Salt Lake City – Volunteers with Project Rainbow Utah have set a new milestone in their flag‑distribution campaign, delivering 1,701 transgender flags to Utah residents who requested them. The effort, which took place in the weeks leading up to Transgender Awareness Week, marks a significant increase from the 1,558 flags distributed the previous year.
Ruth Silveira, a longtime volunteer, said the work reflects a desire to make people feel seen and supported. “I think all of us know what it feels like to be in a situation where we don’t feel like we have someone who’s got our back,” Silveira told Project Rainbow. “Everyone’s trying to learn who they are and what’s best and how to make our community and our world a better place.”
Fane Harris, the organization’s operations coordinator, described the impact of seeing flags line neighborhood streets. “That means a lot to people who are experiencing some of the most marginalization in our country currently,” Harris said. He added that donor contributions reached an all‑time high this year, despite the organization facing criticism and targeted attacks.
Project Rainbow’s distribution numbers have risen steadily: 1,701 flags this year, 1,558 the year before, 1,118 in 2024, 899 in 2023, and 493 in 2022. The growth comes amid a backdrop of recent Utah legislation that has limited gender‑affirming health care for certain groups, imposed restroom mandates, and prohibited the transgender flag on many government and public‑school properties.
Nevertheless, the organization remains optimistic. Harris noted that recent electoral victories by transgender and nonbinary candidates in states such as Georgia, Michigan, and Alabama have bolstered community morale. “It’s reflective of how many people just want to be better,” he said. “Donors were at an all‑time high for us this year, and I think that in regard to how we’ve been targeted a lot this year, there’s just a lot of people who want to do better despite it.”
Silveira echoed that sentiment, hoping the increased visibility will foster greater understanding. “I’m hoping that they will pay attention and they’ll see that trans people are just like any other people,” she said. “I think it’s a learning process. I think people should be willing to open up their mind and their heart.”
Transgender Awareness Week begins on Nov. 13, and Project Rainbow encourages anyone interested in supporting the cause or requesting a flag to visit their website for more information.
Original reporting: FOX 13 KSTU (Salt Lake County) — read the source article.
