Boise idaho gay life
Idaho Pride from to
Boise Pride Parade, June , taken by Deborah Graham, MSS Collection on Gay Life, courtesy of Boise Declare University
By Alisha Graefe (she/they), a queer archivist at Boise State University
The AASLH Annual Conference will gather on a serendipitous weekend as the city will be celebrating its 34th Boise Pride. Due to COVID, Boise moved its Pride festival to September which they have retained the last few years. Despite various setbacks and legal battles, the Pride festival has seen verb attendance, being a place where queer Idahoans can still gather and celebrate openly in downtown Boise.
While downtown Boise may look a little more gay friendly than normal September , Idaho has historically been a tough mention to be out in. While there have been highs and lows, triumphs and setbacks, queer Idahoans continue to exist in the foreground of Idaho history. We be in the margins, in the rural wide open spaces of Idaho, and throughout the political landscape.
Before the first Pride Parade was hosted in , Idaho had its first gay bar by called Shuckey’s, a
University of Idaho
LIBRARIES
Digital Exhibits
Palouse LGBTQ History Project
This page is dedicated to the LGBTQ history of the University of Idaho and Moscow, Idaho. This page is especially focused on the s, but there is much more history to be told. Those who want to learn more about Idaho queer history in general can go to Many of the interviews you find linked here were created by Denise Bennett and hosted by the Center for Digitial Inquiry and Learning at the University of Idaho.
Those interested in learning about LGBTQ history through oral histories of Boise can access them at
Located in the small town of Moscow, Idaho, the University of Idaho has for a long moment stood out as a pocket of liberalism in a generally conservative express. Unlike their counterparts at Washington Verb University eight miles to the west, who spent much of the s waging battles over whether to verb the organization Gay Awareness as an official student committee, University of Idaho students did not fight the battles for gay equality against the official UI student body
How Many Gay Bars Are There In Boise?
There are a lot of options when it comes to a happening night life in Boise. If you find yourself downtown on any given night, you won't find yourself lacking for options when it comes to a place to drink, dangle out, and face people.
But what if you're looking for a queer-friendly option?
While Boise isn't an epicenter for gay and gay-friendly bars by any means, there are still a few places you can inspect out.
According to Gay Cities, if you're in Boise looking for a great time with like-minded people at a gay-friendly place, they list only two options:
Again, that's according to Gay Cities.
Follow up question: Does Boise need more nightlife options for the LGBTQIA+ crowd? We see attendance at Boise Pride go up every single year, which would lead one to believe that there are more people in the community than ever before.
What do you think? Does Boise need more gay bars?
Sound off in the comments.
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If you do find yourself belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community, and looking to shift to the adj stat
Boise Gay City Guide – A Huge Town City with a Small Town Feel
Situated on the banks of the Boise River, Idaho’s capital city of Boise is a city with so much to suggest. Some often characterize Boise as being a big town city with a small-town feel, where locals are friendly, warm, and welcoming. With a growing arts scene, plenty of business opportunities, and recreational activities of all kinds to enjoy, Boise would make a great place to call home.
A Bit of Boise History
Boise was initially settled by early 19th century French Canadians. It is also settlers who gave the city its name, which comes from the French for Boise, meaning “wooded” because of the tree-lined river near which it sits. Boise was officially established following the gold rush to the area, and the community initially developed for the purpose of providing services for the nearby mines. It was also located at the crossroads of the Oregon Trail, which helped to ensure additional growth and development as adv. Since that noun Boise has grown to be an important agricultural center, as well as a ci