The Utah Pride Center

I work as the Development Intern at the Utah Pride Center, at 361 N. 300 W. in Salt Lake City, UT. Granted, then, I provide a "biased" opinion on the greatness of this place for which I am so delighted to volunteer . . . what I do there and everything else that goes on there means so much to me that I plan on continuing my work there indefinitely. They embody so much of what gives me hope and joy in this world! So please, allow me to explain.

First ~ hope. This website explains: "Of the estimated 1.6 million homeless American youth, between 20 and 40 percent identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT)." Also, "In one study, 26 percent of gay teens who came out to their parents/guardians were told they must leave home." At the Utah Pride Center, they work so diligently to provide amazing services to all LGBT Youth, including providing a Homeless Youth Drop-in Center. Having as supportive an immediate family as I do, few things break my heart more than to know that every day there are youth brave enough to come out and be true to who they are, only to be thrown from their once-loving homes. The services provided for and by youth at the Utah Pride Center give me immense hope that these occurrences will not continue, but that through honesty and education, our children's futures will be better.

And next ~ Joy. One only needs to recall the recent joy taken from an entire high school group of students denied their class prom by a school board unwilling to accept one student's desire to take her partner of choice, to understand what genuine joy is given to LGBT youth every year by the Utah Pride Center's Queer Prom! This is only one event that happens every year that, I believe, simply offers joy that would not otherwise be present in some people's lives.

I am working to improve and expand the Membership Benefits offered to those who join the Utah Pride Center's network of allies for all the causes they work for, benefiting thousands and more here in Utah ... One-year Memberships only cost $35, or $50 for a family, and are even less for students and seniors. Tax-deductible donations are also always accepted, and please believe me when I say, every single dollar changes lives. Drastically. What an absolutely, absolutely amazing organization!