Long before police escorted Pride parades, corporations signed checks for Boise Pride, and internationally famous drag artists flew into town for the weekend, LGBTQ Boiseans and Idahoans were sharing their pride. These six images, almost all from the early 1990s, in Boise State University’s Special Collections and Archives show a history louder than words.
The archivists at Boise State University’s Albertsons Library have all my thanks for providing these images, especially Alex. Thank a librarian today!
A Pride parade going through downtown Boise in June 1993. The sign in the foreground reads: “My sign is prettier than yours!” (No On One Coalition Records / Boise State University Library, Special Collections and Archives)
By the 1990s, many faith organizations took an active part in Pride in Boise. One sign in this parade reads: “Idaho Voices of Faith for Human Rights: By Our Understanding Our Hearts Are Opened.” (Collection on Gay Life in Boise, Idaho / Boise State University Library, Special Collections and Archives)
A sign hanging above Idaho Street reads: “A Family of Pride - Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day - June 12th, 1993”. The pink triangle was originally used by Nazis to mark gay and trans people, and the black triangle marked Roma and Sinti people, as well as sex workers and others, but were reclaimed later in the 20th century largely by the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP). (No On One Coalition Records / Boise State University Library, Special Collections and Archives)
LGBTQ community members and their allies rallied to oppose Proposition 1 in 1994, which was an initiative to prohibit governments from granting minority anti-discrimination protections to queer people. It also would have moved books including LGBTQ representation into adult only sections of public libraries. The LGBTQ community won at the ballot, marking a significant and somewhat surprising victory. (No On One Coalition Records / Boise State University Library, Special Collections and Archives)
I can proudly testify that queer people continue the tradition of picnicking and playing volleyball in the Municipal Park (now Kristin Armstrong) 40 years later. (Collection on Gay Life in Boise, Idaho / Boise State University Library, Special Collections and Archives)
