Rainbow colors and celebration start semester off with a bang

There’s no better way to bid adieu to summer break than a community celebration of LGBTQA diversity. Hundreds of people gathered together for activism, celebration, advocacy and performance at Palouse Pride Festival at East City Park Saturday afternoon. The event was organized by Inland Oasis, a nonprofit organization which supports the rights of the queer community on the Palouse and surrounding areas.

Dozens of advocacy organizations, nonprofits, student groups, clubs and vendors lined the sidewalks of the park during the festival. These included the American Civil Liberties Union, Inland Oasis, Black Lives Matter, the University of Idaho Gay and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and the University of Idaho Women’s Center.

The festival featured performances from local band The Palouse Project and dance performances featuring crown winners of the 37th Mr., Miss & Ms. Gay Idaho Pageant.

Danielle Garvin, President of the University of Idaho GSA, was one of many advocates tabling at the festival.

“My favorite thing about Moscow pride is being able to see everyone from the community come together under the same ideas and being able to see all the diversity that Moscow has,” Garvin said. “Sometimes if you stay within your own groups in Moscow, it’s hard to realize how big Moscow is and how many people are here who all have the same ideas that you do.”

The University of Idaho GSA meets Wednesday nights at 8:15 p.m. in the TLC Student Diversity Center (TLC 229) and is open to all students.

“Coming into the semester, I think Moscow Pride really sets the tone for how supportive the University of Idaho is and how many resources we have available to us as students, and as students who care about LGBTQ rights,” Garvin said.

This story has been updated to reflect GSA stands for Gender and Sexuality Alliance.

Ellen Dennis can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @edennis37