Residents of a small Idaho town fought to stop their first Pride festival, but their LGBTQ organizer won and declared that “gays are here!”
Realtor Tom Wheeler, 27, didn’t expect any opposition when he planned the family’s celebration of diversity and inclusion in Canyon County for June 9.
But two weeks before the festival, Mayor Debbie Kling issued a statement saying the event “does not reflect my personal beliefs and convictions, those of the Nampa City Council, and those of many who live in Nampa.”
He said that although he had received requests to cancel the event, he had been advised to allow it because of the First Amendment.
Angry locals joined national far-right groups to protest the celebration, according to Washington Postforcing Wheeler to hire security and build protective fences around the park.
Real estate agent Tom Wheeler, 27, planned the family event in Canyon County on June 9, but was met with fierce opposition from locals.
Wheeler (pictured center) met with local police, hired a private security team and installed security cameras in his home.
After the mayor’s statement, Wheeler allegedly received a threatening phone call.
One man mentioned that he knew where he lived and then told him, ‘My family has been here since 1901. This is God’s country. You are not welcome here.
When a local news station shared information about the event, it quickly received 2,500 comments, promising that God would punish Wheeler in hell.
Meanwhile, a local bar announced that they were hosting a simultaneous ‘Straight Awesome Month’ with drink specials for straight men and couples.
Despite the online hate from right-wing groups and the hostile environment in the city, Wheeler refused to be intimidated.
He met with local police, hired a private security team and installed security cameras in his home.
On the day of the festival, while his mother urged him to wear a bulletproof vest, he opted to wear a bright pink T-shirt and a cowboy hat.
She danced and waved her rainbow fan as she announced to the crowd, “It’s official, the gays are here, Canyon County!”
As thousands of people flocked to the park to celebrate, a small crowd of armed protesters from the right-wing group The Liberty Dogs gathered outside.
Mayor Debbie Kling criticized the event, saying it “does not reflect my personal beliefs and convictions, those of the Nampa City Council and those of many who live in Nampa.”
After the mayor’s statement, Wheeler (center) allegedly received a threatening phone call.
As thousands of people flocked to the park to celebrate, a small crowd of armed protesters from the right-wing group The Liberty Dogs gathered outside.
One of them blew a whistle while another shook the barricades.
Local police told them to keep their distance and they left in mid-afternoon.
The event was a huge success, and even one Conservative councilor admitted to Wheeler that it was “family-friendly,” according to The Post.
The Canyon County protests are part of a national trend that has seen Pride events across the country increasingly targeted by extremist groups in recent years.
Armed militias have violently protested drag queen tales and someone even firebombed a donut shop after two drag queens appeared there.
