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Senate committee hears resolution to recognize Las Vegas 'Fruit Loop' as historic LGBTQ business district
Summary
Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 would recognize the Fruit Loop — a cluster of long-standing LGBTQ-oriented businesses on East Naples Drive and South Paradise Road — as a historic site. Supporters described the district’s cultural and economic contributions and asked for signage and promotional support.
CARSON CITY — The Senate Committee on Government Affairs took testimony on Senate Concurrent Resolution 2, a nonbinding measure proposing official recognition of the Fruit Loop — a historic LGBTQ-oriented commercial corridor near UNLV on East Naples Drive and South Paradise Road — and language to coordinate signage and tourism promotion.
Sponsor remarks and purpose: Senator Fabian Nunezte, who represents Senate District 10, said the Fruit Loop has been a hub of LGBTQ entrepreneurship and community activity since the 1950s and asked the Legislature to recognize the district’s cultural history. “By celebrating the area’s rich cultural history and its ongoing impact on the community, we can ensure that the Fruit Loop’s legacy continues to thrive for generations to come,” he said.
Witnesses recounted history and cultural significance. Rob Schlegel, who previously owned Bright Pink Literature and published the Las Vegas Bugle, traced the district’s origins and explained that the name “Fruit Loop” was reclaimed by community members in the face of discrimination. “The idea of the Fruit Loop was just kind of an in-your-face to [earlier airport officials],” Schlegel said, explaining the name’s historical context and the area's role as a gathering place and resource hub.
Business and community testimony: Owners and managers of local venues, including co-owners of Piranha and Gypsy nightclubs and Quads Video Bar, and representatives from UNLV, Silver State Equality, the Lambda Business Association and local nonprofits testified in support. Garrett Patiani, co-owner of Q Vegas Magazine and a longtime community organizer, described the Fruit Loop as a cultural and economic anchor for LGBTQ tourism and local events. “The Fruit Loop is more than just nightlife — it’s a historic and economic anchor for the LGBTQ tourism in Las Vegas,” Patiani said.
Requested recognition and actions: The proposed amendment accompanying the resolution would ask the Nevada Department of Transportation to coordinate with county partners and the Lambda Business Association to install directional signage and promote the Fruit Loop through Nevada Division of Tourism materials, with the Lambda Business Association underwriting signage costs.
Opposition and neutral comments: Testimony in opposition was limited to a small number of callers who opposed recognition on religious or moral grounds. Some neutral witnesses suggested the county commission might be an appropriate jurisdictional body for signage and infrastructure changes; sponsor and proponents said legislative recognition would complement, not replace, county-level action.
No vote taken: The committee did not vote on SCR 2 during the hearing. Supporters asked that the resolution be used to preserve and promote the Fruit Loop’s cultural history and to improve visibility and safety through signage and infrastructure.
