Politics have sponsors abandoning Pride. It's time to step up, Boise | Opinion

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Pride Month begins in June, but for Boise Pride , it has become a season of visibility and resilience. Since 2018, we've hosted one of the Northwest's most vibrant Pride festivals - uplifting LGBTQ+ voices, drawing tens of thousands of allies and showcasing the strength of our community.

Through it all, we've been buoyed by generous corporate sponsors who have stood beside us in both celebration and support. Their contributions have helped make it possible to keep this experience completely free and accessible to everyone in our community.

We're especially grateful for longtime partners like Albertsons, Micron and Fred Meyer - and many others - who continue to show up and support equality in Idaho. Their sponsorships have helped us grow and fund not only the festival but also year-round visibility and community engagement for LGBTQ+ Idahoans.

But we would be remiss not to acknowledge the shifting political and cultural winds across the country - and here at home.

From coast to coast, commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion are being rolled back . Under the banner of "anti-woke" rhetoric, policies meant to protect marginalized communities are being dismantled. Idaho is not immune. Pride celebrations are increasingly politicized and the climate for LGBTQ+ organizations is growing more precarious.

At the same time, many companies that once embedded rainbows into their logos and marched in parades are now quietly stepping back - or vanishing altogether. When the climate gets uncomfortable, visibility disappears. The rainbow once embraced as a brand now fades - and in its absence, the people it once symbolized are left to feel more isolated, more targeted and unsure of who will still stand with them when it truly matters.

And with that fading rainbow comes a very real impact: dollars disappear. Like Pride organizations nationwide, Boise Pride is now facing budget shortfalls. We're experiencing the same troubling trend: reduced funding, rising costs and growing scrutiny - all while the need for visibility, support, and safety is more urgent than ever. While we're in a stronger position than some to weather these challenges, the truth is that the Boise Pride Festival may look different this September because of them.

We understand that businesses operate in complex environments. But our mission cannot hinge on the ebb and flow of corporate comfort. Our community cannot either.

Yes, Pride has become commercialized in many places, and members of our community have raised valid concerns about that. But the moment we face now is not one of retreat - it is one of reclamation.

While presence and participation are vital, operating a free, inclusive festival also requires real resources and financial support. Corporate sponsorship has been essential to funding the most critical - and costly - parts of Boise Pride, from infrastructure and entertainment to safety and accessibility.

This is our time to reinvest in community. To remember that Boise Pride is more than a weekend in September. It's a living movement - one that depends not only on advocacy, but on sustained support. It takes ample resources to keep Pride accessible and visible in Idaho. And while Boise Pride is an LGBTQ+ organization, our platform has always created space for all marginalized communities. When we show up, we do so not just for ourselves, but for everyone fighting to be recognized, respected and included.

So we are sounding the call: We need your help - urgently and unapologetically.

We need your presence, your support, and your belief in what Pride stands for - because visibility saves lives, and community sustains them.

Corporate sponsors will always be welcome. But now is the moment for local businesses and individuals - those truly woven into Idaho's fabric - to step forward. That's what will keep Boise Pride strong, sustainable and rooted in the community it serves.

Please consider supporting us today by making a donation or becoming a sponsor .

Michael Dale is the president of the board of directors of Boise Pride, a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating and advocating for LGBTQ+ communities across Idaho.