Stand Out, Together: Logan Pride 2021
“I remember going to my first Pride and thinking, oh, my gosh, I’m not alone,” said Erika-Danielle Lindstrom (she/her) the gender and sexuality coordinator at the USU Inclusion Center, “Here is my community. I can be celebrated. There’s something amazing about me. This is why Pride is so important.”
This year’s Logan Pride Festival’s theme “Stand Out, Together” goes quite well with Lindstrom’s words. The festival took place on Saturday, Sept. 18 at Willow Park. Though Pride month is June, the Logan Pride Foundation decided to move the celebration to September to reach more of Utah State University’s students, according to Paul Urzagaste, the marketing director for this year’s event.
Pride is important to many people, and while it can look like just a fun way to celebrate who you are, there are deeper reasons why Pride is vital to the community.
Pride is not only a celebration, but a tribute to those who have lost their lives for loving who they loved, according to Urzagaste.
“In 2019, suicide was the leading cause of death for Utahns ages 10 to 17 and 18 to 24,” Urzagaste said, “not to mention that the percentages of people suffering with depression in Utah are above the national average.”
Urzagaste also mentioned the Logan Pride Festival was created to show members of the LGBTQ+ community, and its allies, there are many resources available to them.
“There are resources, organizations and people that are there to provide support when they feel alone, or struggling to fit in,” Urzagaste said. “Not only that, but it is also created to celebrate our uniqueness and love for who we are.”
For this reason, Pride is of utmost importance to both Urzagaste, Lindstrom and her team members at the Inclusion Center — and the queer community in Logan.
The USU Inclusion Center hosted a booth at Pride for all USU students. Lindstrom and her team showcased information about their upcoming October events, as it is LGBTQ+ history month.
They also shared about their support groups they have partnered with, such as Counseling and Psychological Services, or CAPS, and especially their LGBTQ+-specific ones. Educating USU’s student body about these resources and topics is very important to Lindstrom, and she believes these things are important for everyone.
“You don’t have to be a gender or sexual minority to utilize our services,” Lindstrom said, “We’re always looking for allies and encourage bringing friends. We’re here for all students.”
Lindstrom also shared that a lack of representation is an important reason why USU students and residents of Logan should care about Pride.
“There is nothing more alienating than not being able to identify yourself in films,” Lindstrom said, “This can cause a lot of misunderstanding and hardship.”
In the eyes of Erika Lindstrom, Pride is about seeing you are not alone. It’s about community. It’s about standing out from the crowd, with so many others just like you.
“I’m here for you,” Lindstrom said, “Let’s support each other, and let’s thrive together.”