Utah Pride Center addresses safety concerns
The Utah Pride Center is reassuring community members of its safety protocols after concerns were raised about in-person gatherings, particularly for the Gay Men’s Peer Support Group.
In an email to group organizers, executive director Chad Call acknowledged that the “current climate has been unsettling” and said it was understandable that some people may feel hesitant to attend meetings. He emphasized that safety has been a top priority for the Center over the past two weeks.
“For those who choose to attend, the Center continues to have two locked entry points to access our space, first the lobby door and then the elevator, as you know,” Call wrote. “SLCPD’s police chief was here last week, and felt like our insulation from public access was really protective, and with a police precinct just around the corner from our building, their response time to an emergency is incredibly quick.”
Call added that the Salt Lake City Police Department has been monitoring the building’s street-facing side and has not recommended closing the center.
The Utah Pride Center, which provides resources, programming, and support for LGBTQ+ Utahns, has faced questions from community members about whether to pause in-person activities in light of increased safety concerns. Call said the Center will remain open while encouraging individuals to make the choice that feels safest for them.
“We feel strongly at this time that the Center should remain open in challenging times like this, when safe, to ensure our community has a place to gather and find unity with one another,” he wrote.
The Gay Men’s Peer Support Group is one of many peer-led programs hosted at the Pride Center, which offers social connection, support, and resources to LGBTQ+ people across Utah.
