A colorful day along the Greenbelt at Idaho Falls Pride Days
Published at | Updated at
IDAHO FALLS — The Idaho Falls Riverwalk/Greenbelt, was full of color as the LGBTQIA community gathered for the Idaho Falls Pride Days parade and festival on Saturday.
The parade of supporters carrying rainbow colored banners and flags, starting at the Unitarian Universalist Church downtown, and following the Snake River down Broadway to West Broadway to cross over the river and to the Shiloh Inn for the festival. Some supporters were decorated in colorful balloons and costumes, dancing along the parade route.
“We are her to celebrate our lifestyle,” resident Lannaya Potts said.
Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper spoke to those who attended the festival in a banquet room at the Hotel.
“This is a happy day,” Casper said. “As my daughter pointed out ‘there are happy people walking along the river.’ We are better together.”
Casper also invited LGBTQIA community members to step up and get involved in every area of the community.
According to the Trevor Project, a national organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24, suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24. LGBTQ youth seriously consider suicide at almost three times the rate of heterosexual youth.
“We want to come together to celebrate who we are,” event organizer Kristi Brower said. “The underlying reason for everything we do is suicide prevention.”
Vendors, such as the Pride Foundation, set up tables and booths at the festival to demonstrate what they had to offer.
“We began over 30 years ago, offering scholarships and grants,” said Regional Development Organizer Steve Martin.
Wedding Officiant Gina Liftawi-Dietz, owner of Allow Me by Gina, displayed a sample of her wedding cakes.
“I customize and perform ceremonies that reflect the individuals getting married,” Liftawi-Dietz said. “I believe everybody should have the wedding of their dreams and marry who they want.”
The festivities began Thursday evening, at the Shiloh Inn with a comedy show featuring Janae Burris.
