‘Everyone belongs’ at 3rd annual St. George Pride Festival

September 22, 2018 Utah Channel 3

ST. GEORGE – Rainbow flags and emblems could be seen all around as live music played in the background Saturday at Vernon Worthen Park during the third annual St. George Pride Festival.

At the 3rd annual St. George Pride Fest, St. George, Utah, Sept. 22, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

The pride festival capped events held during Pride Week by the nonprofit Pride of Southern Utah. Organizers said they believe over 1,000 people attended Saturday’s event, which started at 3 p.m.

The theme of this year’s Pride Week in Southern Utah was “Everyone Belongs.”

“Because in reality, a lot of people in the LGBTQ-plus community don’t believe they belong – don’t believe they fit into society … their family or their faith,” said Stephen Lambert, director of Pride of Southern Utah.

“So it’s important to send that message (of belonging) to make sure everyone feels like they are important, that they do have something to contribute to the fabric of our society and that they, as an individual, matter.”

See Lambert featured in the video above.

Many people attended Saturday’s pride festival and were treated to a lineup of food trucks and various booths featuring LGBTQ-plus supporting entities. Among them were the Dixie LGBTQ Teen Alliance, the ACLU of Utah, Equality Utah, the Dove Center and many others.

Lambert called together a “pride walk” around 8 p.m. that allowed attendees to go on a stage and shout out what they had pride in. Many affirmed their pride in who they are as a part of the LGBTQ-plus community. Others shouted their support for friends and family who were LGBTQ-plus.

Among those who did the pride walk was a girl who said she was proud of her two mothers — a woman who publicly came out as lesbian and a “mama dragon” who warned others not to mess with her LGBTQ children.

Lambert said he was “beyond words” at the turnout, citing all the support at the event.

“The number of vendors who showed up, the number of participants that showed up, people throughout the LGBTQ community, allies and their families,” he said. “I’ve spoken to so many people today, and I’m just thrilled with everything that’s happened.”

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