Moab Pride has been around for 12 years, with a steadfast goal of fostering queer visibility in Moab. In the past the group has focused its efforts on one big annual festival. This year, the group is planning smaller events spread throughout the calendar, with several planned for June, which is Pride Month.
On Friday, June 9, the Moab Pride group is collaborating with Skate Moab to host a Skate Night at the Old Spanish Trail Arena from 7 to 10 p.m. It is a family-friendly event and skates will be available in most sizes.
On June 10, Moab Pride will host a Lake Day at Ken’s Lake from 12 to 3 p.m. Bring a boat or a blanket; snacks and cold, non-alcoholic drinks will be provided.
On Thursday, June 22 the group is hosting “A Spell for Queer Home,” an engaging event featuring a short film screening and an enchanting evening of performances by talented local queer artists at the MARC. The doors will open at 6 p.m., followed by the screening at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.
M.A Russell, director of Moab Pride, said that in past years the festival “often felt like it catered more towards those traveling to Moab, rather than locals, and left organizers feeling burnt out.” Shifting to year-round events not only helps the organizers but also creates more opportunities for community members to get involved in the organization.
Another goal of Moab Pride is to support and embrace queer youth: during the school year, the group organized weekly club meetings for middle and high school students.
Russell encourages anyone with an interest to get involved.
“As a small, grassroots, volunteer-run organization, we always welcome more folks to join, whether that be with event planning or assisting with youth programming or social media,” Russell said “There’s something for everyone who wants to get involved.”
The group doesn’t currently hold regular meetings, but anyone interested in lending a hand can stay tuned to upcoming Moab Pride events on Instagram, Facebook, or community bulletin boards. Russell also invites prospective volunteers to get in touch.
To contact Moab Pride, you can reach out to them through the following channels: Facebook at Moab Pride; Instagram @moab.pride; or via email at moabpridefest@gmail.com.
