In 2025, we hosted our fifth annual Pride march and festival in downtown Provo, starting at the Historic Courthouse with speeches from Macey Gwynn, Rebecca Watson, Ben Schilaty, and Councilwoman Rachel Whipple. This year's speeches focused on unity and love in the face of troubling times.

After the speeches, attendees marched to Memorial Park for a particularly vibrant Pride festival this year. We had about 30 booths and 4 food trucks. For this event, we had incredible weather and over 1,000 in attendance. 

We had lots of drag and live music at the festival, with performances from Dixie Choque, CARE, Ryan Call, Grace Wawro, Yogh's Legion, April Flowers, Charity Heels, Mister E, Colette Coins, and White Chocolate.

Charity Heels Progress Award Recipient: Gracee Purcell

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 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.