Why showing up for Pride matters

Each June, rainbow flags rise across city streets, music pulses through public parks, and queer people and our allies gather in joyful celebration. But Pride is more than a party. It’s a protest. It’s a declaration of visibility. And in today’s political climate, showing up for Pride is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves, our community, and the generations to come.

Here in Utah, we know what it means to live at the intersection of progress and resistance. Salt Lake City boasts one of the most vibrant and organized LGBTQ+ communities in the country, yet we live in a state where anti-trans bills are introduced year after year and where LGBTQ+ students still face disproportionate discrimination. Across the country, over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in the past year alone. Many targeted trans youth, gender-affirming healthcare, and drag performance. In some states, Pride events are being canceled, defunded, or even banned from public spaces.

So when we show up for Pride this year, we’re doing more than marching and partying; we’re refusing to be erased.

Visibility Is Power

For many of us, Pride may be the one time a year we feel completely free to be ourselves without apology. That freedom is not just personal. It’s political. When we gather in numbers, we remind lawmakers, neighbors, and the media that we are not going anywhere. Our existence is not up for debate. Pride reminds those still in the closet, those in rural towns, and those navigating rejection at home or school that they are not alone.

In Utah, visibility is especially crucial. A 2023 survey found that LGBTQ+ youth in Utah are at significantly higher risk for depression and suicide, largely due to isolation and lack of acceptance. Every flag waved, every hug shared, and every “you belong here” message matters. When we show up, we show others what hope looks like.

Pride also offers something increasingly rare in today’s divided political landscape: solidarity. In a time when our rights are under attack, there is strength in collective celebration. Pride is not just for gay, lesbian, and trans folks; it’s for everyone who believes in dignity, equality, and freedom.

If you’re cisgender and straight, your presence matters too. Allies who attend Pride demonstrate that this fight isn’t just “ours”. It’s about the kind of society we all want to live in. One where people are safe to be who they are, love who they love, and live without fear of discrimination.

Pride should inspire more than one day of participation. It should ignite a commitment to advocacy all year long. It means supporting queer-owned businesses, defending LGBTQ+ students in school board meetings, donating to local organizations, and voting for inclusive leaders. Pride is a starting point, not the finish line.

And for those who feel conflicted about attending due to corporate involvement or concerns about “performative allyship,” remember this: your presence isn’t about perfection. It’s about being counted. Utah Pride is organized by a local nonprofit, staffed by volunteers, and sustained by those of us who continue to show up year after year. When we fill the streets with love, resistance, and resilience, we drown out the voices of hate.

Fifty-five years after Stonewall, Pride remains rooted in protest. As drag queens, trans folks, and queer youth are targeted in today’s culture wars, we must remember that every step we take in a parade is a step in defiance of fear, shame, and silence.

So whether you’re dancing down the block, holding your partner’s hand in the crowd, or cheering from the sidelines, show up. Show out. Because Pride is not just about where we’ve been. It’s about where we’re going.

And we are not going back.