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- Project Rainbow distributed over 800 pride flags in the Salt Lake area for Transgender Awareness Week.
- The nonprofit's campaign increased by 24% from last year, with 1,114 flags distributed.
- Volunteers, including families, support the initiative to promote love and community inclusion.
SALT LAKE CITY — Several volunteers showed up in downtown Salt Lake City early Sunday morning to help nonprofit Project Rainbow carry more than 800 pride flags up and out of its basement office to help distribute ahead of Transgender Awareness Week.
Project Rainbow Utah has been hosting flag-staking campaigns across the state.
"We're up 24% from last year," said the group's executive director, Jacey Thornton.
She said dozens of volunteers are working on distributing 1,114 flags across northern Utah. The nonprofit is also partnering with Mosaic Bookstore in Provo, Ogden Pride and Logan Pride.
Help of volunteers
"We're looking at around 200 volunteers just posting flags," Thornton said. "That's just here in Salt Lake."
Volunteers worked to put up multiple transgender pride flags outside of homes across the Salt Lake Valley.
One of those volunteers is Daren Haws, who has been volunteering with the project for the past two to three years.
"Usually my son and I come out and do these together," he said.
Haws' son is transgender. Haws says volunteering to stake flags has been a small way to show his support.
"It's a great sign, particularly for those kids in the youth who maybe are coming out and are new to this community, or families who are new to the community, just to see that they're not alone," he said. "There's love and there's support around and that we're all just people who want the same things. And so just — there's nothing to be afraid of."
As for the rest of the week, Thornton said Project Rainbow will be hosting multiple events to promote awareness which include "a day of economic empowerment," a job fair of sorts with workshops for those who attend. The group will end the week with a rally at the state Capitol.
"That's what we provide is a really easy access entryway to show support for people to become civically engaged because they've come here, they've come to our rallies, and they want to take that next step," Thornton said.
People can sign up for upcoming flag campaigns at www.protect.checkpoint.com.
