The rumbling of Salt Lake City police motorcycles and the loud cheering of festival-goers kicked off the Utah PRIDE parade Sunday, June 5, marking the last day of the 41st annual Utah Pride Festival. Celebrating what many have considered to be its most successful year ever, the PRIDE parade enjoyed such a high attendance that not only were the streets flooded with people enjoying their rainbow garb, but even parking garages had spectators cheering and waving flags from the top floors. Also in attendance were a group from the Boy Scouts of America and over 30 volunteers walking with the organization Mormons Building Bridges.
Once a small gathering, the Utah Pride Festival, managed by the Utah Pride Center, continues to grow and gain more support with its emphasis on the themes of inclusion, celebration, and love.
“Pride is many things to many people throughout the community,” shared Cody Carlson, a member of the LGBTQIA community. “But for me, personally, it is the ability to have a voice and accept myself and other people within the community with absolutely zero hesitations or apologies. We will not live in the dark anymore.”
The LGBTQIA community and its allies enjoyed a vibrant weekend of entertainment from Belinda Carlisle, DJ Luis Perez, the Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts, and many more. Festival goers enjoyed delicious food and popular music as they walked Washington Square, and over 20 tents were set up providing information on health, safety, activism and opportunities within the community. There were four protesters who showed up on Sunday, but their voices were almost inaudible amidst the din of the parade’s large crowd. “You’ll never make us hide again!” shouted one parade attendee before kissing their partner to the cheers of many.
A proud voice within the Utah community that refuses to hide can certainly be found in Utah’s first openly gay mayor, Jackie Biskupski, who spoke at the festival’s Opening Ceremonies and participated in the parade after being recognized for her work in breaking barriers. Also at the festival was a group called Affirmation that celebrates “unity and diversification” and similarly focuses on breaking barriers between the Utah culture and the LGBTQIA community. But some still hope for more progress.
“We are all alike unto God,” said Ellen Kester, a member of Affirmation. “You cannot say that we do not exist. We’re all a son or daughter of God. Everybody’s a sinner, right? We’re all trying. When society is able to start realizing that we’re not a threat, we’re not a danger, that we’re different… that’s the change I want to see happen.”
Theirs was a tone of determination and resilience that many echoed throughout the Pride festival and parade. A festival goer named Zoey expressed the significance of self-love, saying with passion to anyone who is currently struggling, “Know that you are amazing, you are fantastic. Love you, who you are, exactly who you are. And- it’s a cliché, but as they say- it does get better in time. It takes time, but don’t give up. Find people who love you for who you are.”