Initiative hovers
over gay parade
6-11-93 ID Statesman p1A
"This initiative has made
people realize you must
stand up for yourself."
Dallas Chase
Boise lesbian activist
Talka Kreiensieck and Robert Shaffer pull out signs in preparation for the fourth annual Freedom Parade Saturday in Boise.
Katherine Jones/ The Idaho Statesman
Fourth annual Freedom Parade
draws unity from anti-gay initiative.
By Kim Eckart
The Idaho Statesman
A vote on the anti-gay initiative may
be 17 months away, but signs of a
rallying cry among the initiative's opponents
already are apparent.
Gays and lesbians preparing for the
fourth annual Freedom Parade
through downtown Boise Saturday say
the initiative has spawned greater unity
in a community that is becoming
more vocal - and is learning from
experiences in Oregon and Colorado
where similar measures went to the
voters last fall.
"This initiative has made people re-
alize you must stand up for yourself,"
sa1d Dallas Chase, a Boise lesbian activist.
This weekend's activities are part of
National Gay Pride Month, and parades
and other events will be held in
cities around the country.
But Idaho organizers say the antigay
initiative gives their event a sense
of urgency never seen before. More
than 500 people are expected to turn
out for an event that has drawn
around 300-350 in previous years.
Organizers bill the Boise parade as a
"family event," under the theme of "A
Family of Pride." But initiative sponsor
Kelly Walton says the theme is
merely an attempt to appeal to the idea
See Gay parade/Page SA
Gays fear loss of rights/SA
Parade Route
The Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day
Parade will kick off with a rally at 11 a.m.
Saturday at the Statehouse and end
at the Boise Centre on the Grove.
