As Pride Month concludes, many LGBTQ+ individuals in Utah are reevaluating the essence and format of their celebrations.
One such gathering, Pride Without Police, took place in Salt Lake City’s Fairmont Park.
Unlike mainstream Pride events, this festival was devoid of flashy floats and corporate logos.
Instead, attendees enjoyed free sandwiches and participated in activities like sewing classes, all offered at no cost to them.
With no corporate sponsors or ties to law enforcement, the event aimed to recapture the original spirit of the Pride movement.
Organizer CJ McCormick highlighted, “As we see hostilities and tensions rise up against queer people and how they are perceived, it’s not just about resistance, but it’s about spreading queer joy.”
This sentiment echoes the concerns of those who feel sidelined by the commercial aspects of larger Pride festivals.
When reflecting on traditional Pride celebrations, McCormick noted, “You have Utah Pride, where you pay $20 to get in, and then you go to the Delta Airlines booth and you get your pride beads that are sponsored by Delta.
And the next thing you do is you go to the Zions Bank booth.”
Utah Pride has long been the state’s premier Pride festival, with a significant budget of $1.2 million.
However, this year’s festival faced challenges, particularly with dwindling corporate sponsorships, receiving only about half of its funds from previous years.
Megan Weiss, a public historian focusing on Pride in Utah, noted that while corporate sponsorships lent legitimacy to events in the 1990s, the current sentiment may be shifting.
She questioned if such ties still hold the same value today, indicating a growing skepticism among community members.
Kylie Hansen, another organizer of Pride Without Police, emphasized that fostering a strong LGBTQ+ community is now more crucial than gaining corporate approval.
“We recognize that people are needing a space, and they’re needing safety, and they’re needing community,” Hansen stated.
This necessity becomes especially significant amid rising hostilities toward the LGBTQ+ community.
Legislative actions in Utah, such as the ban on unofficial flags on government property and the recent Supreme Court decision allowing states to restrict gender-affirming healthcare for youth, further exacerbate these concerns.
In 2023, Utah enacted a ban on such healthcare, intensifying the need for safe communal spaces like Pride Without Police.
McCormick articulated the impact of their event succinctly: “We’re here and we’re taking care of us.”
Amidst a political climate that feels overwhelming for many, they affirmed that there is beauty in community involvement and support.
Pride Without Police represents a deliberate choice to prioritize community, safety, and joy amidst challenging times for the LGBTQ+ community in Utah.
image source from：kuer
