There was some last-minute hearburn Tuesday surrounding America’s Freedom Festival in Provo, with one LGBTQ group getting a scare about its placement in the parade and the Provo mayor pleading for everyone to “be our best selves” during the Independence Day event.
With those theatrics out of the way, the parade — taking place in one of Utah’s most conservative communities — can now make history, as it will allow, for the first time, participation from several LGBTQ groups.
“We are happy that we were able to work out a situation that is a win-win for everybody,” said Paul Warner, the executive director of the parade, which kicks off Wednesday at 9 a.m.
Of course, that wasn’t the case earlier in the day when Provo Pride and PFLAG learned they might have to walk in the entertainment or “pre-parade” section of the event — and not in what the Freedom Festival calls the “grand parade.”
Warner called the situation “a misunderstanding.”
“They’ll be in the grand parade with the other floats and marching bands,” he told The Salt Lake Tribune in a telephone interview.
“It’s disappointing that they initially tried to put us in the pre-parade,” said Brianna Cluck, Provo Pride spokeswoman, “but we are satisfied with our parade status now.”
The centerpiece of the Provo Pride and PFLAG entry is a quilt that showcases themes of unity, family and freedom.
”It is a beautiful expression of diversity and will be a phenomenal entry,“ said Utah County Commissioner Nathan Ivie, who said he would have been disappointed if the groups had not been in the “real parade.”
Tuesday’s drama was the latest involving the Utah County event. In June, parade applications from five LGBTQ organizations were denied by America’s Freedom Festival, which generated criticism from residents and accusations that festival organizers had breeched nondiscrimination clauses in its contracts with Provo City and Utah County, which provided $100,000 for the event.
The next day, representatives of Utah’s LGBTQ community met with festival organizers in an intense two-hour meeting, that ultimately resulted in a compromise.
Mormons Building Bridges will also participate in Wednesday’s grand parade after agreeing to build a float. The nonprofit is still gathering donations through crowd-funding to pay the $5,000 costs, said co-founder Erika Munson.
The float, entitled “Utah Salutes Our LGBTQ Veterans: United We Stand,” honors LGBTQ soldiers from all branches of the military, many of whom served when they were prohibited from being open about their sexuality, Munson said.
Encircle, an LGBTQ resource center for teens, will march in the “pre-parade.” Youths will wear matching t-shirts and carry red, white and blue balloons, said leader Stephanie Larsen.
In 2017, Encircle was cut from the parade, the day before the July 4 event. The Provo-based nonprofit was told it had been disqualified because it was an advocacy group.
“It’s a small step that means a lot,” Larsen said of being allowed to finally participate. “It really helps these kids, who often feel like they are outside of their community and not accepted or understood by others. They will feel just a little bit more a part of our great community.”
While Tuesday’s parade dispute was unfolding, Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi issued an open letter to residents asking them to be respectful.
“I call on each of us to be our best selves,” she wrote, noting the recent divide over LGBTQ participation in the parade.
“One of the freedoms we are so proud of in America is the freedom of speech,” she said. “Each of us is entitled to an opinion, and we have opportunities to share those opinions. What a fabulous thing!“
Kaufusi offered an open door to residents and encouraged then to bring their concerns to the her or the City Council.
As for Wednesday’s parade, she said, “I hope each of us will tap into our highest instincts. That we will focus on being good citizens and strive to come together in celebration of the miraculous formation of this country. Let’s show each other the neighborliness that helps make this a place we all love to be.”
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