FILE: Flags are carried during Utah Pride Festival Parade in Salt Lake City Sunday, June 8, 2014. Photo credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah is officially recognizing June as LGBTQ+ Pride month following a declaration signed by Gov. Spencer Cox Tuesday.
The declaration posted on Twitter stated Utah strives “to create a culture of hope, love, understanding, and respect by celebrating our common humanity.”
June has been widely recognized as Lesbian and Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer month since President Bill Clinton issued a proclamation on the 30th anniversary of the Stonewall Inn Riots. Then, the month was extended by President Obama in 2009.
Additionally, Utah’s recognition also encouraged families to have “relevant and vital conversations about what it means to love each other, understand our differences, and support our LGBTQ+ friends and family members.”
The governor included LGBTQ+ individuals are more likely to struggle with their mental health and it’s important to support them.
In 2020, the Trevor Project found 42% of LGBTQ youth, including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth, seriously considered suicide.
Cox ended the declaration with “we should all strive to be more accepting of LGBTQ+ members of our community.”
The first seven days of June kick off Pride Week in one of the friendliest gay cities in America. To continue the tradition, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall jump-started the week by raising the Pride flag above City Hall.
Instead of its traditional festival and parade, the Utah Pride Center is hosting an interactive exhibit at Washington Square Park in Salt Lake City from June 3-7. The “Pride Story Graden” will showcase various themes and stories from members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Tickets to the exhibit must be purchased online for a specific time. The first hour the story garden is open is reserved for senior and immunocompromised attendees.
The Utah Pride Center has also organized a plethora of different events to celebrate LBGTQ+ Utahns and allies from June 1-7.