🚨 Policing Pride: Trans Bodies, Religious Trauma & Resilience in Canyon County with Trans Parent & Organizer Van

In this heartwarming and hilariously real episode of the Trans Joy Boise Podcast, your hosts Bonnie Violet (trans femme genderqueer drag artist and spiritual chaplain) and Pacey (trans masc non-binary mental health and recovery advocate) are joined by Van, Vice President of Canyon County Pride and a powerful genderqueer voice in Idaho’s LGBTQ2SIA+ movement.

Together, we unpack everyday gender euphoria and dysphoria—from awkward “sir/ma’am” moments at the grocery store to the joy of being seen, heard, and affirmed exactly as we are. We dive into:

🌈 Nonbinary + genderqueer identity in small towns
🌈 What happens when a cisgender world tries to fit us in binary boxes
🌈 Our complicated relationships with pronouns and titles
🌈 Reflecting on trans media representation—Transparent, Queer as Folk, and Sort Of

Part TWO

In this powerful and deeply personal part of the episode, we dive into the heart of queer organizing in conservative spaces—specifically Canyon County, Idaho. Our guest shares their transformative journey from volunteering at Clutch, a queer youth group in Nampa, to co-creating the very first Canyon County Pride Festival—an event that defied local pushback, overcame hate, and welcomed nearly 4,000 people in its first year.

We explore what makes Clutch such a vital space for LGBTQ2SIA+ youth, particularly autistic and ADHD kids, who are invited to just “come as you are”—no pressure, just food, fun, and love. You’ll hear stories of chosen family, queer joy, community resistance, and how a casual dream turned into a national headline.

Whether you're a parent of a trans kid, a queer youth worker, or someone trying to spark joy and resistance in your own backyard, this episode is for you. It’s a testament to what’s possible when we show up for each other—especially in the places where we’re told we don’t belong.

Part Three

This raw, unfiltered conversation dives deep into the escalating criminalization of trans and gender-diverse bodies in Idaho and the real-life impact of recent "indecency" laws targeting drag performers and trans women. We unpack how Canyon County’s new legislation disproportionately affects trans folks—particularly those on HRT or wearing prosthetics—and how these laws empower vigilante surveillance and vague police enforcement.

We share insights from behind closed doors with local law enforcement and city officials, shedding light on the sobering reality of organizing pride events under state-sanctioned transphobia. From police negotiations to ICE fears, from enforcing a t-shirt policy to protect our most vulnerable to planning an interfaith spiritual service in response to religious-based hate—this episode doesn’t shy away from the messiness of showing up, surviving, and creating queer joy amidst political hostility.

You'll also hear about how last year's Canyon County Pride became a site of unexpected healing and solidarity—especially from progressive faith communities and everyday people showing up with umbrellas and love.

🗓️ Pride Info Drop:
Canyon County Pride is happening

Transcript

Bonnie Violet: 0:16

Hi everyone. How's it going? I'm Bonnie Violet, trans femme, gender queer, spiritual drag artist, digital chaplain.

Pacey: 0:21

And I'm Pacey, trans masc non-binary Mental Health and recovery Advocate and

Bonnie Violet: 0:25

welcome to Trans Joy Boise podcast, where every story, laugh and act of joy is a stand for our community.

Pacey: 0:31

We uplift bold voices, share real experiences, and celebrate trans lives thriving.

Bonnie Violet: 0:36

Tune in, connect and spread the joy because trans joy is

Pacey: 0:40

unstoppable. I was ready this time. Gotcha. Yeah. That's always a journey.

Van: 0:45

That was great. Yeah. You did it.

Pacey: 0:47

Best one.

Bonnie Violet: 0:47

I think so. I, I made some weird noise with my throat at one point, but other than that, yeah. I figured name

Van: 0:52

plus and I'm here.

Bonnie Violet: 0:54

Yes. In person.

Van: 0:55

So I feel like my vote really matters. You're absolutely right. Yeah.

Bonnie Violet: 0:59

Yes. And why don't you introduce yourself. Mm-hmm.

Van: 1:01

Oh, well I didn't practice, you know, like a beautiful

Bonnie Violet: 1:05

Oh, it's okay.

Van: 1:06

Introduction. We all started somewhere,

Bonnie Violet: 1:08

you know?

Van: 1:09

Mm-hmm. Uh, sure. Yeah. That's so true. Right? And we're all on a different journey. My name is Van. I am the Vice President of Canyon County Pride, which was started last year. Um hmm. I don't know what else to say about me. I guess my pronouns are she, her, they, them. Mostly. Okay. However, I did, uh, I, I identify as gender queer. Uh, I did get, as I was putting up Canyon County Pride posters at, uh, Boise Co-op yesterday.

1:45

Mm-hmm.

Van: 1:45

Uh, someone was screaming like, sir, sir, like screaming Uhhuh. And I was like, wow. Someone is like, uh, running with some, yeah. Something me crazy. And like trying to steal from the co-op is what I'm thinking in my head as I'm like putting the poster on the bulletin board. Mm-hmm. And I keep hearing like siiirrrrr, sir and uh, apparently they were talking to me. Right.'cause then it changed to ma'am. But then also, I hate being called ma'am as well. Yeah, of course. Like is a, is a no and so is lady for me, like ma'am and Lady, no thank you. Uh, then it changed to Ma'am and I was like, wow, who there are lots of people stealing today. Just as I'm like hanging these things up. And then I turn around and there's two like employees, like right in my face. They like, you have to get permission to put that up.

Bonnie Violet: 2:33

Oh, wow. And I was

Van: 2:34

like, oh, I did not know you were talking to me. I was not trying to ignore you. I'm sorry. Uh, here's the poster. And they're like, oh, you don't need permission for that. Like, we love the gays. Go ahead. Yeah.

2:44

Uh,

Van: 2:44

but it was a funny interaction of like, oh, they were talking about me. They don't know if I'm a man or woman. I don't either. It's okay.

2:51

Mm-hmm. Yeah. And,

Van: 2:53

uh, I guess that's the introduction for myself.

Bonnie Violet: 2:56

Yeah. I love that.

Pacey: 2:56

Yeah. That's, that's relatable.

Van: 2:58

Yeah. Yeah. Relatable for sure.

Bonnie Violet: 3:00

Yeah. And you've shared similar stories too. Yeah.

Pacey: 3:02

Yeah. But it's like, it's the same. It's like I am, we're all uncomfortable and I don't like any of the pronouns, just like, don't perceive me at all and will be great.

Van: 3:11

Yeah. Right. And I wonder especially, especially for strangers, especially mam and sir from strangers, like why are we still doing that in this day and age? I wonder.

Bonnie Violet: 3:18

I don't, I used to hate sir, but I really don't like ma'am. And I have one person who I won't say, who does call me Lady. And the first time I heard it, I was like. Mm. All I think I like that. Hmm. But I think I would only like it from him.

Van: 3:33

From that

Bonnie Violet: 3:34

person. From that person and, yeah. Because it's different from him. Well, it is because I know exactly who you're talking about. Yeah. No, totally. And I was just like, it was lovely. It was just like, oh, so great to meet you lady. Or something. It was something like that. I was like, oh, okay. It was like, that's kind of, it was very affirming, but I was like, oh, alright.

Van: 3:49

Yeah.

Bonnie Violet: 3:50

And

Van: 3:50

I think that's an, an interesting thing to hit on because like, I think oftentimes we like wear our pronoun pins or wear our preferred situation, or like with my partner, uh, she'll, you know, use different, uh, titles and pronouns with me and it's okay, but that doesn't mean it's okay with everyone.

4:12

Yep.

Van: 4:12

And like, my kids still call me mom. We've talked about like MaPa as like a mm-hmm. In between.

Pacey: 4:18

Right. Right. That's cute. But

Van: 4:19

it's interesting. It is cute. Mm-hmm. Have you seen the show Transparent? Uh, um, I, yeah. What do you think of it as a trans person?

Bonnie Violet: 4:29

I mean, I saw it a while back before I transitioned, so I don't know. It'd be interesting to watch back now. Yeah. But I thought it was kind of cool, you know? I know there's cha there was challenges with it. Yeah. But, um, but it was kind of a cool,'cause there wasn't many trans stories at that time, especially as like parents. And so it was definitely some story. And I feel like that's oftentimes with trans and non-binary and queer folks is that we just have to settle with what. Representations sometimes happens for us. It's a before representation. Yeah. And it's like that we, yeah. It's like, yay and ooh, you know, it's like this mixed bag. But it seemed, it seemed good to me.

Van: 5:04

Uh, an interesting thing that I would suggest is the book written by the writer Oh. Uh, of transparent. Mm-hmm. Is this too big of a like, lead away? No, not at all. We're, no, this is, I dunno what we're supposed to talking, how we about this. This is how we roll, but I'm chatting about whatever I want. Yeah. Uh, but their, their book is incredible.

5:24

Mm-hmm.

Van: 5:24

Uh, because they wrote transparent in response to their parent transitioning, and that's kind of how they processed. Mm-hmm. Um, you know, going through the transition as their child.

5:37

Yeah.

Van: 5:38

And that's why the show is written. But then they went on their own gender journey and I believe they identify as non-binary. Now I'm not actually completely a hundred percent sure because I, I wrote it a long time ago. Um, but like the book that I bought has their. Uh, like, I don't know if it's their dead name or

Bonnie Violet: 5:58

some signature. Yeah. A

Van: 6:00

very female oriented thing, Uhhuh. And now I think it's printed as a non-binary. Oh. So it's cool to, to like hear her experience Yeah. As a non, non-binary person and having a transparent through that. The book is,

Bonnie Violet: 6:12

well, I think the fact that it's somebody's'cause that's somebody's trans experience. Right. And so I think that's like, so, so that's really great. So I think the story in of itself is probably amazing. I think the challenge was, is that it was a cisgender man.

Van: 6:26

Right. And he ended up, uh, sexually assaulting many members. Oh my God. The, yeah. It was a whole, a whole thing. Jeffrey Tamper.

Bonnie Violet: 6:33

Mm-hmm. So not a trans person.

Van: 6:35

Definitely not a trans person. We like to make that clear, uh, white straight guy.

Pacey: 6:40

It's always the white straight. What do you know? Predatory man. It's crazy that he's a predator.

Van: 6:45

Wild, wild news.

6:46

It's wild how that Yeah, about, huh?

Pacey: 6:49

It's good though that we have more. Examples of trans experience in media. Mm-hmm. Other than like, back in our, like all of our day basically was the L word and queer folk. Queer

Bonnie Violet: 7:02

folk was like, this is queer folk was Oh, it was like the jam and yeah. It's so, so you watched it? Yeah. Like when we, when I was growing up, I actually used to run queer groups for queer men and we would watch it and then Oh wow. Taught would tear it apart and talk about this and that, and I'm like, uh, he's a child. That's a man. You know what I mean? Like, yeah. There was so much just like, and it was extremely white, but it was just like interesting. It's very problematic when you think about it now. But even back in the day, just the, the cultural norms and understandings of what,'cause many of us queer people have had experiences with older people and it almost felt like more of a coming of age. Like, it's just like how you, I. I don't know how, and I know it's kind of wonky to talk about this publicly, but like, I feel like a lot of us, just because we didn't have queer people around us, I think we often ended up meeting people older than us first. Yeah. And that's kind of the beginning of our queer experience. Mm-hmm. And so to see that now, it just feels icky. Yeah. You know, at the time when you're, when you're that age, you just think it's cool and you don't really think about the dynamic. But now to look back and think of like a 17-year-old and a 30-year-old, yeah. It's not cute. No. By any stretch of the, no, that's definitely not.

Pacey: 8:14

But even like age, but you don't think about stuff, stuff that's more accepted. I think like the queer communities, aside from it being like Justin being a minor, but Yeah. Um, the show, there were several things in the show that age very, very poorly, but at the time, like it was revolutionary. Like there was nothing like it before that. Mm-hmm. Just to be able to watch. Like queer lives on. It was just like un Yeah. Unlike anything I had ever seen at the time. I never even watched the final season.

Bonnie Violet: 8:41

cause I didn't, it had come up in ending in the UK first, but did you see the most recent version?

Pacey: 8:47

I I It was so good. No, it was so good. Is it good? And a

Bonnie Violet: 8:50

dear friend of mine was one of the main characters. Oh, that's right. They were the, the drag queen. Mm-hmm. Cool. And, uh, they were, it was just, it was a lot better. It was almost completely done by like black and brown folks and Oh wow. There was like, there were just, it was definitely like the queer folk of our time. Yeah. You know, there was like interesting, uh, lesbian couples that were having babies and or trans people that were having babies. And it was just like this. It was, it was, they did really kind of take it to I think the next level and then now to where it had a little bit more of a, um, yeah. I thought it was just so much better to get to see.

Pacey: 9:24

I, my toxic trait is I was in love with Brian Kenny. I thought that he was just perfect. And now, like saying that I haven't seen this in like 15 years, I'm sure I'll watch it and just be horrified. Like I was very ill back then. Right. But like, I was like, he's

Bonnie Violet: 9:38

just great. It came up the other day as like a thing to check out. And so me and my partner, we turned it on for a second. I was just like, yeah,

9:47

I'm

Bonnie Violet: 9:47

sure.

9:47

My

Bonnie Violet: 9:48

god. Yeah. Interesting. A really great show to watch is sort of, have you seen sort of No, it's on HBO Max. And it's about, it's, it's based in Toronto and it's this, um, this uh, uh, like Indian refugee, well, his family came, their family came from India, and so they live in Toronto and then they're like non-binary and they're like a nanny. And so it talks about all the like kind of, um, there's like the cultural aspects. There's the Sure. The, the Islamic aspects. And then there's also just like. Being non-binary and her, her eventually transitioning, but like, kind of that journey. And it's just really interesting. Lighthearted. It's a lot of fun. There's lots of like queer people and um, it's just a lot of fun. Okay. It's very, it's very good. Yeah. Any, any, yeah, any, that's a nice way to though, that's absolutely

Van: 10:37

my fault. I'm responsibility for us talking about, that's how

Bonnie Violet: 10:41

we get to know each other a little bit more. You know what I mean? So. Mm-hmm.

Van: 10:44

Yeah. Well, we really don't know each other. I mean,

Bonnie Violet: 10:47

we, I wore your socks.

Van: 10:48

You have worn my socks. Yes. And that was very intimate. It was. Thank you for wearing them.

Bonnie Violet: 10:53

You were a lifesaver. I mean, had we met, we had just barely met before that too, too. I, we, we met at the, the river. The lake. The river, the water. Was that before? Was that when we first met? Yeah, before the march. It was just before the march. Yeah. Okay.

11:08

I believe you.

Bonnie Violet: 11:08

And we were like out of the rock, the water. Yeah. Out there Chi. Yeah. I think that's when we first met. Met Matt.

Van: 11:16

So we'd met once.

Bonnie Violet: 11:17

Yes. And then we march and then, and then it was the trans march. I saw your trans march and I forgot to wear socks. Mm-hmm. And I was in those big old boots. Oh,

11:25

they were gorgeous boots. But yeah, they were, yeah. And my feet

Bonnie Violet: 11:27

were dying. And you were like, here take my socks. And you literally took them off your body and I was like, no, wait, you need'em. And I was, but I was also like in a lot of pain. Yeah. And so I was like, okay, thank you.

Van: 11:39

Well, I was always taught in church like, you're supposed to give someone the shirt off your back. Mm-hmm. And I figure it kind of rainbow socks because the socks as well. One and the same. Yeah. No, totally. I think that's maybe something I decided to keep from church is like being kind to people.

Pacey: 12:33

Yeah. I don't know. Yeah. Yeah. That's so beautiful of like leaving the church, right. And then still using the teachings, but in a way of giving rainbow socks to someone at a trans march. Totally. Like, fuck yeah. I love that. Yeah. Yeah. It takes you back beautiful. Back to Sunday school.

Van: 12:48

Well, and I feel like, I mean, I was a lesbian wearing Nike Air Max, so. Like my feet are gonna be fine with or without socks. Well, we ended up up getting in

Bonnie Violet: 12:57

a car, didn't we? Yeah. And like we rode to the next place. But it was still kind of like, it

Van: 13:01

was still too much for your feet. Yeah. Because you still had to stand when you got there. Mm-hmm.

Bonnie Violet: 13:05

Mm-hmm.

Van: 13:05

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You looked great.

Bonnie Violet: 13:06

You were a lifesaver.

Van: 13:08

Well you were. And that was kind of

Bonnie Violet: 13:10

the, so good beginning of us knowing each other at least.

Van: 13:12

Yeah.

Bonnie Violet: 13:13

Yeah. How about Preston? When did you meet Preston? I think that was the same. I think we met March. At the March as March. March.

Pacey: 13:18

Yeah.'cause we went and got food after food. That's right. Yeah. At at pera. Mm-hmm. So it's been a very short

Bonnie Violet: 13:24

amount of time. Really?

13:25

Yeah. Mm-hmm.

Bonnie Violet: 13:26

Pacey.

13:28

Yeah.

Bonnie Violet: 13:28

Oh yeah. Yeah. We, shit, I don't even, I'm probably the worst. I'm like, I'm like, alright, they're pacey on, on camera and then I'm the one, it's okay. It's fine.

Pacey: 13:38

It doesn't, it doesn't even matter anymore. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So tell us about Canyon County Pride.

Van: 13:44

Wow, I could talk about this all day. Mm-hmm. So you'll have to like maybe guide me. Okay.'cause this really is one of my many passions. Okay.

Pacey: 13:53

Well how about, tell us about how it started and how successful it was last year.

Van: 13:59

Okay. So you want me to brag at the success. Fabulous. I can do that. I do do, absolutely. Awesome.

Bonnie Violet: 14:05

Yes. Uh,

Van: 14:05

well it's interesting. Uh, so I have a trans son. When we first left the church, uh, we moved to Nampa. And so basically knew no one because we were so used to like we moving somewhere and having a church community. Right, right. And that's kind of what you lean on as church folks. Yeah. Uh, I don't know if it's the same in other religions, but that's like what we would do. We would move somewhere. Always find our church people make

Bonnie Violet: 14:33

roots. And especially I think in the Mormon religion. Yeah. Because it seemed like it's at every level. It's at work, it's at school, it's like who you hang out with. It's mm-hmm. Like I've always noticed, I was non Mormon, so I wasn't cool in my little hometown. Um, oh. The the cool kids were Mormon.

14:48

Okay. Wow. The,

Bonnie Violet: 14:49

the cool bad kids were Catholic. Okay. And then I was just not you were just you I smoked by in the Catholic church, you know, like, um, but yeah, like, so, so that was one thing I noticed with Mormons as well. And I always thought it was great. Like, Mormons are tend to be like really close family oriented and that seems like a really awesome value, like looking at. But I think, yeah, as soon as you become not a part of that, it's like you lose everything. It's not just like your family, but it's like absolutely. It's your work, it's your community. It's like, it's so huge.

Van: 15:21

Yeah. And uh, anytime. Um, I kind of missed that sense of community. I would try to make my own mm-hmm. Within the queer community. Totally. Because I, I think that's like a huge, uh, asset that we have as a queer community is like creating groups and contacts and like having a really strong family. Mm-hmm. Probably because a lot of us lose our families. Oh, yeah. Well, as we come out transition. Mm-hmm. Or fill in the blank. And even

Bonnie Violet: 15:49

in just a more authentic way, I know, like I began to love my queerness because I was able to leave church and like be around other queer people who felt good about who they were and they understood who they were a little bit better when I was just trying to figure it out. But, yeah.

16:03

Interesting.

Bonnie Violet: 16:03

Yeah, so I, in a lot of ways I feel like the queer community. Just'cause I've come from a spiritual lane, like that was my new sanctuary, was absolutely the dance clubs and the queer folks and did include drugs and alcohol eventually, but you know, sure. That's just par for the course. Yeah. For most, most young people growing up in a lot of ways, and you're, you know, 18, 1920s,

Van: 16:23

but I was Mormon so I couldn't even, I couldn't even drink coffee.

Bonnie Violet: 16:26

Right. I didn't mean to derail you.

Van: 16:29

Oh, you didn't derail me at all. Um, my trans kid was, I think at the time, came out as non-binary and we kind of explored that. And I, being a queer person was like, I can do this. I can parent a, the non-binary, uh, trans person because like, I love the queer community. I'm a bisexual person. I got this. Mm-hmm. Uh. And then saw his mental health plummet. Yeah. You know, as, as he was figuring things out and as he was trying new, new names, new pronouns, that sort of thing. Uh, even though he had a safe place to do it, I think because, you know, it's a little different if just his parents and sibling are supporting him versus people his age. Mm-hmm. People that he looks up to that are, you know, going to his school. Uh, so I looked, I, I called all my therapist friends. I emailed people in the queer community and was like, I have a son, you know, at the time he was 11 or 12, uh, I need help. Like, I am literally waking up every morning going to his room to make sure he's alive. This is not working. You know, he was in therapy too. Mm-hmm. Um. But without a community therapy again is just like one

17:53

part. Yeah.

Van: 17:53

One key to health, right? Mm-hmm. Um, and someone told me about Clutch and we went the next week. I emailed Mindy Louise beforehand, said my kid was coming and he walked in and it was like, I, I think the feeling that a lot of people get at church, I imagine mm-hmm. I never, I never really felt it

Bonnie Violet: 18:14

like you belonged,

Van: 18:16

but like they belong. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And we felt that at Clutch the minute we walked in the door. Yeah. And it was such a cool experience and it kind of gives me a soft place for, for church people. If I kind of think of that feeling. I'm like, okay, this is maybe why people still go to church because this feeling of belonging mm-hmm. And family and accepting who you are, regardless of any stipulation Right. Is an amazing feeling. Uh, and I instantly was like, I'm volunteering. I am being involved in this because of. The instant turnaround in my kid. Mm-hmm. Like just having a group of adolescent weirdos meeting together. Um, you know, a lot of them are like a DHD and autistic, just like my kid. Mm-hmm. And so, you know, like there was no pressure to like have giant conversations or engaged. It was just come as you are, here's food, here's an activity. Have fun. Yeah. Yeah.

Bonnie Violet: 19:11

Can you say a little bit about Clutch? I don't know that everyone knows what Clutch is.

Van: 19:15

Clutch, uh, I, being raised Mormon, uh, was taught to like baptize people and give testimony all the time.

19:24

Mm-hmm.

Van: 19:24

And I feel like that prepared me to talk about Clutch because I have converted people. I'll testify on the regular to Clutch. Uh, yeah. But Clutch is for ages 12 to. Um, I wanna say 14, I wanna say 14 to 21, but it could be 12 to 21. I'm a horrible volunteer that I don't know that, uh, but it's for queer youth in Nampa. I know a lot of people that drive from Boise. I know a lot of people that drive, you know, from wherever, whenever they can.

19:57

Mm-hmm.

Van: 19:57

Uh, it's an awesome organization, uh, led by a lesbian couple that is, I do not know how to describe them other than perfect love.

20:09

Mm-hmm.

Van: 20:09

Um, Mindy and Louise are an incredible example of how to love an incredible example of how to exist in community, uh, when people are pushing back against you. And an incredible example of how to be a queer adult. Interacting with

Bonnie Violet: 20:28

queer youth. Mm-hmm.

Van: 20:29

They're just incredible.

Bonnie Violet: 20:30

So it's like an L-G-B-T-Q youth group? Yes. So it's not like trans-specific, it's broader,

Van: 20:34

not trans specific. However, most of the youth that regularly attend are trans or non-binary.

Bonnie Violet: 20:41

Yeah. I remember when I first heard about it, it was like a trans, I was a trans thing. Oh, okay. Like that's kind of like the, what I had heard how it was, but once I like looked like, looked it up and learned a little bit about it, it was, it was obviously more of like an an L-G-B-T-Q thing. Yeah.

Van: 20:55

And I don't think, I mean, I don't think they like stop you at the door. Oh no. Like, are you actually bisexual or are you coming, you know, like they're going to like quiz you. Mm-hmm. Uh, but yeah, it's definitely queer centered. Got. So I vol started volunteering. I met Tom, and Tom and I are like really, really similar energy wise and like, yes, we will sit front row at this kid's, uh, tarot reading thing and learn about tarot. Like right. There's only four other kids. And then me and Tom, and we were like, yes, we love the activities. Uh, so he and I really bonded over like participating.'cause a lot of the adults are more like, oh, I'm making the food. I am, you know, like helping with various tasks. And we were very much like front row in the activity with the kids, like talking with the kids while we do the activity. So, uh, we kind of bonded over that. And one day, I think it was after yoga, he casually was like, it's my dream to have Canyon County pride someday. Like, wouldn't that be awesome for these kids? Like to be able to know that in Canyon County people wanna show up for'em. Yeah. Like other than this one Thursday a week.

22:06

Yeah.

Van: 22:06

And I was like. Absolutely. That would be incredible. And he was like, do you think, like, do you think we could do it this year? And it was April. Oh, wow. And I was like, yeah. Yes. I mean, like what's the harm in applying? Mm-hmm. You know, like throw in an application. Mm-hmm. He's like, yeah, let's do it at Indian Creek. I was like, okay, throw on an application. Don't you dare tell me this dream if you're not committed to it, because I will make this happen. Like, and he's like, oh no, you don't know me well enough, but Right. We're making this happen. If we're like, are we doing this?

22:39

Mm-hmm.

Van: 22:39

And I was like, yes. Are we doing this? And he was like, yes. So he handed an application, uh, Indian Creek said, no, they were too busy. I don't know if that's true. And then we, uh, applied for Lakeview Park.

22:52

Mm-hmm. And

Van: 22:53

then, I believe it was May 7th, I wanna say. Uh, they notified us that we were approved and on the application we said like 50 to a hundred people, uh, in front of the rose garden, and we're just gonna have a little picnic. Mm-hmm. You know? Yeah. And we kind of figured, like worst case scenario, we would text all the weirdos that we know.

23:15

Mm-hmm.

Van: 23:16

Um, texts like hookups that we'd had or something, and be like, come to the park. We're throwing pride because we don't get pride in June in Boise. And it's like an important part of being queer is like celebrating in June. So, you know, wouldn't you come to a picnic in the park?

Pacey: 23:33

Absolutely. Yeah. Pacey

Van: 23:34

wouldn't you? Mm-hmm. Like, just come, bring your own lunch. We thought it would be like a potluck situation Right. With like 50 people.

23:40

Mm-hmm.

Van: 23:41

Uh, and then it, it slowly got more and more interest as we like, put the word out there. But I think he and I were probably working 20 hours a day from the, the day we Geez. Heard about it until. Mm-hmm. Day after probably. Yeah. Uh, because of the timeline, you know, when you have 21 days to plan a festival

24:03

mm-hmm.

Van: 24:04

Uh, it gets really, really chaotic really, really fast. Yeah. Um, so it, it sort of progressed. We had these ideas. We, we met with sponsors. We were basically doing as much as we could. And then the mayor came out with her, uh, completely bigoted, homophobic press release, and Of course,

24:27

yeah. Uh,

Van: 24:28

yeah, of course. Mm-hmm. Which is so sad that like, that's. The Of course. Right. But you're right, of course. Uh, and basically said like, well, we would not let you do this, but unfortunately, the First Amendment exists, so we can't do it. Our lawyers say, we have to let you be here. Mm-hmm.

Bonnie Violet: 24:44

Uh, so we, which was a gift in a lot of ways. It was

Van: 24:47

a, a huge gift. Yeah. Because, uh, you know, national news, uh, picked it up. We had a story in the Washington Post, and from, from then it was just like, yeah. More fuel for this incredible, like, we were planning on a little fire mm-hmm. A little family fire to rose marshmallows over it turned into a beautiful, uh, warm, heavenly celebration for almost 4,000 people. So, yeah. Yeah. Uh, yeah. It, it was crazy. And I think, uh, we continually had to keep making adjustments. Mm-hmm. Like, you know, we originally ordered a hundred shirts and then like, kept ordering more and more and more. Originally didn't have any, you know, fencing, security guards or anything. And then we started getting. Top threats and we're like, okay, how do we protect our community? Mm-hmm. And then we got fencing and then had to keep moving that back and making a bigger and bigger footprint, which

25:38

Right.

Van: 25:38

You were both there.

25:39

Mm-hmm.

Van: 25:40

Uh, as you know, it was completely packed, like Yeah. Yeah. People were sitting on laps type of a thing, so, uh, it was a packed house. It's good to know that we have about three times the amount of space this year, so. Yeah. That's great. Uh, it'll probably be another packed house, but at least you won't have to, like, you know.

Pacey: 25:58

Yeah, yeah.

Van: 25:59

Starting then. So,

Pacey: 26:00

and I just wanna make it clear for everyone listening who isn't local, uh, canyon County is not. It is not a friendly place for the queer community. No. So like, that's why this is such a huge deal is because this place, like I remember first hearing about it, I was like, there's no way that's gonna happen in can, like I don't go to Canyon County. Right. Unless I have to because like, because you're

Van: 26:22

not safe.

Pacey: 26:22

I'm not safe there. No, absolutely not. So the fact that you guys were able to put together this festival in such short notice and have it be so wildly successful and get like national news is just unbelievable. It's incredible. Yeah. And I think if people knew like what Canyon County was like, they would truly understand like the obstacles that you had to, to get through to make that happen.

Van: 26:47

Yeah. Well, thank you Pacey. Um, the obstacles felt, uh, really scary and really big at times. But anytime any sort of obstacle would come up, like, you know, at first we were saying bring your own food and water type thing. And then I was like. I don't want someone to get heat stroke. Yeah. We now have like thousands of people showing up, like, I'm worried about water.

27:11

Right. And I would

Van: 27:11

like stress out over it. I'm sure, you know, like at 7:00 PM I'd be like, I have to stop working. I have to be with my family. And like, what am I gonna do about water? Like, people are gonna get dehydrated, pass out. I don't want that. Yeah. The next morning I would wake up to an email saying, Hey, my name's Aaron. Shout out Aaron. Mm-hmm. Uh, my name's Aaron. I was wondering if I could provide water to the whole festival for you. Mm-hmm. Like, it would be just

Pacey: 27:36

all fell into place. It would

Van: 27:37

be wild things like that, that are like obscure tiny things that I would need to get done and have no idea how to do it. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Or where to even start, like down the path of figuring it out. And then I wouldn't, like, I don't have the time to like, go down the whole path of figuring, you know, and someone would just email me or text me or, you know, fill in the blank. Being like, do you happen to need, uh. 5,000, you know, fill in the blanks because I would like to donate that. Yeah. And I would be like,

28:06

that's

Van: 28:06

just unbelievable. This is wild. That's so cool. Yeah. And it was really cool. It was a cool feeling to feel completely aligned in what I was doing, because, uh, the job I was doing at the time was not that, it was very much a, like, I'm doing this purely mm-hmm. So I can feed my family, you know? Yeah. And feeling how it feels to be aligned and like what I'm doing for work was an amazing, amazing experience. I bet. That's so cool. Yeah. Yeah. When

Bonnie Violet: 28:35

I think that just goes to show you too, when you're doing something that the community really wants or is ready for, everything just kind of comes together. We had a similar experience with the march where we just had to say, let's do it, and then. All these people just came outta the woodwork because it was like, now is the time for this to happen.

28:50

Absolutely.

Bonnie Violet: 28:51

Um, so I definitely know I'm, I've been being an organizer over the years, that's usually not, you know, oftentimes that's not what happens, you know? Really you have to Yeah. Oftentimes I feel like you have to, like, I don't know, like you have to try to sell the idea of Canyon County Pride, right. But people were like, no, you don't have to sell anything. Like, duh, no, that's a no brainer. Mm-hmm. What can I do? You know what I mean? Right. So I think, I think that's something that just really speaks to like the timing and everything. I think there's some things that are created that just like when it's time. It's time. Yeah. And, uh, all you gotta do is just kind like show up for it. Not to say that it's not a lot of work or a lot of whatever. Sure. But it's kind of a cool feeling, especially when you have so many people coming at you on like a national level or with death threats or all these sorts of things that are like the extreme opposite too. Right. Because you've never probably experienced that before that, you know what I mean? Yeah. And so now you're like getting these both worlds where you have. People that are just like, here you go. And you have other people are like, I'm gonna kill you. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, it's definitely

Van: 29:53

like dual. Mm-hmm. Holding the duality of that is an interesting feeling for sure. Uh, to go on what you were saying about Camden County, um, maybe I could share a little bit about my kid and just the pushback that I've had as a parent.

30:07

Mm-hmm.

Van: 30:08

Uh, yeah. And that he's had existing as a trans and queer person throughout the years, uh, we've had, uh, about 10 friends say that they're not being friends with him, you know, and this is,

30:23

yeah. He's

Van: 30:24

10 years old, 11 years old, 12 years old. Mm-hmm. We just had one recently that like, he brought over his best friend from school. Mm-hmm.'cause he just switched schools. Uh, and he brought her over. We had such a fun time. Like they were, we were all sitting at the table. Mm-hmm. Uh, Eden chatting about. Fill in the blank and just laughing. And we heard like a bang on the door and we were like, oh. And I, my kid went and opened the door and the person was like, Hey, I'm her parent. Oh wow. I need her to come with me. And I was like, oh, sorry. Did we not communicate that she was here? Like, what's going on? Like I can tell you're, uh, frustrated or whatever. And she's like, I just need her right now. And I was like, oh, well we've loved having her. Thank you so much for letting her come over. Are you sure you don't wanna sit down and eat with us? We're having a great time. She was like, no.

31:18

I was like,

Van: 31:19

okay, well hopefully she can come over another time because we love to have her. She's honestly welcome anytime. And she was like, we'll see about that.

31:28

Wow.

Van: 31:29

And I closed the door and was like, we're never

31:31

gonna see this friend again. Yeah. You know? Mm-hmm.

Van: 31:34

Uh, which is a really heavy feeling to have. As an adult. Yeah. Like knowing that someone doesn't like you and doesn't wanna be around you.

31:43

Mm-hmm.

Van: 31:43

But when it's your child Yeah. That is, you know, trying their best to make friends and be authentic and cultivate community. Mm-hmm. With people their age. And then this one person that they have a great relationship with, hang out at school all the time, wanna be together. Mm-hmm. All of a sudden can't. And I did, like I asked him the other day, I was like, so can she come over? Yeah. And he was like, no, her mom doesn't want her to turn into a liberal. And it's hard because this person is queer. Her mom just doesn't know it. Oh. And so it's like a really, a really frustrating situation, but sadly this isn't the first. Like of course we have

32:25

kids

Van: 32:25

get dropped off to play with my kids and we just watch to see like when they pull up at our house, watch to see if they're even allowed to get out of the car because we have had someone pulled up and then leave.'cause we have a prime flag. Of course. Yeah. So like it's. And I've asked my kids like, I can take down the pride flag. I can lie for you. I can pretend to be straight for you. I will do all those things if it means like you being able to interact with your friend.

32:47

Right.

Van: 32:48

And of course my kids are like, uh, you did that for long enough in your life. Like being Mormon. You being, we're done with that. Yeah. And we don't really want people in our lives that don't accept us, so it's fine. Yeah. They have a more mature outlook than me. I'm like, I'll slash her tires. Right, of course. And make her, let, let her kid come. You know, like that's the feeling that I have. But my kids are like, well, okay, she clearly doesn't respect me, so I don't want her mom coming over anyway, you know? Yeah. It's just

Pacey: 33:18

fucking crazy because just odds wise with this like young generation right now, statistically Right, the majority of them are, I are queer in some way.

33:31

Mm-hmm.

Pacey: 33:31

And their parents. When, especially with how divided our country is right now. Mm-hmm. If these kids end up with parents that are super conservative, like, like that parent, right? That's gonna do such a disservice. And it could potentially be very dangerous for the kids because just odds wise. They're gonna end up with kids that will identify with the pride flag in one way or another.

Bonnie Violet: 33:54

Well, and the queerness, I mean the, the more narrow you make the status quo, the less people are gonna fit into that period. You know? And I think younger people and in general, I think people are starting to really value being authentic. Mm-hmm. And they're like, I don't fight. I don't fight. Like I might even see myself still as a man or a woman. Mm-hmm. But I'm not that kind of man or woman, or that's not how I feel like I have to express myself in order to be a man or a woman. Which automatically then kind of places you in this queer, this queer space. I think kinda like what we were talking about in the beginning, how people assume that maybe you had, he he him pronouns or maybe man or they didn't know. Right. Right. And so I think that's one thing that's happening now is like, you know, if you're outside of that very narrow status quo, then you're automatically queer whether you are or not. And in some ways I think that's a really great thing. Um, and I think it does then lead for, I think it's just causing a lot of people to really, I. Be confronted with what it means to be perceived as like a queer person Totally. Or somebody who's outside of the status quo. Yeah, definitely sound.

Pacey: 34:53

Um,

Bonnie Violet: 34:53

yeah,

Pacey: 34:54

one thing I want to touch on is the two 70. Is that right? Yeah,

Bonnie Violet: 34:59

totally.

Pacey: 34:59

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Van: 35:00

I mean that's, that's thanks to Canyon County Pride. Exactly.

Pacey: 35:03

Yeah. All right. So we've talked about, on the podcast several times, uh, HB two 70. It's the indecent exposure bill that is already in effect. And the, the incident that kind of sparked all of this happened at last year's Canyon County Pride, the alleged'cause. Oh, it was total bullshit. Right. Exactly. Yeah, I do wanna say that. Yeah, that's fair. Exactly. That's fair. The alleged, because like we both know the gal and we, I was in the hearings, like it was, these people were lying about what they saw and I know that I. They went to the event last year in bad faith, searching for something to make an issue, and they found this perfect opportunity and they capitalized on it. And now we have HB two 70. So what are your plans? Like, how are you going to address that for this year's, just to kind of make sure that something like that doesn't happen again?

Van: 36:01

Yeah, it's, it's a really frustrating and, uh, maybe volatile situation, uh, because we saw, I don't know her name, uh. Enter and we

Bonnie Violet: 36:15

don't need to say it.

Van: 36:16

Yeah,

Bonnie Violet: 36:16

yeah,

Van: 36:17

yeah. Uh, but she pronouns I think is what I'm hinting at, correct. Mm-hmm. Uh, she came in, she looked gorgeous. Yeah. Uh, let's, let's definitely get that on the record. That's not alleged.

Pacey: 36:29

She always does. Yeah. She always a great style, like always. Yeah. Head

Van: 36:32

to toe. Mm-hmm. Uh, so she entered, uh, we saw she was probably one of the first 20 people in

36:40

mm-hmm.

Van: 36:40

Uh, we saw the nipple pasties. Is that what they're even called? Yeah. Pasties. Pasties. Pasties, yeah. Okay. Mm-hmm. Saw the pasties and we were like, this is going to be a situation.

36:53

Mm-hmm.

Van: 36:54

Not for anyone coming in Good faith. I mean, I, even for children, like I've taken my children to voice pride many times I've taken my kids to multiple prides, multiple events where that's. Yeah, normal. It's decent or illegal. It's like the

Pacey: 37:09

electrician tape I've seen with like Yeah. Like the ex cis women doing that as Yeah, I've seen that. And that was never an issue ever. And that was like never an issue with

Van: 37:19

many, many cis women. Mm-hmm. Yeah, for sure. And that's a really good point to make. Um, and we kind of just had our heart sink a little bit and like, this is going to be a used against us type feeling. Mm-hmm. And uh, there was thoughts about like, okay, let's give her a free pride t-shirt. And I was like, I do not feel comfortable with that. Like, this is what we are here for. Back to the authenticity thing, like you show up as you are. Yeah. You show up as you want to present yourself and there probably aren't many times. And if they can't do

Bonnie Violet: 37:53

it there, where can they? Exactly.

Van: 37:55

Yeah. And I, I really fought for doing nothing and I think, you know, obviously looking back it. Maybe wasn't the best decision because in not doing harm, I feel like it would've been harmful to one trans person. Totally. We are opening the gate wide open for more trans violence. This is only about trans people.

Pacey: 38:22

Right. This

Van: 38:23

is not going to happen to assist person.

Bonnie Violet: 38:25

But this would've happened regardless of this case. Yeah. Because she didn't do anything wrong. Yeah, she didn't, and you all didn't do, and you all did. I don't, I wanna say like Yeah. In my opinion, I don't think you did anything wrong. I think I would've been more upset if you would've like Yeah. Like, I dunno, policed it, but you like Yeah. Forced her to cover up or made some sort of thing about it. Sure.

Van: 38:44

And I guess that's something to point out is like, yeah, we don't wanna upset our community. Mm-hmm. We definitely upset.

Pacey: 38:51

Other, and they were gonna be upset no matter what. You're right. Yeah. And like it wasn't the issue, so you did nothing wrong. And this is how, you know they had to lie.

39:00

Sure. Yeah.

Pacey: 39:00

Because if they didn't have to lie about what happened, that would be something ent Yeah. Else entirely. But they had to lie that she was completely topless without pasties on,

Bonnie Violet: 39:09

which was not true. Which

Pacey: 39:10

was not true. Not true. So like, if she would've been wearing pasties and they would've said that in the hearing. Yeah. They would've been like, well, what's the issue here? Yeah.

Bonnie Violet: 39:16

Right. You

Pacey: 39:17

know?

Bonnie Violet: 39:17

Well, and they, and they would say she, I mean, they even like referred to her as kind of like a she in that incident.

Pacey: 39:22

Mm-hmm. But

Bonnie Violet: 39:23

then they wanna say that people like that aren't, are men. And

Pacey: 39:26

that was probably in the hearing too. You know what I

Bonnie Violet: 39:28

mean?

Pacey: 39:28

What did they say about that? So what am

Bonnie Violet: 39:29

I,

Pacey: 39:29

am I,

Bonnie Violet: 39:30

well,

Pacey: 39:30

you know, they said what hap this is what they said happened in the hearing, which is, and this is a lot. Um, they said that. This woman was topless. And this, the guy who was so offended by it was talking to the cops and was like, why are you allowing this to happen? Like, why are you allowing this woman to walk around topless? And the cops said, oh, well, she said that he's a man and that he could do that because he's a man. And so there's nothing, the cop said that. Yeah. And he's like, so there's nothing I can do about how much of this is actually, that's what he said that the cop said. Mm-hmm. Gotcha. So, uh, so there's nothing we can do about it. So that's why he was like, well, we need to create, we need to update the indecent exposure law to cover trans women. Mm-hmm. Basically. I see. But that didn't actually, so that's how they had to connect it to trans women. But

Bonnie Violet: 40:20

it's, it's even more than like including trans women in that law. Mm-hmm. It's actually like creating a law specifically for trans women, because cisgender women can still, I. Walk around with pasties. Mm-hmm. It's just the trans folks. So I think, I

Van: 40:34

don't know if that's true. I I thought it was more like they worded it like any sort of breast mass.

Bonnie Violet: 40:41

No, but it was like hormonally, like as far as like the law goes, it actually has to be like hormonally. It's a trans body, whether it's a trans female or a trans. Yeah. They've specifically targeted.

Pacey: 40:52

Yeah.

Bonnie Violet: 40:53

The breasts have

Pacey: 40:53

to be hormonally altered

Bonnie Violet: 40:55

and potentially drag.

Pacey: 40:57

Yeah.'cause prosthetics are also mentioned in the bill fake

Bonnie Violet: 41:00

genitalia or,

Pacey: 41:02

yeah. And it was so much to the point where one of the. The representatives a Democrat was saying, so basically if this bill passes, someone could go to Adam and Eve and see the prosthetics there and call the police. And the people that were supporting the bill were kind of fumbling like, well, why would someone do that? It's like

Van: 41:23

Exactly, yeah. They they

Pacey: 41:24

could though. They could, right. And like, but then the burden falls on the police to determine what is appropriate and what isn't. Right. So in this instance, I feel like a Canyon County police officer would most likely agree that trans in general is offensive and would warrant a charge.

Van: 41:42

Mm-hmm. I, having met with the Canyon County Police multiple times, it pains me to say this, like, it pains me to defend the police because I spent, I, I think the only argument Tom and I got in last year, I. Was over police presence and I was like, absolutely not. We are not having police at Pride. No, no, no. Mm-hmm. And was like fighting to the nail, like you are a cis white dude.

42:09

Yeah.

Van: 42:10

I don't even know if you should like, have a say in this. Like we have

42:14

Yeah.

Van: 42:14

Like the majority of people in Canyon County, especially now mm-hmm. With the administration and ICE going into effect. Like they're scared.

42:23

Yeah.

Van: 42:23

Like you don't know what it's like being a rich, white, cis dude. Mm-hmm. So, you know, really pushed back and it ended up being like, after so many threats that it was like, okay, you have to, this is like, we might lose people attending mm-hmm. But we don't want people attending if we can't keep them safe. Yeah. Right. So it was like a compromise of keeping, we hired private, private security for interior within the walls and uh, so the police could be outside. Right. Um, so if anything major did happen, they would be able to. To enter,

Bonnie Violet: 42:54

get that quickly. Um, and there's really only so much of that you can control as an organizer, right. As far as like police presence, presence or that sort of thing. So it's like the best you can, the, the way if you can work with them and kind of figure things out, that's better than just being like

Van: 43:10

Totally. Yeah. And it's still pains me. It's so I'll say that, but as I, as I say that, it pains me, uh, the last meeting we were in, uh, I wanna say the last meeting, maybe two meetings ago with the police, uh, we were chatting, I won't say the specific police

43:28

mm-hmm.

Van: 43:28

Person, but a higher up police at Canyon County. And uh, he's the one that brought up a couple of these, like HB two 70, a few different laws that had recently come into effect mm-hmm. That are unenforceable basically. Yeah. Bullshit laws.

43:46

Mm-hmm. Uh,

Van: 43:47

brought that up. And we started chatting and he was like. Th these laws are making my job a nightmare. No, I'm sure. Yeah. Like, this is not enforceable. This is not a well-written law. Like it's hateful. They're very broad. Really? Yeah. Yeah. It brought that up. And they were really like, uh, and we asked a point blank, like, so will you be even looking for indecency

44:12

Right.

Van: 44:12

At Pride? And he was like, no. You know? Uh, so that's information. Mm-hmm. Do I That's great. Do I think you should be like, oh, yay, let's go party with the police. Absolutely not. But that's information. Mm-hmm. Uh, that I have. Okay. From a perspective of meeting with the police multiple times. Uh, and, uh, the police have been amazing to work with. That's great. And they've listened to our concerns and that's

Pacey: 44:38

so surprising, and that's such so surprising. Such a pleasant surprise. Yeah. Yeah.

Van: 44:41

And that being said, like we brought up, uh, we met with, I. The mayor of Nampa, police chief, and a, a few other, like higher up people mm-hmm. In Nampa, uh, I don't know, a month or two ago. And we brought up like, Hey, a majority of our population is Latinx.

44:59

Mm-hmm. Like

Van: 45:00

a lot of them are concerned, right? Like coming out of their house, they could get arrested. Like they're just concerned for their overall safety, right? And then you add being queer on top of that, that's like a whole,

45:09

a double whammy, right? Mm-hmm.

Van: 45:10

Uh, so like, can you help us understand how to navigate this difficult situation? And they were like, oh, they don't need to even worry. Like, they don't even need to worry about that. They'll be totally safe. And we were like. Okay. That doesn't feel good, like sitting in a room of white people. Mm-hmm. And you know, like,

Bonnie Violet: 45:29

well, given their history,'cause it's still the same mayor as last year. Right? Yeah. Yeah. And I bet she's just delightful to work with.

Van: 45:36

No comment. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Uh, but anyway, there's that information about Okay.

Bonnie Violet: 45:41

So has

Van: 45:42

take, take it with what you will.

Bonnie Violet: 45:44

Yeah. Has the, has the the law or anything changed how you're gonna approach things this year? Is there any information that people need to know that might be coming out? Yeah,

Van: 45:53

yeah. Um, we are going to enforce a t-shirt policy, uh, mostly, you know, not because, uh, we wanna monitor what people are wearing by any means. Um, obviously like you don't have to have a full on t-shirt. People that wanna wear a tank top or spaghetti strap or a tube top or whatever, that's fine. Mm-hmm. Um, but it's mostly to avoid those situations that are completely taken out of context, out of proportion. Mm-hmm. Um, which. You know, we believe we'll ultimately protect trans and non-binary people. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Uh, because of of Oh

Pacey: 46:29

yeah.

Van: 46:30

The culmination of what happened last year. So yeah. We're shirt it sucks. I don't, I mean, we obviously would love it if we didn't have to have security. Yeah. Didn't have to have the police and didn't have to have a dress code.

46:45

Yeah.

Van: 46:45

But here we are. Yeah. And it's difficult to say. And if that, you know, uh, makes people uncomfortable to not come because they can't be them themselves. We get it. Yeah. And I think, I think that's something to note too, is that like it's been a difficult decision process. Of course. Yeah. And we not only have to think of, you know, the four to 5,000 people that will be in attendance, but the law that is going to affect Yeah. The entire population of Idaho.

Pacey: 47:11

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And not only that, there are going to be people there that are. They're for the exact same reason as last year. Yeah. They're going to be trying to find something that they can use as an attack on the community at large.

47:24

Yeah.

Pacey: 47:24

And like something that they could introduce into legislation next year.

47:28

Yeah. Because I,

Pacey: 47:29

I really believe, and I know I'm not alone in this, that the bills that are introduced next session are going to be even more aggressive. So I think any opportunity that they can send people in and try and instigate issues is just going to be the evidence that they use for their aggressive bills. Mm-hmm. Next session.

Van: 47:47

Right.

Pacey: 47:47

So any way to kind of like prevent that or protect people.'cause no one wants to be. Like the, the picture that they're using for their bullshit fucking laws. Right? Yeah. Right. So I think it's difficult'cause Yeah. Like you don't wanna police people's bodies. You don't wanna tell them what to do, but you also wanna protect them. Totally. Yeah. So it's like, because the alternative

Bonnie Violet: 48:08

is to not do anything. Mm-hmm. Or, you know, whatever. And, uh, I think the thing that we wanted most importantly, like to have this conversation was to kind of set people up who are planning on going mm-hmm. To really know what to expect, you know?

48:21

Yeah.

Bonnie Violet: 48:21

The, the police will be on the outside. Um, there we're really not sure about ice.

Van: 48:28

Um, well, we do have more information on that. Okay, cool. Updated. Like, I wasn't just like, oh yeah, I'll just tell that they're safe, that white people telling me to tell Yes. Our community that it's fine. Like, I'll. No, uh, yeah, we talked with the ACL U, we've had multiple meetings. We're going to have, uh, know your rights people there. We're going to have, uh, you know, various

Bonnie Violet: 48:50

legal witnesses, legal

Van: 48:51

aid. We are going to have multiple legal witnesses, not just for, you know, the Latinx community, black and brown people, uh, when it comes to police presence. Uh, but we had a pers, like a fairly large lawsuit come out of last year mm-hmm. With one of the protestor protestors and anti protestors. So, uh, interesting. Just having legal observers there will protect

49:14

everyone,

Van: 49:14

everyone. Uh, I, I assume, I hope.

49:18

Mm-hmm.

Van: 49:18

Um, again, hopefully none of this comes to fruition. Yeah. But with the environment that we're in Absolutely. Yeah. These laws like, uh, yeah. We're just doing our, our best and our due diligence Yeah. To make sure that we can't protect people as much as we can. So,

Pacey: 49:33

yeah. Yeah. It's gonna be really fun. What day I. Is it

Van: 49:36

June 8th?

Pacey: 49:37

June 8th? It's a Sunday. It's a Sunday. It

Van: 49:39

is a Sunday. Uh, it's going to be from 10 to six. And maybe I'll share this now. Yeah. Bonnie Pilot. Are you okay with that? Yeah, I'm good with that.

49:46

Okay.

Van: 49:47

Uh, we are going to open Canyon County Pride with a church service, which seems kind of, I don't know, off brand for queer people and church. Uh, but there's still a lot of queer people that value, uh, connection with God. Mm-hmm. Or Christianity, or fill in the blank with all the different inner Yeah. Inner faith.

50:08

Yeah. Mm-hmm. Uh,

Van: 50:10

and, uh, you know, we have the satanist, we have, uh, what, what would you call the, like,

Bonnie Violet: 50:17

I'm trying to remember.

Van: 50:18

Energy. Yeah. Type work. Uh, person. Yeah. Yeah. We have a, they were amazing. Yes. I can't remember like their actual title though.

Pacey: 50:26

Yeah. What, like spiritual, like a spiritual person? Yeah, yeah, yeah. But

Van: 50:30

more having to do with like element element with elements and,

Bonnie Violet: 50:33

and all that sort of stuff. That's what stuff. Okay. We we're definitely doing what we can to have like a diverse representation mm-hmm. Of like spiritual experience, um, to kind of like merge this kind of like service.

50:45

Mm-hmm.

Bonnie Violet: 50:45

Uh, to happen in the morning. And so for folks who wanna come out to that sort of thing, which I think is also a great response to,'cause recently there wasn't there like a city council meeting or something where a lot of the religious folks actually spoke very. Against it. Yeah. Yeah. And so it's kind of nice to have folks who are in support of it, to be a part of it as well. Totally.

Van: 51:07

Yeah. We have multiple faith leaders from two C participating. Yeah. Uh, and my hope is that yes, there will be a space for everyone to come together and connect and, uh, you know, have a spiritual type experience. Uh, but my hope is also that people will come and maybe be healed from some of the religious trauma. I have backpacks full of religious trauma that I carry around, and last year, uh, a lot of my religious trauma was healed, uh, because Pastor Rob canceled his church, brought his congregation to walk people. To and from the parking lot so that they could like put umbrellas up and protect'em from Yeah.

Bonnie Violet: 51:52

Oh wow.

Van: 51:52

Hecklers and protestors and bigots and Yeah.

Bonnie Violet: 51:56

And that's the thing, this

Van: 51:56

congregation showed up.

Bonnie Violet: 51:58

A lot of communities of faith are the ones doing a lot of the work. Um, last year when I did the drag is not a crime fashion show.

52:05

Mm.

Bonnie Violet: 52:05

It was completely funded by different, like mostly it was almost predominantly all like religious groups and institutions that funded a drag is not a crime. All ages fashion show.

52:16

Amazing. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. And so I

Bonnie Violet: 52:17

know also the, um, religious community really responded to Ken County Pride as well too.

Van: 52:23

Yeah. And it, it definitely surprised me. Mm-hmm. I think because in my mind I still, I mean, and in my body, I still carry so much religious trauma. Yeah.

52:33

Yeah.

Van: 52:33

That it was almost like,

52:36

uh, I don't know if I should even trust you. Like, this is like

Van: 52:39

confusing for me. I'm

52:40

still there. And

Van: 52:41

Yeah. And I think that's okay. You know, like, like please don't come to the church. Like the, what are, what are we calling Interfa? It's interface. Interfaith church service. Mm-hmm. Yeah. I don't

Bonnie Violet: 52:51

even think we're calling church if you're not. Not even

Van: 52:52

comfortable, right? Like with any of that.

Bonnie Violet: 52:55

Well,

Van: 52:55

totally do not. Church is a trigger

Bonnie Violet: 52:57

too. So what do we call church? No,

Pacey: 52:58

it i's not that level. That's fair. One thing that I, uh, I think is gonna be interesting'cause I, before I resigned because of like the transphobia, I was a minister in the Satanic temple. Mm-hmm. Oh, okay. Because I was involved in their sober faction. Like I did a weekly meeting for grief in recovery and. You're taught, or back then you were, that if you're in TST or you're a satanist, is to not advertise it when you're at events or protests because it will take the attention off of the focus and people will be like, oh, like for BLM

53:34

mm-hmm.

Pacey: 53:34

They were discouraging people from going to the BBL m not from going to the protest, but from wearing like a, a satanist stuff. Right. So, because that way the opposition will be like, look, fucking Satanists are supporting doing this right now. BLM, that tells you everything you need to know about the Black Lives Matter movement. Right. Fucking Satanists. So in this instance, it's gonna be a fucking heyday, but it's so important to represent all of the different

Bonnie Violet: 53:58

experiences, facets

Pacey: 54:00

of religion. So I think it's super cool that you're doing that. Um, that's just, I think it's gonna be powerful as shit. Yeah,

Van: 54:07

I do too. And I was really impressed with the conversations that we've had so far. Like some things were brought up like, oh, let's focus on instead of. You know, like, let's focus on God loves everyone. We were all created in God's image and someone from the Satanist was like, Hey, I don't believe in God. Not everybody has like, and not everyone at Pride is going to. So I would encourage us to find things that all of us believe, like compassion and love. Yeah. And the pastor that like brought that up was like, wow, thank you so much for saying that. Yeah. And really took it in, changed his whole Oh, totally. Yeah. Like direction. And it was such a cool experience to see people from vastly different systems of belief come together and actually like talk and work through, through things. Because I think today in, in this divisive, like whether it's religion or politics, which I think are basically the same thing. I know. Yeah. Uh, everything's just very divisive. Yeah.

55:06

And

Van: 55:07

it was cool. I mean, it was only 10 people, but still it felt so good to be in like a collaborative. Environment. Mm-hmm. Where people genuinely respected what you had to say, genuinely respected what they had to say mm-hmm. And worked together to make something, uh, that could kind of fit with everyone. So if the fruits are a result of, of that, then it's going to be amazing. Yeah. And I'm really excited. It's like

Pacey: 55:31

with satanism. Because at first I've got like really bad OCD and a lot of my obsessions are like with religion. Mm-hmm. It's this whole thing. I'll tell you about it later. Yeah. I'd love to know. But, uh, it used to, yeah, so it used to make me really nervous and like make me kind of spin out just on the idea of it. So I avoided satanism for a long time, but when I finally read the tenets and I learned more about it, it's more like the religion that I would associate it with the most is Buddhism. Hmm. And people, if you tell someone that and they have no idea about satanism, they're like, you're fucking shitting me. It's like, no. Like it's, the tenets are basically just like, be a good person. Trust in science, bodily autonomy. That's fucking it. Like Right. Do no harm. Take no shit.

56:14

Yeah.

Bonnie Violet: 56:14

So Awesome. Yeah. Yeah. It'll be interesting, my experience with this, with this satanic. Folks have, has all been good. And there's been plenty of times where they like, we'll step back. Like, we'll do the work, we'll show up. Mm-hmm. We'll even lead some stuff, but we'll step back like when it comes to media or this, that, or the other, in order to really kind of ensure that it doesn't muck, take away the focus the water a little bit or take away the focus, which I was really impressed with.'cause initially I did have some concerns. Um, but yeah, I've, I've had nothing but great experiences.

Pacey: 56:46

Well, it sounds like this pride is gonna be really different.

Van: 56:49

Yeah, it is. And I think, uh, this year we also have a longer program mm-hmm. Uh, that will allow people to come and go. Mm-hmm. So if, you know, if you don't want attend the interfaith experience in the morning, you know, come at noon.

57:05

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Van: 57:06

Uh, or you know, most people probably won't be ipi

57:08

anyway.

Van: 57:10

Yeah. It's Sunday. It was, it's Sunday morning. They're

Pacey: 57:11

like, um,

Van: 57:13

and I would bring a lot of water

Pacey: 57:14

because I am the person that blacks out. Um, yes. In the gate. Yeah. And of

Van: 57:18

course Erin is taking care of our water again too, which is Thank you, Erin. Amazing. Yeah. So there's water

Bonnie Violet: 57:23

sunscreen.

Van: 57:25

Yeah. We have sunscreen too from, uh, donors. We have. Uh, but I would still bring your own water, your own sunscreen. Uh, some awesome things that are gonna be happening, uh, to kind of Yeah. Shift the focus a little bit. Uh, we are really focusing on last year we were just needing performer performers quick. Oh yeah. Because we had, you know, three weeks to plan it. Right. This year we have more of a centered focus on performers of mostly the performers being queer. Mm-hmm. Uh, most of the performers being trans or non-binary. Uh, we do have another drag show. Again, family friendly. I probably don't have to tell your audience this, but Right. There's no reason I have to like, keep bringing up that this is a family friendly fast at all. Uh, but really no one thinks that except for.

58:14

Yeah. People who Yeah. Don't know. Yeah,

Van: 58:17

yeah, yeah. Don't

58:17

know us.

Van: 58:18

Uh, so that's gonna be really fun. We are going to have a dance party afterward. That I think is gonna be, uh, a really great experience. And can I talk about my art project that I'm doing? Of course. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. This is really exciting for me. Um, again, last year I wanted to do like a collaborative art mm-hmm. Community installation, but you know mm-hmm. That's like bottom of the list and it just didn't happen. And that's okay. Uh, but this year we are going to have a. Basically eight by eight squares that people can write their story on. They can draw on. Mm-hmm. Uh, they can use stamps. Like we have a couple local artists, they're making stamps. Oh, cool. You know, just like a little rainbow or a trans, you know, whatever. Yeah. Uh, I don't actually know what they're looking like yet, but

Bonnie Violet: 59:07

Right. I'll check in. They're gonna be amazing to self check in. They're gonna be amazing. Amazing.

Van: 59:10

Uh, and so you can stamp paint, write color, whatever, make a eight by eight square, and then it'll be hung up, like a little prayer flag around and displayed that way. But then they'll all get sewn into a quilt after. Oh, that's, and we'll have two quilts on display. One. In the trans colors, uh, that only trans and non-binary people can write their story. Mm-hmm. Or decorate on, it's, it's going to be basically blank. Mm-hmm. And then a different rainbow one for whomever, if they're an ally or just any part of the queer community, they can Right. Write, decorate on that quilt mm-hmm. On the little square. And so, uh,

59:48

awesome. I love that. Then you can kind

Van: 59:50

of get the idea of what that look like. Yeah. And just be a part of it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I think it'll be a really cool, I don't know if either of y'all have gotten into like textile arts and fiber arts before.

1:00:02

Mm-hmm.

Van: 1:00:03

Uh, but I am slightly obsessed mm-hmm. With fiber. Okay. Because I was always. Like never wanting anything to do with it. Right. Because it was too feminine.

1:00:15

Right. Okay. Yeah. But

Van: 1:00:16

now that I'm like living in my authenticity, right. I'm embracing a lot of feminine Oh yeah. Totally. All of a sudden.

1:00:23

Mm-hmm.

Van: 1:00:23

And like I, me and my partner have been doing felting and weaving and all sorts of things that were like always too girly. Too girly.

1:00:34

Yeah. And I'm

Van: 1:00:35

like throwing in lace and throwing in pearls. Mm-hmm. And like all of these like hyper fme things. Oh yeah. And creating art and like processing a lot of my feminine side, which has been really, really fabulous. So I hope, I hope that can kind of reflect too, that like fiber arts. Is not a gender, it's just art situation. Yeah. It's just art.

Pacey: 1:00:54

Yeah,

Van: 1:00:55

I think so too. Yeah. So that's the

Bonnie Violet: 1:00:56

goal

Van: 1:00:56

too.

Bonnie Violet: 1:00:57

Yeah. That's really cool. That's gonna be, that sounds really awesome.

Pacey: 1:00:59

Yeah, for sure.

Van: 1:01:00

So think about what you're gonna write on your squares. I will.

Pacey: 1:01:03

I know. I'm still thinking about it now,

Van: 1:01:04

right.

Pacey: 1:01:05

It needs to be good.

Van: 1:01:06

I've been thinking about mine for a while and I still don't

Bonnie Violet: 1:01:08

know. Yeah. I always have a hard time with those things in the moment. Yeah. Maybe,

Van: 1:01:12

maybe you could help me brainstorm, because I think, I think that's a really common of like mm-hmm. Well, I don't know how to write my whole story on in one minute. On an eight by square. Uh, so maybe, uh, one of the artists actually was like, this is common for, uh, community art projects for people to just be like,

1:01:31

what? Yeah.

Van: 1:01:32

Yeah. So there is going to be an option to bring one, so like you can just cut it out of fabric yourself. Mm-hmm. This will be posted later and then bring it, and then think about it and bring it. But we also want prompts for the people that are there doing it, interacting day of. Mm-hmm.

Bonnie Violet: 1:01:47

And maybe some examples of like. Sure ways that people do it or something. Totally. Yeah. That's a really good idea. Yeah.

Van: 1:01:52

Examples would be good. What prompt would you give to Bonnie Viol? You know, sitting there getting ready to write and then Bonnie Viol is like, I don't even know what to write. What would prompt you?

Pacey: 1:02:03

Well, I know you, so I would, right. I would wanna know like, how did drag influence your trans experience? Yeah.

Van: 1:02:15

That would be really. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.'cause I

Pacey: 1:02:17

know it was so important for you. Yeah. Yeah.

Van: 1:02:19

Maybe what one thing influenced your

Pacey: 1:02:24

trans queer experience?

Van: 1:02:25

Your transition, whatever experience. Fill in the blank.

1:02:28

Mm-hmm.

Van: 1:02:29

Yeah.

Bonnie Violet: 1:02:30

Yeah.

Van: 1:02:30

That's a really good idea. Thank you. I'm adding that to, you'll have to wait to read it.

Bonnie Violet: 1:02:34

Absolutely. Yeah. You'll have to wait to read it. I'm not, I'm not saying it here. I'm not saying it now.

Van: 1:02:38

What a teaser. Oh,

Bonnie Violet: 1:02:39

right. You've said it in, I have said it past episode. I have,

Van: 1:02:43

and I got than one way. I got it. As we were making coffee a little

Bonnie Violet: 1:02:47

bit Oh, a little bit of my drag story. Yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Van: 1:02:50

Yeah.

Bonnie Violet: 1:02:50

Yeah. Well, was there anything else that you wanted to, um, kind of bring home or reiterate either about Canyon County Pride or,

Van: 1:02:59

sure. Uh, we just installed a billboard mm-hmm. Yesterday, and I imagine, uh, just because I've got a few texts that it's going to be deface divisive. I don't know if it's gonna be defaced. Right. The police, that's another thing.

1:03:15

Mm-hmm.

Van: 1:03:15

Weeks ago in the meeting, we were like, we're probably gonna put up a billboard.

1:03:18

Mm-hmm.

Van: 1:03:19

Like, is this gonna be awful? Like, what are your thoughts? And they were like, oh, send us the address and we will have a police drive by every so often. Oh,

Bonnie Violet: 1:03:28

wow. Like, hopefully

Van: 1:03:29

protect that for you. And we were like.

Bonnie Violet: 1:03:31

Because it's the pro progress flag with the Ken County logo on it, right? Yeah. The pride logo. Yeah. Oh, that's so cool. Yeah, that's all. It's

Van: 1:03:38

so, it's just a big flag. Uhhuh, I think it's like a shout out to Mayor McLean too. For like

Pacey: 1:03:42

Yeah, for the flag thing. Yeah.

Van: 1:03:44

Flag thing. But it's been really, really cool to hear people, especially from Nampa, be like, oh, there's a giant progress flag. Yeah. In Nampa. This is wild. And it's like right before you go into town where the library, the mayor's office, the post office, like where all of that is just

Bonnie Violet: 1:04:05

perfect location. You gotta get a shot of like, right. The mayor coming out or something. Oh. Oh, that's a good idea. Flag behind. That's a really good idea. That's probably a little, little antagonist. Maybe a little, yeah. Sorry.

Van: 1:04:16

Uh, anyway, so we're gonna be probably launching some sort of contest to take pictures in front of that. I love that. I'm gonna have my partner come and we'll like be celebrating. I know. Can we

Bonnie Violet: 1:04:29

take one from here?

Van: 1:04:31

It's from here. Yeah. We're that close. It's not that big. And maybe next year we'll get we, we can edit

Bonnie Violet: 1:04:37

it in. We'll edit it in. Edit,

Van: 1:04:39

edit. Totally. Totally. Or you know, God forbid you could drive the 25 minutes. We could. Yeah, we

Pacey: 1:04:44

could. Yeah. Hate put, also put like the pictures of everyone standing in front of it. You could probably put that into like a mini little art thing too. That would be really cool. Of all the people standing in front the song. Yeah. That's such And Carousel. Good idea.

Bonnie Violet: 1:04:55

Carousels on on Instagram. Yeah. Oh, just all that would be cute. Are like impressive technology. You guys are doing great with your social media. Mm-hmm.

Van: 1:05:05

I think it's

Bonnie Violet: 1:05:05

looking good.

Van: 1:05:05

I think it like, I think we're definitely, it just feels like this is our first year because last year was so disheveled and like so fast that

Pacey: 1:05:14

how feels for us too. It really feels like

Van: 1:05:16

this is our first year because now we have a board, you know, we have multiple people with various roles. Right. And it's not me and Tom like running around crazy people. Yeah. White. Yeah. So it's been a definite. We like different experience has been improved and like we're still working out a lot of kinks. Yeah. Because we didn't,

Bonnie Violet: 1:05:37

well, it's the second year in. We didn't know what we were doing

Van: 1:05:38

last year. Yeah, for sure.

Bonnie Violet: 1:05:40

And then there's been some changes, right? So it's like Right. You're constantly having to change and adjust. Yeah. So,

1:05:45

yeah.

Bonnie Violet: 1:05:46

Yeah. I just wanna say really excited about the work that you've been doing with Canyon County Pride. Thank you. Yeah. Excited to go again this year. Last year too. I think there were a lot of folks in Boise. It was like, yeah, I'm fucking going. Totally. And I dont go to, I don't leave Boise. I don't go that way for nothing. And most people who go live in Boise do that. They're like, I'm not going out there. I have to. Oh yeah. And I was like, yeah, we're going. You know? Awesome. Definitely. And everybody wins, so I'm sure it's gonna be that way again this year too. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Van: 1:06:12

I hope so. And you know, everyone's invited. I think it's, again, like the. A church person that's still within me. Like, if you don't agree with us, come and check it out.

1:06:25

Yeah.

Van: 1:06:25

Um, preferably not to take pictures. Right. Um, you know, with Ill tent in and don't be a creep. Uh, yeah. Don't be a creep, but please come. I am, you know, providing water and a shade tent for the protestors because that's bound to happen. Yeah. And, uh, yeah, just come have fun. It's gonna be a amazing party. Yeah. I always joke that I just love planning parties and wanted to plan a party for myself. There you go. So I did this

1:06:54

massive, but really,

Van: 1:06:55

really, uh, kind of why I brought up the, the billboard is it's a celebration. Uh, for the authenticity that we talked about, uh, but mostly for our youth. Mm-hmm. That, you know, some of them don't know a trans person Yeah. That isn't, you know, 16 like they are. Yeah. Yeah. Uh, a lot of them don't know, uh, a lesbian couple, you know, like it's just so different in Canyon County that like, I walk places and I am the only out gay person. Mm-hmm. And it's, it's just a whole different vibe. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

1:07:31

So,

Van: 1:07:32

uh, it's mostly for those kids that, you know, knock on my door saying, thank you for having a pride flag. My parents don't know I'm trans, but I'm trans. And I would get kicked outta my house if they knew. Yeah. So I have to stay in the closet, but thank you for having this flag. Yeah. Because I walk by your house anytime that I'm having a bad day and it cheers me up, you know? Yeah. Yeah. Uh, so that's why we put the billboard up. That's why we're doing this whole thing, is to let queer kids know that there's. A future and that it's, it's amazing, right? Yeah.

Bonnie Violet: 1:08:04

Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Van: 1:08:04

That's

Bonnie Violet: 1:08:05

so cool. Awesome.

Van: 1:08:05

I can't wait.

Bonnie Violet: 1:08:06

Awesome. Great. Well, either should we say goodbye?

Pacey: 1:08:09

Yeah, I think so. Thank you so much, so much for being here. Yeah. Thanks for being here. Have you, we'll have you on again.

Bonnie Violet: 1:08:13

Yes.

Pacey: 1:08:13

And we'll see you all

Bonnie Violet: 1:08:14

at Ken County Pride.

Pacey: 1:08:15

Yeah. June all.

Bonnie Violet: 1:08:17

Take care. Bye-bye.

Van: 1:08:22

How do you feel that went?

Pacey: 1:08:23

That

Bonnie Violet: 1:08:24

was great.

Pacey: 1:08:24

Good? Yeah. Okay,

Van: 1:08:25

good.

Pacey: 1:08:27

I thought that that was fantastic