How Horrible was the ‘Hetero Awesome Fest?’

A straight pride festival was held on June 20 and 21, and it did not exactly go as planned.

According to the Advocate, the festival was called “Hetero Awesome Fest” and it was hosted in Boise, Idaho. Mark Fitzpatrick, the organizer, says it was made to celebrate “traditional gender norms and heterosexual awesomeness.” He wasn’t able to show off this “awesomeness,” though, due to some … complications.

Low Attendance

First of all, barely anyone came to the festival. About 30 to 50 people were there throughout the two days. That’s a small amount compared to the recent Idaho Rexburg Pride celebration that had about 1,000 people, or Denver PrideFest, which brings about 500,000 people. According to the same Advocate article, a similar thing happened in 2019, when only 20 people attended a “straight pride” event compared to the 200 pro-queer pride protesters that went against the hatred.

This is a common pattern most anti-queer events face, and for this one, it is about to get worst.

Racism

During the festival, Fitzpatrick had invited Dave Reilly, a co-host of the talk show The Backlash, for an interview. During his performance, things quickly became even more problematic when Reilly allegedly said the festival was “clean and free” of Black people.

After the fact, Fitzpatrick has been quickly criticized for allowing something that was so plainly horrible. Even most white conservatives wouldn’t say this statement out loud. As a response, Fitzpatrick clapped back that Reilly’s opinions don’t align with his, and it wasn’t “kind” of Reilly. The irony is lost on this man, as he is literally the organizer of an event of hate towards LGBTQ+ people. Fitzpatrick doesn’t see it like that, though, and he still wants to pretend he has some decency by not being racist. Wow. What a high bar you’ve set yourself, Fitzpatrick.

The Boy Everyone Thought was a Girl

Finally, here is one of my most favorite disruptions in an anti-LGBTQ+ event ever.

A musician named Daniel Hamrick and a couple of his friends went to the Hetero Awesome Fest, and Hamrick was invited to play onstage. However, Hamrick and his friends didn’t go to celebrate “straight pride.” As he was taking off his overshirt and putting on a jacket, queer memorabilia and pins covered his clothing.  Hamrick then says “This first song is called ‘Boy'” and starts singing about a transgender boy.

It was simple but beautiful with the the lyrics reflecting our modern political climate.

During the middle of the song, Fitzpatrick took away the mic and tried to remove Hamrick from the stage. Hamrick and his friends eventually left, but only because security made them. Fitzpatrick, in all of his irony and ignorance, then claimed the LGBTQ+ community are liars and they are victimizing children. Did he not listen to the song or the news that adults want to check what is in children’s pants? No, he didn’t listen to us at all.

Conclusion

It is horrible to see people trying to celebrate “straight pride,” not understanding the point on why Pride started. Pride parades were formed to acknowledge and bring equal rights to a marginalized community. Pride was formed to say to society that we deserve better.

However, one silver lining I can find in all of this is the fact most people are pro-LGBTQ+. At most, 50 people attended this event while about a 1,000 people protested to celebrate all that is different an unique. Most people don’t hate queer people; it is just that the conservatives are a loud minority. If we keep working and fighting, the conservatives won’t seem as influential as we think.

Eventually, Hate will die out and love will win.

Photo and video courtesy of Social Media