On the opening day of the 36th annual Boise Pride Festival, raindrops struck the tops of the sequoia trees at Ann Morrison Park. At the Flying M Coffeehouse booth, event-goers could be seen ordering hot coffee as the forecast showed little sign of the downpour letting up. As Boiseans filled the festival, sunlight emerged and a rainbow came into view over the festival, as though a friend were arriving late to a party.
Event-goers enjoyed performances from local drag artists, queer singer-songwriters such as Zolita and Fancy Hagood, national drag talents including RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Plane Jane and other performers. The festival also featured an array of free goodies, like clack fans found at the St. Luke’s booth and protein bars at the Fred Meyer stand. Knick-knacks from event sponsors were scattered throughout the park, with companies like Adam & Eve selling adult products and Humpin’s Hannah’s nightclub selling drinks in terracotta pots.
“Boise Pride is awesome because it’s so inclusive and brings the community together,” said Madison Butler, a licensed professional counselor for Tree City Wellness, a sponsor of Boise Pride 2025.
“It’s more important than ever to show support. I feel really proud to work for a place that not only stepped up, but doubled down, wanting to show up for the community,” added Lily Archuleta, an intern counselor for Tree City Wellness.
Boise Pride acts as a non-profit organization, relying on sponsorships and donations from companies and community members alike to support the annual event. On their official Instagram, Boise Pride stated they received almost $200,000 less in sponsorship funding compared to donations for last year’s festival.
Despite the severe lack of funding compared to Boise Pride 2024, the electric energy continued all weekend long. The significance of the event was evident from the reactions of attendees as they were provided a space free from judgment that may persist in their daily lives.
“Everyone should be able to be loved and express their love,” said Erica LeBronte, an attendee of the festival. “Knowing that this movement has been around for so long and how much more traction it’s gaining is huge. We needed this.”
Other Boiseans shared a similar sentiment regarding the inclusive space Boise Pride fosters. Celebrating Pride in September rather than in June, the designated month for LGBTQ+ pride in the U.S., serves as a reminder that being proud of one’s identity isn’t limited to one particular month — it can be celebrated every day.
“I know that this year we had a lot less funding than normal, and the fact that it’s September, not [June], shows that we’re still here,” said Moira Young, attendee of the festival. “For non-queer people, coming and seeing that [we are] a bunch of people having a good time and that there’s nothing so scary about it. [Pride] allows non-queer people to see normalcy, to be able to recognize that it’s all it is.”
In a world where identity is now at the forefront of conversation, LGBTQ+ members in Idaho desire a sense of belonging and acceptance. As recently as the Fall 2025 semester, Boise State has drawn back certain diversity efforts in order to comply with Idaho Senate Bill 1198, which prohibits higher education from teaching course material and providing resources related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
One of the results of Senate Bill 1198 was the closing and rebranding of the Gender Equity and Student Equity Centers. Having to close its doors late last fall, the centers were rebranded as the Student Connections and Support Center, with a new focus on fostering community for first-generation students.
“The Gender Equity Center (GEC) was a space that supported all students via a few different services,” said former GEC Program Coordinator Kate Gaga. The GEC supported students with confidential services offered by professionals, “including students who were struggling with how other people were reacting to their gender identity or sexual orientation – commonly family estrangements or BSU community members treating them poorly because of their identity.”
Gaga stressed the GEC not only supported LGBTQ+ students, but all students regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, “because all of these topics can impact anybody and everybody,” but especially students whose sexual orientation or gender identity are in the minority, they added.
The importance of student support centers is stressed by students and professors alike, as they provide spaces where critical conversations and cultural identities are expressed and discussed.
“It is a horrible instance that Boise State Administration cannot stand up to State legislation and a hostile political environment and stand up for all of its students,” Gaga remarked. “Diversity [is] important because for students who may be hiding their identities or feeling unsupported may be less successful in a university environment, due to the lack of space to talk; they may feel silenced, unheard or undervalued. It is a disservice to students who are in the identity majority in that they cannot broaden their empathy.”
Boise Pride and the guests attending expressed a similar message to Gaga’s.
“[Pride] is a place where we could all come to be ourselves. Honestly, I don’t have to come here and hear that people are going to look at me like I’m a fucking weirdo,” said Laila Wallace, an attendee at Boise Pride. “It’s not exclusive to anybody, just come and have fun.”
Whether the Boiseans who attended Boise Pride 2025 were members of the LGBTQ+ community or not, those who attended felt the support, empathy and excitement. Although less funding and cultural support on both a state and university level plagued the festival, LGBTQ+ members and allies brought this year’s festival to life through resistance, community and vitality.
