Utah Pride 2014: Welcome from Utah Pride Executive Director
Welcome to Pride Week 2014! On behalf of the team at Utah Pride and Board of Directors, we are excited to have you join us for our 31st annual Pride Celebration: Love Equals Love. This mantra resonates with us and in us. Now, in our time, a civil rights movement is borne through our hands, hearts and minds; a more perfect union that includes marriage equality for us is near. We have a unique opportunity to see this progress unfold in our own state as we continue to follow the Kitchen v. Herbert case that brought down Amendment 3. Though we come together to celebrate progress, our voice, activism and friendly dialogue must not slow down.
Utah officials appealed the historic ruling made by Judge Shelby in December 2013. Now 1,300 couples are in legal limbo after receiving marriage licenses. The human family must resolve these matters of affirming basic human rights; our communities will be strengthened as goodness is extended to all. We must do our part by keeping ourselves aware of these historic advances in Utah, and united in our continuous quest toward equality for all members of our community.
Utah Pride Center is well known for its wonderful celebration events like Pride Festival, but we offer much more year-round to promote a healthier lifestyle for our community. Thanks to our generous donors, we also provide extensive advocacy and well-being services in a fabulous new space where we have room to continue to grow: SAGE Utah, transgender and youth programs, mental health services, Queer Action Project and Keeping Kids Safe campaign are some of our many existing programs and services. We are very proud to add a new mental health program with bilingual therapists that will serve those who have life crisis and transitions, as well as workshops to promote healthy relationships, and resources for family adjustment and bonding for adoptive families.
It is my great privilege to serve our community as executive director. My vision is to build a community center that will unite us and help us realize our potential to be healthy and more self-actualized. For some just finding the path to coming out, we will be a place of safe refuge, supported by great volunteers, professionals, services and resources. For all others, we will be a welcoming community center offering coffee, celebration events, workshops, and comprehensive services and resources for individuals and families. Come visit your new community center and be a partner in helping us build a vibrant and diverse space.
Happy Pride!
Steven Ha
Executive Director