Gordon Church | |
|---|---|
 Church in his 1978 Cedar High School yearbook photo | |
| Born | Gordon Ray Church September 14, 1960 Fillmore, Utah, U.S. |
| Died | November 22, 1988 (aged 28) Millard County, Utah, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Murder (blunt force trauma) |
| Body discovered | November 23, 1988 |
| Resting place | Delta Cemetery, Millard County, Utah, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Southern Utah University |
| Occupation | Student |
| Known for | Gay murder victim |
Gordon Ray Church (September 14, 1960 – November 22, 1988)[1] was a gay American man who was murdered because of his sexuality. Church was kidnapped, raped, tortured, and murdered in Millard County, Utah by two men. One of his killers was sentenced to death and the other was sentenced to life in prison. In 2020, the case gained renewed attention following the release of a documentary film called Dog Valley, which tells the story of Church's life and the circumstances surrounding his murder. According to the makers of the film, it was made to help people show more love to the LGBTQ+ community.[2]
- ^ "Gordon Ray Church". The Salt Lake Tribune. November 25, 1988. p. 39. Retrieved April 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Bancroft, Kaitlyn (October 31, 2020). "Gordon Ray Church was brutally murdered for being gay. Now, filmmakers are telling his story". The Spectrum. Retrieved April 15, 2023.