this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2025
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BOISE, Idaho — A minor confrontation broke out at the controversial "Hetero Awesome Fest" on Saturday when a protester took the stage and began singing a pro-LGBTQ+ song before being removed.

According to several livestreams of the event, including those from Old Street Saloon, the incident occurred during the two-day festival held on June 20-21 in Cecil D. Andrus Park, directly across from the Idaho State Capitol. Mark Fitzpatrick, owner of the Old State Saloon and organizer of the event, rushed the stage and took the microphone from the man after about a minute of singing.

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[–] pachrist@lemmy.world 12 points 13 hours ago

He also said he received death threats for his views about what he called the "overt sexuality" he sees in Pride events and people who identify as LGBTQ+.

The Old State Saloon has hosted various events, including "Beers for Breeders" gatherings.

My how the turn tables.

[–] jaemo@sh.itjust.works 7 points 13 hours ago

This is the hardest not the onion thing I have ever seen.

The title of the festival. 🤣🤣🤣 I'm fucking dying here. Holy shit.

I spent a summer once in Idaho in my early youth. Hard to describe anything there in terms of "awesome" unless it's beer gut.

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

I'm a cis white male, but I'll suck some dick to protest this bullshit.

[–] lemsip@sh.itjust.works 3 points 30 minutes ago (1 children)
[–] turtlesareneat@discuss.online 1 points 21 minutes ago

Oddly enough this IS on my bingo card for today.

[–] Cataphract@lemmy.ml 34 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

That whole article is infuriating... WHAT WAS THE SONG!!

but seriously, this article paints such a sad sad picture for them

The festival, which drew roughly 30 to 50 people at any given time on both Friday and Saturday (at a park...in the state capitol.... it was just people wandering around wondering wtf was going on lol)

"He sang a song with lyrics that go against our values," Fitzpatrick said... "This is yet another example of lies and deceptions from the Pride community. That’s what they are: liars and deceivers. They do it to victimize children. It’s pathetic and evil."

like, ffs. That was such an insane comment to make after someone sings a song you don't like, but then you find out the rest of his "events"

various events, including "Beers for Breeders" gatherings, Conspiracy Theory Trivia Night, where patrons can win an AR-15 rifle, Christian singles events, Bible study sessions, and gatherings for flat-earthers.

[–] Apocalypteroid@lemmy.world 4 points 16 hours ago

I hoping it was Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax

[–] YourMomsTrashman@lemmy.world 5 points 14 hours ago (1 children)
[–] FerretyFever0@fedia.io 3 points 12 hours ago

Omfg, that's insane.

[–] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 16 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Why are they trying so hard?

[–] Manalith@midwest.social 11 points 22 hours ago

Because they're HAF as fun so they gotta compensate.

[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 39 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org 101 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Hetero awesome fest

looks inside

Closeted gay men

[–] cypherpunks@lemmy.ml 50 points 1 day ago (1 children)

in this interview the guy behind the event (Mark Fitzpatrick) says this:

screencap with subtitle "In other words, we're b we're born a certain way with certain tendencies."

screencap with subtitle "and it's, it's um it is sinful, you know, to act out on that."

he's also a flat earther:

screencap of Mark Fitzpatrick wearing a t-shirt that says "fake space by NASA"

[–] Tigeroovy@lemmy.ca 12 points 16 hours ago

Like my dude, just suck a dick and live a happy life.

[–] half@lemy.lol 32 points 1 day ago

I grew up in Idaho. Can confirm, that's basically the whole population.

[–] njm1314@lemmy.world 15 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Can someone check if the active number of hinge users went up during this event?

[–] Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Why Hinge? Are you thinking of Grindr?

Also, dozens of people isn't enough to make a significant blip.

[–] FerretyFever0@fedia.io 3 points 12 hours ago

It might be in Idaho. That's like 1/5 of Boise.

[–] Alloi@lemmy.world 34 points 1 day ago (3 children)

so its an event for closeted gay men, to be proud of their facade, and network/hook up with other closeted gay men. who, like them, likely have just as much to lose if they got caught. so they know to keep it on the DL.

i wonder how much cum was swapped at this event from one dude to another. i know it aint zero. im gonna guess at least one full gatorade bottle.

[–] ToastedRavioli@midwest.social 20 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Are you talking about Hetero Fest or the Republican National Convention?

[–] Bosht@lemmy.world 9 points 22 hours ago (2 children)

Bro that would be GALLONS of semen.

[–] Manifish_Destiny@lemmy.world 4 points 22 hours ago

Like a 50 gallon drum at least. They're like 40% closeted.

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[–] sundray@lemmus.org 24 points 1 day ago (2 children)
[–] Almacca@aussie.zone 5 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)

I can recommend the whole album that track comes from, too. It rocks just as hard as this. Maybe this is more to their hetero tastes.

[–] NielsBohron@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago

I GOT SOMETHING TO PUT IN YOU!

AT THE GAY BAR, GAY BAR, GAY BAR!

[–] webghost0101@sopuli.xyz 62 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Heteros cant be pro lgbtq+ now?

Should rename it to bigot festival. Cant call it hetero with all the closest gays it attracts.

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[–] Darkcoffee@sh.itjust.works 55 points 1 day ago (1 children)

This has big "why can't I also have a cake and gifts" energy.

[–] tektite@slrpnk.net 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I went to a kid's birthday party the other day. There was a little girl (maybe 4y/o?) there who had been to another party earlier in the day but left before that party had cake.

The second that cake was mentioned she starts wandering around going, "Can I have cake?" to anyone who would listen.

"Can I have cake? Can I have cake?" I was told someone had cake and I'll be damned if I don't get some immediately.

[–] altphoto@lemmy.today 14 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I can't imagine those heterosexuals. They're probably fucking right now. Disgusting!

[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 2 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Hey, we're just normal people trying to live our lives! Don't judge us!

[–] altphoto@lemmy.today 1 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Don't lie, I've seen the pornos on porn hub. I even know of all the sexual clubs you guys have. I can't believe they let you guys have babies. You guys are Lewed! Totally. Even at work I know everyone is totally naked underneath.

[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 2 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Why are you such a bigot? I didn't choose to be born the way I am!

[–] altphoto@lemmy.today 1 points 13 hours ago

Fine. I guess I can accept you all. But a handshake is close enough. Don't be tricking me into a hug. I know what you guys are packing.

[–] gedaliyah@lemmy.world 36 points 1 day ago
[–] QuentinCallaghan@sopuli.xyz 26 points 1 day ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

This reminds me of a straight pride event titled "Hetero Pride" that was organized in Finland way back in 2013. One of the organizers was a deputy city councillor and Finns Party member. He claimed how society and the media over-emphasized homosexuality, calling it "homozation". He also claimed how it was hard to defend the traditional family model without being labelled homophobic and racist.

The event was held near the Parliament House in Helsinki. There were whole a lot more counter-protesters and some came to the event mainly because it was more like "popcorn pride". One of the speakers at the event literally said in his speech how "we don't have anything against homosexuals, but..." and another said something about how "the Bible states that marriage is only between a man and a woman". One speaker was later asked about "what privileges do gays have these days", and he just replied "I have to be honest, I can't say anything about that".

"The tiger can't change its stripes." The organizer mentioned later posed in a picture with five other men who made a Nazi salute – one of them was Seppo Lehto, an infamous Neo-Nazi. He also made a Nazi salute himself in another picture, this time wearing a Hitler mask. When called out, he said "I'm not in that picture. I wasn't there. I don't know where these kinds of clips came from." He later admitted being in the picture, claiming how he hadn't made a Nazi salute: "It's just a normal salute with the left hand. The official Nazi salute is with the right hand at a 45 degree angle."

The explanation wasn't enough for the Finns Party, and as a consequence he was fired from the party's regional council because of homophobia. Later he also resigned from the party.

[–] Hermit_Lailoken@lemmy.world 27 points 1 day ago (1 children)
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[–] CatGPT@lemmy.dbzer0.com 19 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I walked through that not realizing what it was. I saw a bunch of kids bouncy houses and there was some terrible country music on a stage. Friends and i were like what is this pitiful conservative day in the park bs and kept walking. We didn’t notice any anti pride stuff but just the vibe was pitiful maga people with vendor tents but i didn’t even see a maga flag either. We were just passing through boise for the first time and got beers nearby. Then a friend saw it on front page of Reddit after we left Boise and we were like holy shit that’s what it was

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