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Expo for same-sex couples highlights strides LGBT people have made in Utah Expo for same-sex couples highlights strides LGBT people have made in Utah
(about 2 hours later)
SALT LAKE CITY — Jason Langlois and Will Bladh are in the early stages of planning their summer 2017 wedding, and they don’t want their excitement pierced by the pain of being rejected by a venue, florist and photographer who have a legal right in Utah to refuse to serve a same-sex couple.SALT LAKE CITY — Jason Langlois and Will Bladh are in the early stages of planning their summer 2017 wedding, and they don’t want their excitement pierced by the pain of being rejected by a venue, florist and photographer who have a legal right in Utah to refuse to serve a same-sex couple.
That is why they joined several hundred people Sunday at a wedding expo in Salt Lake City aimed at connecting gay couples with businesses that are open to doing same-sex weddings. That is why they joined several hundred people Sunday at a wedding expo in Salt Lake City aimed at connecting gay couples with businesses that are open to working on same-sex weddings.
“We don’t have to worry about, ‘Will they or won’t they?’ ” Langlois said. “It’s a group of businesses that are LGBT friendly.” “We don’t have to worry about, ‘Will they or won’t they?’ ” Langlois said. “It’s a group of businesses that are LGBT-friendly.”
With a string quartet playing on one side of the exhibit hall and pop music on the other, gay couples chatted with businesses showing off wedding cakes, photo booths and floral arrangements.With a string quartet playing on one side of the exhibit hall and pop music on the other, gay couples chatted with businesses showing off wedding cakes, photo booths and floral arrangements.
Karl Jennings and Chris Marrano were looking for a cake baker and photographer for their June wedding. They said a heterosexual friend has been helping them plan by calling ahead to businesses to make sure they’ll do a same-sex wedding. That wasn’t an issue Sunday. Karl Jennings and Chris Marrano were looking for a cake baker and photographer for their June wedding. They said a heterosexual friend has been helping them plan by calling ahead to businesses to make sure they will offer their services for a same-sex wedding. That wasn’t an issue Sunday.
“We know that whoever is here isn’t going to turn us away because we’re gay,” Jennings said. “It’s very relaxing and makes you want to give people business here. I want to support people who want to support us.”“We know that whoever is here isn’t going to turn us away because we’re gay,” Jennings said. “It’s very relaxing and makes you want to give people business here. I want to support people who want to support us.”
Utah is one of 29 states where it is legal for businesses to refuse services to same-sex couples, according to the Human Rights Campaign. A proposal to change the law died last week in the Utah’s Republican-controlled legislature. There are no estimates of how often it happens, but most gay couples know somebody who has been rejected. Utah is one of 29 states where it is legal for businesses to refuse services to same-sex couples, according to the Human Rights Campaign. A proposal to change the law died last week in the state’s Republican-controlled legislature. There are no estimates of how often it happens, but most gay couples know somebody who has been rejected.
The Salt Lake City event was the first since same-sex marriage became legal in Utah in 2013, said Michael Aaron, the show’s organizer and publisher of QSalt Lake, a magazine that caters to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.The Salt Lake City event was the first since same-sex marriage became legal in Utah in 2013, said Michael Aaron, the show’s organizer and publisher of QSalt Lake, a magazine that caters to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
For wedding-related businesses, same-sex marriages represent a growth market. Gaining a toehold requires spreading the word that they’re open to LGBT weddings — and not just doing it for the money, said Annie Munk, who along with her wife, Nicole Broberg, rents photo booths for weddings. For wedding-related businesses, same-sex marriages represent a growth market. Gaining a toehold requires spreading the word that they’re open to LGBT weddings — and not just doing it for the money, said Annie Munk, who along with her wife, Nicole Broberg, rents out photo booths for weddings.
“Couples need to feel comfortable with the person they’re working with and know [there’s] not going to be any judgment or awkwardness or whispering behind the counter,” said Munk, owner of Utah Party Pix.“Couples need to feel comfortable with the person they’re working with and know [there’s] not going to be any judgment or awkwardness or whispering behind the counter,” said Munk, owner of Utah Party Pix.
Same-sex weddings have been happening at a brisk pace over the past three years as judges declared such unions legal in a number of states, as well as by the U.S. Supreme Court last summer. Same-sex weddings have been happening at a brisk pace in the past three years as judges declared such unions legal in a number of states, followed by the U.S. Supreme Court last summer.
As of last fall, an estimated 486,000 same-sex couples were married — more than double the figure in 2013, according to the Williams Institute, an LGBT-issues think tank based at UCLA School of Law. That figure represents 45 percent of all same-sex couples.As of last fall, an estimated 486,000 same-sex couples were married — more than double the figure in 2013, according to the Williams Institute, an LGBT-issues think tank based at UCLA School of Law. That figure represents 45 percent of all same-sex couples.
Although no figures exist for how big the wedding industry has become, the Williams Institute estimated in 2014 that making same-sex marriage legal nationwide could generate a total of $2.6 billion within the first three years.Although no figures exist for how big the wedding industry has become, the Williams Institute estimated in 2014 that making same-sex marriage legal nationwide could generate a total of $2.6 billion within the first three years.
The LGBT population has an estimated buying power of $884 billion annually, according to a report from Witeck Communications and the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.The LGBT population has an estimated buying power of $884 billion annually, according to a report from Witeck Communications and the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
The rise of same-sex wedding expos, which have been around for more than a decade, reflects corporate America’s expanding embrace of the LGBT market, said Beck Bailey of the Human Rights Campaign.The rise of same-sex wedding expos, which have been around for more than a decade, reflects corporate America’s expanding embrace of the LGBT market, said Beck Bailey of the Human Rights Campaign.
The Salt Lake City expo marked another step into the public sphere for an LGBT community in Utah that was relegated to the shadows, in large part because of a conservative culture rooted in a Mormon faith that teaches its members that acting on homosexual attraction is a sin. The Salt Lake City expo marked another step into the public sphere for an LGBT community in Utah that was relegated to the shadows, in large part because of a conservative culture rooted in a Mormon faith — a faith that teaches its members that acting on homosexual attraction is a sin.
The Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opposes same-sex marriage and recently drew the ire of gay rights advocates for banning baptisms for children living with gay parents.The Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opposes same-sex marriage and recently drew the ire of gay rights advocates for banning baptisms for children living with gay parents.
But the religion has made strides in recent years to become more accepting of gay men and lesbians — including backing a law last year that protects gay and transgender people from housing and employment discrimination, while also protecting the rights of religious groups and individuals.But the religion has made strides in recent years to become more accepting of gay men and lesbians — including backing a law last year that protects gay and transgender people from housing and employment discrimination, while also protecting the rights of religious groups and individuals.
In November, Salt Lake City elected its first openly gay mayor, Jackie Biskupski.In November, Salt Lake City elected its first openly gay mayor, Jackie Biskupski.
“Having an event like this out in the open shows how much we’ve changed,” said Sophia Hawes-Tingey, a transgender woman representing the Utah Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. “Six years ago, there would have been a lot of public complaints. I haven’t heard one at all this time.”“Having an event like this out in the open shows how much we’ve changed,” said Sophia Hawes-Tingey, a transgender woman representing the Utah Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. “Six years ago, there would have been a lot of public complaints. I haven’t heard one at all this time.”
— Associated Press— Associated Press