I opened Coffee Garden at the corner of 9th & 9th in 1993 in the space previously held by Crackers, a gay-owned used furniture store. I moved into the neighborhood because of its LGBTQ+ friendly community.
Cahoots and All My Cookies, among others, were already long-term, gay-owned businesses at the corner. Over the 33 years since then our neighborhood has developed a community focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. Creating a safe, welcoming space for everyone has been as important as the pursuit of a comfortable living. The presence of our businesses in the neighborhood was a driving factor behind the designation of 900 South honoring the legacy of Harvey Milk.
“Woke” is defined as “well informed,” “up to date” and “alert to injustice in society, especially racism, sexism and misogyny.”
Trevor Lee is pushing to rename our neighborhood after a nonwoke misogynist who paraded behind a banner of free speech to spread a gospel of intolerance and Christian nationalism. Trevor Lee may or may not hold those beliefs personally, he’s just trying to appeal to the shrinking, right-wing base of Utah Republicans — the tail that wags the dog in Utah politics — fighting to keep their stranglehold on power.
It’s ironic when non-Christians have to tell “Christians” what Jesus actually taught.
We intend to stand firm, stand united and stay woke!
Alan Hebertson, Salt Lake City
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