NBC: Pride flags ignite hope and outrage in Utah, where youth suicide rate soars
NBC News Highlights Project Rainbow’s Impact Amid Rising LGBTQ Youth Suicide Rates
“For the first time last June, residents in Heber City, Utah, saw their downtown adorned in rainbows.
Sky Elizabeth Smith, 15, remembered driving with her family through the tiny Rocky Mountain town in northern Utah where she grew up, and finding herself surrounded by dozens of rainbow banners on both sides of Main Street.
“It made me feel really, really happy,” she told NBC News.
Sky Elizabeth Smith, left, and mother Elizabeth Gale Seiler at the Heber fair days in August 2019.
Sky Elizabeth Smith, left, and mother Elizabeth Gale Seiler at the Heber fair days in August 2019.Sky Elizabeth Smith
Smith, a high school student who identifies as pansexual, attempted suicide last year after what she described as routine bullying from classmates. Some classmates, she recalled, told her that Jesus was going to return and kill anyone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer.”
In an in-depth 2019 article, NBC News highlighted the powerful work of Project Rainbow in fostering visibility and support for LGBTQ youth across Utah, where the youth suicide rate has tripled since 2007. The piece focuses on the emotional response of Utah communities to the sight of rainbow flags placed by Project Rainbow during Pride celebrations. The flags not only represent love and inclusion but also provide hope to LGBTQ youth, many of whom feel isolated in conservative areas.
The article shares personal stories, like that of Sky Elizabeth Smith, a 15-year-old who attempted suicide after being bullied for her sexual identity. When Sky saw rainbow flags in Heber City for the first time, she felt a sense of acceptance she had never experienced in her hometown.
Despite the positive impact, Project Rainbow’s efforts have faced backlash, including stolen or vandalized flags. However, the organization’s mission remains unwavering: to provide LGBTQ visibility and promote unity in communities across Utah. With the help of donations, Project Rainbow raised $17,000 for the Utah Pride Center in 2019 and continues to expand its reach, staking flags in cities from Salt Lake to St. George.
NBC News captured the balance between the growing support for LGBTQ rights in Utah and the ongoing challenges faced by queer individuals in these communities, highlighting the vital role Project Rainbow plays in igniting hope amidst adversity.
Read the full article on NBC News to learn more about Project Rainbow’s fight for love and visibility in Utah.
