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SALT LAKE CITY – Downtown Salt Lake City donned its rainbow colors Sunday for the 44th Annual Pride Parade in Utah.
Tens of thousands of people have been moving for the event that celebrates the love and unity between the LGBTQ community and its supporters.
"It's pride … We have to go out, it's our day to celebrate who we are and celebrate more and more acceptance in Utah," said Larry Herndon as he watched the parade.
"It's a bit of our day, our weekend, we're here, you know, and we're silent for 363 days," Ross Owen said. "This is our tribe."
He said that one of the things that mattered most was to see all the support of the heterobadual community manifest itself as well.
The diverse crowd included all ages and all orientations, many among the parade and the observer with rainbow clothes, costumes and balloons. Police distributed rainbow stickers along the long line of viewers extending 200 km to the south.
Matt Difrancesca, who attended with his family, said, "This is the first of many years of our child's education to learn to love everyone and to be loved by everyone." In this political climate, I think it's the most important thing. "
He added that his family intended to return to the parade "year after year after year".
Dozens of companies and organizations marched in the parade, representing diverse backgrounds. Walkers showed a wide range of costumes, from ball gown to "Star Wars" clothing. Each group was greeted with excited acclaim and waves.
Many viewers indicated that they were there to support their friends and LGBTQ family members.
"My friend is bibadual and we have two best gays so we are here to support them," said Jasmine Lorocca, who was there with a group of friends.
Among the same group, Riley Kroening, who was with Everett Hyde, said he felt welcome in Utah.
"It's quite an area of acceptance to my knowledge – I mean, sometimes, when we're in public, we find dirty looks and things like that." But besides that, this n & rsquo; Is nothing really that I know. "
It's pride. … we have to go out. It is our day to celebrate who we are and celebrate simply to be accepted more and more in Utah.
-Larry Herndon
Hyde explained, "Since it's … a population of SDJ here, it's a bit difficult to reveal, but honestly, since I've done it, it's great. Everyone has so accepted it. "
Others have also explained that they felt that Utah had generally become more tolerant in recent years.
"The parade was great," said Morgan Lim, a protester from the Utah AIDS Foundation. "It was really nice to see so much welcome from everyone, this year I was our little parade marshal, so I was up front … I could feel the energy of the whole world and it was really nice. "
This positive participation "means a lot, which means that we have here the community that celebrates and celebrates the existence of LGBTs and all that that entails … It was so obvious that our presence was appreciated , and I really like that, "said Lim.
He called it "Providence" that Sunday provided a wonderful time for walkers and visitors to the parade.
Andy Anderson, a walker of the Rebel Legion, a "Star Wars" charity group, explained why he had returned to the parade for years. "It is a community of people who come together to celebrate the uniqueness of everyone – and yet their willingness to come together and support each other," he said.
For the Bonella family, it is an opportunity to celebrate the unity.
"We wanted to show that we are allies for these groups, I am a social worker and a professor of the Weber state, and I wanted to show our involvement and support," said Barrett Bonella. "I think the best part is the way he celebrates the love in general and the importance he has in the community."
"The importance of acceptance," added his wife, Giovanna Bonella. They brought their three children.
"On top of that, I think it brings the community together in a way that is out of the norm, but that always gives the feeling of responding to that need, of satisfying the need we have for the community," he said. said Barrett Bonella. .
Spencer Calloway, who was also attending with his family, said, "I'm from Seattle and I've been in the parade every year." In the Salt Lake City parade there was "a lot more people than I thought," he said.
Of the thousands of parade marchers, many held placards stating that they were there to support a gay kid.
For the Indish family, this chance to see the support of others makes the difference.
"Well, I'm not binary, my (brother) is trans and pan. It's just for Pride, it's so wonderful to see so many people be themselves. And the enemies will hate it." but we're just going to continue to love each other, we all love each other, everyone is so nice, "said Kit Indish.
Indish's father, Jason Indish, is part of an organization for fathers with LGBT children. "This pride actually shows them that, hey, there are people here who accept what you are instead of, like, you are a bad person," he said. "So it's something for them to feel this positivity and see that everything is not as ugly as it seems."
Seeing the parade grow over the last four years that the family attended has helped to understand that "there are more and more people who accept more and more," Indish said.
Rob Page, who walked with the Mormons Building Bridges group, also stated that he was there for his daughter.
"I feel a lot of love for the LGBT community, my daughter is gay, and I think we just have to love more and show more compbadion and respect, and I just want to be a small part. little part of that effort, "said Page.
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