BYU students and community members supported the LGBTQ+ community surrounding BYU at Kiwanis Park in Provo on Sept. 14.
The fourth annual Back to School Pride, hosted by RaYnbow Collective, provided vendors, community resources for LGBTQ+ individuals, food trucks, a pride march, live music and drag performances in the hopes of creating a safe space for individuals to connect with each other.
Many LGBTQ-owned businesses sold stickers, pins, pride flags, clothing, art and jewelry to those attending.
“The event provides an inclusive space for Brigham Young University students and faculty to connect with each other, community resources and LGBTQ-friendly vendors,” RaYnbow Collective said in a press release on Sept. 11. “RaYnbow Collective affirms that the LGBTQ+ BYU community deserves to feel safe in public as their authentic selves.”
RaYnbow Collective estimated 1,500 to 2,000 people attended the event, and 66 vendors were present as well. According to the press release, this number of vendors almost doubled the number of vendors from last year's Back to School Pride.
Gracee Purcell, president of RaYnbow Collective, emphasized the event’s theme, “RaYnbow Connection,” and how one of the goals of this year’s event was to connect the LGBTQ+ community at BYU to surrounding resources.
“RaYnbow Collective exists to provide resources and support for queer BYU students,” Purcell said. “This is a community that stands up for each other and that's really what we wanted to showcase this year.”
Purcell said Back to School Pride is a fun and unique space for her to connect to the LGBTQ+ community and give the love she feels from the community back to them.
“I just feel, if I were to walk up to anybody, that they would just listen,” Purcell said.
BYU fine arts student Megan Atwood sold stickers, art prints, handmade items and more at her business’s booth, Don’t Blink. She said she has attended Back to School Pride every year as an ally.
“It’s just really fun, too, because I see people from my classes,” Atwood said. “If they're queer themselves, they know that at least I’m someone who's safe for them.”
Artist Eternity Stovall sold her paintings of Jesus Christ with various ethnicities, ink drawings and watercolor flowers at her booth.
“I just want people to feel comfortable in the BYU community and I feel like this is a great place for connection,” Stovall said.
Back to School Pride showcased community resources and organizations such as Utah Pride Center, Genderbands, Free Mom Hugs, USGA, Cougar Pride Center, Encircle and RaYnbow Collective. for LGBTQ+ students to utilize for support if needed.
