UTAH GOV. COX DECLARES ANYTHING BUT PRIDE MONTH • JUDGE BLOCKS BATHROOM BAN
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Michael R. Swinyer P.A.-C
Breton Yates M.D., FAAD
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You
Dear July
BY MICHAEL AARON
arrive, as you always do, while the glitter is still settling.
The flags are coming down this week off the storefronts on Main Street, off the porches in the Avenues, off the profiles of companies that will not think about us again until next May. The parade route has been swept clean. The festival stages are broken down and loaded into trucks. And we are still here, in Utah, in America, in 2026, carrying everything we carried into June plus whatever June added to the load.
So let’s talk.
Pride Month was beautiful. It genuinely was. Tens of thousands of people filled the streets of Salt Lake City and said, loud ly, by their presence alone: we exist, we belong, we are not going anywhere. There is real power in that. There is something that happens in a crowd of queer peo ple — the recognition, the exhale, the reminder that you are not, in fact, alone in this state — that cannot be reduced to politics or dismissed as spectacle. We needed that. We always need that.
But you are not June.
You are the month when the rainbows stop feeling like a promise and start feeling like a reminder of the distance between symbol and substance. You are the month when the Utah Legislature is gone but its work remains — in classrooms where teachers are still measuring their words, in school libraries where shelves are still thinner than they were three years ago, in the lives of transgender youth who watched this last session from the gallery and came home with less than they arrived with. The bills get signed or they get defeated, but the kids are still here in July, still navigating a state that cannot decide whether to protect them or erase them.
I am watching the school board races. I need you to know that. The decisions being made in district offices across the Wasatch Front — in Davis County, in Utah County, in Washington County — will shape the daily reality of LGBTQ
students far more than the words of a publisher. These are the elections that feel small and aren’t. These are the rooms where the fight actually lives.
I am watching the rural communities, the ones that never make the festival photos. The kid in Cedar City. The couple in Vernal. The trans woman in Juab who is building a life in a place that is just beginning to figure out how to see her. Pride Month belongs to them too, but the infrastructure, the community centers, the affirming counselors, the chosen family — those things are still scarce once you get past the Wasatch Front, and that is a failure we have not fixed and cannot stop talking about just because June is over.
I am watching Washington. I do not need to tell you it has been a difficult few years at the federal level. What I will say is this: the policy fights happen ing in D.C. land differently when you live in a state that has not always acted as a backstop. Utah has surprised us before — in both directions. We can not afford to stop paying attention.
And I am watching us. Our community. The ways we include and the ways we exclude. The conversations about race and class and gender that are harder than holding a sign in a parade. The LGBTQ Utahns who are also members of the LDS Church, navigating a faith that has not finished deciding what it thinks of them. The bisexual and nonbinary and asexual community members who are still some times treated as afterthoughts in our own spaces. July is a good month to look in ward without the pressure of performance.
Here is what we are carrying into you: hope that is not naive, anger that is not exhausted, and love for this community that is, frankly, stubborn enough to have survived everything Utah has thrown at it. We are not done. We were never done. June just reminded us why we started. Take care of our people, July. We will be watching. Q
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sales Michael Aaron, 801-997-9763 x1 sales@qsaltlake.com
contributors Joshua Adamson Pickett, Diane Anderson-Minshall, Chris Azzopardi, Paul Berge, Jeff Berry, Paul Campbell, Laurie Bennett-Cook, Roger Cox, Stephen Dark, Jennifer Dobner, Jack Fertig, Greg Fox, Ian Giles, Oriol Gutierrez Jr., Tony Hobday, Blake Howell, Ashley Hoyle, Joshua Jones, Christopher Katis, Alpha Mercury, Sam Kelly-Mills, Craig Ogan, Peter Reynolds, Mikey Rox, Terri Schlichenmeyer, Mark Segal, Gregg Shapiro, Petunia Pap Smear, Steven Petrow, Ed Sikov, Justin Utley, JoSelle Vanderhooft, Ed Walsh, Ben Williams, D’Anne Witkowski distribution Roger Cox publisher Q Media Group
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The top national and world news since last issue you should know
BY CRAIG OGAN
250th Birthday, the gay way
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, it’s worth remembering that gay and lesbian Americans have been part of the nation’s story from the beginning. Among the Revolution’s most influential figures was Baron von Steuben, General George Washington’s Prussian drillmaster, whom historians widely recognize as a gay man. His rigorous training regimen at Valley Forge helped transform the Continental Army into a disci plined, effective fighting force.
Women also defied con vention to serve. Deborah Sampson famously disguised herself as a man to enlist, while Mary Ludwig Hays and Anna Maria Lane took part in combat. In early 19th‑cen tury Massachusetts, Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake lived openly as a committed couple, running a tailor shop and building a life together that their community treated much like a marriage. Both the British and Continental armies punished same‑sex re lations, then labeled buggery or sodomy. In 1774, British Army chaplain Robert New burgh was court‑martialed in Philadelphia on such accusa tions, defending himself with arguments about individual rights that echoed the era’s revolutionary rhetoric.
Mayor Pete tops
It may not last, but the most nonthreatening gay man from the last Democratic Ad ministration, Former Trans portation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, is Democratic vot ers’ top choice for the 2028 presidential nomination in a new Emerson College Polling survey. Eighteen percent of likely Democratic voters said they want Buttigieg as the nominee, placing him slightly ahead of California Gov. Gavin Newsom at 16%. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez (D‑NY) followed at 11%, with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shap iro and former Vice Presi dent Kamala Harris at 10% each. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear drew 9%, and 18% of respondents were undecided.
Buttigieg’s national favorability in 2023–2024 averaged 36.3% favorable to 36.5% unfavorable across 19 polls. The Emerson sur vey, conducted May 24–25 among 432 likely Democratic voters, comes well before any formal 2028 announcements. Still, Buttigieg has hinted at interest, noting that cam paigning in New Hampshire during his 2020 run “made me…a better public servant” by forcing national candi dates to engage issues at a more immediate human scale. The survey brought a big sigh of disappointment from the “Bernie Bros.”
Ogles’ Pride comments rebuked by colleagues
Rep. Andy Ogles (R‑Tenn.) sparked bipartisan back lash after posting, and later deleting, an anti Pride X message declaring, “Homo sexuality has no place in America. Happy Nuclear Family Month.” The remark fit squarely within Ogles’ long record of anti‑LGBT
rhetoric: he has called publicly available HIV and transgender‑related health information “a grave moral evil,” labeled the most recent Super Bowl halftime show “gay pornography,” claimed it “glorified sodomy,” and advo cated overturning marriage equality. He received a zero rating on the Human Rights Campaign’s most recent Congressional Scorecard.
What stood out this time was the pushback from with in his own party. Rep. Mike Lawler (R‑N.Y.) condemned the post as “absolutely idiot ic,” noting that LGBTQ+ peo ple are Ogles’ own “family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and constituents.” In a rare break from his long‑held positions, Sen. Ted Cruz (R‑Tex.) also rejected Ogles’ claim, saying that “for all of recorded history, homosexu als have been part of hu manity,” and adding that the private behavior of consent ing adults is “their business.”
Lesbian goes South in Episcopal Church
The Southern United States’ first out lesbian Episcopal bishop has been installed as the ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina, marking another milestone in the denomi nation’s decades‑long shift toward LGBT inclusion.
The Rev. Sarah Fisher, 54, was elected last November on the third ballot. In her written responses during the selection process, she described herself as someone with “a heart that can sit with people in times of both joy and heartbreak.” Fisher said she ministers to “a very purple congregation,” united not by politics or preferences but by “our desire to see, know, and serve the Risen Christ.” Her
approach, she wrote, centers on relationships, drawing close to those who differ from us to recognize “the inherent dignity and divinity” in every person. Fisher, who is married to the Rev. Mandy Brady, now oversees 66 parish es and two campus ministries across eastern North Carolina.
MLB punishes players and teams, asking, “Who does not want to wear the ribbon?
As the San Francisco Giants continue to face scrutiny over players’ Pride Night protests, an independent league team in Pennsylvania has taken a dramatically different path. The York Revolution — back‑to‑back champions of the Atlantic League — were preparing to host their annual Pride Night on Thursday, com plete with rainbow‑themed uniforms. But on Wednesday, the club announced with “great disappointment” that it would forfeit the game after several players refused to wear the Pride jerseys. The team said hosting Pride Night was “more import ant than forcing players to wear jerseys they are not comfortable with,” adding that the players’ stance was “completely inconsistent with our vision as the Most Welcoming Place in York.”
The Revolution pledged a $10,000 donation to a local LGBTQ+ group and will still hold a free community celebration before returning to play Friday. The contrast with the Giants has been striking. After three Giants players wrote Bible verses on their Pride hats and a fourth declined to wear one, the organization issued a single statement and declined inter view requests. The controver
sy has only grown, fueled by MLB’s warning to the players for violating uniform rules and criticism from Republi can politicians who framed the warning as a blow to religious expression. The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investi gation into alleged religious discrimination over the re quirement that players wear Pride oriented merchandise. Yes, Seinfeld fans, this is an episode that has come to life.
Netherlands criminalizes conversion therapy
The same year the U.S. Su preme Court struck down a state ban on conversion therapy, The Netherlands voted to make the practice a crime nationwide. The Dutch Senate passed the bill on Tuesday, 57 to 15. The new law doesn’t play games with
licensing like in U.S. state leg islatures; it makes it a crime with fines and jail time. Once King Willem Alexander signs it, anyone trying to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity faces up to two years in prison and a €27,500 fine. The Netherlands now joins Germany, France, Belgium, and a growing list of European countries head ing in that direction, with the European Parliament backing a bloc wide ban in April.
U. S. voters still prefer support for LGBT States and cities across the country are rebranding June away from Pride Month, echoing anti‑Pride signals from the federal government. At the same time, new polling shows a widening divide in how different groups view LGBT rights. Public opinion
among self‑identified Repub licans has shifted rightward since the 2024 election, yet a new Data for Progress study finds that most likely voters still prefer candidates who openly support LGBT rights. By a 19‑point mar gin, voters say they would choose a pro‑LGBT candi date (51%) over one who vocally opposes such rights (32%). Support is strongest among Democrats (76%) and Independents (54%), but even one in four Republicans prefer the pro‑LGBT option. While issues involving transgender youth, such as sports participation and medical care, remain divisive, many other LGBT‑related policies command broad backing. Majorities support anti‑bullying protections, expanded mental‑health services, and restoring federal funding for LGBT crisis lines.
Censorious parents win one
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a major ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor, a case brought by a coalition of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian parents in Montgomery County, Md. The dispute began in 2023, when the school board eliminated parental notice and opt‑outs for a set of LGBT‑inclusive storybooks used in early‑elementary classrooms. Parents argued the policy forced their young children to engage with material that conflicted with their religious teachings. Lower courts sided with the district, but SCOTUS reversed in a 6–3 decision stating public schools have broad authority over curricu lum, but cannot require fam ilies to forfeit their religious convictions as a condition of attending public school. Q
Trevor Lee is OUT
Don’t worry — not in that way. The Layton Republican lost his seat in a GOP primary blowout. Trevor Lee is out of the Utah Leg islature, and for many Utahns, par ticularly members of the LGBTQ community, immigrants, and com munities of color, that news landed like a gift on a Tuesday night.
Just to be clear: this is not the kind of “out” Lee has spent four years trying to prevent, legislate against, or mock from behind anonymous social media accounts. Lee is simply out of a job. Republican primary voters in House District 16 sent Davis County Commissioner Bob Stevenson to the general election on Tuesday, handing Lee a humiliating defeat: 66 percent to 33.9 percent — a margin that left no room for doubt or recount drama.
It was, by any measure, a two to one rejection from the very voters Lee has claimed to represent.
“While the results did not go as we had hoped,” Lee wrote in a concession state ment posted to social media, “I am deep ly grateful to the voters, volunteers, do nors, and supporters who stood with our conservative vision for a stronger Utah.”
That “conservative vision” is where the story gets complicat ed — and, for the LGBTQ Utahns who lived under it, deeply personal.
Before the Capitol: The Secret Account
Before Trevor Lee ever cast a vote in the Utah House of Representatives, he was building his political identity in the dark.
In September 2022, The Salt Lake Tribune revealed that Lee, then a GOP candidate for the House seat he would
go on to win, had been operating a se cret Twitter account under the handle @ ballinlee, hiding behind the pseudonym “Truth Seeker.” The account, which Lee moved quickly to delete or take private after the Tribune contacted him, served as a window into views he wasn’t yet willing to attach to his real name.
The account targeted LGBTQ people with contempt and derision. It at tacked then Gov. Spencer Cox, a fellow Republican, for expressing support for transgender youth. It trafficked in COVID 19 conspiracy theories and misinformation. It dismissed and demeaned women and transgender individuals in terms that would have been disqualifying for almost any other candidate in almost any other race.
Lee ultimately admitted he owned the account. House Majority Leader Mike Schultz publicly rebuked him, stating that the tweets did not repre sent the values of the House of Rep resentatives or the majority caucus.
District 16 elected him anyway.
Four Years of Targeting LGBTQ Utahns
Once seated in the Legisla ture, Lee didn’t hide anymore.
In his first term, he sponsored legislation banning Pride flags in Utah public schools while permitting other flags to be displayed for “educational purposes.” Critics noted the law was written with surgical precision to single out one community’s symbol while leaving others untouched.
When the Utah Mammoths and Utah Jazz posted Pride Month ac knowledgments on social media, Lee made headlines for what observers described as a public meltdown, seem
ingly incensed that a basketball team had the audacity to post a rainbow.
He proposed renaming a Salt Lake City street honoring Harvey Milk, the pioneering gay rights activist and San Francisco city official assassinated in 1978, after Charlie Kirk, the conser vative media personality and founder of Turning Point USA. The proposal was widely condemned and did not advance. GeographicReference
In 2026, Lee introduced HB183, which Equality Utah called “among the most cruel and far reaching attacks against transgender Americans” to be introduced in the state. The bill sought to erase the word “gender” from Utah law entirely, replacing it with “sex”; prohibit amendments to birth certificates for transgender individ uals; restrict transgender students in schools; and, critically, use a parent’s support for their transgender child as potential grounds for adverse custody decisions. In other words, a parent who affirmed their child’s gender identity could face losing custody.
The bill drew broad opposition. Equality Utah’s advocacy, working behind the scenes with House and Senate lawmakers to build oppo sition, helped stall it. Lawmakers listened, and HB183 did not pass.
In his concession statement, Lee claimed credit for passing “more than twenty bills advancing election integri ty, immigration enforcement, tax relief, parental rights in education, pro life protections, and policies that prioritize Utah families over federal overreach and radical ideologies.” He described his record as reflecting “limited government, personal responsibility, and faith in God.”
He did not mention that none of those bills were writ ten or sponsored by him.
He also did not mention the families of transgender children whose custody arrangements his legislation sought to threaten. He did not mention the LGBTQ students who would have seen their school strip Pride flags from the walls while other symbols remained.
Remigration is Crucial: The Racist Turn
Lee’s hostility was never limited to the LGBTQ community. Over four years in office, he compiled a parallel record of racially inflammatory statements that drew repeated condemnation from Utah lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
Utah’s House and Senate Minori ty leaders issued a formal statement condemning what they called “racial ly charged” social media posts from Lee, after he was found to have liked tweets suggesting that Black women have a “low IQ.” Lee insisted those posts were not about race, merely a critique of specific political leaders.
He posted the phrase “Diversity isn’t our strength,” a phrase Utah Politics News documented as direct white nationalist copypasta, language borrowed wholesale from far right and white supremacist movements. Lee framed it as a political opinion.
The situation reached a crescendo earli er this year when Liban Mohamed, a Utah born son of Somali immigrants running for Congress in Utah’s 1st Congressional District, released his campaign announce ment video. Mohamed’s video emphasized community, service, and the values he said he learned growing up in Utah.
Lee’s response was published on social media in full:
“I’ve been warning about this for years: Importing the third world is dangerous and reckless for America. Utah CD1 Democrat Liban Mohamed is getting 85% of his campaign cash from non Americans — Somali Americans nationwide, with fundraisers along side Ilhan Omar in Minneapolis, plus Seattle & Virginia. They vote for each other, not the Americans who built this country that they all want to live in. Remigration is crucial. Utah, wake up!
“Remigration” is a term popularized by European far right and neo Nazi movements to describe the forced mass removal of ethnic and religious minorities from Western nations. Its appearance in a sitting state legislator’s
social media post was not a slip or a dog whistle; it was a direct invocation of a white nationalist policy demand, applied to a Utah man born and raised in the state Lee claimed to represent.
Mohamed, for his part, is the son of Somali immigrants. He was born in Utah. He is, in the most literal and legal sense, one of the Americans who built. and is building. this state.
Axios reported that Utah Republicans largely moved to defend Lee rather than censure him, with some colleagues questioning whether his comments
technically constituted racism. The Utah Democratic Party condemned the remarks as racist. Democrats in the House and Senate called them racially charged. Several constituents wrote letters calling for Lee’s removal.
Lee also shared a post praising white settlers while diminishing Somali contributions, a post that drew fur ther criticism and illustrated what many observers said was a pattern, not a series of isolated incidents.
He was not censured by the Legislature.
The Voters Decide
What the Legislature declined to do, Republican primary voters in District 16 did on Tuesday: they ended Trevor Lee’s tenure.
Bob Stevenson, a Davis County Commissioner, defeated Lee 66 per cent to 33.9 percent. Stevenson has indicated he plans to focus on issues including property tax reform and housing affordability, a contrast to the culture war preoccupations that defined Lee’s four years in office.
In his concession, Lee expressed gratitude and wished Stevenson well:
“To my opponent Bob, I wish him the very best as he takes on this im portant role. Serving the people of District 16 is an honor, and I pray he will do so with integrity and a focus on what truly matters most.”
Lee said he looks forward to “spending more precious time” with his wife Kaitlin and their children, and pledged to “remain an active voice for the conservative princi ples that make Utah exceptional.”
Stevenson will now face Dem ocrat Abigail Treasure in the November general election.
A Community Exhales
For LGBTQ Utahns who watched Lee introduce bill after bill target ing their families, their children, and their visibility in public life — and who watched him hide behind anon ymous accounts before he had power and then wield it openly once he did — Tuesday’s results carry mean ing beyond a single primary race.
Lee was not the only lawmaker who opposed LGBTQ rights in the 2026 session. He will not be the last. But he was among the loudest, the most prolific, and the most willing to borrow the language of movements that history has not judged kindly.
He built a record. He owned it pub licly. And then, by a margin of nearly two to one, the voters of his own party told him that record was enough.
Trevor Lee is out. Q
Federal judge blocks Idaho law criminalizing transgender bathroom use
A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of Idaho’s H.B. 752, halting a law that would have criminalized transgender people for using public restrooms consistent with their gender identity before it was set to take effect July 1.
The ruling from the United States District Court for the District of Idaho Judge Amanda Brailsford temporarily bars enforcement of the law while a constitutional challenge brought by six transgender Idaho residents proceeds through the courts.
H.B. 752, signed by Gov. Brad Little earlier this year, prohibits transgen der people from using sex designated restrooms consistent with their gender identity in government owned buildings and private businesses open to the pub lic — a category that includes libraries, rest stops, malls, gas stations, restaurants, entertainment venues, and hospitals. A first offense would be a misdemean or carrying up to one year in prison; a second offense would be a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
The plaintiffs, represented by the ACLU, ACLU of Idaho, Lambda Legal, Munger Tolles & Olson and Alturas Law Group, filed suit in April 2026, arguing the law violates con stitutional guarantees of due pro
cess, equal protection, and privacy.
Paul Carlos Southwick, Legal Direc tor of the ACLU of Idaho, called the ruling a relief for transgender Idahoans who had faced mounting uncertainty ahead of the law’s effective date.
“This ruling means trans folks in Idaho can continue participating in public life without the threat of being arrested for using the bathroom,” Southwick said. “Trans Idahoans have been understandably anxious about the disruption this unconstitutional law would cause in their daily lives.”
Barbara Schwabauer, senior staff attorney for the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Project, said the injunction was a necessary first step toward permanently defeating the law.
“No one should be forced to choose between the threat of arrest for being themselves in public or the threat of harassment and violence for acting the way the state wants them to be,” Schwabauer said.
Kell Olson, counsel with Lamb da Legal, said the court recognized the constitutional problems posed by a law requiring officers to make judgment calls about a person’s sex at birth during enforcement.
“Our Constitution provides criti cal protections against laws that are
VolunQueer to host virtual orientation for LGBTQIA+ organizations seeking year-round volunteer engagement
A volunteer platform built specifi cally for LGBTQIA+ communities is hosting a free virtual orientation next month, offering organizations, employee resource groups, and com munity partners a chance to learn how the service can support ongoing engagement well beyond Pride season. VolunQueer, a platform founded on the belief that LGBTQIA+ people and allies deserve spaces where they are “not only welcomed, but needed, celebrated, and connected to purpose,” will hold the open orientation on Wednesday, July 8, from 4:00 to 4:45 p.m. Mountain Time.
The event is designed for a broad audience — including Pride orga nizers, nonprofit leaders, ERG coor dinators, and individual volunteers — and is open to anyone curious about the platform, whether or not they are already connected to it.
During the session, organizers will walk attendees through the VolunQueer platform, demonstrate how to post vol unteer opportunities and manage sign ups, and discuss how the tool can sup port what they call “Pride 365” efforts — year round programming that extends community connection beyond June.
unclear, and that call on officers to make arbitrary judgments about how to enforce them, especially when the law threatens imprisonment,” Olson said. That concern was echoed by law enforcement before the ruling. Both the Idaho Fraternal Order of Police and the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association had opposed H.B. 752, stating there was no “clear or reasonable way” to determine a person’s sex at birth during a field con tact without resorting to “invasive and inappropriate” questioning or searches. Research on public safety has found that restroom access policies inclusive of transgender people have no measur able impact on rates of harassment or violence in public accommodations. Q
“How do we keep people connected after Pride?” is the question Volun Queer says it hears most from organi zations following the close of Pride season — and it’s the central problem the platform was built to address.
Attendees will also have an op portunity to provide feedback on future platform features.
The orientation is free and open to the public. Organizers are encour aging attendees to share the invita tion widely with their networks.
VOLUNQUEER VIRTUAL ORIENTATION
Wednesday, July 8, 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. MDT Google Meet: MEET.GOOGLE.COM/KNG-PFTX-FMH Dial-in: +1 515-519-5393 | PIN: 599 997 204# More information is available by contacting founder Jacob Buck (he/any) at jacob@volunqueerlife.com.
Utah Gov. Cox replaces ‘Pride Month’ declaration with ‘Fidelity Month’
Gov. Spencer Cox has signed a procla mation designating June as “Fidelity Month” in Utah, effectively replacing the state’s longstanding recogni tion of Pride Month — a move that critics say sends a deliberate and harmful message to LGBTQ Utahns at a moment of heightened national hostility toward the community.
The declaration cites polling data suggesting that “support for traditional values has significantly declined” and calls on Utahns to recommit to what it describes as core values of “faith, family, and country.” The proclamation includes a quote from founding father John Adams — “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other” — and asserts that “the survival of the United States depends on the shared bonds of faith, family and patriotism.”
Utah joins a handful of other red states that have, in recent years, moved to declare conservative counter ob servances to Pride Month in June.
Cox’s proclamation did not arrive without warning. The governor has issued increasingly diluted Pride Month declarations in recent years — a trend that LGBTQ advocates and observ ers have noted with concern. This year, he declined to issue any Pride declaration at all, instead signing the Fidelity Month proclamation.
For many in Utah’s LGBTQ commu nity, the move represents the culmi nation of a steady erosion of symbolic recognition from a governor who once distinguished himself as a voice of com passion in a deeply conservative state.
Equality Utah’s senior director of legal and legislative affairs, Marina Lowe, pushed back on the fram ing of the proclamation, arguing that it presents a false choice.
“I think it’s just the reality that LGBTQ people are people of faith, are people of family, just like any other group of individuals,” Lowe said. “I don’t think that these positions need to be in conflict with one another.”
Lowe emphasized that Pride Month is fundamentally about love, accep tance, and inclusion, and that strong families are defined by stability, love, and commitment, not by adherence to a traditional nuclear family model.
State Sen. Jen Plumb, D Salt Lake City, issued one of the sharpest re sponses to the declaration, describing it as a personal and political betrayal.
“I am angry and deeply disappointed by Governor Cox’s decision to replace Pride Month with ‘Fidelity Month,’” Plumb said in a written statement.
Plumb specifically called out the pain felt by LGBTQ Utahns who had extended goodwill to Cox based on his earlier rhetoric regard ing compassion and inclusion.
“What makes this especially painful is that many LGBTQ+ Utahns sup ported leaders who spoke the language of compassion, understanding, and inclusion,” Plumb said. “They showed up, trusted those words, and helped build the coalitions that put those leaders in office. To now see Pride Month deliberately pushed aside feels less like a difference of opinion and more like a betrayal of that trust.”
Plumb did not mince words about what she sees as the proc lamation’s underlying message.
“The message sent by this action is clear: at a time when LGBTQ+ people are facing increasing hostility across the country, Utah’s highest elected official chose not to stand with them.”
In closing her statement, Plumb addressed LGBTQ Utahns direct ly: “You are valued. You are treasured. You are loved. You belong here. No proclamation can erase your contri butions, your families, your history, or your humanity. It is Pride Month, and I will continue to celebrate it.
Democrats CounterDeclare Pride Month
The Utah Senate and House Dem ocratic caucuses released a joint statement formally declaring June to be Pride Month — a direct rebuke
of the governor’s proclamation.
“The Utah Senate and House Dem ocrats declare June Pride Month, as it has been for many years,” the statement reads. “Pride is part of Utah’s history, and celebrating it today is just as important as ever.”
The caucuses framed their declaration as a response to what they characterized as a deliberate effort to divide Utahns.
“At a time when so many communities, including the LGBTQ+ community, are being targeted and erased, Utah needs leaders who bring people together, not leaders who deliberately look for new ways to divide us,” the statement continued. “We reject the idea that supporting LGBTQ+ Utahns comes at the expense of anyone else. Pride is for everyone. It welcomes every family, every neighbor, and every Utahn who believes that all people deserve respect and the opportunity to thrive.” Q
What is Fidelity Month; who
is fueling it?
Every June for more than five decades, Americans have observed Pride Month — a time to honor LGBTQ+ history, identity, and civil rights struggles dating back to the 1969 Stonewall uprising. But a growing conservative movement is now fighting for the same calendar real estate, with backing from governors, a House Speaker, think tank heavy weights, and one of America’s most influential right leaning intellectuals.
It’s called Fidel ity Month. And in 2026, it is no longer a fringe idea.
Fidelity Month was created by ROBERT P. GEORGE , the McCormick Profes sor of Jurisprudence at Princeton Uni versity and one of the most prominent conservative Catho lic voices in Amer ican public life. George has long been associated with natural law philosophy and opposition to same sex marriage, and has served as a guiding intellectual force behind organizations ranging from the Ethics and Public Policy Center to the American Principles Project. George defines fidelity as “faithful ness — especially when it is challeng
What the Proclamation Says
ing and unpopular,” and frames the initiative around four pillars: devotion to God, to spouses and families, to local communities, and to the country. Their website, fidelitymonth.com, says Americans have lost confidence in all four, and presents Fidelity Month as a corrective course, “lighting a candle rather than merely cursing the darkness.”
Now in its fourth year, the obser vance has grown from a modest online campaign into a coordinated movement with webinars, branded merchandise, an essay contest for students, a Wash ington, D.C. breakfast, and a national Day of Prayer and Fasting scheduled each June 24. Its imagery — a myrtle wreath, a symbol of classical fidelity, rendered in blue and gold — is intend ed to project tradition and virtue.
The Political Firepower Behind It Politics
What has transformed Fidelity Month from an academic’s initia tive into a political flashpoint is a roster of officials now formally lending it their offices and voices.
HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON publicly endorsed the movement, calling George “a conservative Chris tian thought leader” and stating that his own family would observe Fidelity
Whereas, a recent opinion poll of Americans showed that support for traditional values has significantly declined; Whereas, a majority of Americans no longer esteem values like faith, family, patriotism or community involvement; Whereas, fidelity means dedication to faith, family and country; Whereas, it is imperative that we recommit ourselves to the pursuit of fidelity; Whereas, John Adams, a founding father of the United States, said, ‘‘Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.’’; Whereas, the survival of the United States depends on the shared bonds of faith, family and patriotism; and Whereas, it is fitting to observe one month each year to rededicate the United States to its core values; Now, therefore, I, Spencer J. Cox, governor of the great state of Utah, do hereby declare June, 2026 as Fidelity Month in Utah Q
Month. ARKANSAS GOV. SARAH
HUCKABEE SANDERS made a for mal gubernatorial declaration desig nating June as Fidelity Month in her state — a move widely covered as a pointed rebuke to Pride Month. And on Wednesday, UTAH GOV. SPENCER COX quietly signed his own Fidelity Month declaration, a striking reversal for a governor who had previously been the first in Utah’s history to formally recognize Pride Month back in 2021.
Cox’s declaration was made without a public press release or social media an nouncement, but it did not stay quiet for long. LGBTQ advocacy groups Equality Utah and Project Rainbow Utah replied swiftly, saying the declaration suggested that queer Utahns lacked family values and patriotism, a characterization the group called both insulting and false. Utah Democratic lawmakers urged constituents to continue recognizing June as Pride Month, while noting the move comes amid a wider wave of anti transgender legislation in the state.
The movement’s 2024 roundtable featured KEVIN ROBERTS , presi dent of the Heritage Foundation, and RYAN ANDERSON , president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, two of the most influential institutions in forming conservative policy. Its 2026 kickoff includes DR. BEN CARSON of the American Cornerstone Institute and two Catholic archbishops, Sal vatore Cordileone of San Francisco and Alexander Sample of Portland.
Fidelity Month’s organizers insist it is “multifaith and nonpartisan,” pointing to endorsements from Jewish and Muslim voices on their website. But the initia tive’s deliberate occupation of June — the same month Pride has been observed nationally since 1999 — leaves LGBTQ advocates unconvinced of its neutrality.
For Utah’s LGBTQ community and those across the country, the con vergence of state level declarations, conservative think tank support, and congressional endorsement signals that Fidelity Month is no longer simply a spiritual alternative to Pride. It has become a political instrument — and June, once the uncontested month of rainbow flags and hard won visibility, is increasingly contested ground. Q
Habitat for Humanity marks marriage equality anniversary with week-long SLC Pride Build
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Salt Lake Area will host its annual Pride Build from June 22 through 27, bring ing together volunteers, community organizations, and corporate partners for a week of hands on construction work aimed at advancing affordable housing access for LGBTQ+ Utahns.
The event will focus on landscaping and accessibility enhancements to existing homes and community parks in South Salt Lake, with volunteers taking daily shifts from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. No prior construction experi ence is required. Demographics
This year’s Pride Build will culminate on Friday, June 26, with a ceremony commemorating the 11th anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that estab lished marriage equality nationwide. The event will feature remarks from community speakers, including Tyler
Glenn, lead singer of Neon Trees and co founder of LOVELOUD Foundation.
Habitat CEO Carin Crowe said the timing is intentional.
“Pride Build represents the heart of Habitat’s mission: bringing people together to create lasting impact in our community,” Crowe said. “As we honor the anniversary of marriage equality, we celebrate the progress made and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to a safe and affordable place to call home.”
The event is organized in part nership with LOVELOUD Founda tion, Utah Pride Center, UAF Legacy Health, and Equality Utah. Organizers say the partnership indicates a joint recognition that stable housing is inseparable from broader LGBTQ+ health and equity outcomes.
Chad Call, executive director of the Utah Pride Center, said hous ing stability is a foundation for the community’s well being.
“The Utah Pride Center is proud to partner with Habitat for Humanity on Pride Build because we know that safe, stable housing is foundational to health, well being, and belonging,” Call said. “Pride is about celebrating our community, but it is also about creat ing a future where LGBTQ+ people have the opportunity to thrive. And that happens when organizations come together to support one another.”
The event’s partnership packet cites considerable disparities in housing access for LGBTQ+ individuals. While the national homeownership rate hovers near 66 percent, the rate for LGBTQ+ individuals falls between 49 and 51 per cent — a gap that organizers say widens further for transgender individuals and queer people of color. The packet also notes that roughly half of the LGBTQ+ community relies heavily on rental housing, leaving many vulnerable to displacement as housing costs contin ue to rise across the Wasatch Front.
Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake Area, established in 1986 as the first Habitat affiliate in Utah, says it has
helped 132 local families achieve afford able homeownership and completed critical home repairs for more than 1,200 residents across Salt Lake, Davis, and Tooele counties. Demographics Glenn said the event represents the kind of community action that makes tangible differences in people’s lives.
“Pride Build is a powerful example of what happens when communities unite around a shared purpose — making an impact and creating opportunities, connecting with fellow LGBTQ+ indi viduals and allies, and celebrating Pride through action and service,” Glenn said. “We are honored to partner with Habitat for Humanity and our fellow communi ty organizations in this important work.” Organizers are seeking approximately 180 volunteers for the week. Partici pants will receive a commemorative Pride Build T shirt, sticker, and catered lunch. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for organizations that cannot send volunteers directly to the build site, with contribution levels ranging from $500 to $10,000. Q
Registration for volunteer shifts is open at habitatsaltlake.org/pridebuild.
Jay Tactay and Chad Call of the Utah Pride Center at the Pride Build
QSaltLake Lagoon Day is July 19 LGBTQ+
Each summer, Utah’s LGBTQ+ com munity claims a day of joy, connec tion, and roller coasters at Lagoon Amusement Park. This year, QSaltLake Lagoon Day is set for Sunday, July 19.
The annual gathering draws hun dreds of queer Utahns and allies to the iconic Farmington amusement park. Attendees are encouraged to wear red to stand out in solidarity and celebration. Our chill space will be available as an all day hangout for picnics, rest, and meeting new friends. A group photo is scheduled for 4 p.m.
“Seeing two young guys holding hands, laughing, and wearing match ing red shirts … It changed something in me,” shared Tyler Bennett, a past attendee. “It was a simple moment, but I’ll never forget how free they looked.”
While the event is not exclusive,
since general visitors will also be in the park, the energy on QSaltLake Day is unmistakably queer and welcoming.
Lagoon, Utah’s largest amusement park, boasts ten major coasters, dozens of games and rides, a water park, and the historic Pioneer Village. Opened in 1886 and still family owned, the park also carries a legacy of civil rights. Under the leadership of Robert Freed, Lagoon formally desegregated in the 1940s, ahead of many public venues in the state, a move that earned Freed recog nition from the NAACP. ThemeParks
The discount code will be announced around July 1 on QSaltLake’s social media.
For more information about the park, go to LagoonPark.com. For more information about the QSaltLake Lagoon Day, see our Facebook Event.
Seniors Out and Proud’s Tuesday Troopers meets every week at Liberty Park on the west side (500 East) by the north main entrance of Tracy Aviary between 5:45-6:00 p.m. for a walk with friends and future friends. There is plenty of parking by the Aviary. Walk at your own pace and go as many times around the park as you want. All ability levels are invited as the park is on level ground with no hills. This is an all ages group, so bring your friends. Dogs are welcome on a leash. This is an ongoing event through October and we meet every Tuesday, same time, same place. For more information, email Berry Payne at espy2001@hotmail.com
Tuesday Troopers
views quotes
“Exist, Resist, Have Audacity!”
— LGBTQ activist Ryan Bos unveiled the slogan as the official theme for the 2026 Capital Pride celebration
“We are here. We belong. And we will continue to rise.”
— Utah Pride announcing the 2026 Utah Pride theme, “Pride Elevated”
“Pride Month is a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community’s history, achievements, and ongoing fight for equality.”
— Park City’s official Pride Month proclamation, approved unanimously by the City Council
“The Spurs acknowledged his courage and the impact of his authenticity.”
—San Antonio Spurs honoring former NBA player Jason Collins , the leagues first openly gay active player, following news of his death
“There is a ‘chill wind’ blowing from the east and west.”
— Former Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar about rising hostility toward LGBTQ people globally
“We have the power to define what LGBTQ means in Utah.”
— Equality Utah’s Will Terry encouraging queer Utahns to shape their own communities, identities, and representation rather than allowing outsiders or political leaders to define them.
“There’s no right or wrong way to be gay.”
— Utah fashion designer and Fab 5 personality Tan France encouraging LGBTQ people to reject stereotypes and embrace individuality without pressure to fit a particular image or expectation.
Dear Gov. Cox, I thought your heart was changed
BY NICK DELGADO
Governor Spencer J. Cox, do you
not remember 10 years ago in 2016 when you spoke at a vigil I attended following the horrific massacre of 49 people at a gay club in Orlando, then you put your arm around me, hugged me, and we shared tears in that in timate, somber moment? Was that all fake, a publicity stunt and lies?
Let me remind you of your words summarized in this press piece…
“Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox spoke on Monday evening at a vigil in Salt Lake City to honor the people killed and wounded in the weekend shooting at an Orlando gay club. Cox, a Republi can, struggled to keep his voice from breaking as he apologized for bullying gay people in the past. Demographics
“I grew up in a small town and went to a small rural high school,” he told the crowd. “There were some kids in my class that were different. Some times I wasn’t kind to them. I didn’t know it at the time, but I know now that they were gay. I will forever regret not treating them with the kindness, dignity, and respect — the love — that they deserved. For that, I sincerely and humbly apologize.”
Cox grew up in rural Sanpete, Utah, in the central part of the state, and is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. He be came lieutenant governor in 2013 and is up for re election this fall.
During his speech, Cox also deliv ered a message to those who might judge the people who were murdered.
“How did you feel when you heard that 49 people had been gunned down by a self proclaimed terrorist?” he asked. “That’s the easy question. Here is the hard one: Did that feeling change when you found out the shooting was at a gay bar at 2 a.m. in the morning?”
“If that feeling changed, then we are
doing something wrong,” he said. You said in your speech, “My heart is changed!” Did you entirely ignore this when you went full MAGA for the sake of political expediency and your own ambitions? Is this what years of lusting for money and power while governor of Utah, cowering to special interests, wealthy conservative do
exclude or be disrespectful of those who choose a different lifestyle as a result of their feelings about their own gender.”
I thought in 2016 I had experienced that love, compassion, and outreach, but your recent actions have greatly harmed, disillusioned, and saddened me!
We will always have PRIDE! It welcomes and celebrates the diversity
nors, and allies have reduced you to? A fraction of a man with a hollow heart?
How could you have the audacity to pander to the LGBTQIA+ community, professing a sincere apology and so called “change of heart,” then completely flip for the sake of corrupt forces wield ing money and power in our state and unfounded fear rooted in prejudice?!
Your own church leader has said… “Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles extended the invitation to “be at the forefront in terms of expressing love, compassion, and outreach. … Let’s not have families
of all people in Utah, regardless of their gender identity, orientation (which is not just sexual; it is also spiritu al, mental, emotional, physical, and aesthetic, filling every dimension of our beautiful souls), and any other differ ences or uniquenesses we may have!
Not even the corruption of your heart for the sake of money, pow er, influence, greed, and your own ambitions can ever change that!
Power to ALL the People of Utah during this important PRIDE month, which celebrates ALL Utahns re gardless of our diversity! Q
Conservative Extremists
BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI
My teenage son has been watch ing the show “Ted” lately. A couple of years ago, I watched the first “Ted” movie with him at his request. It was, um, not to my taste. I’m not a huge fan of blue humor, especially when it comes from a sentient teddy bear.
He showed me a clip of the fami ly sitting around the table. Gayness comes up as a subject, and the mother character chimes in that the father character always says, “College makes you gay.” My son thought this was very funny. And it honestly was.
It reminded me of one of my favorite movies, “But I’m a Cheerleader,” where the head of a conversion therapy camp, played by Cathy Moriarty, tells the parents of Megan (Natasha Lyonne), a teenage cheerleader suspected of being gay, “You almost lost her to college.”
That movie, with the premise that conversion therapy is stupid and abusive, came out in 1999. Here we are in 2026, and conservatives are still claiming that it’s possible for LGBTQ+ people, especially kids, to “pray the gay away.” And the extremist U.S. Supreme Court is siding with the bigots.
So does college make people gay? No, of course not. But it’s funny to joke about because there are people who actually believe this. Right wing extremists have been sounding the alarm about higher education for decades, claiming that colleges and universities are too liberal, putting funny ideas in the heads of young people about equality and social justice.
This has accelerated under the Trump administration as exceedingly extremist ideas are being taken main stream. Because education is a threat to extremist ideology. The more educated a person is, the harder it is to convince them that transgender people are a
threat, that racism doesn’t exist, that Donald Trump is a good president, or that vaccines are bad and measles is good, actually.
So it’s not surprising that conser vative extremists are going all out to make college less “woke,” going to great lengths to stifle free speech. And, yes, these are the same conservatives who threw a fit over free speech when students protested right wing extrem ists holding events on their campuses. Remember when Elon Musk bought Twitter to make it a bastion of free speech? And now it’s a Nazi free for all? That’s the kind of free speech they like.
Recently, two different institutions of higher education made news for shutting down free speech, specifically free speech about LGBTQ+ ideas.
The first school is Texas Tech Uni versity, which “has implemented a sweeping new policy that blocks discussions of LGBTQ+ issues in classrooms and student assign ments,” according to The Advocate.
“Instruction must not endorse fluid gender identity as an empiri cal biological reality that supersedes the two sex requirement,” a memo detailing the new policy reads. “Nor may programs compel students to personally affirm gender ideology.”
In other words, teachers need to treat transgender people like UFOs, as if there’s no hard evi dence confirming their existence and everyone who believes in them is part of the lunatic fringe.
Now, you might be asking your self, “This school’s chancellor sounds like some sort of former Republican state senator who led the state’s ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education or something.”
And you would be right. That is
exactly who he is. Living his dream.
Then there’s Pensacola State College preventing student journalists from publishing LGBTQ related stories “because their LGBTQ+ content could violate Florida’s Stop WOKE Act.”
The stories in question were “a profile of a local drag queen, a piece on a queer bookstore, and a story about a community poetry club,” reports journalist Erin Reed. Down right shocking subject matter.
“The move to censor students from writing about LGBTQ+ people breaks with both recent and longstanding precedent, and the cited justification doesn’t even hold up,” Reed writes. “Florida’s Stop WOKE Act, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022, prohibits public colleges from funding ‘advoca cy’ for diversity, equity, and inclusion and establishes a sort of Don’t Say Gay protocol that applies to colleges. But a federal judge blocked the law’s provi sions, calling them ‘positively dystopian’ [and the] 11th Circuit affirmed that injunction in 2024, describing the law as ‘the latest attempt to control speech by recharacterizing it as conduct’ and calling viewpoint based restrictions ‘the greatest First Amendment sin.’ The law remains enjoined to this day; PSC is censoring students to comply with a law it is not even legally required to follow.”
In other words, the Stop WOKE Act isn’t even legally enforceable. Which means the stated reason for the cen sorship is either a lie or comes from a person who doesn’t understand the law.
So, who knows? Maybe it’s part of the ongoing attack on higher edu cation, or maybe it’s all just some silly li’l old misunderstanding. Q
D’Anne Witkowski is a writer living with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBTQ+ politics for nearly two decades. Follow her on X @MamaDWitkowski.
Youwho’s your daddy
Semisesquicentennial; look it up
BY CHRISTOPHER KATIS
may not have heard of the artist John Trumbull, but you’ve definitely seen his most famous painting: Declaration of Independence. It’s what is on the back of a $2 bill. Here’s the kicker: the scene it depicts never happened. By the time the document was ready to be signed, Philadelphia was too dangerous for the delegates to all gather to autograph it –they each entered the city when they could, signed it, and left immediately. What we’ve been taught as a defining moment in the formation of our nation was really just propaganda optics.
As the U.S. celebrates our semises quicentennial, our 250th birthday, we should be used to the idea of two Amer icas: one we pretend exists, and one that really does. We talk about welcoming all who come to our shores, but the first immigration law – passed in 1790 – limited citizenship for immigrants to free white people. We passed laws excluding Chinese, forbade women who were deemed to potentially be prosti tutes, and set quotas favoring Western and Northern Europeans – a policy the current president still supports.
We pride ourselves on the equality of every American, yet gay men were routinely imprisoned, harassed by cops, bashed, and even murdered. Perpetrators walked free by arguing the “gay panic defense”. This argument even bled into the fight by President Bill Clinton to al low LGBTQ+ people to serve openly in the military. Famously, Sen. Sam Nunn visited the cramped sleeping quarters aboard a submarine to demonstrate why gay men shouldn’t be allowed to serve. As usual, lesbian women were ignored. And in a place where we sing the praises of family – calling them the very foundation of the nation itself – we legislatively limited who that meant. Same gender marriage became
law nationwide only within the past decade. Gay men and lesbian women couldn’t be legal parents in Utah until the SCOTUS marriage equality ruling.
But we also preach an ideal that I believe is true: hope. As the grandson of immigrants, as a gay man, and as a
equality, or that gay parents are fabulous, or that trans folks can use whatever bathroom they choose. But for LGBTQ+ Americans, we can have hope that one day those naysayers will become our biggest fans. Having hope for a better country, not just for us but for our chil
father, I’ve seen firsthand how hope for a better life and a better nation is an integral part of the American psyche.
Look, our country’s name not withstanding, we’re never going to be completely united; no nation ever really is. Even the Revolution wasn’t universally supported – about a third were pro independence, a third loyal to the crown, and – typically Ameri can – a third didn’t care. They hoped for a new nation, for reconciliation with England, for a quick resolution to it all. But they were united in hoping for a better future for their children. There will never be a time when all 342 million of us agree on marriage
dren, is ingrained in us as much today as it was in 1776. This sense of idealism allows us to fight for positive change; it’s what drives us to continue fight ing to expand and preserve our rights, especially at times when our country doesn’t seem so great. It empowers us to recreate the America we want. That’s what the founders really believed in. That Trumbull painting may not show exactly what happened back in July 1776, but it clearly captures the hope for a new country envisioned by the founders. And if you look closely, you might even see an even better nation hoped for by generations of Americans yet to come. Happy 250th, America! Q
Gov. Cox, you created hope, then lost trust
BY DR/. ROB MOOLMAN
Gov.
Cox and Lt. Gov. Henderson,
In between seeing the wonderful and joyous photographs and posts about the Utah Pride Festival, I have taken a few days to reflect your recent announce ment of “Fidelity Month,” and I feel compelled to speak, not just as a Queer person, but as the former CEO of the Utah Pride Center, and as someone who after meeting you many times, once be lieved deeply in your willingness to lead with courage, compassion, and inclusion. While I now live in Australia, I have so many incredible memories of my time and friends in Utah. Particularly of the great honour I had to be part of the LGBTQ+ community there, where I got to experience so many wonderful things as CEO of the Pride Center. One of those incredible moments came in 2021, you visited the Utah Pride Center. You sat with our team, and you told us you were a Governor for all of us. I remember so clearly the day Lt. Gover nor Henderson and then the day that Governor Cox walked through the doors of the Utah Pride Center – the first Utah Governor and Lt. Governors to ever do so. It was amazing! I remember a few days later taking the Lt. Gover nor for a private and personal walk through our “PRIDE GARDEN” (that we proudly held in Covid affected 2021 in place of the Pride Festival), with her child and showing them the stories and exhibitions and joy of the event. They were appreciative of the work and the community. In your visit to the UPC Governor Cox, you spoke to us about the need for spaces like the Utah Pride Center, you told us that Utah had “a long way to go”, and that the amazing work of the UPC team and community made the whole State more “inclusive and kind” – you posted about it on your social media account to show you were
there and you told us you were there for us, the LGBTQ+ community of Utah. That moment mattered! It mattered to our staff, to our volunteers, and most importantly to the LGBTQ+ Utahns who so rarely see themselves acknowledged by those in power. Your visit, and your words, created some thing fragile but powerful: HOPE!
In 2021, you formally recognized Pride Month and wrote that Utah must “encourage conversations about what it means to love each other, under stand our differences, and support our LGBTQ+ friends and family.” You ac knowledged that members of our com munity who do not feel loved and ac cepted experience higher rates of mental health challenges. You called on Utah to “cultivate a climate of inclusion and unconditional love for all” and to “strive to be more inclusive and accepting” of LGBTQ+ people. Your own statement on your social media account was that we must “celebrate our common human ity” through love and understanding. Those were not neutral statements. They were clear, moral declarations about who belongs in Utah and what kind of culture we are striving to build. Which is why this June feels so different and why I am so disappoint ed. I feel lied to. I feel deceived, and I feel that you have hurt a community that did not deserve your cowardice. Your decision to forgo recognizing Pride Month, after years of doing so, and instead elevate “Fidelity Month” stands in direct contrast to those earlier commitments. To be clear, many people may find meaning in Fidelity Month,
and I would celebrate that with them. But when it is introduced in place of acknowledging Pride Month, it does not land as additive. It lands as a substitution. And that substitution comes at the expense of a commu nity you once publicly affirmed.
At a time when Governors across your country, across party lines, continue to recognize Pride Month and the human ity of LGBTQ+ people, your absence from that recognition is felt more deeply. Because it is not just silence; it is a departure from your own words.
So I am left with some diffi cult questions – ones that I sus pect many are now asking:
Were those words about “uncondi tional love” and “inclusion” reflective of a true and enduring commitment? Or were they situational, spoken when it was easier, and set aside when it became politically inconve nient? Are you a Governor who can be trusted when times get hard? Do you stand for an Utah where all can belong and where kindness matters?
Because from where many of us stand today, this decision does not reflect the Utah you once described. It feels less like leadership rooted in principle and more like alignment with talking points that diminish a community that already carries disproportionate harm.
Utah does not become more unified by choosing which communities are worthy of recognition when times are easy. We do not build a culture of hope, love, and understanding by omitting those who most need to be seen. The values you outlined in
your own proclamation – that we must listen, include, support, and love unconditionally – do not hold true if they are not applied consistently.
I am also thinking about how this mo ment is being read beyond the LGBTQ+ community – by other intersectional and marginalized communities across Utah who are watching closely. When leadership publicly affirms a com munity one year and withholds that recognition the next, it sends a broader message about the conditional nature of belonging. Communities of color, First Nations communities, immigrant families, people with disabilities, and others who have historically had to fight to be seen and respected understand this pattern well. They know what it means when inclusion is treated as optional or expendable. And I imagine many are asking the same question we are: if sup port can be so easily withdrawn from one community, what does that mean for the stability of support for any of
us? True inclusion is not selective; it is consistent, especially when it is difficult.
And yet, even in this disappoint ment, I want to be clear about some thing bigger than any proclamation:
The LGBTQ+ community in Utah is not diminished by your silence. They are still here. They are still building community, creating belonging, and supporting one another in ways that are real and tangible, whether recognized by the State or not.
To every LGBTQ+ Utahn who may feel unseen right now, to every amazing Queer person in Utah whom I had the pleasure to work with and meet, please know that as I sit here in Australia, observing this from so far away, please know that you are in my heart and that your worth is not determined by a statement from elected leader ship. Your belonging is inherent. You are part of an amazing and powerful community, and you always will be.
Governor Cox, leadership is not about
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never getting it wrong – it is about having the courage to stand by your values, especially when it is difficult. I hope you will reflect on your own words from 2021, and consider what it means to truly build the inclusive and compassionate Utah you once described. I hope you will recognise the pain caused and the ways in which you might make some small repair by putting out a Pride Month proclamation. I hope that one day I might see again the leader and person who I thought you were when we met those many years ago.
To the wonderful Utah LGBTQ+ community and the Utah Pride Center – thank you for having changed my life and the lives of so many. Keep up the amazing work! Love will always “trump” hate!
Happy Pride Month to you, Governor Cox, and Lt. Governor Henderson!
DR. ROB MOOLMAN
Former CEO, Utah Pride Center
SLC Pride has MOVED!
SLC
Pride is back, but not where you’ll remember them from their past two years. This year, they are on Fourth West and Fourth North in Salt Lake City, by Mountain West Cider, Red Rock Brewing, and Utah Film Center.
The event runs again the last weekend in June, noon to 10pm on Saturday, June 27th and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday the 28th
There are three stages — the KRCL Rowdy Stage at the north end of the festival, Rock Camp Family Stage mid festival at Mountain West Cider, and a Busker/Karaoke Stage on the south end. There are also a Kid Space and a Teen Space, as well as a chill zone. There are 195 vendors, com munity organizations, and food and drink offerings along the full venue.
And the weather looks great for the event! On Saturday it is forescast to be partly cloudy with a high of 86 degrees. Sunday will be unseasonably cooler at 68 degrees and mostly sunny.
This year there are dozens of event offerings from many artists and organizations.
NuaNua Collective’s Fafa Fest
On Saturday, the NuaNua Collective is taking over the Family Stage. They were a big part of last year’s event, and an even larger part for this year.
“It’s wild to think about how far we’ve come. What started as a dream to create space for Queer and Trans Pacific Islanders has grown into some thing bigger than we could have ever imagined, a village built by us, for us. A place where our entire community can find community, joy and culture,” the
collective said in a statement. “Every performer, volunteer, elder, youth, artist, organizer, sponsor, and community member has helped shape Fafa Fest into what it is today: a celebration of our joy, culture, resilience, and collective power.”
Fafa Fest is an all ages event that starts with workshops from noon to 4 p.m. followed by stage performances through 10 p.m.
Sensuality Alley
A sensuality area is being sponsored by Sapho SLC, Pleasure Portal, and blackBoots. There are 18+ and 21+ kink, leather, workshops, and performance art.
The alley is between the mail stag es, south of Red Rock Brewery.
Read Between the Bans
A coalition of LGBTQ+ aligned orga nizations and independent booksellers has launched a campaign to put banned books directly into the hands of Utah readers. The Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, Safe Zone Utah, and four local bookstores — Under the Umbrella, The Legendarium, The King’s English, and Weller Book Works — announced “Read Between the Bans” on June 22, a book collection and giveaway effort that will run at community events across the state until, organiz ers say, book banning in Utah ends.
The campaign’s debut will take place at SLC Pride this Sunday, June 28, where a Bookmobile stationed at the corner of 400 North and 400 West will distribute banned books from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The timing is pointed: as of June 2026, Utah leads the nation with 35 banned books — the highest count of any U.S. state.
“We are stronger when all people have access to the information they need to determine the best paths for themselves,” said Liz Pitts, President and CEO of the Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. The campaign, organizers say, is a direct response to what they describe as a vocal minority working to remove LGBTQ+ and BIPOC voices from literature — content they argue is not merely representative, but lifesaving.
The partner booksellers frame the effort in explicitly economic as well as
cultural terms, invoking the principle of a free marketplace of ideas as essential to community wellbeing. Residents interested in donating books or learning more can visit the campaign’s page at utahlgbtqchamber.org/read between the bans. SLC Pride is free to attend, running Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Pied for Pride
As a fundraiser for the SUICIDE PREVENTION MEMORIAL FADED’S WALK ACROSS AMERICA , every half hour from 2 to 6 pm on the Rowdy Stage, you will have the opportunity to put a pie in the face of an LGBTQ+ community leader. Some of those who have agreed to participate:
CHAD CALL , the executive director of the Utah Pride Center, where he works to unite, empower, and celebrate Utah’s LGBTQIA + community. With a background in event production, organizational leadership, and develop ment, Chad is passionate about creating spaces where people feel seen, support ed, and connected. A lifelong Utahn, he believes in the power of community, compassion, and showing up for one another, especially when it matters most.
FADED HEARTWOOD, founder of the Suicide Prevention Memorial, a community driven movement focused on mental health awareness, remem brance, and healing. They are current ly preparing for a 2027 Walk Across America to spread the message that no one should face life’s struggles alone.
TENILLE TAGGART, a gay gender fluid community organizer and activist who has a long history of working with and advocating for women, minorities, and marginalized people. Coupled with her background in Clinical Psychology and the loss of her brother to suicide, Te nille knows how the importance of suicide prevention work.
She is committed to continuing her advocacy work at the highest levels and hopes to hold elected office one day.
KREE ARIAS is a proud Trans Man who was raised in the foster care
system and served for our country.
He currently works as the safety direc tor and director of people & culture of the grassroots organization Utah March. He has helped organize protests, marches, mutual aid events, and markets. He’s helped raise money for gender affirming surgeries, immi gration fees, the union, and more.
Kree will continue to use his voice and story to amplify others and create a safe space for all.
Short films at Utah Film Center
FILM: MY NAME IS ___
A young trans teen grapples with her identity and coming out from a black and white world that actively suppresses it.
Director Aria Gunter says, “Creating this film was an extremely introspective process as a trans woman who transi tioned throughout high school. A lot of people don’t know what it’s like to be trans, so I wanted to get an accurate representation of what a trans person can experience in their daily life. To provide representation that isn’t demon izing or harmful and dispel the hateful rhetoric surrounding trans issues.
FILM: GROUNDED
A pre transitioned trans boy is trans formed into a harpy and learns the importance of knowing one’s limits. He realizes that although he doesn’t have his ideal body, he can work with his body to create a life that’s worth living.
FILM: DUSK
Ecuadorian American filmmaker now living in Utah Kohl Avalos Bybee brings a bold, personal storytelling to the screen. His film “Dusk” follows a character embracing their gender non conforming identity through dance and self expression. Dusk was an official selection at the Utah Inter national Film Festival last year.
FILM: RIPPLE
During the height of the AIDS epidem ic, Katherine, a compassionate pallia tive nurse, works tirelessly to care for patients suffering from the devastating disease. Meanwhile, her only son, Daniel, leaves home for the summer to work as
a camp counselor. Katherine receives a distressing phone call and rushes to the camp to find that Daniel has been caught with another male counselor, Andrew. The rev elation sparks a mix of emo tions within Katherine: fear of AIDS spreading within her own family and concern for her son’s well being.
Panels
Also at the Utah Film Center:
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
1 PM – WASATCH FOOD CO-OP
Phoebe, Angela, and Fabian discuss the origins of the Wasatch Food Co op and the environmental, eco nomic, and ethical princi ples that guide its work.
2 PM – UAF LEGACY HEALTH
HealthySexual: An Overview of HIV Protec tive Measures to Promote Sexual Health. Presented by Joseph McCormack. Learn how STIs are transmitted, why regular testing matters, and how to have produc tive conversations about sexual health with partners and healthcare providers.
3 PM – SHORT FILMS listed above.
4 PM – ACLU OF UTAH Your Vote Is Your Power: Advancing Civil Rights and Liberties in the Queer Community Alison Griffith leads a discussion and Q&A on current campaigns and cases involving voting rights, transgender rights, immigrant rights, and First Amendment protections.
5 PM – Dani Durrant, FAIR HOUSING ACT
A practical overview of housing discrimina
tion, how it affects renters and homeowners, and resources available to help protect your rights.
6 PM – Leather Pride / blackBoots KINKY CONSENT: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO PLAYING SAFE AND HAVING A GREAT TIME presented by Max Garrett.
7 PM – QUEER AND SOBER SLC TenAce Moser presents on recovery re lated topics relevant to the queer community.
8 PM – PROTEST AFTER READING Kat Kellermey er and Hillary McDaniel present a beginner’s guide to historical movements, community centered
Drink Up
Beverage sales are part of most any Pride event to help cover costs. At SLC Pride, you can get beer, wine, cider and agua fresca for $8, soda and bottled water for $4. Iced tap water is free.
Getting there, parking
Those taking Uber or Lyft will be dropped at the south end of the festival at about 3rd North and 4th West. There are also lots for bicycle and ADA (with tags) parking lots. Scooters, skateboards, and strollers can also be checked at the bicycle parking.
West High School will be hosting a fundrais er by allowing people to park in their lots. Entrances
There are four entrances at the north, south, east and west sides of the event. Each has a security checkpoint where bags, strollers, and wagons will be checked. Q
For more information about SLC Pride, go to slcpride.org
SLC Pride Entertainment Schedule
Saturday, June 27
KRCL ROWDY STAGE
REDROCK BREWERY | NORTH SIDE
EXPECT UNCENSORED QUEER MUSICIANS AND FREE SPEECH
12:00 PM — DJ SUZY
DJ Suzy brings 12 years of high-energy, open-format DJing to the stage, blending queer anthems, modern hits, underground beats, and country. A pro with experience on major sports teams, she creates inclusive, electrifying atmospheres where everyone feels seen. Her sets are more than music — they’re celebrations of joy, unity, and self-expression.
1:30 PM — TRASH PANDAS
An all-youth, all-local cover band, Trash Pandas have been spreading their tunes and joy for over three years. With several Rock Camp SLC Alumni in their group, Trash Pandas will bring the energy for the Rowdy Stage.
3:30 PM — PERFECT STORM
Perfect Storm is a transgender solo artist blending raw, vulnerable lyrics with rock-driven guitar. With 23 years of guitar experience and over four years of singing, Sammy draws from ’90s and early 2000s rock, blues, classic rock, and classical guitar. They’ve written two albums awaiting recording, promising heartfelt, genre-spanning music.
2:30 PM — FIGHT THE FUTURE
Fight the Future is a hardcore punk quartet that draws inspiration from the spirit of New York hardcore and the melodies of Bay Area punk. Led by the unapologetic vocals of Kelly Green, the band embodies leftist activism, queer liberation, and feminist resistance.
4:30 PM — MOWTH
Mowth is a female-fronted punk rock and noise rock band based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Formed in 2019, they are known for their fast, loud, and angry sound, delivering short, energetic tracks under three minutes.
5:30 PM — PS DESTROY THIS
P.S. Destroy This is a queer, riot-grrrl punk band based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Known for their anti-establishment lyrics and high-energy music, the group actively speaks out against the patriarchy, fascism, and transphobia
6:30 PM — DIE SHINY
Die Shiny, the electro-pop powerhouse from Salt Lake City, fuses dreamy synthscapes with bold, alt-hip-hop energy. Led by non-binary duo Callie Crofts and Zac Bryant, the band is known for catchy, purpose-driven anthems, explosive live shows, and a growing cult following. Fierce, unapologetic, and rooted in activism, Die Shiny is redefining what it means to be queer and loud.
7:30 PM — VENUS DEATH TRAP
Venus Death Trap is a queer punk band from Salt Lake City, Utah. Venus is all about the dramatics, the theatrics, and recycling that old Halloween costume.
8:45 PM — SALT LICK DANCING
Learn to line dance with Salt Lick Dancing, a popular, free weekly queer country and line dancing event at Milk+. It was founded by organizer Edward Glass as a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ folks, allies, and dancers of all skill levels.
ROCK CAMP FAMILY STAGE
THE GARTEN AT MT. WEST CIDER | MID FESTIVAL ALL AGES ALL WEEKEND LONG
FAFA FEST takeover
PRESENTED BY:THE NUANUA COLLECTIVE
12-4 PM — WORKSHOPS
4:00 PM — DJ MASC
DJ Masc is a performing artist and DJ best known in Salt Lake’s Pacific Islander community. They spin high-energy sets across genres like house, techno, and electronic.
5:00
PM — DJ CHISPA
DJ Chispa is well-known in the local nightlife scene for spinning upbeat Latin sets, reggaeton, cumbia, and creating energetic spaces for Queer, Trans, and BIPOC communities.
6:00
PM — MIK JAGER
Mik Jager is a Pasifika Drag King and member of the Nuanua Collective, which uplifts Queer Pasifika in Utah. Through bold performances, often at Club Try-Angles with Those Bitches, Mik aims to inspire QTBIPOC visibility in SLC nightlife and create space where all are welcome, seen, and celebrated.
6:15 PM — OFFICIAL WELCOME
6:30 PM — CREATIVE PACIFIC RUNWAY WITH DJ CHISPA
7:00 PM — SUGARHOUSE EMPIRE
7:15 PM — MR. E MEAT
7:30 PM — VIVA CHILE!
7:45 PM — MS COMMUNICATED
Sunday, June 28
KRCL ROWDY STAGE
REDROCK BREWERY | NORTH SIDE
EXPECT UNCENSORED QUEER MUSICIANS AND FREE SPEECH
12:00 PM — PUKE SLC
Puke SLC is the stage name of Kaylee Todd, a rising Salt Lake City artist and DJ known for a fun mix of genres like Jungle, Hardcore, Industrial Techno, and retro Tech House.
1:30 PM — JAM AZIAM
Chorally trained in Utah, Jam Aziam provides an eclectic sound with music from reggae to oldies, from soul to dance music. With his funk band, he can really turn out a party on the dance floor, with his genuine authentic persona on stage.
2:30 PM — JUDAS ROSE
Judas Rose is a multi-genre musician and drag artist local to the Salt Lake Valley. They see drag as a vehicle for their voice and songwriting to shine through, along with their poetry and comedic storytelling. They are very active in the local open mic scene and are excited to continue to collaborate and evolve alongside the other creative minds in the city.
3:30 PM — 3RD ANNUAL VARIETY SHOW
AIKO THEE EMPRESS
APHRODEITY
BILLIE ROLL
BLACK LUCIOUS
BOMBSHELL ELLE
CITRUS PASTEL
COOKIE PUSS
EMERALD NIGHTMARE
LEXI GOLD
LUNA SOL
LUNA TICK
MR. E MEAT
ROSA RICA
SARA-ANN WRAP
Show hosted by MONA DIET
4:45 PM — HARRIS PILTON
Salt Lake DJ Harris Pilton is known for energetic house-driven sets, nostalgic edits, disco influence, and a nightlife aesthetic inspired by fashion, pop culture, and unapologetic fun.
ROCK CAMP FAMILY STAGE
THE GARTEN AT MT. WEST CIDER | MID FESTIVAL ALL AGES ALL WEEKEND LONG 10:00 AM – PANCAKE BRUNCH FUNDRAISER
The pancake brunch is a suggested $5 donation, and all funds raised benefit the SUICIDE PREVENTION MEMORIAL
Come early and get pancakes, coffee, iced chai, and the best seats for a show the whole family can enjoy
10:30 AM – THE (SECOND) ANNUAL KINGLY SLC DRAG BRUNCH ADVENTURE
This event is a family-focused, all-ages drag melodrama production, featuring an all-drag-king cast! This is the second year they’ve presented this production, originally conceptualized and written in-house by SLC Pride Entertainment with the help of local king, LIAM MANCHESTHAIR . Hosted by JUSTIN
Starring: BILLY THE KING as POWERFUL STELLVESTER THE JESTER as INDEPENDENT
MIK JAGER as HELPFUL
SLAYDES as FANTASTICAL
NOTTA GENDA as FABULOUS
BUTCH SASSIDY as FRIENDLY
1:00 PM – ROCK CAMP OPEN MIC
3:00 PM – CARE
Care is an all-trans band that cannot be bound in a single genre. They have gone punk, rock, folk, pop, metal, you name it! Frontman Care writes all of the songs from a place of deep hurt, often seeking community through shared experiences. They tackle hard topics such as mental health and abuse, but also their deep connection with their spouse (the drummer). It’s a band full of love. :).
4:00 PM – MEL SOUL & THE HEART BEAT
Mel Soul & The Heartbeat is a folk-rock and singer-songwriter band based. Leading the band is Mel Soul (Melanie Lewis), a singer, guitarist, and songwriter who has been writing and performing for over a decade. She grew up in Utah County and manages both her solo career and her band. The band was created in the summer of 2022 to mix acoustic folk roots with electric rock, bringing a high-energy, soulful sound to their shows.
5:00 PM – PINK PRISM
Pink Prism is a non-binary trans fem musician. This is their second time performing at SLC Pride as they performed in the Variety Show as Nu-tral doing a number to “They/Them.”
BUSKER AND KARAOKE STAGE
ACROSS FROM THE UTAH OPERA BUILDING | SOUTH FESTIVAL Come show us what you’ve got!
Hosted By TOAST
KID SPACE
KIDS UNDER 11 MUST BE SUPERVISED BY AN ADULT
SAT @ 12 PM – YOGA WITH ERICA
SUN @ 11 AM – DRAG STORY HOUR
SAT & SUN – 11 AM, 1PM, 3PM 4PM – Balloon Animals
SAT 6–10 PM – ALL DAY FUN
Water games, Bubbles, Arts & Crafts,
Jewelry Making, Chalk Sidewalk, Photo Booth, Yard Games, Friendship Bracelets, Nail Polish Station, Scavenger Hunt, Lego Station, Self Regulated Play list
TEEN SPACE
UTAH OPERA LAWN. CHECK ON YOUR KID, BUT PLEASE DON’T “HANG OUT”. THIS SPACE IS NOT MEANT FOR ADULTS!
Utah’s 2025 Pride season is brimming with vibrant celebra tions across the state. Here’s a chronological guide to the regional Pride events, each offering unique experiences and opportunities to support the LGBTQ+ community.
JUNE 27-28, SLC PRIDE FESTIVAL,
SLC Pride returns to The Gateway in downtown Salt Lake City for its third annual festival, celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community with a weekend full of joy, inclusivity, and empowerment. Plans for the event are not yet available, so stay tuned. SLC-PRIDE.ORG
JUNE 28, TOOELE PRIDE
Celebrate community and visibility from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Tooele Marketplace, 140 E. 200 S., with a day of food trucks, vendor and resource booths, open mic performances, live entertainment, face painting, and a raffle.
SEPT. 19, LOGAN PRIDE FESTIVAL
Logan Pride is scheduled for September 19, on Federal Avenue in Logan, Utah. Since 2016, Logan Pride has served the Cache Valley community as a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating diversity while promoting LGBTQIA+ visibility, acceptance, and support in the region. “While we host many projects and activities throughout the year, our hallmark event is our annual Pride Festival that occurs each September,” organizers said. “This single-day event has notably generated the largest reach and impact in and for our community, and it is only made possible by supporters like you.” LOGANPRIDE. ORG
SEPT. 9–12, DURANGO PRIDE
The Four Corners area Prides up in the Fall. Last year’s festivities included a downtown Pride Parade, Drag Trivia at the Starlight Lounge, a Pride Dance, and a full-day Buckley Park Festival. THEALLIANCE.GAY/PRIDE
SEPT.
26,
PRIDE OF SOUTHERN UTAH, ST. GEORGE
Pride in the Park is Southern Utah’s biggest LGBTQ+ pride festival and is held at JC Snow Park in St. George from 11am to 5pm. It is a free all-ages community event with live performances, food trucks, and local vendors. No ticket is required to attend. Bag check and metal detectors will be used to help keep this event safe for everyone. PRIDEOFSOUTHERNUTAH.ORG
OCT. 2-4, OGDEN PRIDE FESTIVAL
Celebrating its 12th year, the Ogden Pride Festival has moved! The new schedule is the first weekend of October. “Our community resoundingly said the first weekend in October was the move, so starting in 2026, Ogden, dust off your glitter and pull out those cozy pride sweaters, because the festival is making the jump to October!” Organizers call it the fiercest way to kick off LGBTQ+ History Month and keep the pride alive. OGDENPRIDE.ORG
OCT. 18, SLC LEATHER PRIDE
SLC Leather Pride is a two-day celebration of Salt Lake City’s
Leather, Kink & BDSM community! Kick off Friday, Oct. 17 with the Contest Meet & Greet at Tryangles (7–9 p.m.), then join the indoor/outdoor festival Saturday, Oct. 18 at Milk+ (noon–8 p.m.) — featuring vendors, entertainment, bootblacks, auctions, food, a full bar, and title contests of MR. LEATHER SL♥UT 2026 and, new this year, MS. Leather SL♥UT 2026. Free entry, 21+. SLCLEATHERPRIDE. COM Q
Idaho Pride Calendar
JUNE 20, GATE CITY PRIDE, POCATELLO LGBTQ+ community spirit in the Gate City of southeastern Idaho. GATECITYPRIDE.ORG
JUNE 20, REXBURG PRIDE, REXBURG Building LGBTQ+ community in eastern Idaho. REXBURGPRIDE.ORG
JUNE 27, IDAHO FALLS PRIDE, IDAHO FALLS LGBTQ+ community along the Snake River. IDAHOFALLSPRIDE.COM
AUGUST 28–30, PALOUSE PRIDE, MOSCOW A 3-day celebration embracing LGBTQ+ culture, arts, and community. INLANDOASIS. ORG
SEPTEMBER 18–20, BOISE PRIDE, BOISE The 37th year of Idaho’s largest LGBTQ+ festival, in the capital city. BOISEPRIDEFEST.ORG
Main Rodeo Competition Saturday and Sunday
The competitive rodeo takes center stage on Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28. Doors open at 9 a.m. both days, with Grand Entry and competition starting at 10 a.m. The event features traditional rodeo disciplines alongside the camp events that are a signature of IG RA sanctioned competitions.
Free contestant horse stalls and RV parking are available on site. The offi cial host hotel is Comfort Suites Ogden, located at 2250 S. 1200 W. in Ogden.
About the Utah Gay Rodeo Association
The Utah Gay Rodeo Asso ciation is bringing its fourth annual Crossroads of the West Regional Rodeo to the Golden Spike Event Center June 25–28. The multi day event, sanctioned by the International Gay Rodeo As sociation, will draw compet itors from across the United States and Canada to Ogden’s Golden Spike Event Center at 1000 N. 1200 W., with $15,000 in added prize money distributed across all events.
Kickoff Party Thursday Night
The weekend gets underway Thursday, June 25, with a kickoff party hosted by The Outlaw Saloon, located at 1254 W. 2100 S. in West Haven. The party begins at 6 p.m. and is open to guests 21 and older. Organizers have described the event as featur ing dancing, live music, food, drinks, and festivities ahead of the main rodeo action.
First-Ever Rodeo School on Friday
Friday, June 26, marks a first for the Utah Gay Rodeo: the debut of an official Rodeo School, designed to give newcomers hands on instruction from experienced competitors and officials before the main rodeo begins.
Registration opens at 10 a.m. at the Golden Spike Event Center, with classes running from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participants can sign up to learn and prac tice any of the following events for $20 per event:
Calf Roping on Foot, Chute Dogging, Steer Riding, Flag Race, Bar rels, Steer Decorating.
Organizers said those who sign up for Rodeo School will have the opportunity to com pete in the same events at the main rodeo that weekend.
The UGRA traces its roots back to 1979, when it was founded as the Golden Spike Gay Rodeo Association. The organization joined the IGRA in 1989, produced its first rodeo in 2000, and eventually dissolved in 2006. It was revived in 2016.
The Crossroads of the West rodeo began in 2023 and has grown each year since. UGRA membership is open to anyone 21 and older with an interest in supporting Utah’s LGBTQ+ communities through the rodeo tradition.
Tickets and additional information are available at utahgayrodeo.com. Hotel reservations can also be made through a group rate link posted on the association’s social media channels.
The Golden Spike Event Center is located at 1000 N. 1200 W., Ogden, UT 84404. The Outlaw Saloon kickoff party is located at 1254 W. 2100 S., West Haven, Utah. More information at UTAHGAYRODEO.COM
Gay adult film actor Milo Miles speaks
out after being banned from
entering
the U.S. for 10 years
SPENCER MACNAUGHTON
MiloMiles, a Toron to based adult film actor, was recently banned from entering the United States for the next 10 years after he says he was detained and questioned by Customs and Border Protection agents over the course of two days. Miles, who was trying to fly to Las Vegas from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, says he had never faced significant issues at the border ahead of this instance.
While U.S. Customs can deny entry to people they believe have engaged in sex work, Miles says he was questioned for upwards of eight hours, often about his sexual orientation. He says one agent asked him why he has so many “gay clothes” and if he was “sick” upon seeing his PrEP medication and his fiber pills. In this episode of “UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton,” Miles sits
down for his first on camera interview to explain his experience, what he thinks Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney should do in response to this treatment, and why he believes all LGBTQ+ trav elers should avoid the U.S. right now.
For folks hearing that intro, obviously, it sounds like a horrific day. For people who haven’t read your story yet, do you wanna walk us through the day you tried to fly to Las Vegas? What happened? Yeah, so it all happened in January of this year. I was banned from entering the United States for 10 years while I was trying to fly to Las Vegas to attend the GayVN Awards, which, in the adult industry, are like the porn Oscars. I was sched uled to present at the event. I received six nominations and ultimately won one of those awards. But instead, on my way down from Toronto, where we have preclearance with customs at Pearson Airport, I was detained and questioned by U.S. Customs for eight
hours. My luggage and my phones were searched, my privacy was violated, and I was subject to derogatory comments with an unsettling focus on my sexual orientation and sex life. It was as if my own gayness was working against me at customs. I felt coerced, manipulated, and powerless. It was a completely dev astating experience because I feel like I was being punished for doing what I love, for showing up as myself, and for existing openly in my work and identity.
Wow, yeah, that sounds like a horrible experience, and I’m sorry that you went through that. When you say being targeted for your gay identity, can you give us specifics, like exactly what were they saying to you? How were they treating you? How were they acting towards you? Yeah, so the whole thing actually happened over two days. My original flight to Vegas was on a Tuesday night. At the time, I had NEXUS, the Canadian equivalent of Global Entry. So, typically, when I cross the border, I don’t usually have an issue. And this trip was import ant because it wasn’t just the award show I was going to. As soon as my trip in Vegas ended a few days later, I was gonna rendezvous with my boyfriend in Florida, where he lives. But anyway, when I went through customs the first night, it wasn’t very busy. I think my flight was the last flight that was leaving from Toronto to the U.S., and the border agent that saw me was—he wasn’t the nicest border agent, let’s put it that way. He was scanning my fingerprints, and he said, “I need to take you to the back.” He didn’t tell me why. He just said that I was going into secondary questioning. So the border agent takes me to the back, and he has me fill out this form. He tells me to take a seat while we wait for my checked luggage to come back. And as soon as my luggage arrived, the officer started searching it. And he calls me over. And he’s completely fixated on why I have so much luggage. He asks me if I’m an erotic dancer, be cause he opens it up and he sees that I have “gay clothing” in my luggage.
Did he refer to them as gay clothing? He did, actually, yeah. He said, “Why do you have so many gay clothes?” And I
was like, what do you mean? I’m going on a cruise, I’m going to Vegas with friends. I’ve never been asked that question before, and I really wasn’t prepared for that series of questions. It was as if being gay in and of itself was a crime, and I was expected to some how defend my gayness. So I was, the entire time I’m trying to figure out why he’s asking these questions? What’s the angle? What’s he trying to get at? What’s the problem? But he would ask them in such a way that I think he was trying to get me to stumble on my answers, or trying to find this “I got you” moment with why I had so much gay clothing. He even asked why I have a Sniffies sticker on my luggage. Sniffies, the popular meetup app. Gay hookup app, yeah. Yeah, and he’s like, “What’s Sniffies?” It was as if he was trying to figure out if I was part of some gang or something, or if it meant that I was involved in gang activity, but with the gays, you know? What does Sniffies mean? Why is it on my luggage? And he goes through my backpack. He sees that I have medication that I’m bringing down with me. I mean, I had my PrEP, my fiber pills, my Doxy, and he asks me why I have so much medication. He says, am I sick? Like, he just looks at me and says that, and I’m like, no, no. But I’m happy to go through each one and tell you what it’s for and why I have it and why there’s a prescription for it. And he doesn’t really acknowledge my answers. He’s just going on to the next thing and going through everything. And eventually he says, “I’m going to search your phone.” And I was like, okay, yeah. I mean, we Canadians have been hearing about the phone searches since Trump took office, and how they’ve increased, and how everyone’s privacy is being violated. So it’s something that I was kind of prepared for mentally, or I’ve been preparing for mentally for a while. So I was like, okay, this is my time. They’re gonna search my phone. So I give him my phone, and he disappears to the back room. And it’s important to keep in mind that it’s just him and me at secondary screening at this point. It’s so late in the night that there’s no other officer on duty. There’s no other
passengers being questioned. It’s just me and this one agent. And I’m sitting there like, wow, this is super weird. Like, I’m definitely gonna miss my flight, but what’s happening? Why am I even back here? Like, what is the reason that there was, I guess, a flag on my account? And while the officer has my phone, he comes back 20 minutes later, and he says, “I looked at your phone, you’re a prostitute.” And I’m like, “What?” Like, first of all, the furthest thing that I expected him to say. And he’s like, “Yeah, I took a look at your phone, I saw messages.” And I know for a fact that there was none of that on my phone that indicated that I, or would have suggested I was a prostitute. There might be nude photos of me and friends when we go to the nude beach in Mexico, but he’s like, “Yeah, I saw your messages.” And then he says, “Wait, I thought you had a boyfriend. Why do you have so many pictures with other men?” And then I suddenly had to explain that I’m in an open relationship with my boyfriend, that it’s very normal in the gay community to have sex with other men outside of your relationship. But again, it was just like the weirdness of it all that just felt very odd and uncomfortable. And you know, when I pushed back on the whole prostitution thing, he kind of like growled and then went back and continued looking and then eventually came out again and said, “I couldn’t find anything. You’re free to go, but you missed your flight, so we’ll do it all again tomorrow.” And I was like, what does that mean? He escorted me out of there and brought me back through Canadian customs. And I was kind of just left speechless and kind of frozen because I’d never experienced something like that in my life. I had no idea what to do. And then to do it again tomorrow? It just sounded so ominous. So I didn’t get home until probably, I think, one o’clock in the morning. I’m at home, and I’m talking to my boyfriend, I’m talking to my friend who’s a lawyer, and I’m like, “That was the craziest thing ever. What do I do?” You know, part of me was thinking of just flat-out canceling the trip to Vegas because I think the reality of being a sex worker as a content creator is that I’m not the first person who’s been banned from entering the United States. Since my ban,
I know of at least five people from Toronto who have been banned from entering the United States. So at the back of my mind, I always kind of knew that it was a risk. And the reality is that Customs and Border Patrol agents see content creators as the same category as prostitutes. So I also was trying to avoid them finding out that I do porn because I didn’t want to be treated like a prostitute, because porn star equals prostitute in their eyes. Well, and that’s what we were trying to figure out when we were researching this, too, is, do they legally have a right to deny you entry into the U.S. because you do porn, right? And we looked it up, and it was a little muddy, but according to a Canadian sex worker support agency, Maggie’s, they say that customs has the right to deny entry to people they believe have engaged in sex work, even if they have never been convicted of prostitution, or are not traveling for work. In your eyes, what is the rule around porn? It feels like there’s been a gray area, because there are all these international porn conferences. I assume tons of global porn actors, adult entertainers, are coming to the U.S. all the time. So was it a gray area for you, or how do you interpret all of that? You know, you’re right. It really is a gray area. And there are a few schools of thought. One of the biggest challenges I’ve had doing content in the United States is finding a legal way to do it. A few years ago, I hired an immigration lawyer, and I said, “Hey, you know, I wanna start doing porn. I want to start working for studios in the United States.” But the problem is, you know, I don’t wanna feel like I’m sneaking into the country every time I have a porn shoot. And you know we looked at all the options, at all of these options, I spent all this money. And at the end of the day, the lawyer said, “Look, there’s really no visa option for someone who wants to film adult content in the United States. In fact, it’s better if you don’t say anything, because if they do end up, if you do apply for a visa and they do a background check and then see that you do porn, they’re going to put a permanent red flag on your account” because, again, porn equals sex work and sex work equals prostitution in the eyes of the U.S. government. So
that kind of scared me a little bit. In oth er words, my only option was to marry an American and start the green card application process to do what I love in the United States. I should mention that Canada is a lot more liberal here, to the point that even prostitution is decrimi nalized. It’s not something that you can be charged for; it’s not against the law to be a prostitute in Canada. So that’s one school of thought. When I would par
ticipate in content collab houses in the U.S., over the years I got to meet so many amazing content creators, and I knew that, at the end of the day, this could all end for me simply because I don’t have a green card or a U.S. passport. So it’s been something that’s kind of dawned on me for many, many years as a possibility and here we are, it’s actually happening. So you come back the next day, after very little sleep, what happens then when you come back? Yeah, that was the worst night of my life. I’ve never experienced such anxiety. I had maybe two hours of sleep before having to wake up early for my flight that morning. And my heart was just racing and beating. It felt like it was gonna explode the entire time because I’m trying to problem solve what happens. So I kind of thought we
made it OK the first night. The worst case scenario in my head was the same exact outcome, right? When they give me a hard time, I miss my flight, but, you know, it’s an early flight, so maybe I’ll be able to go down in the afternoon. I got to the airport three and a half hours before my flight, just as customs opened, and it was much busier this time. But it felt like déjà vu. I did the exact same thing the night before. I scanned my picture and went to the agent. The agent looked at my passport. This was a younger agent. He kind of sighed. He’s like, “Ah, man, I got to take you to the back.” And I said, “Why?” And he said, “There’s a flag on your account.” So then you’re taken to secondary screening again. I’m taken to second ary screening, the same spot as the night before, and the agent gives my passport to a different agent behind one of the counters and says, “Hey, he was here the night before, blah, blah, blah. Can you take care of it?” “Sure.” So the agent calls the agent who was giving me a hard time the night before. And apparently, that agent told him that he never even searched my phone. He just took it for an hour, behind closed doors, and pretended to search it. But I guess because we were the last two the night before, he kind of just wanted to go home, didn’t do his job, whatever, whatever, let me go. And the other agent divulged that to you? Correct. So the agent, the next morning, said, “Hey, last night didn’t count. He didn’t even search your phone.” And I’m like, wait, so what was that whole thing about prostitution? He clearly did because he saw photos of other men and me. But anyway, he didn’t even search my phone, so we’re gonna do it all again today, is what he said. I’m like, OK, so I waited for my luggage to pop back out again. And he does the whole search again. He’s going through everything. He asked me if I have cannabis, if I have drugs, you know? He’s looking for excuses to give me a hard time. He goes through my luggage, and he’s being super thorough and… Look, as a sex worker, I have two different phones. There’s my person
al phone, which is the one that was searched the night before. And then there’s the work phone that I use for ed iting videos and stuff like that. Or, you know, messaging other content creators. Anyways, he finds my work phone, my second phone, which is completely dead by the way. It was at the bottom of my backpack. He finds it, and he says, “All right, we’re going to search both phones. We’re going to search everything again,” and the whole process started over. And over the next two hours, he’s asking me the same type of questions. He’s being just as accusatory and aggressive. Were there examples where he targeted you because of your sexual orientation, like there were with the first officer? I think the first officer was definitely a lot more anti gay; it was very obvious. The second one was just, I think, more convinced that he wanted to find some thing. So two hours into it, he still didn’t find anything, he searched through my personal phone and he found a message on WhatsApp that a friend had sent in a group chat like six months earlier. And this was like 120 messages down in the group chat that was saying, I guess, he went to a hookup, and at the hook up’s place, my porn was playing in the background. And they just sent a picture saying, “Hey, your porn’s playing in the background.” So the agent was like, “Do you do porn?” And I was like, “Yeah, I sometimes do porn.” And I think that was all he needed to hear to realize, yeah, we’re gonna find something on this guy. Eventually, he charged my dead work phone and then saw that I had messages on there that I do porn, that I’m a sex worker, and then found messages with past clients that I’ve seen. The reality of being a sex worker, of doing adult film, is that you need to pay the bills. And especially for newer content creators, sometimes escorting is required. Now, there is a big difference between escorting and prostitution. I only participate, or have participat ed, in escorting, which is an exchange of time for goods or services, and my specialty has always been the boy friend experience. So sometimes I’ll go out for dinner with a client, and we’ll spend time together. If sex were to
happen, it would always be consensual. But the agent found those messages on my phone, and that was all he needed to move ahead with the ban. So on day two, I was back there for a total of six hours. The first two hours were more questioning and searching, intimida tion. The next two hours were evidence gathering. So that’s when the agent took his time to have me answer a statement where I’m basically… He wanted me to confess to things I hadn’t done. So he’s asked me these questions. He’s like, “Are you a prostitute?” I’m like, “No.” And he would get upset if I didn’t say yes. And he was coercing me into answer ing questions appropriately. He even threatened to charge me with fraud if I didn’t conform to the responses that he wanted on this topic. The whole thing was just dehumanizing. They took my fingerprints six different times. Agents would only speak Spanish to me. I think they assumed that I only spoke Spanish. And knowing that the ban was happening halfway through, I think it was one of the more painful moments because I couldn’t do anything about it. Yeah, how did they deliver the news to you? They just said you’re gonna be banned for 10 years? Yeah, pretty much. His supervisor was supposed to come out and speak to me at one point. That didn’t happen. But the unfortunate thing is that my partner and I were planning to build a future together in California. And the hardest day of my life was that day because having to stay there for so long and then finally being released and then just immedi ately calling my partner, and you know, both of us—like delivering the news and having to deal with the shock and just crying and crying for days on end.
As someone who came to Canada as a refugee from Colombia when I was 7, you know, I lived through some very challenging things. You know I’ve had several family members be the victims of gun violence. I’ve witnessed a few shoot ings. And then on top of that, you know, the whole immigration experience, you know? There were some challenges, and I thought that I was strong, and then to have to relive some of — a lot of — trau ma again hasn’t been the easiest thing.
You said in another interview that your advice to queer travelers is to, quote, “avoid the United States at all costs. It’s not worth it, it’s not worth it to put your life at risk.” That’s a bold statement to tell all queer travelers. Why do you feel so strongly there? You know, and it’s a very difficult thing to say, too, because I would say at least half of my chosen family lives in the United States. I’ve had the privilege of travel ing a lot, making some really amazing friends, and building some really strong friendships with people across the United States. And I thought that it was safe until I realized that it wasn’t.
After speaking with other people who have had similar experiences crossing the border into the United States, I’m realizing now that it’s not just people of color that they’re targeting. It’s literally the entire LGBT communi ty. And they will want to find some thing on you. It took them a total of four hours of me being detained and questioned before they found anything that they could use against me. They were so determined to give me a hard time and to find something on me.
One of the questions is, why was I flagged in the first place? And I still don’t know to this day. There are so many theories. You know, people say that they’re using facial recognition software. Others allege that I may have been reported by another content creator. Personally, I think the increase in travel activity to the United States to see my partner may have had something to do with it as well, or maybe just flat out racism or anti LGBT sentiment.
If you could ask our prime minister, Mark Carney, to say something publicly about this situation, about the targeting of queer people trying to come into the United States, what would you want him to say? I think, first, I would want to acknowledge the pain our communi ty is suffering, and then address the policy issues. I think there’s a more holistic approach that can be taken, and I think a statement from the prime minister that says that he would want to prioritize working with marginal ized communities would be helpful. What’s your message to other adult
entertainers and sex workers? Do you think all adult entertainers, for the time being, should stay away from the United States to be safe? Oh, 100 percent. One hundred percent or even just people of the LGBT community. The studio that I work for, Carnal, has moved all of its intellectual property rights to Amsterdam. Because it’s no secret that one of the goals in Project 2025 is to ban porn, to go after the LGBT community. Specifically gay porn, to go after the gays. We’re the first on the chopping block in terms of being targeted, and I’m just one of the first examples of it.
This is just the beginning, and you know the studio saw that com ing, so they decided to pack up and move everything over to Europe, where their rights are protected.
Looking ahead, I think a lot of content creators are realizing that, you know, the center of the universe is not in the United States, that the world’s a big place, and that there are many more opportunities, especially in Europe and South America. But at the end of the day, I’m hoping this is temporary and that there can be some changes to the laws. I’m still reaching out to lawyers and try ing to figure out a way to navigate this, but for the time being… We’re trying.
What do you think should be the recourse for that first border agent who clearly was stigmatizing you and coming after you because you’re gay? I think they should all be fired, quite frankly. We should have no tolerance for this kind of behavior. People will argue that more training is better, but the fact that we’ve been rolling back or the fact that the U.S. government has been rolling back a lot of the equity, diversity, and inclusion programming, it’s no surprise that we’re now going to be facing a lot more racism across the board, a lot more homophobia. It’s just the reality of the government that’s in power.
Okay, well, a stark sentiment that may be an appropriate place to end. Milo, thanks so much for coming on the podcast and speaking with Uncloseted Media and me today. Thanks for having me, Spencer. I appreciate it.
GINGER MINJ ON ‘STOP! THAT! TRAIN!’
BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI
Fresh off
her “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 10” victory, Ginger Minj is helping steer queer culture’s latest act of resistance in the wildly campy disaster comedy “Stop! That! Train!”
The drag filled spoof directed by Adam Shankman, who brought the musical adaptation of “Hairspray” to the big screen, follows a runaway train, a RuPaul presidency, and a cast of queens navigating chaos with more heart than common sense. For Minj, the film arrives at a moment when queer audiences could use a good laugh.
Minj stars as the relentlessly opti mistic Tess, opposite longtime friend Jujubee as DeeDee, an endearingly airheaded fellow steward. In the film, Tess and DeeDee pivot to the Glamazonian Express after Stank Rail goes out of business. But when a vicious storm — dubbed “storma ganza” — derails the journey, they’re forced to step up and save the day.
Amid renewed attacks on LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S. and the cancellation of some Pride festivals, she calls the film’s theatrical release “Pride for everybody on the biggest scale possible” — a cele bration of queer visibility, community and joy. Our conversation also touched on why movies featuring LGBTQ+ people shouldn’t be limited to stories of trauma or coming out. Sometimes, she says, it’s enough to just let queer char acters be gloriously ridiculous. Movies
This film feels like an antidote to our current political climate. That’s why we made it, because everybody needs to laugh right now. It’s one of those movies where it’s better with a group of people. That’s why I keep telling people: Go to the theater and see this with a group of people because there’s nothing as healing as laughing together.
I understand that you really stuck to what was on the page, but I was delighted to read that the chest bump between you and DeeDee was something that you came
up with with Juju. Yeah. A lot of our bits we came up with together because we lived together at the time, and so we’d be on set all day and then we’d come home and were tired, but we’d sit there with our script, going over the stuff for the next day and just be like, “What can we do just to make Adam laugh and make everybody giggle?” So we would try it, and Adam would be like, “OK, I like it. Let’s do it again.”
It becomes the thing that really makes their friendship feel emotional by the end. Well, I’m so glad that it translates that way. I mean, that’s kind of how we are. We work together so much. We’re super close. I love her. She’s one of my favorite people in the world and we chest bump each other all the time. At Pride and everywhere, I want to see everybody boop boopin’.
Growing up, what were the films that taught you that you could be bigger, stranger, and campier? Well, I’ve always been big and strange. It was just
finding a world where that fit. I was at a slumber party birthday when I was 8, 9 years old. The kid’s family’s favorites were the “Airplane!” movies. I hadn’t seen them before. So we sat down and watched part one and part two, and the one that stuck out to me the most was when the Girl Scouts get into a bar fight, and they start slinging each other around. It was so funny to me because it was so serious but so stu pid, and that’s still one of my favorite comedy moments of any movie ever. Then, of course, I started falling down the rabbit hole of actually watching the old disaster movies. “Earthquake” was my favorite, and “The Poseidon Adventure,” and finding the absurdity and how it’s so rooted in reality, and that’s what makes it funny. I like it when they just play it for the stakes, they play it as a drama, and you find the humor in the situation. That’s such an allegory for the world, too. If we don’t laugh, we’re going to cry. It does feel like an exaggerated version of the America that we’re living in, if there could be one, with RuPaul as president. I will go on record as saying: RuPaul should be president. As long as I’ve known RuPaul, and that’s decades, [that’s been true].
Did you have to audition for the role alongside other “Drag Race” queens? The other girls like to make a big deal out of it sometimes, but no, I didn’t audition for this one for two reasons. One, I had done “The Bitch Who Stole Christmas” for World of Wonder [Productions] and VH1, which was also written by Connor [Wright] and Christina [Friel]. So when they wrote this role for Tess, they literally said, “It’s a Ginger Minj type.” It wasn’t until months later, after I had already signed on — Juju had already been cast — and we were talking with Adam for our pre production meeting, and he was like, “This is going into movie theaters. This is a big deal.”
You came to drag through the theater. Did Tess feel more like building a stage character, a film character, something en-
tirely different? Movies Tess felt like the version of myself that I strive to be at all times. She’s very much a glass half full kind of girl. She looks at every situation, no matter how tragic and traumatic it is, and says, “I can work with it. I can make magic out of this. This is my chance.” I just wanted to take the best parts of me and put them together with the things that I truly try to be and make that Tess. Were there any jokes or moments in the movie where you thought, I can’t believe they’re letting us get away with this? I do remember in the script, it said I was just preparing a snack basket whenever Don na [Dusk, played by Rachel Bloom] came on the monitor. We rehearsed it without anything in the basket. And then I get there to shoot, and it’s vibrators and condoms and lube. And then they ended up having to call a cut because I had the vibrator on my face, just watching. So there were moments where things would just appear on set, and I’d go, “OK, I guess this is what we’re doing now.” They were like, well, we have to because Trojan is a sponsor, so we’re using these things as product [placement]. I was like, it’s fine. I’ll use it, but you may not like how I choose to use it. [Laughs.]
How fun was it to go head-to-head with Brooke Lynn Hytes, Marcia Marcia Marcia, and Symone as your nemeses? It was really fun. I mean, I’ve known Brooke Lynn forever. I knew her before either of us were ever on “Drag Race” through Continental Pageantry. I’ve always loved her. And I’m not going to say that she’s a mean girl, but she is very much that character in the way that she holds herself. She is an intimidating kind of presence. She’s so beautiful. She’s so polished. She’s got those high cheekbones. High cheekbones are always a little intimidating. Yeah, and she paid a lot of money for them, so she makes sure she shows them off.
I would too. Me too! And she is an intimidating presence. She’s a lot like RuPaul in the sense that, yeah, she’s a
sister and she wants to kiki and cut up and have a good time, but she’s also still very tall, very statuesque and intimidat ing. So it was easy to play those scenes opposite her because she’s so good at that. But as soon as they’d call cut, all five of us were running back to our group chat to be like, OK, when can we go see “Wicked” part two together?
What does it mean to you for this to be getting a theatrical release during Pride Month? What I really love about that is that I’m from Florida, so I’m right in the thick of where they’re trying to strip us of our rights and take our Pride away completely. They’ve cut fund ing. They’ve put rules in place so that we can’t celebrate publicly with each other. And I feel like this movie going into theaters during Pride Month is our way of combating that. This is Pride for everybody on the biggest scale possible. Did making this movie change how you see the possibilities for drag artists in Hollywood and beyond? Yeah, for sure. I mean, I think about the first time I sat in a movie theater and watched a drag performer just be a movie star: It was RuPaul in “The Brady Bunch Movie.” It was in my little Southern Baptist town. I went with my mother. I knew everybody who was in that audience because every body in that town knew everybody and all their tea. And when Ru came on the screen, I remember holding my breath and looking around and seeing all of these people who I know in their heart of hearts are really kind of homophobic because that’s what they’ve been raised and taught. We’re just buying Ru as this character and laughing along. And then when “To Wong Fu” came out, I remember what a big deal it was, but I was also sitting there going, well, yeah, but all the real drag queens are playing bit parts. RuPaul has a couple of scenes, and she’s great. Why isn’t she playing the Wesley Snipes role? So it’s nice to finally have a movie that relies on drag being told from a real drag performer’s perspective. I think that’s monumental.
For so long, the community has been asking for stories that aren’t just about queer trauma or coming out. What does a movie like “Stop! That! Train!” accomplish simply by letting queer people be ridiculous? Well, what I love the most about Tess and DeeDee is that we never had a conversation about gender at all. So if you view these two characters as women, they’re women. If you view them as drag queens, they’re drag queens. If you view them as anything, they can be that because they’re just Tess and DeeDee. And we don’t put the empha sis on gender like everybody tries to do with everything right now. They try to put everybody and everything into a box and then say, “Oh, that box is wrong. You shouldn’t pack it that way.” So I think it’s really refreshing that you have drag artists playing people. I think that’s really beautiful. It’s been a little surprising watch ing different audiences watch it and, like me, watching “The Brady Bunch
Movie” all those years ago, seeing all of these typically homophobic straight people just buy into it immediate ly and laugh along because they’re like, “Oh, this is really comfortable, and I get this. This is my world too.”
After many years on “Drag Race,” you snagged the top spot in “All Stars 10” in 2025. How do you reflect on that win and what it meant for the drag artists who are more traditional pageant queens? Honestly, it’s something that I was so hyper focused on for over a decade of my life. I love “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” It’s my favorite TV show. I love being a part of it. I love filming it. I love competition. And it was like the cherry on top of a really beautiful decade long love story for me and my fans and “Drag Race” and RuPaul. It just felt like it was the right time. And the other times that I had compet ed and gotten close but not won, there were a lot of people who thought that maybe I should have. And in my mind
I was like, “No, I don’t think this is the time.” But I always told myself, there’s going to be a time and you will be there for it. And then it just all kind of clicked together for “All Stars 10.” It felt right. I feel like Tess might say the same about her own journey to the Glamazonian Express. In the pageant world, that’s what you do. You grow, you learn, you come back, and you do better. And that’s what I was just really proud to represent for all of those pageant girls who I do think get a little bit of a bad rep sometimes on the television show. And I think it was really wonderful to be like, “You can get knocked down and you can come back, and you can be better than you were.” That’s just how we should try to be at all times. Very Tess and DeeDee. Q
Chris Azzopardi is the editorial director of Pride Source Media Group and Q Syndicate. He has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ and Billboard. Reach him via X @chrisazzopardi.
by CAROL LYNN PEARSON
“returning to the stage where it first premiered in 2006...the production revisits the story of a Mormon couple grappling with the suicide of their gay son and their unexpected meeting with his partner.
The play, long considered a cornerstone of queer Utah theater, explores faith, grief, and acceptance — topics that remain as poignant today as they were two decades ago.” - QSaltLake
An unforgettable journey of faith and family.
20th Anniversary Revival
October 22 – November 8 in the Studio Theatre @ The Rose
Presented via special arrangement with Premiére Theatricals, on behalf of Leicester Bay Theatricals.
pride travels
LGBTQ+ guide to Santa Maria Valley: Wine, beaches, affordable Calif. getaways
BY JOEY AMATO
Psst! Can you keep a secret?
There’s a hidden gem along California’s Central Coast that delivers everything travelers love about the Golden State—award winning wine, scenic beaches, incredible food, and laid back charm — without the sky high prices or overwhelming crowds. Nestled between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, SANTA MARIA VALLEY is the kind of destination where LGBTQ+ travelers can truly unwind, connect, and explore at their own pace.
Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway for same sex couples, a fun trip with chosen family, or a solo recharge filled with wine and wellness, Santa Maria Valley offers a warm, welcoming vibe that feels refreshingly authentic.
Santa Maria Valley is one of the world’s most dynamic wine grow ing regions, producing complex and beautifully balanced wines thanks to its unique coastal climate. The re gion is especially celebrated for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah, though adventurous wine lovers will find plenty of varietals worth sipping.
With more than 30 tasting rooms and over a dozen wineries along the famous
, you could easily spend an entire long weekend hopping between vineyards. Best of all, the atmosphere here is approachable
and inclusive. Unlike some California wine regions that can feel exclusive or overly polished, Santa Maria Valley em braces a more relaxed experience where everyone is welcome exactly as they are. That means no pressure to dress up, no impossible reservation lists, and no intimidating tasting rooms. Whether you arrive in designer resort wear or jeans and sneakers, you’ll fit right in. Many wineries throughout the region proudly welcome LGBTQ+ travel ers, making it easy to sip, socialize, and celebrate without pretension.
There’s one thing Santa Maria Valley has been doing almost as long as winemaking: barbecue. Santa Maria Style barbecue is a beloved 150 year old culinary tradition centered around tri tip steak slow cooked over native red oak and seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and garlic. Pair it with pinquito beans, fresh salsa, grilled bread slathered with butter, and a crisp green salad, and you’ve got a meal that feels both rustic and unforgettable.
Beyond barbecue, the area’s growing CULINARY SCENE includes farm to ta ble dining, cozy cafés, wine bars, and locally owned eateries perfect for date nights or casual dinners with friends. Travelers looking for relaxed dining without big city prices will appreciate the variety and welcoming atmosphere throughout the valley.
Santa Maria Valley makes an ide al home base for outdoor adventure. Located near some of California’s most iconic coastal destinations, it also
offers easy access to quieter stretches of shoreline where you can actually breathe, relax, and enjoy the scenery.
With 15 beaches spread across a 30 mile stretch of coastline, there’s a perfect spot for every kind of travel er. Surf, hike, fish, explore dunes, ride off road vehicles, or simply enjoy a sunset walk hand in hand with someone special. The region’s uncrowded beaches provide a more peaceful alternative to California’s busier coastal hotspots.
Nature lovers will find plenty to appreciate here. Santa Maria Valley sits at the intersection of the Pacific coastline and oak woodland habitat, creating an ecosystem that attracts an impressive range of bird species.
Every December and January, bird enthusiasts gather for the National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count, where recent counts have identified roughly 147 species. Whether you’re a serious birder or simply enjoy quiet mornings in na ture with binoculars and coffee, the region offers countless opportunities to reconnect with the outdoors.
You don’t have to be a birdwatch er to appreciate Santa Maria Valley’s natural beauty. Thanks to its mild coastal climate, the region offers hiking opportunities year round for all expe rience levels. With 24 trails through out the area, visitors can enjoy ocean views, wildflowers, wildlife encounters, and mountain biking adventures.
A few standouts include: The Oso Flaco Lake Trail, a gentle 1.7 mile walk
FOXEN CANYON WINE TRAIL
through scenic dunes with a wheelchair accessible over look, is perfect for travelers seeking a relaxed outdoor experience. Los Flores Ranch Park spans 1,778 acres with 15 miles of trails for hik ing, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Guided nature walks throughout the year add an educational and community focused touch that LGBTQ+ travelers and families alike will appreciate.
Santa Maria Valley is also perfect for couples or solo travelers seeking culture. The region provides meaningful cultural experiences that help visitors connect more deeply with the history and creativity of California’s Central Coast. The Santa Maria Museum of Flight showcases aircraft, aviation artifacts, and stories dating back to the Wright Brothers, creating an inspiring look at the evolution of flight.
For travelers interested in Indigenous history and
culture, the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center offers a thoughtful and immersive experience honoring the people who have called this land home for thousands of years. LGBTQ families traveling with children—or adults who simply embrace their inner child—will enjoy the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum, a lively space filled with interactive exhibits, crafts, bubbles,
and imaginative play.
One of Santa Maria Valley’s biggest perks is its affordability. LGBTQ+ travelers can enjoy a stylish and comfortable California getaway without draining their vacation budget. From boutique properties to trust ed hotel brands, the region offers accommodations for every travel style. One of my favorite places to stay is the WINE STONE INN. Located in the heart of Old Town Orcutt, this intimate 12 room boutique hotel delivers upscale comfort with a warm neighborhood feel. Expect plush robes, locally made pastries, gourmet coffee, spa inspired amenities, and easy access to nearby tasting rooms, breweries, and restau rants. It’s an ideal option for couples seeking a romantic wine country escape.
Another very cool option is the HISTORIC SANTA MARIA INN. A California landmark since 1917, this historic property combines old world charm with modern hospi tality. Palm lined courtyards, cozy fireplaces, fountains, and inviting patios create a timeless atmosphere. Guests can enjoy California cuisine at The Century Room before sipping local wines or cock tails in the Olde English Tap Room or The Barrel Room.
Whether you’re planning a romantic wine weekend, an LGBTQ+ group getaway, a coastal road trip with friends, or simply craving a slower pace and a little sunshine, Santa Maria Valley offers an inviting mix of affordability, authenticity, and Central Coast beauty.
Best of all, it’s a California escape where you can focus less on your budget and more on making memories. Q
YAEGER
Like a big bear hug
A good mix of western medicine and the forgotten healing modalities of old Chronic pain management, functionality and mobility, and deep relaxation
parties, and corporate events
What to read this summer
If you are looking for something to do while coyly avoiding local Pride Cele brations in June, Graham Gremore, the editor in chief at Queerty, in the May 11, 2026, online edition has provided a review of 15 new books of interest. All books are just at the publisher and will be available by the Sum mer Solstice, so none will have had time to be banned by the Davis County School District. Here’s a shortened version of his reviews:
BELOVED DISCIPLES — MARIO ELIAS.
A grieving Simón clings to memories of his lost love, Albi, until those memories feel more real than life itself. He must choose between holding on and rebuilding a future without him.
MIGHTY REAL: A HISTORY OF LGBTQ MUSIC, 1969–2000 — BARRY WALTERS
Walters traces queer music’s evolution from underground scenes to global influence, showing how artists like Bowie, Grace Jones, and Prince challenged norms and reshaped culture through sound, style, and resistance.
THE HOUSE OF NOW AND THEN — EDWARD UNDERHILL
A trans man retreats to a Cape Cod cottage, where magical visitations from his past force him to confront old wounds and open himself to unexpected new love.
THE
TUXEDO SOCIETY
— PAUL RUDNICK
A struggling actor joins a glamorous queer spy organization, teaming with a Navy SEAL for globe-trotting missions, outrageous gadgets, and a conspiracy stretching from the White House to the Vatican.
THE LESBIAN BAR CHRONICLES — RACHEL KARP
Karp travels the country documenting vibrant lesbian bars, replacing the “extinction” myth
with lively, heartfelt stories from the communities keeping sapphic nightlife and chosen-family culture alive.
THE OPEN ERA — EDWARD SCHMIT
A rising tennis star becomes the first out gay Grand Slam contender, only to fall for his rival, forcing him to choose between history and unexpected romance.
THERE’S ONLY
ONE SIN IN HOLLYWOOD — RASHEED NEWSOM
A queer noir about a 1950s Black movie star’s mysterious death and the studio fixer who, decades later, risks everything to expose the truth.
ADVICE NO ONE ASKED FOR — JENNY HAGEL
Hagel delivers sharp, hilarious essays on life, work, love, travel, and questionable choices, blending personal stories with delightfully unsolicited wisdom.
25
DAYS IN ATHENS — JACK STRANGE
Will travels to Greece for his ex’s wedding and confronts old feelings, new temptations, and the question of whether he’s chasing closure or a second chance.
SLASHER SUMMER — E.L. CHEN
A reunion at a cult-horror filming site turns deadly when a masked killer appears, forcing old friends to survive by rewriting the genre’s tropes.
HEARTSTOPPER #6 — ALICE OSEMAN
Nick and Charlie face adulthood, college decisions, and the bittersweet challenge of growing together while growing up in the series’ heartfelt final volume.
FABULOUS BODIES — CHUCK TINGLE
A fashion influencer who moonlights as a corpse thief botches a celebrity body heist, plunging her into a neon-soaked, camp-horror chase across the desert.
REVIEW BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER
‘A
Soldier’s Wife: My Mother, the Marvelous Mrs. Marilyn A. Underwood’
BY BLAIR UNDERWOOD WITH YLONDA GAULT, C.2026, AMISTAD, $28, 208 PAGES
I’m telling Mom!
When you were small, those words were often enough to send a chill down your spine. One quick tattle to the woman who bore you, and you were in trouble. That simple phrase always kept you in line, at least until you were grown. By then, as in the new book, “A Soldier’s Wife” by Blair Underwood with Ylonda Gault, Mom had something to tell you.
Marilyn Underwood had kept every scrap of paper that ever passed through her fingers.
That, says her son, author and actor Blair Underwood, is how it seemed. After her death from multiple sclero sis nearly six years ago, Mrs. Under
JULY
BY SAM KELLEY-MILLS
ARIES March 20–April 19
The heat of summer matches the fire in your spirit. July invites some bold moves, spontaneous adventures, perhaps a flirtation you didn’t see coming. Trust your instincts, but remember that not every battle requires a champion. Save your energy for what truly matters.
TAURUS Apr 20–May 20
Comfort is calling your name, but growth has a way of knocking on the door at the same time. Make room for both. The connections you nurture now will become sources of strength later. Don’t underestimate the power of a simple conversation.
GEMINI May 21–June 20
Your social calendar
may begin to resemble a competitive sport. Embrace the invitations, but leave room to hear
the bookworm
wood’s children found piles and piles of notes, notebooks, lists, random thoughts, and memories she’d writ ten down. Paper was everywhere.
She’d said many times that she was “putting together a memoir of sorts,” and after looking over what she’d left, Underwood thought the collec tion would make a good children’s book. He was later convinced that his mother’s story was bigger than that.
Marilyn Ann Scales Underwood was an only child and was raised to be indepen dent. Born and reared in Buffalo, New York, she attended an all girls school with a big dream to work in the fashion indus try. She indicated that her mother was brave to let her go, but Underwood knew that her career was really in New York City. She was right; she thrived there.
Laser focused on her work, Under wood was in no hurry to do as most late 1950s women did, and get married; though friends urged her to date, it was not a priority until she met the love of her life, Frank. She loved him instantly. They were engaged three weeks after meeting, and married three months later.
“One thing about me,” she wrote. “When I set my mind on something, you can believe it’s as good as done.”
your own thoughts. Somewhere between the laughter and latenight chats, you’ll discover exactly what you’ve been looking for.
CANCER June 21–July 22
Your heart is your compass this month. While others may be focused on appearances, you’ll find meaning in authenticity. Let people see the real you. Vulnerability isn’t a weakness; it’s the bridge that brings others closer.
LEO July 23–August 22
The spotlight seems to find you whether you seek it or not. Fortunately, July offers plenty of opportunities to shine. Lead with confidence, but leave space for others to share the stage. The best performances are rarely solo acts.
VIRGO August 23–Sep 2
You have a gift for seeing what needs fixing, but not everything requires your attention. This month is about choosing where your energy creates the greatest impact. Focus on progress, not perfection, and you’ll surprise yourself.
There are really two ways to look at “A Soldier’s Wife.”
On one side, it feels almost random. Marilyn Underwood was a strong, independent woman, an inspiration to those who knew her – but most of us didn’t. While the writings author Blair Underwood compiles here are wise and funny, they’re not earth shat tering and there may be times when they won’t hold your interest.
But they’re exactly what you need, exactly when you need them.
Reading this book is like getting a letter from your grandma. The essays here are warm, with reminders to pray to a purposeful Higher Power, that life’s a struggle, but it’s worth living, and that suffering happens. There’s love in this book – lots of it! – gratitude, gentleness, and old fashioned values. It’s sweetly quaint, but firm. And yes, it’s random, but consider it as a hug from somebody’s mom when you’re down, because that’s rather what it is.
Just remember that no book has to be read cover to cover. You can skip around, and you’ll be fine with this one whenever you need its comfort. “A Soldier’s Wife” could be meaningful or meaningless to you at various times; only you can tell. Q
LIBRA Sept 23–October 22
Balance isn’t something you find. It is something you create. Relationships take center stage in July, and harmony comes through honest communication. Speak your truth with kindness and watch tensions dissolve into understanding.
SCORPIO Oct 23–Nov 21
Mystery has always been part of your charm, but this month rewards openness. Someone may surprise you with unexpected interest or affection. Let curiosity guide you rather than caution. A little vulnerability could lead somewhere exciting.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov 22–December 20
Adventure is closer than you think. Whether it’s a road trip, a new hobby, or simply a different perspective, July encourages exploration. Follow what sparks your interest. The universe has hidden a few delightful surprises along your path.
CAPRICORN
Dec 21–Jan 19
You spend so much time climbing mountains that you occasionally forget to enjoy the view. Pause and appreciate how far you’ve come. Success isn’t only about the next goal; it’s also about recognizing your achievements along the way.
AQUARIUS Jan 20–Feb 18
Your individuality is your superpower, and July reminds you why. The people drawn to you now appreciate your uniqueness, not despite it but because of it. Let your weird flag fly proudly. The right crowd is already cheering.
PISCES Feb 19–Mar 19
Dreams, creativity, and romance all swim through your waters this month. Trust your imagination and don’t be afraid to express what’s in your heart. The connections that deepen now are built on honesty, compassion, and a little magic. Love finds a way! Q
Kyle’s Bed & Breakfast by
Greg Fox
Decrees of Edward II
Channel control
Appendages
Fruit of Adam and Steve?
Business letter abbr.
Glinda portrayer in The Wiz
“Guilty” for Leopold and Loeb
Currency on the Continent
“Move your butt!”
More of the quote that starts in the
Ward of “Once and Again”
Up to this point
Biweekly tide
Wilde land
End of the quote
Russian river to the Caspian
Something to think about
Socrates’ market
Fence part
Etta of old comics
Snooty animal
Cousin of Jethro and Jethrine
European language
Kind of replay
Atkins, who played Woolf on
Verlaine or Rimbaud
Stand next to O’Keeffe
Justin Suarez of “Ugly Betty,” for one
Like beverages from the wine cellar
11 Interstate rumbler
12 Part of, as a plot
13 Emulated Rufus Wainwright
21 Profits
22 Submissive
25 Nash of funny verses
26 Where many El Grecos hang
27 Barbary Coast city
29 Use a rubber
31 Southpaw
32 He wrote about Friday
33 H gar’s dog
35 Polite gay guy?
36 Starter’s words
37 It may cream your face when you bite it
39 Parcel out work
43 “Kiss of the ___ Woman”
46 What you tell annoying people to take
48 Rope at a gay rodeo
49 Samantha not of “Bewitched”
Invite from bottoms to tops? 8 Currency substitutes
50 “You bet!”
catching my breath
My first rural Pride parade
BY SEBASTIAN FORTINO
I’velived in so many plac es, let’s just say that it’s necessary for me to count on my fingers just how many places I’ve been lucky enough to call home. I will not bore you with the litany of how many, but let’s just say Farming ton, N.M. is not the smallest enclave I have called home. That would be gay mecca Wilton Manors, Florida, which was certainly smaller. Farm ington, however, is the most rural.
I still chuckle when we pass signs that remind us to beware of cows crossing the road. Of course, despite the small size of Wilton Manors, it has a gay population to rival the per capita of San Francisco. Its proximity to Miami and Fort Lauderdale renders it a small town, yes, but rural, decidedly not.
On Wednesday, June 17th, my husband and I attended our first rural Pride parade. I was nervous, admitted ly. Would there be protestors? Serious protestors. In major cities, the protestors do not outnumber the LGBTQ+ and/ or ally attendees. In Philly, New York, Portland, and even little Wilton Manors, our voices drowned out their threats.
Or, to sum it up in a text conversation with my friend Lance, back in Philly:
“We went to the rural Pride parade. No Jesus protestors,” I texted, hoping for a laugh, “ I was kinda disappointed.”
“Those pious zealots have just be come so lazy,” he lamented. “They don’t have half the gumption they did in the 90’s, or even the 2000’s. I didn’t even notice them once during our entire Pride weekend.”
“I know. It’s almost like they gave up! Remember the days you could sit on a double seat on a bus? And eight outta’ 10 times nobody sat next to you? You had a place for your bag! I mean…a little refined homophobia is a good thing.”
“Is nothing sacred anymore?”
The denouement* of no protestors aside, we had a good time. We were invited by my friend Julie Gow. Like me, it seems she has lived in many bigger, urban locales, including my native Philly. As far as the size of the parade, yes: it was on a smaller scale than my past experiences.
There were several march ers, a few floats, the de rigueur* drag queen, and several pleasant onlookers. There were vibrant costumes. There
was free merch: a pin from the Epis copal Church with their coat of arms rebranded with the Pride flag, which will go on my blazer the next time I wear one, mini Pride flags, of course, and a paper fan, which I sadly dropped.
*(Thinking a lot about France today, because it looks like I have July 14th off, Bastille Day, which is a favorite holiday of mine; a reason to make French food and drink real champagne.)
We live in a society that talks about the vibes. While there were no scantily clad men in Speedos or jockstraps, or women in bikini tops and denim shorts, the vibe was there. “Happy Pride” was heard with the same heartfelt love encountered in the metropolises we have lived in.
And that, that was all that mattered.
We were invited by Julie Gow, mentioned above, a member of the New Mexico State Democratic Party Central Committee and the San Juan County Central Committee. She is an ally, an aunt to an out nephew. She is also heavily involved with Farm ington’s Chamber of Commerce.
“This evening’s Pride Parade was a beautiful celebration of resiliency, respect, and joy. Love can trump hate. I’m so thankful for all who participated in this successful community event!”
The event was organized primarily by Indivisible San Juan County. They also
organize local No Kings events. Their mission statement is, “In divisible San Juan is a pro de mocracy, anti authoritarian, grassroots activist network of neighbors working collectively towards a vision of community rooted in inclusion, fairness, access, and justice for all peo ple – local, state, and nation.”
(My apologies to Indivisi ble San Juan for not getting a quote from them, but I had to extend my deadline to attend the parade and get this column to my publisher.)
A straight colleague from work texted us as we were on our way home from the pa rade. He’d never been to one. He thought it was “awesome.” We had to cut out early be cause a few more plants had to go into the earth, and the planted veggies and flowers had to be watered. So, like two ships, err, pride floats in the night, we missed each other. I was a little surprised, and pleased he came, espe cially without being there for myself and my husband.
A gay colleague at work, Ben, who is from the Four Corners but expe rienced L.A. Pride while living there, passed by me early in the morning.
“Did you boys,” (he and his
fiancée, I mean, both adults, all legal) “go to the parade?”
“Not this time. How was it?”
“It was gay.”
“Then it was good!”
And, that, dear readers, is all that matters at a Pride event. It should be gay, and proud, and happy. Regardless of numbers, whether it’s on a major avenue in Manhat tan or Philly, or the quaint Main Street of Farming ton, New Mexico. That’s what makes it good. Q
bricks & rainbows of marmalade
Ep. 6: Pride Comes Before a Fall
BY CHRISTOPHER SNOW
Bythe first week of June, the Marma lade District was draped in rainbow everything.
Flags fluttered from porch es. Crosswalks bloomed with color. The city pretended, briefly, to love them all. Utah Pride was coming, and with it, a strange sense of permis sion. Visibility was no longer optional; it was unavoidable.
Eli taped a Pride schedule to the fridge like it was a religious calendar. “Parade on Sunday. Rally Friday. Block party Saturday. Healing brunch Monday.”
Mateo grinned. “I’m working the Pride shift. Drunk allies everywhere.”
Nora and Paige were coordinating outfits with military precision. “We are not matching,” Paige said.
“We are coordinat ing,” Nora corrected.
Even Jonah seemed lighter. The tension Grant had introduced still hovered, but Pride week wrapped the house in defiance. They would not be quiet. They
would not be discreet.
Grant, of course, noticed.
The first violation came Monday.
A printed notice taped to the door: Unauthorized exterior decorations.
It referred to the Pride flag.
Paige took it down, photographed it, and put the flag back up — higher.
The second came Wednesday.
Excessive foot traf fic observed.
It was just friends stopping by to plan parade meetups, but Grant watched from next door, arms folded, phone out.
“Wave,” Alex suggested.
Mateo did more than wave.
Friday night, after the rally, the house filled with laugh ter and glitter and bodies slumped happily on every available surface. Music played, not loud, just joyful. Someone cried in the kitchen about chosen family. Some one else kissed someone they definitely shouldn’t have.
At 9:47 p.m., there was a knock.
Not the doorbell. A knock knock knock that meant business.
Grant stood there, flanked by a uniformed police officer.
“Noise complaint,”
Grant said pleasantly.
The officer looked past him at the living room at the rainbow, the couples, the very obvious queer ness of it all. He sighed.
“It’s not that loud,” the offi cer said. “And it’s before ten.”
Grant’s smile cracked. “Perhaps you’d like to note the gathering size.”
The officer glanced around again. “They’re allowed guests.”
Paige stepped forward. “Officer, just so you’re aware, Utah law prohibits discrim ination based on sexual ori entation. We’re documenting selective enforcement.”
The officer raised an eyebrow. “Good to know.”
Grant’s face flushed.
After they left, the house erupted in cheers.
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But later, when the glitter had settled, and everyone was half asleep, Eli’s phone buzzed again.
“Enjoy Pride. It ends soon. —G”
Sunday morning, parade day, they gathered on the porch in rainbow chaos. The street buzzed with energy.
Across the way, Grant’s house was bare.
No flags. No signs.
Just Grant, standing on his porch, watching.
Then a woman ap proached him, clipboard in hand, badge visible.
Grant stiffened.
Paige squinted. “Is that…?”
Nora smiled slow ly. “Fair Housing.”
Grant looked over at their house.
For the first time, he didn’t smile.
The parade horns sounded in the distance.
And Grant’s phone rang.. Q
the perils of petunia pap smear
The tale of a Vegas journey somewhere over the rainbow
BY PETUNIA PAP SMEAR
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! The road to Over the Rainbow is fraught with danger and excitement.
Part three of my trip to Oz in Vegas
After navigating the monorail and a torturous maze of elevators to get there, we entered the Sphere. Navigating the entrance with Queerteeny, my trusty mobility scooter, was its own adventure as I searched for the right door and, yes, encountered yet another elevator to reach the soaring upper levels of the venue. Once inside, I had to park Queerteeny and continue on foot, relying on a cane for support. Thank goodness for sensible shoes! Of course, when I arrived at my seat, my usual lack of luck prevailed: the cane slipped from my grip and tumbled under the row in front of me, setting the tone for the rest of the evening.
The “Wizard of Oz” show was nothing short of spectacular.
During the tornado scene, powerful fans blasted wind around us, nearly toppling my beehive wig. It felt as though I was truly in the middle of the twister, right alongside Dorothy. A few of the leaves released from the ceiling became trapped in the copious amount of hairspray that maintained the structural integrity of my wig, so naturally, they became instant souvenirs. Later, when the trees hurled apples at Dorothy and the Scarecrow, foam apples tumbled from above and landed among the audience, making us feel as though we had wandered straight into the Haunted Forest. They even sent flying animatronic monkeys swoop ing overhead, flapping their wings and making the illusion feel all the more real. The scenery was breathtaking, and the immersive technology opened up Oz in ways the classic film never could. Munch kin Land surrounded us in vibrant color and whimsical detail, as if we had stepped directly into the story. Tiny Munchkins waved from the rooftops of cheerful store fronts lining the yellow brick road, and rolling hills stretched beyond the town
square. It felt as though we had arrived in Munchkin Land right along with Dorothy. Lights swirled, music soared, and the Emerald City glowed like a disco ball on steroids. Toto barked in surround sound, and at one point, we were certain the flying monkeys were coming for our wigs. It was a magical, Technicolor spectacle that left our jaws dropped, our spirits lifted, and our shoes ready to click three times for a return trip. When the show ended, we left breathless with excitement. As I rode Queerteeny through the foyer, I passed a large crystal ball where Elmira Gulch appeared, pedaling her bicycle through Kansas. For reasons I can’t fully explain, I felt oddly drawn to her and began to wonder whether some latent witchy DNA might be buried deep in my soul.
On the way back to the hotel, Queertee ny’s battery died right in the middle of an intersection. Honey, talk about a dramatic exit. There I was, stranded like the last queen in a RuPaul’s Drag Race lip sync, waiting for my pit crew to swoop in and rescue me. My friend and travel companion Scott became my own flying monkey, pushing Queerteeny the remaining blocks back to the hotel. Our impromptu parade featured me waving to imaginary fans, clutching my purse for dear life, and praying my lashes would not slide off from stress. The whole journey felt like a slow motion march through a haunted forest, with every pothole threat ening to snatch my wig. The moment we made it back, I plugged Queerteeny into the charger faster than a drag queen grabbing glitter on sale, because darling, you never know when you may need to scoot away from drama or race for the last slice of pizza at the after party.
My companions headed out to enjoy the Vegas nightlife, but I was exhausted and chose to stay at the hotel. Later, hunger got the better of me, so I took the partially recharged Queerteeny down the block to the local 7 Eleven in search of snacks. This little trip was not without drama. A group
of “gentlemen” had stationed themselves on the sidewalk with a boombox blast ing some threatening gangsta rap music, blocking my path. I gave Queerteeny’s horn a firm honk, which prompted them to shift just enough for me to squeeze by. Even so, I thought it wise to keep moving as fast as Queerteeny could go. I could not help thinking that if I lingered too long, they might try to stop me, and who knows what mischief might follow?
Perhaps they would go for my wig or, worse, my purse. Still, I did receive a few catcalls, which admittedly lifted my spirits. With snacks in hand and my “virtue” still technically “intact,” clinging to life like a discount wig in a wind tunnel, barely hanging on by a single bobby pin, I made it back to the hotel and fell asleep to reruns of “The Golden Girls,” dreaming of witches, wigs, and dead batteries. Oh my!
Of course, this story leaves us with several essential questions:
1. Might it be prudent for me to start using a large candy cane as a walk ing aid, so that in a snack emergen cy I could simply eat the cane?
2. If the flying monkeys had stolen my wig, would I still have been allowed back on the monorail?
3. Does the Sphere count as a Petu nia approved tornado, or is it just a very expensive snow globe?
4. If Queerteeny earned frequent scoot er miles, would stalling in an in tersection count as a layover?
5. If Toto had seen my snack run to 7 Eleven, would he have followed me home for emotional support chips?
6. Since my wig survived the torna do, the flying monkeys, and the intersection, should it get its own star on the Vegas Walk of Fame?
These, and other fabulous mysteries of the cosmos, will be explored in the next installment of The Perils of Petu nia Pap Smear —assuming Queerteeny is fully charged and I survive whatever fresh Vegas witchcraft awaits. Q
91 W 200 S, Provo, 190 S 100 E, St. George 331 S 600 E, SLC 81 E Center, Heber City Gay-Straight Alliance Network
GSANETWORK.ORG OUT Foundation BYU
THEOUT.FOUNDATION
fb.me/theOUTfoundation Salt Lake Community College LGBTQ+
SLCC.EDU/LGBTQ/ UofU Student Pride Ctr Q UOFUPRIDE USGA at BYU
USGABYU.COM
FB.ME/USGAATBYU Utah Valley Univ Spectrum
LINKTR.EE/SPECTRUMQSA
uvu.edu/lgbtq/ * lgbt@uvu.edu
801-863-8885
Liberal Arts, Rm 126
Youth Discord Virtual Hangout
6p Wednesdays
Open to all youth 14-20. Email jay@ utahpridecenter.org to get access
July at the Utah Pride Center
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1
12–1 pm Gay Men’s Sack Lunch
3–5 pm After-School Quiet Study
5–6 pm Transgender & NonBinary Support Group
6–8 pm Trans Social Club
THURSDAY, JULY 2
3–5 pm After-School Quiet Study
FRIDAY, JULY 3
3–5 pm After-School Quiet Study
MONDAY, JULY 6
2–4 pm Utah Seniors Elevated (offsite)
3–5 pm After-School Quiet Study
6–8 pm Sit & Stitch
TUESDAY, JULY 7
3–5 pm After-School Quiet Study
6:30–8:30 pm Gay Men’s Peer Support Group
7–8 pm Pride In Recovery (LGBTQ+ N.A. Meeting)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8
12–1 pm Gay Men’s Sack Lunch
3–5 pm After-School Quiet Study
6–8 pm Game Night
THURSDAY, JULY 9
3–5 pm After-School Quiet Study
FRIDAY, JULY 10
3–5 pm After-School Quiet Study
MONDAY, JULY 13
2–4 pm Utah Seniors Elevated (offsite)
3–5 pm After-School Study
6–8 pm Sit & Stitch
TUESDAY, JULY 14
3–5 pm After-School Study
6:30–8:30 pm Gay Men’s Peer Support Group
7–8 pm Pride In Recovery (LGBTQ+ N.A. Meeting)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15
12–1 pm Gay Men’s Sack Lunch
3–5 pm After-School Study
6–8 pm Trans Social Club
THURSDAY, JULY 16
3–5 pm After-School Quiet Study
6–7 pm Courageous Conversations for Queer Utahns
7:30–9:30 pm Voice: Your Questions Answered
FRIDAY, JULY 17
3–5 pm After-School Study
5–11 pm Horror Movie Social Club
MONDAY, JULY 20
2–4 pm Utah Seniors Elevated (offsite)
3–5 pm After-School Quiet Study
6–8 pm Sit & Stitch
TUESDAY, JULY 21
3–5 pm After-School Quiet Study
6:30–8:30 pm Gay Men’s Peer Support Group
7–8 pm Pride In Recovery (LGBTQ+ N.A. Meeting)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22
12–1 pm Gay Men’s Sack Lunch
3–5 pm After-School Quiet Study
THURSDAY, JULY 23
3–5pm After-School Study
6:30 pm - 08 pm Religious Trauma Support Group
FRIDAY, JULY 24
3–5 pm After-School Quiet Study
MONDAY, JULY 27
2–4 pm Utah Seniors Elevated (offsite)
3–5 pm After-School Quiet Study
6–8 pm Sit & Stitch
TUESDAY, JULY 28
3–5 pm After-School Quiet Study
6:30–8:30 pm Gay Men’s Peer Support Group
7–8 pm Pride In Recovery (LGBTQ+ N.A. Meeting)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29
12–1 pm Gay Men’s Sack Lunch
3–5 pm After-School Quiet Study
6–8 pm Game Night
THURSDAY, JULY 30
3–5 pm After-School Quiet Study
FRIDAY, JULY 31
3–5 pm After-School Quiet Study
For more iinformation on these events, go to UTAHPRIDECENTER.ORG/CALENDAR
Our Vision is to reduce social isolation and loneliness, improve the health and well-being of older adults and to empower them to lead meaningful and connected lives in which they are engaged and participating in the community. Our Mission is to reimagine aging by empowering older adults to live life to the fullest potential guided by these five pillars:
Cherish the Journey
Encourage the Body
Recent events:
Pot Luck & Dance, Movie Night, Walking Groups, Theater groups
