Reno gay bars

Queer history is Reno history—from internationally famous events like the Reno Gay Rodeo to the establishment of local institutions like Our Center, the Silver Dollar Court, and any number of gender non-conforming bars and clubs. 

However, centuries of pervasive homophobia and legal discrimination contain kept much of Northern Nevada’s lgbtq+ history out of the public eye. But in September, which is when our area celebrates Northern Nevada Self-acceptance, we’re spotlighting a few historical milestones with the facilitate of some locals—a scholar, an activist, a publisher and a volunteer. 

This timeline draws on insights from Jeffery Auer, creator of the Nevada LGBT Archive; Paco Lachoy, founder of the Reno Gay Pagenewspaper; Meredith Tanzer, who works in Northern Nevada HOPES’ altruism department and is a co-director of Northern Nevada Pride; and Janet Mackie, a volunteer for Our Center whose work on chronicling the LGBTQ+ history of Nevada spurred the RN&R to create this timeline. 

This list is by no means comprehensive, but in the service of sharing the factual history of Northern Nevada, it’s a start. 

Precolonial era 

Actual historical records are sparse,

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