A self-proclaimed celebration of “family values,” the “Hetero Awesome Fest” in Boise concluded this past weekend with a notably sparse turnout and a musical protest that momentarily disrupted its programming. Organized by Mark Fitzpatrick, owner of the Old State Saloon, the two-day event, held June 20-21 at Cecil D. Andrus Park, aimed to present an “alternative” to LGBTQ+ Pride festivities. Meanwhile, Boise’s LGBTQ+ community responded with a humorous and purposeful satirical drag show, “But, What About Straight Pride,” highlighting the ongoing fight for queer rights.

Fitzpatrick, who also heads the nonprofit Heterosexual Awesomeness Inc., had promoted the festival as a “family values festival” following his saloon’s launch of “Heterosexual Awesomeness Month” last year. He reportedly stated that the concept had garnered support from individuals nationwide who felt “things have just gotten so far and enough is enough.” Instead of traditional drag shows, the festival featured a “swag show,” booths, and various activities.

However, attendance at the “Hetero Awesome Fest” was reportedly light, with estimates indicating roughly 30 to 50 people present on-site at any given time throughout the weekend. This sparse turnout stood in stark contrast to the event’s vocal promotion.

Musical Protest Disrupts “Hetero Awesome Fest”

The most significant moment of the “Hetero Awesome Fest” occurred Saturday afternoon when Boise singer-songwriter Daniel Hamrick took to the stage. Hamrick began performing a pro-trans song after allegedly misleading event staff about the nature of his performance. Video footage, shared widely on platforms like Instagram, showed Hamrick performing for approximately one minute before Fitzpatrick intervened, reportedly grabbing the microphone.

An attendee, seemingly unaware of Fitzpatrick’s role as the event organizer, confronted him, leading to a brief scuffle before security personnel stepped in. Hamrick was then escorted from the park by security and was later seen speaking with Boise Police officers. As of publication, no arrests were made, and no charges have been reported in connection with the incident.

 

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Fitzpatrick later confirmed to KTVB that no further violence ensued, attributing the scuffle to a “misunderstanding.” “He [the attendee] wasn’t aware of what was happening and thought I might have been a random guy pulling the mic,” Fitzpatrick reportedly said. “Just a misunderstanding from a good citizen who had never met me yet.”

In a statement following the incident, Fitzpatrick publicly labeled Hamrick a “deceiver” and controversially suggested that the LGBTQ+ community employs similar tactics to “victimize children.” These inflammatory comments quickly drew criticism across social media, yet they remained consistent with the anti-LGBTQ+ messaging Fitzpatrick has previously promoted through his bar and his newly formed nonprofit organization.

Old State Saloon: A History of Controversy

The Old State Saloon, located in nearby Eagle, Idaho, has gained a reputation for hosting events that have often sparked public debate. These have included “Beers for Breeders” nights, gatherings for flat-earth enthusiasts, Christian singles mixers, and even trivia contests where participants could win AR-15 assault rifles. The establishment garnered national attention last year when it declared June “Heterosexual Awesomeness Month,” a direct counter to Pride Month celebrations.

Despite Fitzpatrick’s vocal and widespread promotion of the “Hetero Awesome Fest,” the event conspicuously lacked public sponsors and failed to attract significant community support from other local organizations or businesses. Both Boise Pride and Canyon County Pride, while declining specific comments on the “Hetero Awesome Fest” prior to its staging, issued brief statements wishing the organizers well, a diplomatic stance amidst the prevailing tensions.

LGBTQ+ Community Responds with Humor and Purpose

In contrast to the “Hetero Awesome Fest,” Boise’s LGBTQ+ community responded with a blend of humor, resilience, and a clear message. The Balcony, Boise’s sole LGBTQ+ nightclub, hosted a satirical drag show titled “But, What About Straight Pride?” on Friday night. The event’s aim was to cleverly poke fun at the frequently asked, often derisive question “When’s straight pride?” while simultaneously underscoring the serious and ongoing struggles for queer rights and acceptance.

Aunt Tifa, co-producer of “But, What About Straight Pride,” explained the inspiration behind their show. “We realize that there’s been a lot of outcry, especially around pride last year, where people were claiming, ‘When’s straight pride month? When’s this? When’s that?’ and we thought it would be fun to put on an event and call it, What About Straight Pride?,” she stated.

Aunt Tifa also highlighted the deeper purpose of the satirical performance, noting its role as a comedic vehicle to spark essential conversations about critical LGBTQ+ issues. “Queer people were thrown in prisons. Queer people were murdered just for being queer. In a lot of places, this is still happening. In 72 different countries it’s illegal to be queer. This is a huge reason why we do our pride events, [which] is to really celebrate those that we lost but also remembering our spaces and remembering where we came from,” she powerfully articulated.

Pride Continues in Boise and Beyond

While the “Hetero Awesome Fest” was strategically scheduled during June’s national Pride Month, Boise’s official Pride celebration is slated for September. This later date is a holdover from rescheduling necessitated by the pandemic. Earlier in June, Canyon County Pride successfully drew a significantly larger and reportedly peaceful crowd, showcasing the vibrant and inclusive spirit of the local LGBTQ+ community.

As for the future of Fitzpatrick’s “Hetero Awesome Fest,” organizers have not yet confirmed if the event will return in 2026. Given the low attendance, apparent lack of broader community buy-in, and the public incident that overshadowed much of its planned programming, the festival’s longevity remains highly uncertain.

The Boise Police Department had not issued an official statement regarding the musical protest incident at the time of publication. The weekend’s events in Boise underscored the contrasting approaches to celebrating and defining identity within the city, pitting a sparsely attended traditional values festival against the resilient and humor-infused spirit of the LGBTQ+ community.