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Utah County commissioners delay Freedom Festival sponsorship to revise parade contract after Encircle exclusion
Summary
After public testimony from Encircle volunteers and community members, the Utah County Commission continued consideration of a $103,000 tourism-funded sponsorship for the Freedom Festival for one week to clarify contract language about the parade organizer's right to refuse entries and possible nondiscrimination language.
The Utah County Board of Commissioners on March 13 continued consideration of the county’s sponsorship agreement with the Freedom Festival for one week after public commenters and commissioners pressed for clearer contract language and assurances about equitable parade participation.
Commissioners held consent agenda item 36, the county sponsorship of the Freedom Festival, for additional discussion after the chair raised concerns about last year’s exclusion of Encircle, a local nonprofit that serves LGBTQ youth. The chair said the contract’s “right to refuse participation” language felt vague and left room for outcomes the county should avoid. Festival representatives said some funding tied to tourism taxes (TRCC/TRT) supports events and that parade operations are managed to avoid becoming an “issue…
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