Utah governor slammed for removing mention of LGBTQ people from Pride Month proclamation

Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT) is facing criticism after issuing a Pride Month proclamation that appeared to have all references to LGBTQ people removed from it, Axios reported on Friday.

"The omission quickly gained notice as Cox posted the proclamation on socialmedia, calling for 'inclusion, belonging and kindness' and praising 'numerous organizations' for 'cultivating love for all,'" reported Erin Alberty.

"Cox's 2022 and 2021 proclamations referred to LGBTQ+ Utahns multiple times. This year's declaration also removes an acknowledgement that appeared in previous versions, that 'members of the LGBTQ+ community who do not feel loved and accepted experience higher rates of mental health challenges.' It also eliminates a call 'to be more inclusive and accepting of the LGBTQ+ members of our community.'"

Gay rights organizations slammed the move, with the Utah Pride Center saying, "Not including the letters and words that identify the Pride Community — LGBTQIA+ — is an irresponsible … act of erasure."

At the same time, the report noted, "Conservatives accused Cox of pandering to the left by celebrating 'sin,' called him a RINO and urged a primary challenge from the right" for even giving a proclamation at all.

Cox has for years styled himself as sympathetic to LGBTQ rights; in 2016, Cox, then lieutenant governor, confessed to having bullied people over sexual orientation when he was younger, saying that "my heart has changed" since then, and offered the community his "heartfelt apology." And in 2022, he vetoed a bill that would restrict athletics for transgender youth, emotionally explaining that he didn't want to be responsible for driving young children to suicide.

In recent months however, Cox has increasingly caved to the rising faction in his party demanding a crackdown on LGBTQ rights. In January, Cox signed a bill prohibiting several types of gender-affirming care for minors, over the objections of medical organizations.