Residents of a tiny Idaho town fought to stop their first Pride festival, but its LGBTQ organizer won out as he declared the ‘gays are here!’
Real estate agent Tom Wheeler, 27, did not expect any opposition when planned the family-friendly celebration of diversity and inclusion in Canyon County for June 9.
But two weeks before the festival, Mayor Debbie Kling, released a statement claiming the event ‘does not reflect the personal beliefs and convictions of myself, the Nampa City Council, and many living in Nampa.’
She said although she had received requests to cancel the event, she had been advised to allow it to go ahead because of the First Amendment.
Furious locals banded together with national far-right groups to protest the celebration, according to The Washington Post, forcing Wheeler to hire security and build protective fencing around the park.
Real estate agent Tom Wheeler, 27, planned the family friendly event in Canyon County on June 9 but was met by fierce opposition from locals
Wheeler (pictured center) met with local police, hired a private security team, and installed security cameras in his house
After the mayor’s statement, Wheeler reportedly received a threatening phone call.
A man mentioned that he knew where he lived and then told him: ‘My family’s been here since 1901. This is God’s country. You’re not welcome here.’
When a local news station shared information about the event it quickly received 2,500 comments, promising God would punish Wheeler in hell.
Meanwhile a local bar announced they were running a concurrent ‘Heterosexual Awesomeness Month’ with special drinks deals for straight men and couples.
Despite the hate online from the rightwing groups and a hostile environment in the town, Wheeler refused to be daunted.
He met with local police, hired a private security team, and installed security cameras in his house.
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.
He danced and waved his rainbow fan as he announced to the crowd: ‘It’s official, the gays are here, Canyon County!’.
While thousands of people flocked to the park to celebrate, a small crowd of armed protestors from right wing group The Liberty Dogs gathered outside.
Mayor Debbie Kling, slammed the event, saying it ‘does not reflect the personal beliefs and convictions of myself, the Nampa City Council, and many living in Nampa’
After the mayor’s statement, Wheeler (center) reportedly received a threatening phone call.
While thousands of people flocked to the park to celebrate, a small crowd of armed protestors from 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 had left by the middle of the afternoon.
The event was a huge success, with even a conservative councilor admitting to Wheeler 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 extreme groups in recent years.
Armed militias have violently protested drag queen story times and someone even firebombed a doughnut shop after two drag queens appeared there.