Connell O'Donovan

Connell O'Donovan
Born1961 (age 63–64)
Syracuse, Utah, US
Occupations
  • Historian
  • Biographer
  • Genealogist
Websitewww.connellodonovan.com

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 adult life in Santa Cruz, California. He has written on LGBT Utah history,[2][3] and Black Mormon history.[4][5]

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. 11 (6). University of California, Santa Cruz. 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. ^ a b Dobner, Jennifer (June 2, 2007). "Support group for gay and lesbian Mormons marks 30 years". Seattle Times. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Johnston, Kim (October 25, 2019). "Letter: Parents do not have the right to harm their children". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  12. ^ a b "About the Authors of this Volume". John Whitmer Historical Association Journal. 26: 340–343. 2006. ISSN 0739-7852. JSTOR 43200255 – via JSTOR.
  13. ^ a b 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.