Salt Lake City Celebrates Utah Pride Festival

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – More than 50,000 people were expected to participate in Pride festivities this weekend across Salt Lake City. Thousands of people gathered Sunday morning for the annual Pride Parade through downtown.

“It’s just so family-friendly and positive and upbeat and it brings the community together,” said Owen Killian.

Killian said he grew up in Utah, but has been gone for a long time.

“I just moved back to Utah. I’ve been gone for 50 years. I left when I was 18. I came out when I was 18. I moved to San Francisco,” Killian said. “Such a different place than I left. I love it here. I absolutely love it. The community is so supportive and it’s just a different place.”

This year, Killian attended the parade with his sister, son, grandchildren, and his husband of seven years, Kevin Davis.

Thousands of people lined the parade route waving flags. This year, the festival is celebrating 50 years since the “Stonewall Uprising” that sparked the gay rights movement.

There was a march at the Utah State Capitol on Saturday and a festival at Washington Square all weekend. People who attended the events said it was encouraging to see so much unity.

“Whether they’re allies or whether they’re part of the LGBT community, it’s fun to see people come together,” said Kathy Stringham.

Stringham said she was happy for younger generations who feel more accepted than in decades past.

“I’m a high school teacher, and it’s fun to watch these kids able to be themselves,” she said.

As floats and groups celebrating Salt Lake City’s LGBTQ community, Killian enjoyed seeing people of all backgrounds enjoy the event together.

“We’re all the same. We’re all family. We’re all community. We all belong together. We should celebrate together,” he said.