Resources for LGBTQ+ people in Cache Valley
The celebration of Pride Month, understandably, differed wildly this year. Regardless of what month it is, there are many resources available and events put on for the LGBTQ community in Logan year-round.
The Logan Pride Foundation began as a festival organization, hosting its annual Pride Festival held every September. Logan Pride has since grown as an organization, hosting multiple monthly events and providing many resources and services to LGBTQ people in Cache Valley.
In addition to the Pride Festival, Logan Pride provides free tutoring for youth, kickball nights, wine and paint socials, and more. They hope to soon begin providing support groups for LGBTQ people and their families.
“Logan has a lot of LGBTQ+ people, just like every town does,” said Christina Cannell, the president of the Logan Pride Foundation. “Due to the conservative and religious climate, though, life can be a bit harder for us. Our goal as an organization is to support one another and build up our community. It’s important to have a place where we can gather and share resources.”
While the festivals are fun, Pride Month is important to Cannell because it brings visibility to the community and is a time to reflect.
“Pride Month is celebrated in June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots, during which LGBTQ+ people fought against unfair treatment by law enforcement,” Cannell said. “I really like the saying ‘the first Pride was a riot’ because it exemplifies that Pride isn’t all about glitter and rainbows, it’s also about banding together to fight for equality, which we still don’t have.”
Logan Pride is always looking for volunteers for their yearly Pride Festival and other events. Those interested can sign up for their volunteer list to be notified of these opportunities at https://www.loganpride.org/get-involved.
While the Logan Pride Foundation serves the entire LGBTQ community of Cache Valley, Utah State University has its own organization for LGBTQ students, faculty and staff: the Queer Student Alliance.
Caity Moellendorf serves as the current Public Relations Officer for QSA and works for the LGBTQ section of the USU Inclusion Center.
QSA Club Members of the QSA Club during “Day on the Quad.”
“QSA is incredibly important to campus life,” Moellendorf said. “We put on events that help educate peers and allies about the community as well as help bring queer students together.”
During the school year, QSA hosts bi-weekly meetings for students to socialize within the community, as well as campus-wide events to educate students and recognize the LGBTQ community on campus.
“Our bi-weekly meetings focus on creating safe spaces for queer students to socialize and find community while they are also trying to navigate new experiences at college,” Moellendorf said. “Our campus wide events focus on education and awareness in hopes to make USU a more inclusive space for all identities.”
QSA has put on campus-wide events such as National Coming Out Day, National Pronouns Day, Trans Awareness Week and Trans Day of Remembrance. These events included panels, booths and digital campaigns.
“These events mostly focus on education and normalization of the LGBTQ community to those who are not exposed to it as often,” Moellendorf said. “We try to create safe spaces so those who have questions can ask them and so that those who are comfortable can participate and feel recognized on their campus.”
Pride Month is important to Moellendorf as a time for the community to be together and celebrate who they are and all they’ve endured.
“It serves as a reminder that this community is filled with love for one another and that no matter who you are you have a space and a voice,” Moellendorf said. “In light of recent events, I believe it is important that the LGBTQ+ community and allies remember that Pride was a riot. Many people fought for our right to celebrate and be proud of our lives and who we are. We must never forget this and continue to carry out this ideal.”
As a student-run organization, QSA always looks for help with their larger events. They are also always open to working with other groups and students who have activities they would like to organize. More information about contacting or joining QSA can be found on their website (https://www.usu.edu/inclusion/clubs/qsa).
Darcy Ritchie is a second-year journalism student at Utah State from Idaho Falls, Idaho. Outside of writing for the Statesman, she loves to DJ for Aggie Radio, eat french bread in the Walmart parking lot, and tweet.
—darcy.ritchie@aggiemail.usu.edu
@darcyrrose