Utah Pride Center

The Utah Pride Center at 355 N 300 West serves a community with specific needs that no other LGBTQ+ community centre in the United States fully replicates. In a state where the dominant religion has historically condemned homosexuality, where many LGBTQ+ people have experienced family rejection tied to religious belief, and where the political environment at the state level has been hostile to LGBTQ+ rights, the Centre operates with an explicit awareness of the Utah context. Its programming includes support specifically for LGBTQ+ people navigating religious trauma, support groups for people who have left or are considering leaving the LDS Church, and connections to Affirmation (the LGBTQ+ Mormon support organisation). Beyond the religion-specific programming, the Centre provides social services, mental health referrals, HIV/AIDS support and testing, a youth drop-in centre, legal assistance, and community meeting space. The Utah Pride Festival, which the Centre organises, is the state's largest LGBTQ+ event. For visitors to Salt Lake City who want to understand the specific character of Utah's LGBTQ+ community and the unique pressures and resilience it has developed, the Utah Pride Center is the essential contact point.