Lane Cheney, 2016

File — Box: 3, Folder: 5

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Lane Cheney was born in Cody, Wyoming, and grew up in Bountiful, Utah. Cheney describes his early life growing up as a member of the LDS Church in Bountiful. He talks about feeling different as a boy and how that difference was received in a conservative LDS community. After high school, Cheney went to Westminster Choir College in New Jersey, where he continued to have feelings for other men. He tried to “cure” himself by reading conversion therapy texts and attending therapy. Cheney also talks about coming out to his parents and to his church leaders in the LDS Church. It was while Cheney was in college that he discovered he had contracted HIV. He describes receiving the news about his test results. Cheney also talks about treatments at the time and the public perception of the epidemic. He moved back to Utah, where he continued to struggle with his true identity. Cheney talks about the Utah gay community and its response to the AIDS epidemic. He describes losing friends to the disease and the evolution of treatments that he has received over the years. Eventually, Cheney left the LDS Church and became an Episcopalian.
Interviewed by Seth Anderson.

Dates

2016

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.