Politics hit the parade (Gay and lesbian float denied entry in Western Days parade)

TWIN FALLS - It's the first float to be denied entry into the Western Days parade.

While some say the decision was made in defense of conservative values, others say it was simply discrimination against gays and lesbians.

The Western Days Committee rejected a gay and lesbian group's request to participate in the annual Western Days parade that takes place today. The committee said it denied the float entry by the Southern Idaho Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Community Center because it was inappropriate for a family event.

"This is a very conservative region with strong religious values," said Lisa Cuellar, chairwoman of Western Days Committee. "It's nothing against the group itself, but we felt that it was in everybody's best interest not to allow their float in the parade."

But groups such as the Idaho Equality Exploratory Committee, which is a statewide network for the gay and lesbian community, say the committee's decision was based on ignorance and intolerance.

"This is clearly sending a message to GLBT people that they are not welcome in the community," said Andrea Shipley, interim co-coordinator for IEEC.

The IEEC contacted more than 5,000 people throughout Idaho, informing them about the committee's decision and inviting them to a demonstration before the Western Days parade. Travis Riggs, interim co-coordinators for IEEC, said the demonstration will be an opportunity to stand up against the intolerance that led to the committee's decision.

"It's going to be a peaceful demonstration to show that gay people are not the bogeyman," he said. "Right now we are not planning any type of direction to take, but we do want to let people know that we are here."

However, members of the GLBT community were reluctant to even talk with the Times-News about the demonstration because they feared reprisals from anti-gay and lesbian groups.

According to the IEEC, there are about 30 members of the Southern Idaho GLBT Community Center in Twin Falls.

The group's float consisted of a large Styrofoam centerpiece in the shape of Idaho, as well as other cutouts in the shape of cowboy boots, chaps and hats ï¿½ï¿½" most of the float was painted with rainbow colors.

Cuellar said she never saw the completed float, but she said the celebration committee was concerned about the content on the float and how it would be perceived by the estimated 30,000 people who are expected to attend the parade.

"I don't know what these people are going to look like in the parade or what they will have on the float," Cuellar said.

She added that the float was not representative of the area, even though members from the gay and lesbian community say the population of Twin Falls is changing - including a growing number of gays and lesbians.

"I agree that it's changing," she said. "But I don't think Twin Falls was ready for something like this - I mean, this isn't San Francisco."

Times-News writer Joshua Palmer covers education. He can be reached at jpalmer@magicvalley.com or at (208) 420-0526.

"This is a very conservative region with strong religious values," said Lisa Cuellar, chairwoman of Western Days Committee. "It's nothing against the group itself, but we felt that it was in everybody's best interest not to allow their float in the parade."

Man, this is the standard statement that always gets blasted with the standard response, "We're not welcome here, waa, waa!"

Why didn't the sponsors just say something like, "We don't want a float with a sexual theme to be in the Western Days parade." That seems fair enough to everybody. And that's what this float is all about, no denying it.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.