Over the past several years, Gov. Spencer Cox has repeatedly demonstrated through his actions and now his words that he is no longer a friend to the LGBTQ+ community.

Attempting to rebrand a decades-long tradition by declaring June “Fidelity Month” is disrespectful to the people who placed their trust in him when he made overtures of allyship in the past. It’s offensive. It’s gross.

And, at the end of the day, we carry on.

This is not to disregard the hurt that the governor’s words have caused. Knowing that leaders believe in and stand with you matters. For a community that has been targeted by so many for so long, this dismissal feels like a slap in the face.

But, as much as this declaration hurts, it is also data. We now definitively know that his loyalties lie with political expediency, not his constituents.

Good. Now we can move forward, and not waste our time attempting to cultivate false friends.

LGBTQ+ Utahns and our allies know what June is and what it means to us. We have joy, we have rage, we have love and we have a whole host of other emotions that have built up over a long history of being othered by society. The sum of these feelings is Pride.

Pride is moving forward even when our leaders retreat. Pride is standing up for all marginalized peoples with the knowledge that we are intertwined. Pride is welcoming everyone with open arms. Pride is about our families, our loved ones and our identities. It’s about self-discovery and being able to exist as yourself.

Sometimes, Pride is a riot. Sometimes, it’s a parade. Always, Pride comes from our community, not formal declarations.

And always, Pride persists.

We know what Pride is. But, because words do matter: Now, therefore, I, Sahara Hayes, do hereby declare June 2026 as Pride Month in Utah.

Sahara Hayes is the Representative for House District 32 in the Utah Legislature. She is the only openly LGBTQ+ lawmaker in Utah.

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