One of the things we love about reading ELSKA our favorite queer photo-zine is that it constantly challenges our views and opinions about the different LGBTQ+ communities around the globe. Take SALT LAKE CITY in the heart of conservative Utah which is the home of the Mormon Church who spent an overwhelming $22 million to fund controversial California Proposition 8. to ban same/sex marriage.

We were therefore totally shocked to hear from Liam Campbell, Elska’s Editor that he believes that  one of America’s most religious and conservative cities is also one of its queerest.

He told Queerguru “On one hand, it would be an excellent opportunity to show what life is like for gay Utahns and to know how the legacy of the LDS church affects their lives. On the other hand, I feared that too many potential readers would expect us to fetishize Mormon boys, and would be disappointed when we inevitably failed to publish an mag full of horny elders in their white garments.”

“I found that Mormonism played a huge role in this edition, especially in the stories the men contributed, but also in the photography, which featured not one but two men who opted to do a scene wearing their missionary ‘uniform’ but with the trousers off, or even wearing nothing but their elder badge.”  

Inside ‘Elska Salt Lake City’ and the companion zine ‘Elska Ekstra Salt Lake City’, readers are introduced to eleven men from the local LGBTQ community. Each was photographed in their city and in nearby mountains and canyons, revealing how important nature is to Utah life. Each participant was also photographed at home, revealing their everyday environment, as well as their diverse, beautiful bodies. 

In addition to a photoshoot, each of the subjects contributed a personal story. Some of the stories here include: Scott S’s story about following his therapist’s advice to embrace his sexuality by forcing himself to have more sex; Johnny H’s text on how good he is at painting his town red; Daniel R’s tale of running from a bear in the woods; and Tyson C’s account of hooking up one night just to avoid ending a party, and then discovering love.