Young and old, those in colorful clothes and streetwear, allies, and out-of-the-closet attendees alike all showed up for the Canyon County Pride Festival last Sunday. With such a diverse crowd, the packed event of 2,000+ attendees brought out all kinds of Idahoans to celebrate Pride Month.
For the first time ever, the LGBTQ+ Pride event organized by Idaho locals rented space in Nampa’s Lakeview Park. Featuring local vendors, live music, and drag performances, the festival brought awareness to queer people in Idaho.
Nampa Mayor Debbie Kling released a statement before the event following the organizers’ announcement. She said the event “does not reflect the personal beliefs and convictions of myself, Nampa City Council, and many living in Nampa,” but it’s important to recognize First Amendment rights.
Tom Wheeler, an organizer and businessman in Idaho, told the Idaho Statesman that the mayor’s comments were “not being a good neighbor.” At the event stage, Wheeler opened a short speech saying, “To anyone in city leadership who thought that we didn’t exist, they’re wrong.”
Local businesses and organizations, such as the Idaho Democratic Party, ACLU Idaho, and Flying M Coffee, sponsored the event. Organizers also raised money for it through a GoFundMe. Seeking $10,000, the fundraiser has raised $18,600 as of the time of publication.
Mikayla Wilson, the winner of the Mr., Ms., and Miss Gay Idaho Pageant, used to live in Canyon County. She said she loved seeing a Pride event in Canyon County and added that “I think every county should have one” due to her inability to travel.
According to a couple who attended the event, Pride is a “welcome addition to Nampa” and “something that needs to expand.” Perhaps referencing the Mayor’s statements, they said, “We need to show that we are a part of this county as well.”
” Idaho’s too great for hate,” according to this couple.
Idaho teens were in significant attendance alongside adults of all ages. Teens born and raised in Canyon County were all pleased to see Pride at home.
“Pride deserves to be here,” one said about the event.
”I enjoy everyone coming here and showing that love is love,” another added. “Why be bothered?”
It was clear that despite protesters outside the event, these teens weren’t going anywhere. “You can’t change it; we’re still going to be here,” a Nampa teen insisted. “We’re fighting for our rights, and we’re going to exist.”
One of the 20+ vendors and organizations at the event was the Liberating Spirit Metropolitan Community Church. Reverend Troy Perry, who was shunned for being gay, founded the international collection of MCC churches in 1968. The Boise church was founded in 1978.
“The whole point of the church,” said the Boise church’s treasurer and member for roughly 3-4 years, “is to support the LGBT community. It’s a Christian church, but it’s very inclusive… We accept everybody.”
Renee McCall is the current pastor of the MCC Church in Boise. She’s been with the church since 1984, serving as a deacon for five years before becoming the pastor soon after.
McCall shared, “We’re out here today because Nampa needs the support because we are the first LGBT church. We have a large presence in Boise, and we would like for that to flow over to Nampa to tell people that regardless of what they’ve been told, God does love them, and the Bible doesn’t say what they’ve been told it says.”
She remembers one of the first Pride events in Boise in 1985, where attendees would put paper bags over their heads to hide their identities and fear violence from dissenters. Reminded of the violence that LGBTQ+ people experienced in the 80s, she said she is glad to see a decreased number of such cases now.
”I think LGBT rights in Idaho have a long way to go, but they’ve come so far since the 70’s and 80’s,” McCall concluded. “We still live in fear of losing jobs. We still live in fear of losing housing. LGBT people are not allowed to adopt or foster parents… But since where we started, Pride has come so far.”
In light of potential violence, Canyon County Pride organizers worked very closely with the Nampa Police Department, who were found by the entrance and patrolling around the park.
According to a Facebook post by the Canyon County Pride organizers, “The Nampa Police Department has been INCREDIBLE in communicating with us and will be present to ensure everyone’s safety. The Stonewall uprising, which began the Pride movement, was a clash between police and the gay community… We honor that history… and are grateful to share space with Nampa police in partnership.”
Canyon County Pride volunteers urged attendees not to interact with protestors at the event, though safety did not seem to be of concern throughout the event.
Nonviolent protestors outside the event held up signs and handed out cards opposing Pride. Using Christian imagery and phrases alongside Bible quotations, these protestors either stood silently with their signs or approached incoming Pride attendees to explain their beliefs.
One of the demonstrators, who had attended the Stone Mountain Baptist Church in Nampa, came out to “spread the word.” He insisted that “God loves everybody,” though he said that celebrating Pride was an act of turning away from God.
“People are changing their views rapidly on things that were common knowledge,” he said. “They’ve rejected God, so God’s like, ‘you reap what you sow.’”
Viewing his participation as loving his neighbors, he provided an analogy: “If I see someone walking down the street and there’s a bus coming their way… would it be loving for me to just stand by the wayside and let them get hit? It wouldn’t be. It would be loving for me to go, ‘Look out, there’s a bus coming!’”
Another demonstrator explained that “we can’t stop” people participating in Pride events, but “by rejecting the truth, they’re becoming hardened by their own sin.”
” Those in authority have a responsibility in every way to lawfully refuse things that are publicly sinful,” he said. He said that the state of Idaho should not support “public events like this in which it’s affirming something destructive to the goodwill of the populace.”
This demonstrator was disappointed at the “disgusting, revolting things” he saw at the event. He describes seeing “people being completely half-naked, indecent dress, men dressing in drag which is sexually perverse, men dressing as women and women as men.” He clarified that he was out there as a moral voice of opposition.
Nonetheless, protestors and Festival attendees were largely peaceful with each other. Though the organizers coordinated and worked closely with Nampa Police Department,
Though LGBTQ+ Pride Month is in June, Ada County’s annual Pride Festival is typically held in September. The Boise Pride event will be celebrating its 35th Festival this year.
One couple clarified that they believe it should be moved to June.
”It’s great to celebrate again,” one of them said. But, they added, “I think it’s impactful to have [Pride] in June because June corresponds with so many civil rights moments in history.” Nonetheless, they’re glad to see Pride in Ada and Canyon, regardless of the timing.
Cookie Pusss, a local drag performer who danced to a remix of Lady Gaga’s Born This Way, wrote on Instagram following the event, “As someone who calls the 2C my home, this event felt particularly meaningful and special for me. Thank you to everyone who came out and felt the love with us. ”
Idaho Pride doesn’t end here in Nampa. Twin Falls held a Pride event last Saturday, another first for Southern Idaho Pride. Idaho Falls, Sun Valley, Rexburg, Sandpoint, and McCall all have Pride events planned for later this month or the beginning of July.
“LOVE WINS,” writes Canyon County Pride on Facebook. “ALWAYS.”
Victoria Kingsmore can be reached at [email protected] or on Instagram
I was in attendance at this 2C Pride event with my fiancé, Tony. He and I had a good time. I was moved to tears a few times feeling the crowd's overwhelming feeling of joy and acceptance that day. I hope that another event is to come next year. I as a cis female, and a bisexual, would love to continue to see more events like this to come!
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