August 17, 2012
Moab Pride Festival Returns to Southern Utah
Mark Thompson READ TIME: 3 MIN.
Moab, UT~ The Moab Pride Festival returns for a second year, September 28th and 29th, 2012. Founded by longtime area residents and staffed by dozens of volunteers, the event strives to create a safe and celebratory environment of compassion, understanding and acceptance towards members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex (LGBTQI) community.
Though pride festivals are common in major cities around the country, the Moab Pride Festival is a standout for its remoteness in southern Utah. Last year's inaugural event drew hundreds of participants from the Four Corners area and garnered support and sponsorship from Salt Lake City organizations and an array of regional businesses.
Organizers expect this year's event to be even bigger, drawing participants from across the nation for its uniqueness. Invitations have been once again extended to all in the community and beyond, regardless of age, gender, political or religious affiliations.
This year's special guest speaker will be Zach Wahls, who lit up the internet with a viral video of his testimony before the Iowa House Judiciary Committee about House Joint Resolution Six, a proposed constitutional amendment that would redefine marriage in Iowa as between one man and one woman. He's author of a new memoir 'My Two Moms', about his life being raised by a gay couple, and is currently leading an effort to get the Boy Scouts of America to repeal their anti-LGBTQI membership policy. Other guests include singer songwriter Justin Utley and returning DJ Jen Woolfe.
Amy Stocks, Moab Pride Festival Co-Founder and Entertainment Director sees the festival as an opportunity to celebrate all the members of this rural southern Utah community, a place where her family has lived for three generations.
"Moab is known internationally as a destination for outdoor adventure and film making. We want the world to know that it is also a place of compassion, acceptance and love," Stocks said. "In addition to world class mountain biking and rock climbing, Moab is also a community that celebrates diversity and honors individuals' rights."
Stocks said the outpouring of solidarity with last year's theme 'Where Acceptance Begins' in part inspired this year's theme 'Let Love Flow'.
"Moab is a place where you can open a door and compassion, love and encouragement will flow on through, just as the Colorado River flows through town. This year the festival will celebrate the acceptance and support that all people get here in Moab to be themselves."
DETAILS:
WHAT: 2nd Annual Moab Pride Festival. The festival includes a Friday night 'Moulin Rouge-Inspired Orange Party', a visibility march on Saturday morning and the Festival itself Saturday afternoon, followed by an after party Saturday evening.
WHEN: 'Moulin Rouge-Inspired Orange Party' kickoff event on Friday night September 28th; Festival and Visibility March on Saturday September 29th, 2012.
WHERE: All venues are located in Moab, Utah. Festival - Old City Park; Visibility March - Swanny Park; 'Orange Party' - Frankie D's Bar & Grill; After Party -Woody's World Famous Tavern
WHO: The event is open to all regardless of age, gender, political or religious affiliations. Attendees are expected from the region and from communities around the nation.
WHY: To celebrate diversity and honor those who stand up for understanding and acceptance of all.
The festival is still seeking donations, sponsors, media sponsors and volunteers.
Information is available at www.moabpride.org
A long-term New Yorker and a member of New York Travel Writers Association, Mark Thompson has also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The author of the novels WOLFCHILD and MY HAWAIIAN PENTHOUSE, he has a PhD in American Studies and is the recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center. His work has appeared in numerous publications.
