Martin Luther King in Lexington in Fayette County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Historic LGBTQ Site
Photographed By Mark Hilton, July 14, 2019
1. Historic LGBTQ Site Marker
Oldest continuous LGBTQ gathering place in Kentucky, and among the oldest in the U.S. LGBTQ patrons discreetly congregated here as early as 1939. In 1963 The Gilded Cage bar opened, run by gay men John Hill and Estel Wilson. Patrons enjoyed same sex dancing and drag shows.
Renamed The Living Room in 1967. In 1970, site of Marjorie Jones and Tracey Knight wedding, the first lesbian couple in the U.S. to sue for a marriage license. Renamed Johnny Angels in 1978. Site of 1985 sodomy charge against Jeffrey Wasson. The case overturned Kentucky’s sodomy law, which helped decriminalize homosexuality in the U.S.
Erected 2018 by Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky Department of Highways; sponsored by the Just Fund Education Project, Inc. & Faulkner-Morgan Archive. (Marker Number 2539.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Notable Places. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.
Location. 38° 2.661′ N, 84° 29.692′ W. Marker is in Lexington, Kentucky, in Fayette County. It is in Martin Luther King. Marker is at the intersection of East Main Street (U.S. 421) and Esplanade, on the left when
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Wolf Wile Department Store Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fairness Ordinance (about 300 feet away); Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Jeffrey Wasson (about 400 feet away); Site of Masons Hall (about 400 feet away); Central Christian Church (about 400 feet away); Birthplace of Grand Lodge of Kentucky, Free and Accepted Masons (about 400 feet away); Main Street Christian Church (about 500 feet away); Living Faith (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lexington.
Also see . . . History in the News: Historical Markers Unveiled at LGBTQ Sites (YouTube, 3 min.). (Submitted on June 6, 2021.)
Photographed By Mark Hilton, July 14, 2019
2. Historic LGBTQ Site Marker (reverse)
Photographed By Mark Hilton, July 14, 2019
3. View of marker at 224 Main Street (Brown building on left).
Photographed By Mark Hilton, July 14, 2019
4. Historic LGBTQ Site (immediate left side) and marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 549 times since then and 70 times this year. Last updated on August 14, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 20, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
