8th annual ‘Equality Celebration’ honors local LGBTQ community

Stock composite image, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Seeking to go beyond just an annual Pride event and offer chances for connection year-round, Equality Utah is preparing to host its 8th annual “Equality Celebration” in St. George this Saturday at the Dixie State University Film Studio.

The gathering is open to the public and represents a chance for the LGBTQ community and its allies to come together and, as its name suggests, celebrate all the community has accomplished in an ongoing quest for equality, while inspiring continued commitment to the work that lies ahead.

In this file photo, rainbow balloons are released at “Discover Pride” at Town Square Park, St. George, Utah, Sep. 16, 2017 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

“It is so important that we build a stronger LGBTQ+ community in Southern Utah, and events like this one, sponsored by Equality Utah, help make it possible,” said Stephen Lambert, Equality Utah’s Southern Utah coordinator and co-chair of this year’s Equality Celebration. “It’s literally a matter of saving lives: emotionally, spiritually, and physically.”

Lambert’s fellow co-chair, John Meisner, also emphasized the need for connection.

“Our goals go beyond an annual Pride event,” Meisner said. “We’re looking to schedule events throughout the year and to have a common place, both real and virtual, for the LGBTQ community to connect. Isolation in Southern Utah is a real concern, and we’re trying to break that down.”

Equality Utah seeks to secure equal rights and protections for LGBTQ Utahns and their families.

The theme for this year’s event is “All You Need is Love,” inspired by the classic Beatles song. In addition to food, drinks and a silent auction, guests can expect a Beatles tribute band and are invited to wear 1960s fashion.

The night will also feature words from selected speakers and honorees.

For more information about this year’s Equality Celebration, please contact Equality Utah at 801-355-3479 or [email protected].

Event details

  • What: 8th annual “Equality Celebration.”
  • When: Saturday, May 19, 6-9 p.m.
  • Where: DSU Film Studio, 317 S. Donlee Drive, St. George.
  • Details: All are welcome to attend. Tickets and sponsorships available at the Equality Utah website. The cost of tickets is considered a tax-deductible contribution to the Equality Utah Foundation and helps us provide education and outreach all over Utah.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

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26 Comments

  • statusquo May 14, 2018 at 7:45 am

    Tickets are $100 according to their website

    • PatriotLiberal May 14, 2018 at 9:18 am

      That’s $100 well spent.

      • comments May 14, 2018 at 12:40 pm

        no

        • Utahguns May 14, 2018 at 1:24 pm

          …I wholeheartedly agree.
          The article states: “It is so important that we build a stronger LGBTQ+ community in Southern Utah, and events like this one, sponsored by Equality Utah, help make it possible,” said Stephen Lambert, Equality Utah’s Southern Utah coordinator and co-chair of this year’s Equality Celebration. “It’s literally a matter of saving lives: emotionally, spiritually, and physically.”

          How about saving lives by encouraging people to be (OK, I’ll use the word….) normal ?
          Time, money and efforts would be better spent.
          Activities like this only serve to continue to divide society.

          • RadRabbit May 14, 2018 at 2:07 pm

            Exactly my thoughts Utahguns

      • statusquo May 14, 2018 at 2:04 pm

        The price seems prohibitive for most. Sounds like an exclusive event for the rich. Not really open to the average Joe.

  • Sparky May 14, 2018 at 1:18 pm

    Someone should probably hit them for littering all those balloons all over the desert.

  • DB May 14, 2018 at 2:49 pm

    I’ll bite…what’s does the ‘plus’ sign mean?

    • RadRabbit May 14, 2018 at 3:33 pm

      It means insert imaginary sexual preference you feel for the day.

    • comments May 14, 2018 at 5:23 pm

      unless it’s a “+” meaning HIV+. Nothing surprises me anymore.

      • Striker4 May 15, 2018 at 1:08 am

        If you had a life you wouldn’t have time to make several comments on one article prophet Bob

  • comments May 14, 2018 at 5:18 pm

    I was in attendance one year at the “pride parade” in San Francisco. It really isn’t equality they are after. It seems to me they just flat-out want the right to be as degenerate as possible in public as well as their private lives. I don’t care if these people want to have their homosexual encounters or whatever; it’s none of my concern, but don’t call perversion anything other than what it is when you people do these perverted little degenerate parades. Like I said to ol’ “no filter”, it seems to me these LGBTQ crowd won’t be happy until they can copulate out in the open in public spaces or cook up something even more degenerate than that. I don’t even know what they’re after anymore. Where do we draw the line?

  • John May 14, 2018 at 6:06 pm

    I don’t give two rabbits about your sexual preferences, keep it in your own bedroom. Once you start forcing me to even have to think about your perversion we will have a problem. Keep it to yourself. We don’t really give a rat’s petootie!

    • comments May 14, 2018 at 7:55 pm

      rabbits and rat’s “petooties” and what else, john. You got a fixation on rodents or what?

      • John May 14, 2018 at 9:44 pm

        yup, talk to you all the time, failed mormon !

    • No Filter May 15, 2018 at 2:38 pm

      Wow your inner white trash has really come out today. I bet your a closet homosexual! It’s ok Lumpy we won’t judge.

  • commonsense May 14, 2018 at 8:31 pm

    Flaunting sexual differences seems counter productive. As a heterosexal, my sexual life is private.
    My associates know nothing about my preferences. I’m tired of making this an issue of equality or politics. It screams of “I’m a victim, give me special treatment”.

    Many LGBT people have quietly done their job and succeeded in life. I’m opposed to sanctioning any excuse for failure in life. It’s not fair to the victim and robs them of accountability.

  • Whatteverrr May 14, 2018 at 9:07 pm

    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO MORE BALLOONS PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STOP RELEASING BALLOONS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! COME ON MAN. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO MORE BALLOONS !!!!!! PLANT A TREE !!!!!!!! DO SOMETHING, ANYTHING ELSE !!!!!!! WAKE THE … UP !!!!!!!!!!!!
    Ed. ellipsis

    • Mike P May 15, 2018 at 1:27 pm

      Well, Whattever, they were going to shoot dildos out of their butts but the balloons won

  • and May 14, 2018 at 11:06 pm

    Why would anyone honor a lifestyle that is focused on deviant behavior. It’s not a sexual orientation, it’s an all encompassing lifestyle that revolves around a narcissistic personality. Being LGBTQ is what your life revolves around. Inflicting it on the rest of the population is what brings that community together. What we don’t need is a celebration trying to normalize a lifestyle that focuses on extreme sexual preferences and gender confusion. The Californication of Utah is in full swing, In my opinion of course.

  • HerePliggyWiggy May 15, 2018 at 7:50 am

    Why is it that straight people don’t march around proclaiming how normal they are all the time? Only the … have to stick it in your face 24/7 about how we need to embrace them for their freakishness.
    Ed. ellipsis.

    • comments May 15, 2018 at 11:09 am

      like the guy above said, it’s narcissism.

  • Mike P May 15, 2018 at 1:48 pm

    Look, here’s the deal. I’m from Southern California (sorry) and I’m used to literally everything being shoved in our faces and down our throats and being “forced” to accept EVERYTHING weather we agreed with it or not. So, I honestly don’t care about much anymore which is what everyone wants, it’s called “breaking everyone down”. BUT I want to know WHY It is so important that we build a stronger LGBTQ+ community in Southern Utah ? Who friggin’ cares other than the people involved in it? Can’t you just let your lifestyle take it’s natural course without forcing it on everbody else? IT WILL get here !!! For Christs sake, It already is. But it’s not enough for you? Seriously, with comments like “for the LGBTQ , Isolation in Southern Utah is a real concern, and we’re trying to break that down” !!!Why ? whats the problem ? I just don’t get it. Let it be, get on with your life and let the rest of enjoy

    • Redbud May 16, 2018 at 8:55 am

      Mike P, I agree with your comments. We don’t need everything shoved in our face. If you are LGBTQ or whatever, then that’s fine. Just be who you are, and leave everyone else alone. You don’t need to announce your “status” to everyone, and I don’t need to share my private life either! Instead of having a parade, have a private party at your home and act like fools all you want. Sorry, but the reality is, no one wants your private life put on display in a “parade.”

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