Pride Issue 2022 

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Rainbow Connection
Utah Pride Center spokesman Kevin Randall on the state of Pride and defending progress.

For three decades, the Utah Pride Center has served as the beating heart of the state's LGBTQ+ community. In hard times, its programs and services are a refuge of support and safety. In good times, its events champion the beautiful diversity of human life and the hard-won gains on the path to equality.

So what kind of times do we find ourselves in now? As ever, a little bit of both.

Ahead of this year's Pride Week—which sees the return of the Pride Festival and Pride Parade to downtown Salt Lake City after a time of pandemic-prompted quietude—City Weekly caught up with Pride Center public relations spokesman Kevin Randall to chat about the causes for concern and, more importantly, celebration in 2022.

City Weekly: As Utahns come together for Pride, what is the general state of LGBTQ+ rights in the state and nation?
Kevin Randall: Right now, queer people are enjoying the rights that past LGBTQ-rights advocates and allies fought very hard to secure for us, including the right to marry who we love, to secure employment and housing, as well as education and public accommodations, to name a few.

But there is still work to be done and the Utah Pride Center—along with many community partners—is trying to maintain and improve those rights and push for equality as they are continuously placed under debate in this country. Transgender youth are currently being used as political pawns to pass discriminatory laws that aim to ban them from participating in sports, including Utah's HB11, which will go into effect on July 1.

CW: How can individuals productively contribute to advancing equality?
KR: To quote the words of Harvey Milk, a great LGBTQ rights advocate and leader: "Rights are won only by those who make their voices heard." It will take all of us speaking up for equality to ensure our rights and freedoms are not rolled back.

CW: Does this year's Pride Week have a particular theme or focus?
KR: There are two main focuses. The theme for the Rainbow Rally & Glow March—happening on June 3 at 8:30 p.m. at the Utah State Capitol—is "Two Steps Forward, No Steps Back." We feel this is our rallying cry and marching orders.

Frances Pruyn, former Utah Pride Center board member and Rainbow Rally manager said it best: "As the result of the engineered shift of the Supreme Court and gerrymandered legislatures, women, LGBTQ individuals and people of color are facing a huge diminution of rights through judgments like overturning Roe v. Wade and legislation like Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' law. We must continue to take two steps forward and not allow any steps back."

The other focus of the week's events are to provide a safe and affirming space for the LGBTQ community to express pride, have fun and gather together.

CW: In addition to attending Pride events, how can individual Utahns celebrate and promote Pride Week and Pride Month?
KR: There are many ways, including posting a Pride flag on your home or a yard sign on your property, turning to social media to share your individual story or supporting local businesses who are LGBTQ owned and operated. Whichever way you choose to show pride is up to you, we just want people to know they are loved, they belong and that they are accepted for who they are.

CW: What do you hope Utahns of all stripes take away from Pride?
KR: The Utah Pride Center has worked hard to provide an inclusive experience for everyone so that we all can enjoy Pride Week and Month. Although what people take away from this experience is very personal, we hope people gain a sense of self-worth, motivation to advocate for equality, appreciation for our diverse community and to know they are loved and accepted for who they truly are.

CW: UPC has new leadership team and a new-ish location (1380 S. Main, SLC), what does the future look like?
KR: The Utah Pride Center has experienced a lot of change over the past few years. The pandemic was not kind to nonprofit organizations, and we are no exception.

But with change brings an opportunity for growth and innovation. We've moved to a co-CEO leadership model, ramped up our virtual capabilities to reach more people in the state and are in the process of building a mental health department where people can feel safe and supported.

And with the help of our community participating in the Utah Pride Festival—our biggest fundraiser of the year—we are confident we'll be able to continue to provide life-saving programs and services to the people who really need it.