‘Boise Pride Season Kickoff’ canceled for low attendance: ‘It takes showing up’

June 3, 2025

The scheduled “Pride Season Kickoff” in Boise, Idaho for June 6 has been canceled by its promoters because of low ticket sales.

The Christian Post reports that Boise Pride canceled the kickoff and refunded the ticket money, saying, “despite strong interest, attendance didn’t reach the level needed to hold the event responsibly.”

In a Facebook post last week, Boise Pride stated, “We remain committed to growing Pride in Boise — but it takes more than excitement. It takes showing up. Thanks for your continued support. We hope to bring this event back in the future — stronger and together.”

The cancellation comes at a time when tensions are heightened over LGBT activism in the Gem State.

Boise remains a blue stronghold in an otherwise overwhelmingly red western state.

According to the Christian Post, last month, the Boise City Council voted 5-1 to make the LGBT pride flag an official city flag in an attempt to flout a new state law prohibiting “divisive” flags being flown on government property.

In recent years, the Idaho legislature has passed stronger laws protecting children from transgender procedures, including puberty-blocking drugs and sex-change surgeries.

Legislators also passed a law earlier this year, protecting women’s spaces, including restrooms, locker rooms and showers from trans-identified men trying to enter those spaces.

Under the new law, correctional facilities, domestic violence shelters, juvenile correction centers and state institutions of higher education are required to “designate each multi-occupancy restroom, changing room, and sleeping quarters for the exclusive use by either females or males.”

Boise Pride lamented the lack of participation in their canceled kickoff event but said they are looking forward to their annual pride celebration in September saying, “the desire for more pride programming is real — we hear it constantly.”

Photo: top, Credit: Public Domain