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SALT LAKE CITY — Organizers are finalizing preparations for the Utah Pride Festival at Washington Square this weekend.
Festival organizers anticipate tens of thousands of people at the event. Besides the food and entertainment, there’s more this year — a change in political climate surrounding same-sex marriage.
Many states currently have same-sex marriage court cases on their dockets. Utah is waiting for its own historic ruling on Amendment 3. In the meantime, the Utah Pride Center will hold its annual Utah Pride Festival.
“It’s not just about members of the community,” Jen Parsons-Soran said. “It’s about our community as a whole who is celebrating with us.”
Mark Lawrence raised more than $125,000 for the plaintiffs in the Amendment 3 case.
“We absolutely, really, really have something to celebrate now,” Lawrence said.
Festival participants are hoping they will have more to celebrate once a decision in the pending case has been made.
“I feel incomplete without a decision,” said Moudi Sbeity, plaintiff in the Amendment 3 case. Sbeity’s marriage, along with nearly 1,300 other marriages, are now on hold while their case makes its way through the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
While they wait, the plaintiffs will share grand marshal honors in Sunday’s parade with one of the largest groups to march, Mormons Building Bridges. The group consists of active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who support gay rights. Mormons Building Bridges doesn’t take a stand on same-sex marriage.
“I think more and more people are finding that there’s harmonious ways to live the gospel and show love and support for their gay brothers and sisters,” said Erika Munson, a member of Mormons Building Bridges.
The Pride Parade starts at 10 a.m. with the festival beginning at 11 a.m.
Contributing: Rachel Konishi
