This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Wearing all white and ringing bells, Utah's married gay couples, and others from surrounding states, stretched for a full city block at the head of the 2014 Pride Parade, trailing a massive float carrying among others Michael Ferguson and Seth Anderson, the first same-sex partners to wed in Utah.
Many carried signs with their names, their wedding date and the years they have been together. That included Jody Senninger and Connie Christensen of Heber. In their 18 years together, they have experienced their share of bigotry and hatred from family members, neighbors and employers.
"They think it is a choice," said Senninger. "Love is not a choice."
They married in St. George last December, while they were wintering in their second home. A celebratory event that spurred them to march in their first Pride Parade.
"I want the hate to go away and I want the love to come out," Senninger said.
Similarly, Lindy Fisher and Tina Cushing were married on Dec. 23 and have been together for 19 years and were surprised by just how celebratory the scene was at the Salt Lake County office building. People handed out cupcakes and corsages and there were no protesters.
They dressed in all white and walked with other married couples for one overarching reason, Cushing said.
"We are making history."