The Diplomacy of Belonging with City Council Member Eva López Chávez

As the only open lesbian currently serving on the Salt Lake City Council, Eva López Chávez carries more than just the title of elected official — she carries a legacy of representation, resistance and rootedness. Her work weaves together civic responsibility and an unshakable commitment to building a city where everyone belongs.

“I’m a Mexican lesbian shaping downtown,” López Chávez says with pride, “and queerness is a superpower. It gives you a lens on the world that most people only find through deep meditation or insight.”

López Chávez’s journey in public service has been marked by a drive to create visibility and equity across Salt Lake City. One of her proudest accomplishments is the resolution passed in August to safeguard the Great Salt Lake’s water levels — a critical move for environmental sustainability. But her work doesn’t stop at natural resources. She also championed the Harvey Milk Visibility Project, helped secure increased funding for the arts and led the initiative for reimagining the Civic Camp. Harvey Milk Visibility Project centers on a series of banners and art pieces that honor local LGBTQ+ artists, historical figures, and community leaders. It aims to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ history and current issues. The Civic Camp is a downtown area encompassing Library Square, Washington Square and the public safety complex. It serves as a hub for city government operations, cultural events and community gatherings.

“Harness the power of authenticity. The courage to come out is a useful sword that you can harness everyday.”

“We’re master planning that entire area,” she says. It’s about more than beautification — “It’s about cultural storytelling, accessibility and making sure people see themselves in the spaces we share.”

López Chávez’s policy focus is deeply informed by her lived experience. As one of fewer than five queer women in elected office in Utah, she’s intimately familiar with the feeling of being an outsider. “Everyone wants to belong. That’s a truth I carry with me into every meeting, every policy discussion,” she explains. She makes a point to lead with diplomacy, even in spaces that may not consider queer safety, while never shying away from embodying exactly who she is and representing the people who elected her.

Balancing identity and community with the responsibilities of elected office can be tricky, but López Chávez is intentional about staying connected. When she was elected, she wrote down her biggest fear: being siloed or separated from the people who put her in the City Council office. López Chávez credits her neighbors with giving her the wind beneath her wings. “I thank my neighbors for not thinking once that a queer Latina wasn’t good enough to represent them. They believed I was exactly who should represent them.”

“…queerness is a superpower. It gives you a lens on the world that most people only find through deep meditation or insight.”

Her approach to governance is collaborative and grounded. She works closely with organizations like the Utah Pride Center, Equality Utah and the LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce to ensure policy reflects the needs and goals of queer communities. “Quantifying the stories of marginalized people is an art,” she explains. Doing collaborative work with these groups is part of how López Chávez brings dignity and nuance to the policy table.

It’s important for us to remember that in Salt Lake City, “municipal government is the closest governing body to the people. That’s the whole point. Reach out to council members and they will get where you need to be,” she says, in order to get involved in these projects! You can also support queer-owned businesses. “It’s important to remember that queer business owners are opening up the majority of culturally iconic businesses in Salt Lake City,” López Chávez says. Without queer people, Salt Lake City would lose much of its vibrancy. Queer culture isn’t just a contribution to our city’s cultural identity; it’s at the heart of it.

“It’s about cultural storytelling, accessibility and making sure people see themselves in the spaces we share.”

Her advice for those who want to make a difference? “Harness the power of authenticity. The courage to come out is a useful sword that you can harness everyday,” López Chávez says. She is doing just that by building not just a better city, but a more inclusive, vibrant and honest one. And she’s inviting everyone to be part of it.

To get involved with her projects follow her on Instagram at @evaforcouncil or give her a call at (385) 275-6326. You can also sign up for her newsletter on her website, evaforcouncil.com.

Read more from the SLUG Pride issue here:
SLUG Style: Cyndi and Celeste Lee
What’s In My Closet? with Kamary Smith