Equality Utah to Relocate to Harvey Milk Boulevard in 2025

Equality Utah, the state’s leading LGBTQ advocacy organization, will be moving its offices to a new location on Harvey Milk Boulevard on 9th South in Salt Lake City. The organization, which played a role in advocating for the street to be named after the late San Francisco supervisor and LGBTQ trailblazer, announced the move to the new multi-use building next year.

Troy Williams, executive director of Equality Utah, confirmed that the organization will occupy the top floor of a building currently under construction at 402–430 East Harvey Milk Boulevard. The building, which is expected to be completed by June 2025, will coincide with Salt Lake City’s Pride festivities. Williams expressed excitement about the move, noting the street’s significance in honoring Milk’s legacy and joining other civil rights advocates commemorated in the city.

“Salt Lake City is a very progressive town,” Williams said. He highlighted that five of the city’s seven council members identify as LGBTQ, further illustrating the city’s growing support for equality.

The relocation comes at a time when Salt Lake City is positioning itself as a hub for LGBTQ visibility. The stretch of Harvey Milk Boulevard, home to various LGBTQ-owned businesses, is evolving into a burgeoning community center. Williams mentioned that the area, nicknamed the “Milk Block,” includes a nightclub named after Milk, as well as a mural dedicated to the gay rights icon.

The building’s developer, Kathia Dang, echoed Milk’s vision for community building, saying, “We believe in building community — in our case, one block at a time.”

Equality Utah will also launch the Harvey Milk Blvd. LGBTQ Neighborhood Visibility project, which aims to celebrate the stories of queer Utahans. Williams emphasized that the organization’s ultimate goal is to create a beacon of hope for LGBTQ youth in Utah, a state often seen as conservative but which has made strides in advancing LGBTQ rights in recent years.

Despite its reputation, Utah has enacted several progressive measures, including LGBTQ-inclusive hate crime laws and a ban on conversion therapy for minors. Williams believes this progress should encourage young LGBTQ people to feel empowered to stay in the state and enjoy the equal rights and freedoms available to them.

The move marks a new chapter for Equality Utah as it continues to advocate for LGBTQ rights while establishing Harvey Milk Boulevard as a symbol of hope and progress.