(KCPW News) This weekend’s Utah Pride Festival will be the largest in state history. Festival organizers say for the first time, the festival has sold out of vendor booth space, and has the largest number of entries in its Sunday parade, making it the second largest in the state next to the Days of ‘47. Marketing and Media Manager Marina Gomberg believes this year’s growth shows Utah is taking more steps to embrace the LGBT community.
“I think that it shows a level of acceptance that is greater than ever before,” Gomberg said. ” I think that as the Utah Pride Center goes out and educates people all throughout the year that we see that is effective in the participation of the Pride festival both for participants and vendors and corporations who are sponsoring.”
Gomberg says the festival is about finding yourself and loving who you are.
“Being LGBTQ is for some people really hard and they can’t be out,” she said. “But for these two or three days these people can be themselves. For those of us who even are out at our jobs and to our families this is a time to celebrate who we are and to say that we are different and we love that and we love who we are, and so it’s this expression of self love.”
This year, the festival is bringing in comedian and Salt Lake City native Rosanne Barr, as well as singer Kat Deluna. It runs through Sunday at Washington Square.
How do you feel about this topic?
Is there anything else you think we should know? We'd like to hear your thoughts. Send us your feedback using the form below.
