The Italian Opera Diva
(January 18, 1854–February 20, 1931
(aged 77)
Brigham Morris Young, commonly known as Morris, was
the son of Brigham Young, polygamous Mormon Church president, and his 35th wife,
Margaret Pierce.
In 1875, Morris Young served a mission for the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Hawaiian Islands. Later on, a few
months after his return from a second mission, he married one of the daughters
of Lorenzo Snow and Harriet Squire, Celestia Armeda Snow Young (March 29, 1875).
Their son, Lorenzo Snow Young, was a prominent architect in Utah.
Shortly after returning from this mission he was asked by
his father to organize the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association (YMMIA)
along with Junius F. Wells and Milton H. Hardy which was the predecessor to the
Young Men program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS
Church).
In 1883, Young served another mission in the Hawaiian Islands.
Shortly after completing another mission to Hawaii he started publicly appearing as a cross-dresser singer under the pseudonym of Madame Pattirini (pretending to be a famous Italian singer).
It wasn't a rare occasion; he performed as a soprano singer for many years. He appeared at different venues in Utah from 1885 to 1900's. It seems like his family attended the functions and supported him. His singing was extraordinary according to one of his sons, Gaylen Snow who stated that his father performed such a convincing falsetto, that many people in the audience didn't realize that Madame Pattirini was in fact Brigham Morris Young and he was able to "fool" many people. He was also called to perform at ward and stake functions. The picture here is a circa 1883 placard advertising.
Historical documents and accounts detail Young cross dressing strictly for public entertainment, but his high profile status as the son of the prophet, and leader in the general leadership of the church, later cleared a path for cross-dressing entertainers who appeared in Utah, some of whom were LGBT.