Organizers of the 27th Annual Western Days Festival, a three-day celebration in the town of Twin Falls, Idaho, imposed severe restrictions on the participation of members and friends of the Southern Idaho Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center.
The group, which had been banned last year, was allowed to have a float. However, they were prohibited from displaying rainbow symbols, using the group’s full name and distributing information about AIDS.
The celebration, which draws about 50,000 people and is one of the largest public events in the area, welcomes displays by local churches without imposing any such restrictions. The $27,000 budget for the festival comes from private donors in an area that organizers have described as having “conservative, religious and family values.”
The group is considering its options, including legal action.
