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Pride InterFaith Celebration Being Gay Isn’t Just for Godless Heathens by Brendan Shumway brendan@slmetro. com
For years now, queers and their supporters across America have communed once a year in celebrations widely referred to as “Pride.” A veritable gay holiday, there have always been present the elements of diversity, self-respect, and of battles fought, lost and won. But as we hold up our flags as the symbol of diversity, what has happened to the element of spirituality? The answer to that question is being answered, in part, by members of the Pride Interfaith Council, a collection of affirming local religious and spiritual organizations that have banded together and formed the Pride Interfaith Celebration, which takes place this year on June 11 at the First Baptist Church in Salt Lake. What started out four years ago as an un-
official sidecar to other Pride festivities has ballooned into an event large enough in both participation and esteem that it has, for the first year ever, been made an official event of Utah Pride. The council has grown to include different groups that run the gamut of religion and spirituality, including organized Christian religions, Buddhism, Judaism and Paganism, to mention a few. “We felt that Pride didn’t represent all aspects of life, that with gay pride we should celebrate all aspects, including spirituality,” says Interfaith Committee Chair Duane Jennings, who has a wide-ranging background of involvement with various local and national religious leaders. While many mainstream churches and religions may be loathe embracing the acceptance of queer people, or content to remain neutral on the subject of homosexuality, it is the goal of the Interfaith Pride Council to focus on the fact that the basic concepts of religion are the same, centering on trying to be the best person you can be. The idea that all people come from different beliefs and religious backgrounds is central, and that by using those differences to bring the community together, coming
out of the closet doesn’t have to equate supporting themselves solo in terms of spirituality. All of the involved members are affirming and welcoming of queer people, whether they are ancillary queerbased religious support groups, traditionally tolerant spiritual organizations, or congregations progressive in 2005 Utah Pride Interfaith Committee their nature, allowing The theme of the celebration will be “Holy their members to seek dialogue concernPeople—Equal Rites,” a theme that paraling issues such as same gender unions or lels the idea of diversity and the theme of advancement within church clergy. Utah Pride 2005, “Equal Rights. No More. The participants of this year’s Pride No Less.” The service will last about an Interfaith Celebration will include Inhour and will include aspects and elements tegrity Utah, Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian respectful of the varying religions and spiriMormons, South Valley Unitarian Univertual groups coming together. Also performsalist Society, the Covenant of Unitarian ing in the service will be the Salt Lake Men’s Universalist Pagans, Congregation Kol Choir, the Dark Moon Drummers Guild, Ami, Sacred Light of Christ Metropolitan PFLAG-SLC, and others, including indiCommunity Church, Family Fellowship, viduals from The Center. After the service, Gamofites, Wasatch Presbyterian, LDS those attending are invited to a social hour Reconciliation, the Unitarian Universalist for refreshments and a chance to mingle Church of Ogden, Holladay United Church with participants and learn more about of Christ, the Restoration Church of Christ, affirming religious and spiritual organizaand the Wasatch Zen Center, including tions within the area. other unaffiliated faith groups within the With both an increasing attendance and valley. participation, as well as become an official Each year’s celebration is held at differvenue of Pride, Jennings concludes this ent locations of the various participants, year’s Interfaith Pride Celebration will be “a keeping in line the differences that bring celebration of song and word, a renewal of the collective faiths together. This year it the desire and commitment to create a betwill be held at the First Baptist Church, ter world where all people are recognized, located at 777 South 1300 East in Salt included, and celebrated.” Lake City, with free admission at 6pm.
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SALT LAKE METRO ■ JUNE 9, 2005 ■ UTAH PRIDE 2005
No More ‘Drink Prison’ at Pride Long-time attendees of Utah Pride will remember the infamous Beer Garden, a small, enclosed pen where all alcohol purchases and consumption had to take place. Many have complained about the crowded, small “drink prison.” The Pride committee has heard those complaints and by working with the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the beer garden fence is no more. This year, Pride Festival attendees who want to enjoy a beer are allowed to roam freely throughout the festival grounds, any-
where within the perimeter of the fence. Because of the increased security and accountability at this year’s Utah Pride Festival, the Pride Committee has been authorized by the state to take down the fence at the beer garden, essentially turning the entire Festival grounds into a beer garden. In previous years there was a fence around much of the Pride Day Festival, but it wasn’t strictly enforced. This year, because of the $5 ticket sales, there is a controlled access point where visitors will receive wristbands on entry and the boundaries of the event are clearly marked. This means a great deal to attendees who have, in the past, been restricted to a small fenced area when enjoying a beer. There is so much to see and experience at the Utah Pride Festival that many people missed out. But now attendees will be able to visit booths, enjoy the great entertainment, and listen to speakers at the Political Stage. This privilege may be revoked in future years if we don’t all pull together to act responsibly. Event sponsor Bud Light joins Utah Pride in asking you to drink responsibly, ensure there is no under-aged drinking, and if you drink be sure to have a designated driver or use some of the city’s great public transport—Trax is just a few steps from the festival. Budweiser products will be on sale at the Pride Dance from 6pm to 10pm and at the Utah Pride Festival from 12pm to 6pm. Soda and bottled water will also be on sale at both events.