
Occupations
  • Historian
  • Biographer
  • Genealogist
Websitewww.connellodonovan.com

Early life and education

He was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and as a young man was subjected to hypnotherapy sexual orientation change efforts as recommended by his LDS church leaders in attempts to change his gay attractions.[6][7][8] He was a Mormon missionary in Brazil,[9][10] was married in the Salt Lake Temple but later divorced,[10][11] and was excommunicated from the LDS Church in 1991.[12] He studied history at the University of Utah.

Advocacy

In 1990 he organized the first LGBT pride march in Salt Lake City, Utah.[13] He has also advocated for Ugandan LGBT refugees in Utah.[14][15] He has been an outspoken against sexual orientation change efforts and conversion therapy.[11][13] He has published information on LGBT Mormon history.[16][17][18] In the 1980s he was involved with the Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah (GLCCU),[19] and was later the founding director of the Lesbian and Gay Historical Society of Utah.[12]

References
  1. "The University of Utah's Queer History, 1920-1992". University of Utah. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  2. Griffin, Alexandria. "Queer Mormon Histories and the Politics of a Usable Past". Dialogue. 54 (1): 6.
  3. O’Donovan, Connell (January 1, 2020). "Public History: Gathering a Community's History: The Utah Queer Historical Society". Utah Historical Quarterly. 88 (1): 77. doi:10.5406/utahhistquar.88.1.0077. ISSN 0042-143X. S2CID 219470382 – via Duke University Press.
  4. "Biography of early black Mormon honored". UC Santa Cruz Currents. University of California, Santa Cruz. 11 (6). September 11, 2006.
  5. O'Donovan, Connell (2006). "The Mormon Priesthood Ban and Elder Q. Walker Lewis: "An example for his more whiter brethren to follow'". John Whitmer Historical Association Journal. 26: 48–100. ISSN 0739-7852. JSTOR 43200236 – via JSTOR.
  6. James, Susan (March 28, 2011). "Mormon 'Gay Cure' Study Used Electric Shocks Against Homosexual Feelings". ABC News. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  7. Weakland, Sean. "Legacies". Yale University. Archived from the original on May 5, 2017. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  8. "Legacies". IMDb. June 29, 1996. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  9. "Connell Hill O'Donovan". LGBTQ Religious Archives Network. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  10. Dobner, Jennifer (June 2, 2007). "Support group for gay and lesbian Mormons marks 30 years". Seattle Times. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  11. Johnston, Kim (October 25, 2019). "Letter: Parents do not have the right to harm their children". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  12. "About the Authors of this Volume". John Whitmer Historical Association Journal. 26: 340–343. 2006. ISSN 0739-7852. JSTOR 43200255 – via JSTOR.
  13. Lyons, Kelan (May 29, 2019). "A Proud History: Tracing the Utah Pride Festival back to its origins". Salt Lake City Weekly. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  14. Hobday, Tony (December 1, 2017). "Help Connell O'Donovan make it better for Kenya refugees". QSaltLake. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  15. Danae, Kaya (December 2017). ""Connell O'Donovan: making life better for local LGBT refugees and those still waiting in African camps". QSaltLake. p. 24. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  16. O'Donovan, Connell (1994). "'The Abominable and Detestable Crime against Nature': A Brief History of Homosexuality and Mormonism, 1840-1980". In Corcoran, Brent (ed.). Multiply and Replenish: Mormon Essays on Sex and Family. Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books. ISBN 978-1560850502. Archived from the original on March 27, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  17. O'Donovan, Connell (April 28, 1997). Private pain, public purges: a history of homosexuality at Brigham Young University (Speech). University of California Santa Cruz. Retrieved May 9, 2023 – via Church History Library.
  18. O'Donovan, Connell. "Private Pain, Public Purges: A History of Homosexuality at Brigham Young University". Retrieved May 9, 2023 – via Exmormon Foundation.
  19. "A generational layer cake: queering Utah legacies". University of Utah. October 16, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.