Angels with large 'wings' shield students from harm at Utah pride march

Supporters of LGBTQ+ students rallying in Utah were given protection from protesters hurling insults and misinformation over the weekend by allies dressed as angels, who raised huge fabric “wings” to shield queer marchers.

Members of Brigham Young University’s (BYU) queer community were confronted at a pride event last Saturday by anti-gay students and outside protesters, the Salt Lake Tribune reported, but they found they had an unusual and effective security barrier.

The event was held at a public park in Provo, as clubs for LGBTQ+ people attending Brigham Young are not permitted to gather on campus. The conservative university also forbids “any same-sex romantic partnerships or displays of affection among LGBTQ students”, the Tribune noted.

“My older sister, she’s gay and she used to go to BYU, and she had a really hard time here – she got kicked out,” said Sabrina Wong, a student who was among the angels. “During that time, I didn’t even know she was going through this. She hadn’t even come out to our family.

“She also didn’t have a lot of resources, and that breaks my heart so much,” Wong said.

Protesters’ presence at the event came as many US Republican-led states take steps to limit LGBTQ rights, especially in public educational institutions.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/07/angels-with-large-wings-shield-students-from-harm-at-utah-pride-march