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Utah County commissioner looks to pull taxpayer funding from the Freedom Festival after parade organizers reject LGBTQ groups

Utah County Commissioner Nathan Ivie said he is looking to pull government funding of America’s Freedom Festival, after the nonprofit refused to allow LGBTQ groups in its annual Fourth of July parade in Provo.

“I am beyond disappointed in the ‘freedom festival’s’ decision to continue to exclude and discriminate against members of our community,” Ivie wrote in a tweet Wednesday night. “America is a place where we celebrate diversity, embrace differences and celebrate each other.”

Ivie is holding a news conference at 10 a.m. today in front of the Provo City Building to discuss the Freedom Festival’s decision.