LGBTQ groups, allies line Freedom Festival parade route in Provo to show support
Participants in the float for Mormons Building Bridges wave American and Pride flags during the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Cameron Bridston hands out pride flag stickers at the QueerMeals tent alongside University Ave. during the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
The crowd near the QueerMeals stand react as the Provo Pride group marches past during the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Kyle Bond, a member of the Utah County Sheriff's Mounted Posse, carries the American flag down University Ave. during the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Attendees of the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade watch floats go down University Ave. on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Three planes perform a flyover during the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
U.S. Rep. John Curtis waves to attendees of the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Ivie Linderman, 8, loses her hat as she runs back to the sidewalk after picking up pieces of candy during the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Provo Fire and Rescue members spray the attendees of the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
J.D. Goates waves to the crowd while carrying the PFLAG Provo/Utah County quilt during the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Mel Howarth passes out Pride stickers during the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert waves to the crowd during the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Alan and Karen Ashton, the grand marshals of the Freedom Festival, wave from their vehicle during the Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Joshua and Thamara Holt wave during the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Utah County Commissioner Nathan Ivie waves during the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Timpview cheerleaders march during the pre-parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Dagney Bennet waves a Pride flag while marching with Mormons Building Bridges during the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo. Bennet is a veteran of the Army and served from 1984 to 1990, when she was court marshaled for being gay.
Participants of the Freedom Run walk down University Ave. before the Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Little Miss Lindon royalty wave to the attendees of the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
LDS Missionaries high-five attendees of the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Utah Valley Skyline Chorus members sing as their float heads down University Ave. during the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Tay Adams, as persona Bridgett Kiss, blows kisses to the crowd during the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Bun Yom, a Freedom Award Recipient, waves during the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo. Yom snd his family survived the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia and moved to the United States in 1984 through a refugee resettlement program.
Anne Foley, member of Encircle, gives an attendee of the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade a hug during the pre-parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Historical U.S. Army vehicles make their way down University Ave. during the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Utah Highway Patrol State Troopers make their way down University Ave. during the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Encircle participants walk during the pre-parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Chelsea Cellar makes a heart shape with her hands while walking with Encircle during the pre-parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Tanner Morris, a member of the BYU Dunk Team, flies through the air during the pre-parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Ben Martin, a business analyst for Entrata, drives a double-decker bus during the pre-parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
The American Fork Marching Band performs during the Freedom Festival's Grand Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, in Provo.
Their shirts said “I’ll walk with you.” And walk they did.
Encircle: LGBTQ+ Family and Youth Resource Center marched down University Avenue on Wednesday morning in the Freedom Festival Grand Parade pre-parade, one year after the group was not allowed to participate in the event.
The group passed by a cheering crowd spotted with small rainbow flags and umbrellas as they carried a large banner with the group’s name and carried red, white and blue balloons as “This is Me” from “The Greatest Showman” played.
“We teared up a little,” said Natalie Landrey, who lives in Provo and came to the parade Wednesday to support the LGBTQ community.
She had brought 2,000 rainbow flags to hand out the day before and of the parade. She said of the 1,000 people she interacted with, only five were rude.
In June, parade organizers initially denied parade applications submitted by five LGBTQ organizations, including Encircle. The groups were then told they could resubmit their entries, which four of the five did. Four groups marched in the parade Wednesday.
Jerilyn Hassell Pool, the founder of QueerMeals, was camped out in an area in front of a home in the 300 North block of University Avenue on Wednesday. The area was donated to QueerMeals by the homeowner and was decorated in rainbow flags. Volunteers handed out free rainbow stickers and flags to passersby and the group hosted a barbecue.
QueerMeals was initially denied from the parade and Hassell Pool decided not to reapply.
“I decided it was a better idea to create a safe space for people to wear what they want,” Hassell Pool said.
She said LGBTQ people have always marched in the parade, they just haven’t been out.
Except for a few “hiccups” with members of the crowd, things went smoothly.
“We know Provo is ready for greater visibility,” Hassell Pool said.
A handful of LGBTQ groups lined the parade route to show support for the LGBTQ groups participating in the prade. The Bell Room hosted a viewing party for Provo Pride and PFLAG Provo/Utah County members viewed the parade from in front of an antiques store. Both spaces were donated.
“I feel a lot of support from the community,” said Randy Glasscock, the president of PFLAG Provo/Utah County.
Glasscock watched the parade from the sidelines Wednesday morning. He hopes the parade provided more exposure for the LGBTQ community and will make the area safe for LGBTQ children.
Luann Hawker decided to watch from the sidelines instead of marching with PFLAG in the parade because she felt LGBTQ people needed to be the ones participating in the parade. She said her son, who is a member of the LGBTQ community, could have used seeing LGBTQ groups in the parade while he was still closeted.
“LGBTQ families are part of the community,” Hawker said. “Rainbow flags aren’t ‘other,’ they are just another part.”
Encircle participated in the pre-parade, where groups are allowed to have more participants and interact with the crowd, while Mormons Building Bridges, PFLAG and Provo Pride participated in the grand parade.
The pre-parade started at 8 a.m. Wednesday and was followed by the Grand Parade at 9 a.m. Thousands of people lined the parade route to watch dozens of entries, including marching bands, military vehicles, elected leaders and large character balloons walk down University Avenue in Provo before turning onto 200 South and then 200 East.
Josh Jacobs, who is on the board of Provo Pride and Spectrum, Utah Valley University’s LGBTQ organization, is confident the groups will be allowed in the parade next year.
He chose to watch the parade instead of marching in it.
“Here on the sidelines, we can do whatever we want, to have our voice to say whatever we want,” Jacobs said.
Camping overnight to save a spot the day of the parade has become a tradition for Chance Clift, who now brings his daughter to the parade. He’s been camping out the night before for the past 15 years.
He had his space decorated with rainbow flags Wednesday morning to show his support.
Encircle was originally told their entry was denied because it wasn’t patriotic enough. After Encircle’s entry passed, he said he thought it showed American pride well.
“It was as patriotic as any other float in the parade,” he said.