Boise 'Pride Season Kick-Off’ cancelled due to lack of attendance

A Pride Season Kickoff event planned for June 6 in Boise, Idaho, has been canceled due to lower than expected turnout, despite strong community support being shared online.

The event was intended to broaden LGBTQ+ outreach in the community. While Boise Pride hosts an annual Pride Festival every September, the kick-off event was intended to celebrate the start of Pride Month, similar to other events nationwide.

Organizers said they remain committed to expanding the Pride community and acknowledged that community engagement is key for the success of events held outside the main festival.

"We know the desire for more Pride programming is real—we hear it constantly," they said, according to CBS 2 News. Organizers added that they recognize that early community buy-in is essential for events outside the main festival.

Tickets for the canceled event have been refunded, according to a statement from Boise Pride. Organizers said they view the cancellation as a chance to “reflect, reset, and come back stronger,” adding, "We still believe in the idea behind the Pride Season Kickoff, and we hope to revisit it in the future."

Organizers also called on the LGBTQ+ community to provide the “real-world support” that is required to hold Pride events. 

The cancellation comes as Pride events nationwide are facing increased pressure and scaled-back plans amid growing cultural and political pushback. New York City Pride recently saw 25 percent of corporate sponsors pull their funding, with some citing concern about potential retaliation from the Trump administration, which has moved to dismantle DEI initiatives. Others pointed to fears of consumer backlash, such as what occurred with Bud Light after it partnered with a transgender influencer.