David Nelson papers

Collection

Identifier: ACCN 2713

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The David Nelson papers contain documents, memorabilia and newsclippings spanning his tenure as an activist for the rights of Utah's LGBT community.

Dates

1983-2012

Creator

Nelson, David K. (David Keith) (Person)

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.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical Note

David Keith Nelson was born in Salt Lake City in 1962. He attended the University of Utah from 1982 through 1984, majoring in political science. Nelson's decades long career as an activist and spokesperson for the rights of the gay and lesbian communities began during this time when he founded the Military Law Task Force of Salt Lake City and served as vice president of the Lesbian and Gay Student Union. Among other activities, many of which are documented in the collection, he ran in 1985 as a nonpartisan candidate for the 3rd District seat of the Salt Lake City Council. In 1990 he founded the Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats (GLUD), an organization that lobbied for the rights of, and promoted participation within, the gay community in local and national politics. Nelson was actively involved in the Clinton and Gore campaigns of 1996 and 2000, and he served as Utah Delegate to the Democratic National Conventions during these years. He founded Stonewall Shooting Sports of Utah in 2002 to promote awareness of Second Amendment rights among the LGBT communities. Nelson has also played an active role as publisher, editor, and regular contributor to local publications including Triangle Magazine, Salt Lake Metro and QSaltLake.

Extent

10 Linear Feet (9 boxes and 1 tube)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The David Nelson papers (1983-2012) contain documents, memorabilia and news clippings spanning his tenure as an activist for the rights of Utah's LGBT community. Nelson was an activist and spokesperson for the rights of the gay and lesbian communities. He also founded the Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats (GLUD), an organization that lobbied for the rights of, and promoted participation within, the gay community in local and national politics.