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Support Programming For LGBTQ+ Utahns With A Project Rainbow Pride Flag In June

headlines for becoming the first state to ban pride flags from schools and government buildings, and Project Rainbow Utah is calling on our neighbors to fly a pride flag in June to send a message of acceptance while supporting inclusive programs for LGBTQ+ Utahns. 

Utah made headlines for becoming the first state to ban pride flags from schools and government buildings, and Project Rainbow Utah is calling on our neighbors to fly a pride flag in June to send a message of acceptance while supporting inclusive programs for LGBTQ+ Utahns. 

Sign-ups for our 2025 Pride Campaign are open now through the end of May, and volunteers will stake flags in yards the weekend of May 31 and pick them up June 13-15. 

Click here to sign up for a flag for Pride in June or to get an annual subscription for all of our campaigns throughout the year with a single donation. 

“We’ve seen significant growth in our last two campaigns for Trans Day of Visibility and Trans Day of Remembrance, and we hope to see similar support for Pride in 2025,”  said Jacey Thornton, Project Rainbow Utah’s Executive Director. “It’s clear many Utahns are opposed to the legislation attacking our community, and more flags means more support–and also a greater need for volunteers. So far, Utahns have risen to that challenge.” 

Click here to sign up to help deliver and pick up flags during Pride. 

Every flag makes a difference, and these flags feel even more important in 2025 as HB 77 bans pride flags from schools and government buildings and more national and local legislation aims to single out and other LGBTQ+ folks. 

“We aren’t able to control what the legislature does, but each of us has the power to make our ideals and beliefs clear,” Thornton said. “A pride flag flying in a yard or business is a beacon, a lighthouse of safety in some of the most turbulent waters our community has ever weathered.”

Each flag Project Rainbow stakes or mails helps our mission to uplift and empower LGBTQ+ Utahns. The funds raised from flags support our Community Fund, which awarded more than $36,000 to 32 different programs for 2025. Since our founding in 2018, we’ve distributed more than $350,000 to support dozens of organizations and individuals working toward making Utah safer and more inclusive for our community. 

Building interdependent community is crucial in the days ahead, and our goal is to give LGBTQ+ Utahns across our state opportunities to form connections and find joy alongside their peers. 

“You are never alone,” Thornton said. “Every flag, every event, every gathering, is an invitation to join a vibrant community that can never be erased. When we come together, we create safety that cultivates abundance, and we believe that leads to real change. We invite everyone to join us in sowing the seeds for a more inclusive Utah.”

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Project Rainbow Awards $36,685 To 32 Programs Supporting LGBTQ+ Utahns in 2025

Project Rainbow Utah is thrilled to announce our list of grant awardees for 2025, with 32 recipients for a combined total of $36,685 in 2025 and more than $350,000 awarded since our inception in 2018. 

An event from one of Project Rainbow Utah’s Partners, Rock Camp SLC.

Project Rainbow Utah is thrilled to announce our list of grant awardees for 2025, with 32 recipients for a combined total of $36,685 in 2025 and more than $350,000 awarded since our inception in 2018. 

We want to thank our donors, volunteers, and everyone who signed up to receive a flag for one of our campaigns in 2024. 

“Everything Project Rainbow Utah does is community supported, and we are grateful for the chance to join with you in uplifting LGBTQ+ folks across Utah,” said Jacey Thornton, Executive Director for Project Rainbow.  

Please consider signing up for a flag in 2025 so we can keep supporting inclusive, empowering events and opportunities. 

Awards from Project Rainbow Utah are either small ($500 - $1,499), medium ($1,500 - $3,499) or large ($3,500 - $5,000) grants. Awards fall into three broad categories: Inclusive Program Support, Miscellaneous Programs, and Visual/Performing Arts. 

Beyond the annual awardees, we also support long-term partners and provide funds and flags for various pride festivals around Utah. One of those partners is Rock Camp SLC.

“Project Rainbow supported two summer camps in 2024, helping us give 125 youth the skills, space, and support they need to shine,” Rock Camp Organizing Director Hilary McDaniel said.

See below for this year’s list of awards, and stay tuned for more details as these events get underway!

Inclusive Program Support

Visual/Performing Arts

Miscellaneous Programs

  • Little Free Library Family Book Project from IncludEd United - Small Award

  • Building Community Capacity for LGBTQ+ Health Equity and Well-Being in the Bear River Region from BRR LGBTQ+ Community Coalition - Medium Award

  • Café con leche, inclusive social events from Nick Arteaga - Small Award

  • Care, Calm, and Clarity Retreat from Kara Komarnitsky - Small Award

  • Reclaiming the Narrative Documentary Viewing + Q&A with Directors from Utah F.A.M. - Small Award

  • Garden Comrades Workshops and Oracle Deck from Yasi Shaker - Small Award

  • Harvey Milk Thank You and Social from Jake Boyle - Small Award

  • Queer-Centered Rituals from The Pleiadian Altar - Small Award

  • Rainbow Club, an after-school club from Rainbow Club SLC - Small Award

  • Research study to  explore how identity, culture, and policy influence the professional and personal experiences of LGBTQ+ teachers in Utah's K-12 schools from Holly Bell - Small Award

  • Watering our Local Care Ecologies from Familias Floreciendo - Small Award

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Utahns Stand Up For Neighbors, Set Record For Trans Day of Visibility Flag Campaign

In a time when legislative attacks on the transgender community are ramping up, Project Rainbow Utah is proud to announce that more Utahns than ever before have signed up to fly a trans pride flag for Trans Day of Visibility on March 31.

In a time when legislative attacks on the transgender community are ramping up, Project Rainbow Utah is proud to announce that more Utahns than ever before have signed up to fly a trans pride flag for Trans Day of Visibility on March 31.

Our previous record for the TDoV campaign was 1,512 flags in 2023, and on March 5 we reached 1,522 flags for 2025.

“Beyond the growth of our operation, this record signals that more and more people are willing to take action and stand up to show their neighbors they support safety and equal opportunity for everyone,” said Jacey Thornton, Executive Director at Project Rainbow Utah. 

Setting this record takes on extra significance this week, as Utah Legislators moved to pass HB 77, which would ban pride flags from being displayed in schools and on government property. 

 More than just a show of solidarity, each flag Project Rainbow places represents an investment in inclusive spaces and diverse programming for Utahns across the state. Money raised from our flag campaigns primarily supports our Community Fund, and each year we allocate money to numerous groups and individuals for everything from Pride festivals to inclusive book clubs to workshops.

“Sadly, many LGBTQ+ Utahns live their lives in spaces that are unwelcome or even hostile to their needs, their lived experience, and even their existence,” Thornton said. “We all need community, and our grant fund is one way to support and create spaces where people can feel not just safe, but empowered to be their best selves.”

If you’d like a flag for Trans Day of Visibility, you have until March 15 to sign up to have a volunteer stake a flag in your yard for the week before and after TDoV. We can mail full-size or garden flags to folks who don’t have a yard, or who don’t feel safe flying their flag outside. We can also mail flags to people outside our service area who want to support LGBTQ+ initiatives in Utah. 

Setting this record is exciting, and we also need more volunteers to help deliver and stake these flags. Click here to volunteer. 

Flags will be staked beginning on March 23, and collected after Trans Day of Visibility on March 31. Our campaign culminates in a celebration of trans joy with our Trans Day of Visibility event, which will be held on March 31 in West Valley City. 

“I’m beyond grateful for the support of so many,” Thornton said. “Each flag makes a difference. Thank you for standing with us.”

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Flag Sign-Ups Open For Trans Day of Visibility 2025

The recent deluge of executive orders and other attacks on transgender people underscore how critical it is for LGBTQ+ people and our allies to build community and foster inclusive spaces, and we encourage everyone to sign up to fly a flag for our Transgender Day of Visibility Campaign this year.

We Need Your Help

The recent deluge of executive orders and other attacks on transgender people underscore how critical it is for LGBTQ+ people and our allies to build community and foster inclusive spaces, and we encourage everyone to sign up to fly a flag for our Transgender Day of Visibility Campaign this year. 

Sign-ups for the 2025 campaign are open now through March 15. Flags will be delivered and staked starting March 23 for Trans Day of Visibility, which is on March 31 each year.

“The effort to erase trans people from history and restrict their access to public spaces makes it more important than ever to create safety and cultivate visibility,” said Jacey Thornton, Project Rainbow Executive Director. “Trans people need allies now more than ever, and one thing you can do is fly a flag and send a signal to your community that you stand with us.”

Faced with a hostile political climate for trans folks, it is easy to feel powerless in this moment. We can’t fix everything, but signing up to receive a flag accomplishes two things. 

The first is that it sends a message that your home or business is a safe place for trans folks, and that you don’t support the current attacks on our community. Each flag is a reminder to a community under siege: You are not alone. 


The second is that funds raised from our campaigns primarily go to our Community Grant Fund, which supports numerous initiatives across Utah that benefit the LGBTQ+ community. Your donations help dozens of organizations and individuals put on pride festivals, music camps, workshops, gatherings, and a wide variety of programming to support LGBTQ+ Utahns and their families.

Here’s What You Can Do:

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Project Rainbow Utah’s Impact in 2024

Project Rainbow Utah continued to spread love and raise funds for the LGBTQ+ community in 2024, and we’re proud of the work we’ve done and the milestones we’ve reached.

Rally for Trans and Queer Lives at the Utah State Capitol November 19, 2024.

Thank You For Your Support!

Project Rainbow Utah continued to spread love and raise funds for the LGBTQ+ community in 2024, and we’re proud of the work we’ve done and the milestones we’ve reached.

Thank you to all of our volunteers, sponsors, and donors: We couldn’t have done it without your help! We are excited to continue our mission in 2025, and we wanted to take a moment and honor some of the moments and milestones from the last year as we close out 2024.

Financial Milestones:

  • Reinvested over $51,000 into our LGBTQ community from flag proceeds

  • Celebrated $300,000 reinvested into our community since 2018!

  • Supported 24 LGBTQ initiatives across Utah

Flags and Events by the Numbers:

  • Staked 5,629 flags across Utah

  • Donated over 800 Transgender Flags

  • Mailed 211 flags to donors in various states, including Washington, Minnesota, and California

  • Co-organized three rallies and supported six others

  • Organized Trans Awareness Week events from Nov 13 - 19 with ACLU and Flourish Therapy

Organizational Growth:

  • Added one queer employee

  • Worked with three queer contractors

  • Moved into a new office space at Indie Square

Looking ahead to 2025

We are committed to continuing and expanding on our mission in 2025, and the deadline to submit your application for Community Grant Fund allocations in 2025 is January 12. Please apply here.

We will continue to stake flags across Utah to raise funds to support LGBTQ+ initiatives, and we hope to expand our reach with strong showings of support and visibility throughout the state.

Flag campaigns for 2025 include:

  • Transgender Day of Visibility in March

  • Pride in June

  • Transgender Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance in November.

Click here to sign up to receive your flags.

Stay tuned for more information about events, rallies, volunteer opportunities and more in 2025. Thank you for your ongoing support!

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Community Grant Fund Applications Open Through January 12: Apply Now!

Project Rainbow Utah is accepting applications for the 2025 Community Grant Fund, and the deadline to apply is January 12. 

Participants at Slay Lake City, a showcase concert for LGBTQ+ Utahns. Rock Camp SLC hosted the event on December 29 and is one of many organizations Project Rainbow Utah supported in 2024.

Apply Now for Grants in 2025

Project Rainbow Utah is accepting applications for the 2025 Community Grant Fund, and the deadline to apply is January 12. 

Our mission is to empower and uplift LGBTQ+ people across Utah, using the funds we receive from our flag campaigns to provide support for a variety of efforts that center and celebrate our trans and queer community.  Past awardees have included art shows, community clubs and organizations, performance pieces, special events, service organizations, and more. 

In 2025, we hope to continue work with our established partnerships while reaching new organizations and individuals, especially in rural Utah. 

Click here for more information about who can apply and the instructions. 

Click here to fill out your application. 

Funding levels in brief:

Awards are funded at three levels and fall into one of three broad categories: Visual, Print and Performing Arts; Inclusive Program Support; and Miscellaneous.

  • Small awards are $500-$1,499, for events/projects with a budget less than $2,000.

  • Medium awards are $1,500-$3,499, for events/projects with a $2,000 to $5,000 budget.

  • Large awards are $3,500-$5,000 for events/projects with a budget over $5,000, where we are not the sole funder. 

Requirements in brief:

We have updated our requirements to offer greater clarity about the types of projects we are able to support. Please read the complete instructions before applying, and note these key details:

  • Programming must primarily serve the LGBTQ+ Community in Utah and take place in the 2025 calendar year

  • Your organization must have an annual budget of less than $200,000

  • You may NOT apply if your project has received funding from us for three years in a row

  • The primary purpose of your event may NOT be a fundraiser, direct mutual aid, or associated with a political campaign, candidate, or specific piece of legislation

  • You must be able to submit a W9 and manage the logistics of the grant/potential tax

  • You may not apply on behalf of a pride parade, pride festival, or resource fair (support for these events is handled directly by the Executive Director; see instructions for details).

Thank you for your ongoing support for Project Rainbow Utah, and we look forward to working with you in 2025!


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