In 2024, we hosted our fourth annual Pride march and festival in downtown Provo, starting at the Historic Courthouse with inspiring speeches advocating for LGBTQ+ care and acceptance. Despite facing cold weather and the looming threat of rain, the event was a great success.

After the march, attendees gathered at Memorial Park for a lively music festival, surrounded by booths from community organizations offering essential resources and support. This year's event was especially significant as we celebrated our official 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, marking a pivotal milestone in our organization's history.

Adding to the festivities were delicious offerings from food trucks and captivating performances by Dune Moss, Talin Everett, Liam Lars, and more! We also proudly presented our inaugural Progress Award to Charity Heels. Read more about her here. 

Charity Heels Progress Award Recipient: Charity Heels

In the spring of 2023, we at the Cougar Pride Center decided to elevate our annual Pride event to a fully-fledged march and festival, marking the third consecutive year of our LGBTQ+ celebrations in Provo. 

The day began with a march from the Utah County Historic Courthouse to Memorial Park, featuring speeches, live music, and a variety of community resource booths. This event was our first time using the courthouse as a backdrop, symbolizing a significant step in the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community in Provo. We were thrilled to have performances by Mindy Gledhill, Little Moon, Kory Edgewood, the BYU gospel choir, the BYU Step Team, and more!

Despite the challenges faced throughout the year the event fostered a sense of optimism and unity. The success of the 2023 Pride March and Festival not only celebrated our achievements over the past year but also set a hopeful tone for the future, reinforcing our resolve of creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.

In 2022, we celebrated a significant milestone with two major events during Pride. The month began with an on-campus gathering. In Brigham Square we held the first-ever Pride demonstration to celebrate and support the queer community at BYU. This historic event was made possible through tireless effort and collaboration with BYU, turning an uphill battle into an incredible experience. 

Later that month we had our second Pride, Radical Hope, where we were met with smiling faces and supportive people. Despite heavy rain and lightning cutting the event short, the spirit of the day remained undampened as we gathered to hear inspiring speeches and enjoy each other's company. Though the weather challenged us, the day ended with a beautiful rainbow, a fitting symbol of hope and resilience.

We are immensely grateful to the community, our amazing speakers, wonderful volunteers, and our dedicated team for making these Pride events unforgettable. These historic days set a precedent for future meaningful steps towards a brighter future for all of us.

In the spring of 2021, the founders of the Cougar Pride Center began "Ally Night," a weekly gathering providing a safe space for discussions and activities centered around LGBTQ+ issues. As June approached, our group wanted to celebrate our first Pride and decided to organize a Pride March, which was the first of its kind for the BYU community. The response was overwhelming, with thousands turning up for this historic event.

Hundreds of participants gathered in Provo to celebrate Pride and advocate for inclusion, walking from Joaquin Park to Kiwanis Park with messages of love, acceptance, and visibility. The march began with a rally where speakers shared their personal stories, underscoring the need for acceptance and change within the BYU community. Participants carried rainbow flags and homemade signs with slogans like "Love One Another" and "God Loves All His Children," creating a loving and supportive atmosphere. Along the route, marchers received cheers and honks of support from passing cars, which gave us this great sense of solidarity among the community.

This march, the first-ever BYU Pride March, wasn't just a celebration but also a powerful statement, highlighting the courage and resilience of our community in the face of adversity. Despite the challenges we face, the turnout and support demonstrated the growing solidarity and hope for a more inclusive future at BYU.