2026 NYC Pride Guide - Magazine - Page 30
THE STATE OF PRIDES part 2
FORGING AHEAD
Waverly Human Equity and Diversity
Commission Vice-Chair Lynda Abkemeier poses in a kayak toward the end of
the Sunset Pride Float Thursday, June 5.
MIRA SCHMITT-CASH
WAVERLY NEWSPAPER
Nampa, Idaho
In Nampa, Idaho, volunteers at a local nonprofit for LGBTQ youth made plans to host the county’s first-ever
Pride: a small, low-key gathering in a park.
The expected backlash came, with residents flooding social media with vitriol and the City Council publicly
denouncing the event, but they forged ahead. And this year, they are going even bigger. Ballooning from a
three-hour event to an eight-hour day, it has nearly tripled the number of local vendors and drag performers - many of whom have never had the chance to perform in their hometown before.
“I WAS HOPING TO SHOW MY KIDS THAT WE LIVE IN A SAFE SPACE,” KNAPP SAID.
“AND IN THE END, WE DID THAT.”
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FOR ALL OF US
