SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 |
NEWS | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 15
ISSUE 304 | Qsaltlake.com
Genderbands inaugurates Utah County Transgender Pride Festival The first-ever Transgender Pride Festival in Utah will be held Sept. 28 in Provo. Presented by Genderbands, which was formed in 2015 solely to fundraise, and eventually pay, for founding President Ian Giles’ top surgery. Today, Genderbands is a local and national nonprofit entity that serves the transgender, gender non-conforming, and other gender diverse communities. The organization is volunteer-lead and executes programming, services, and events on both a local and national scale. The festival is the new brainchild of Giles, who has felt a need to wholly celebrate in one place the transgender community, particularly in Utah County. “We believe it’s important for the trans community to have the spotlight at times. I especially believe it’s important to host the festival in Utah County,” Giles said, “this is an extremely conservative county with very little LGBT resources and even fewer Trans resources.” “Trans Pride creates a safe and affirming space for trans people of all gender identities to gather and be themselves, and to recognize the unique experiences and needs of the transgender community,” continued Giles. “We come together to celebrate our trans siblings. We recognize and honor the trans women of color who stood up to defy injustice and launch the LGBTQ rights movement at Stonewall 50 years ago. “While most LGBTQ Pride events do a great job of celebrating and serving the gay community, sometimes these events fall short of acknowledging and repre-
senting gender minorities. We are working to fill that gap by providing visibility to the trans experience and empowering trans people to live with authenticity. “Genderbands wants transgender people everywhere, especially in Utah County, to know they are loved, import-
ant, and not alone.” The festival will be held at Lions Park in Provo on Sept. 28, from 4-8:30 p.m. The event is free, family-friendly, and dog-friendly (on a leash). There will be food trucks, vendors, and even mermaids. And the festival is sponsored by Utah Pride Center: Trans-
action and Rebirth OBGYN Gender Center. Following the festivities at the park, an after party will commence at City Limits Tavern in Provo starting at 9 p.m, with DJ Toda spinning hot hits, and following at 11 p.m., will be a drag and burlesque show. There is a $5 cover at the door and is a 21+ event. Q For more information, visit the website at genderbands.org/transpride or the Facebook event page at bit.ly/transprideutah
Moab Pride Festival takes place Sept. 25–28 Moab Pride is celebrating its ninth year organizing in southeastern Utah. Their mission is to create queer visibility while providing accessible LGBTQIA programming and safe spaces for the community. Accessible LGBTQIA programming means creating awareness, dialogue, safe spaces and visibility through art, workshops, and celebrations that are inclusive for all ages. This year, Moab Pride Festival will feature all ages workshops, musical performances, a poetry slam, Orange Party, and the featured Saturday afternoon Visibility March and Gay-La at Swanny Park. Visibility Marches happen around the U.S. to rally QTs (queertrans folks) and allies together to engage in a public display of PRIDE; Pride in ourselves, our community, the steps we take and the fights we fight to remain visible, safe, and strong in today’s world! Show your support by participating in the 2019 Visibility March: grab a friend, a rainbow flag or two, make a sign geared towards the themes of love and acceptance, and dance your way through downtown Moab.
Schedule: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 1-2:30pm @ MARC: Youth Workshop on Poetry & Identity (WTD Poetry Club) 6pm @ Star Hall: Film Screening of “Alaska is a Drag” (Moab to Monument Valley Film Commission) 6pm: Organizers Tea Ceremony (Mobile Moon Co-op)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 1-2:30pm @ MARC: Youth Workshop 3-4:30pm @ MARC: Creating Consent Culture workshop 6pm @ Star Hall: Spit Love: A Queer Poetry Slam 9pm @ Woody’s: Orange Party
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 12:30pm @ Swanny City Park: Opening Circle (Taiko Drumming, Mayor Emily Niehaus, and Lily’s Hope with Marcy Till) 1pm @ Swanny City Park: Visi-
bility March 2–5pm @ Swanny City Park: Gay-La in the park Vendor Booths, Food trucks, and Entertainment 2pm: Masturbating Hearts 3pm: Fists in the Wind 4pm: Stop Karen 8–11pm @ MARC: Moth Closet: An All Ages Dance Party 8pm: Shaun Carley 9pm: Haven of Hues 9:30pm: Ava Lux Moab Pride Festival takes place at a variety of locations in downtown Moab: Moab Arts & Rec Center: 111 E. 100 North Woody’s World Famous Tavern: 221 S. Main St (Hwy 191) Swanny City Park: 400 N. 100 West Star Hall: 159 E. Center Street Moab Community Tea Garden: 100 W. 165 North More information at moabpride.org
