02/06/2026
We are thrilled to announce the recipient of the 2026 Dr. Kristen Ries Community Service Award - JOHN JOHNSON! 🎉🤩🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️❤️
While many of you know John well and consider him a dear friend, allow us to share what one of the people who nominated him had to say:
For more than two decades, John Johnson has been one of the steady, visionary forces behind Utah Pride and the broader LGBTQ+ community in Utah. Through his leadership, dedication, and tireless behind-the-scenes work, John helped transform Pride from a small community gathering into one of the state’s most important and impactful celebrations of visibility, advocacy, and belonging.
John served the Utah Pride Center in many capacities over 25 years, including volunteer, board member, employee, Director of Operations and Administration, and ultimately Festival Director and co-director of Utah Pride Week. During his leadership, the Utah Pride Festival experienced extraordinary growth, expanding from a modest event occupying part of Washington Square into a major multi-day celebration encompassing Library Square, a large-scale parade, and numerous community events.
But John’s impact extends far beyond logistics and event management. He understood that Pride had to be more than a celebration; it had to be “a party with a purpose.” Under his leadership, the festival became a major source of funding for the Utah Pride Center’s year-round programs and services, ensuring that the center could sustain advocacy, education, outreach, and community care long after the parade ended.
What makes John especially deserving is the consistency and humility of his service. While often working behind the scenes, he carried enormous responsibility with grace, precision, and deep love for the community. John’s leadership helped shape what LGBTQ+ community looks like in Utah today. His work created visibility in a state where visibility has often required courage. He built spaces where people could celebrate themselves openly, sometimes for the very first time.
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Congrats, John! You can see John accept the award TOMORROW at the Utah Pride Directors’ Reception. Tickets at the link in bio.
