For the first time, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox did not declare June as Pride Month. Instead, Cox declared June 2024 as a “Month of Bridge Building,” sharing a copy of his declaration on the social media platform X.
In the post, Cox said that past declarations — seeming to refer to “Pride Month” declarations without stating the words — “have been turned into a lightning rod for more division and hurt.” “This year, we want to focus even more on that core message of bridge-building and respect — to all in our state and during this month,” his post continued, “with an extra focus on those in our community who are LGBTQ and may have felt like they don’t belong here in Utah.” While the declarations in the past have been intended as gestures of kindness and our shared humanity, they have been turned into a lightning rod for more division and hurt.
This year, we want to focus even more on that core message of bridge-building and respect — to all in our...
pic.twitter.com/n3nZE4xiWR The declaration comes amid a heated Republican primary race for Utah governor.
In April, Cox was met with boos when he took the stage at the Republican State Nominating Convention, where GOP primary opponent state Rep. Phil Lyman ultimately garnered 67.5% of delegates’ votes.
“Maybe you’re booing me because you hate that I signed the largest tax cut in Utah history. Maybe you hate that I signed constitutional carry into law. Maybe you hate that we ended CRT, DEI and ESG,” C.