Bill Allred: Where is our compassion for LGBTQ young people?

I had the distinct privilege of being a participant in this year’s Salt Lake City Pride Parade on June 5. I thought about all the past Pride Parades I had been a part of, along with my X96 morning show partners Kerry Jackson and Gina Barberi. The three of us have ridden and waved the parade route for years.

It started back when radio stations weren’t sure it was such a good idea to identify with the LGBTQ+ community. I believe X-96 was the first commercial station to be a part of Pride Week and the parade. And it was a hard-fought battle with management to be there at all. For some years in a row, management at the time said, ”No, we don’t want to be associated with that.” But, in time, they relented and X96 was in and has been in however long ago that was.

But, to the reason I’m writing this. As I and my partners waited for the parade to begin, the time was passed chatting with fans. Up came three people, a couple of brothers, it seemed to me, and their very little sister. They wanted a picture with us, and that’s just fine. They were sweet kids and shy as fawns. The little girl (4, 5 or 6 years old) was especially cute with a sort of costume that included ladybug wings.

You see so many kids at Pride who are clearly there because it’s a place and time they can be with people who accept them for what they are. They were so nice; so sincere; so genuine. And as they walked away, I had a lump in my throat and I started to tear up.

“These kids are probably going to have a tough time of life,” I thought.

“Why would anyone want to devalue them and make them feel that they’re not as good as the rest of us? Who could think it’s right to marginalize them? Why would anyone try to enact legislation that would brand kids like this as outsiders? Why, oh why, would anyone want to hurt these sweet, harmless people?”

The Utah law that bans transgender girls, specifically, from participating in girls sports is just plain cruel. I think it was passed by soulless, unfeeling monsters who care only about getting re-elected, and not about the lives of harmless kids.

And I predict, because it’s what the culture warriors will want to happen next, our legislators will soon take up transgender bathroom laws which are another example of laws that are solutions in search of problems.

Where is the rational thought? Where is the compassion? Where are the followers of the Lord who would truly do what Jesus would do? Don’t pass laws that target kids who are already having a hard time figuring out who they are. Kids trying to live their lives as they are.

They are looking for their authentic selves, and isn’t that really what we should all be doing?

Bill Allred is co-host of Radio From Hell on X96 in Salt Lake City.