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SALT LAKE CITY — Activists for LGBT rights raised the rainbow flag over Salt Lake City Wednesday as they announced plans for the 42nd annual Utah Pride Festival.
Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski, the city's first openly gay mayor, led the raising of the flag and proclaimed May 31 through June 4 as the city's 2017 week of pride celebration. She noted the festival's growth from a small community gathering to an event that now draws roughly 50,000 participants each year.
The 2017 festival's theme is "Pride Elevated" and will recognize the life of Gilbert Baker, the artist credited for creating the rainbow flag. Baker died earlier this year on March 31. The Pride Elevated theme hopes to encompass a number of progressive values, including environmental concerns, immigrant rights, reproductive rights, equal pay for women and efforts against racism.
"We have invited everybody we can think of to march in solidarity," events director Liz Pitts said.
The LGBT community continues to make strides, Biskupski said, but she expressed concerns about young members of the community who feel afraid to speak out about their sexual identity.
"We will never achieve true equality or true equity if we are not lifting all boats at the same time, and that is the important part of this march," the mayor said. "We are all tired of oppression and it is time we all rose and walk together."
The proceeds of the events will go to the Utah Pride Center, which offers mental health services and youth programs and a support group for survivors of suicide attempts.
Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, said the events also offer opportunities to appreciate the strides that the LGBT community has made.
Dabakis, the state's only openly gay legislator, said that while there is still much work to be done for the LGBT community, it is important to put things in perspective.
"To see 50,000 Utahns come out and celebrate with us is a moment that none of us could ever have dreamed about," Dabakis said. "This is how far we have come as a city, and as a state and as a county."
The week's festivities will, for the first time, include a Youth Pride Dance Thursday on Library Plaza for participants 14 to 20 years old.
A pride march and rally will take place Friday at 5 p.m.
The festival itself, which starts Friday and runs through Sunday, will include dozens of live performers and bands.
Other events include a 5K run and yoga health day in Jordan Park starting Saturday morning at 8 a.m. The Utah Pride Parade will be Sunday at 10 a.m. on 200 South between West Temple and 400 East.
More details about the schedule of events can be found at utahpridecenter.org.
