Written by Michael Dillman
As the whole nation sits on the edge of their seats eagerly awaiting a historic ruling on same-sex marriage from the SCOTUS, Utahns celebrated the progress already achieved in the beehive state during the Utah Pride Festival which ran Thursday, June 4, to Sunday, June 7. For many, the highlight of the event was the Utah Pride Parade on Sunday.
A massive crowd of 35,000 gays, lesbians, transgender individuals, allies, protesters, and spectators completely filled both sides of 200 South in downtown Salt Lake City to watch and cheer as more than 150 floats made their way down the street for over 2 ½ hours starting at 10 a.m. Sunday morning. Several same-sex couples—as well as a straight couple—were married on different floats throughout the parade.
Janet Mock was the parade’s Grand Marshal. Mock is a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and prominent advocate for transgender women’s rights. Her memoir “Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More” is the story of a trans girl growing up in Honolulu, Dallas and Oakland. The memoir celebrates self-actualization and self-revelation. Mock regularly speaks at various universities and on television. She also hosts the weekly culture show “So POPular!” on MSNBC’s Shift network and serves as a contributing editor for “Marie Claire.”
According to the Utah Pride Festival website, co-director of the Festival Jen Parsons-Soran stated that they chose Mock as one who could speak to the vital work still needed in the LBGTQ community.
“With marriage coming to Utah last year, some people are asking ‘what else is there to do?’” Parsons-Soran said. “We know that discrimination is still a real thing, particularly in Utah. We know that the trans* community lives under the cloud of violence and murder. We know that youth are still feeling so trapped in some places that they are taking their own lives. The Utah Pride Festival committee feels that the message Janet Mock can bring this year is one that needs to be heard.”
In its rich 31-year history, the parade has primarily been branded as a protest event, wherein equality is demanded but never achieved. However, many attendees at the event said the tone this year felt much different. From the recent legality of same-sex marriage here in Utah, to the fruits of this year’s legislative session, namely the passage of Sen. Steve Urquhart’s non-discrimination law, monumental alterations in public policy made this event a well-deserved celebration of progress.
