‘We’re not alone:’ Thousands turn out to support Boise Pride Parade
The streets of Boise exploded in a burst of color and music on Sunday as the Boise Pride Parade swept down River Street.
Those involved in the parade rolled by in a colorful blur on roller skates, performed flag dances and wielded bubble makers. Boise Mayor Lauren McLean made an appearance, decked out in rainbow sunglasses and face paint. Large corporations, as well as local businesses, also had a significant presence on Sunday.
Michael Dale, president of the Boise Pride Board of Directors, said public celebrations for those in the LGBTQ community were essential this year, which is why “Our Pride, Our Power” was this year’s chosen theme. Since President Donald Trump took office, 2025 has seen a number of anti-LGBTQ executive orders and legislation brought forward. Dale said that Boise Pride attendees were not only from the Boise area, but from across Idaho, as well as eastern Washington and Oregon.
“With the change in our administration at the national level, our community is facing attacks that we thought all went away,” Dale told the Idaho Statesman. “So having this moment, one weekend out of the year, is really important. It allows people to come and be themselves.”
Natalie Walker, a Meridian librarian, said the parade made her feel less alone.
“Sometimes it doesn’t feel like we have a lot of say in Idaho, especially with the way things have been going lately,” Walker said. “So it’s really nice to come out and see everyone coming together and know that there are people in the state who are still welcoming and we’re not alone.”
2025 brings changes big and small to Boise Pride
The most noticeable difference between this year’s Pride parade and those of the past was the location. Boise Pride moved the route from the heart of downtown to River Street, between South 13th and 9th streets.
Dale said they moved the route so it could end at Ann Morrison Park instead of Cecil Andrus Park, as in recent years.
It wasn’t the first time, however, that Boise Pride was held at Ann Morrison. Pride was celebrated there prior to 2015.
“Ann Morrison used to be our festival back in the day, so it’s a homecoming of sorts,” Dae said. “So people say, ‘Oh gosh, I remember when it was here years ago. The trees now are bigger and more mature.’”
Logistics and growth both played a role in the move to Ann Morrison, but the biggest reason was the organization’s desire to take advantage of a new city ordinance that allowed the sale of liquor at certain parks during special events, according to Dale.
Another change parade attendees may have noticed was the smaller scale.
Boise Pride said 65 groups entered the parade, including 25 floats and vehicles. The number was noticeably smaller compared to last year, when 102 groups entered the parade.
Dale attributed the drop to a change in pricing. He said larger groups were required to pay more this year to enter the parade.
“In the past, it was a flat entry,” Dale said. “So we changed it more based on organization size. If you’re a small nonprofit in Boise, you’re going to pay the nonprofit price. But if you’re like Alaska Airlines, and you’ve got revenues of millions of dollars, your employee base is over 100,000, you’re going to pay a little bit more.”
A drop in funding also proved to be a challenge this year. Boise Pride received $250,000 in corporate sponsorships, compared to last year’s $440,000, the Idaho Capital Sun reported.
“I think it’s horrible that they cannot support this based on the state that our nation is in right now,” Erin Detisch, of Boise, said after the parade. “They feel pressure, and lean so much into what that means, more so than what this support can mean. The support should mean so much more. I’ll definitely be putting a lot more of my focus on the companies that did not drop and are still here.”
Dale noted that the number of booths and vendors at the park was higher this year, with 180 compared to last year’s 122.
This story was originally published September 7, 2025 at 7:10 PM.
