UTAH: LGBT Groups March In Provo Parade [VIDEO]

Ben Winslow reports at Salt Lake City’s Fox affiliate:



Among the high school marching bands, veterans, pageant queens and politicians, groups representing Utah Valley’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community took some historic steps. After years of being rejected from one of America’s largest patriotic celebrations in one of Utah’s most conservative cities, several LGBT community groups were finally allowed in the Freedom Festival parade.

“This is about America, all the people here, the community,” said Sgt. Jeff Clement, a Utah Army National Guard veteran who rode a float highlighting LGBT veterans put together by Mormons Building Bridges. “I get to be a part of it.”

After years of being rejected from the parade, the groups were finally allowed in after Utah County Commissioners and Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi inked contracts with America’s Freedom Festival that included non-discrimination clauses. The festival’s exclusion of those groups put taxpayer dollars for the parade and festival at risk. It led to back-and-forth battles over whether the LGBT groups really would be allowed in the parade.