Source: Twin Falls Times-News, KIVI-TV, Deseret News, KTVB
Twin Falls, Idaho -- After weeks of controversy about it, including dozens of letters to the local paper, a float sponsored the Southern Idaho Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Community Center in the local "Western Days" parade caused barely a ripple in the crowds who gathered to watch the event, the Twin Falls Times-News reports.

The Western Days parade in Twin Falls is one of the biggest community events of the year, and in recent years, a center of controversy.   Tens of thousands of people line the streets to see high school bands, firefighters, local businesses and other groups that are all easily identifiable.

The the LGBT Center's float wasn't identifiable -- by design: It became a float that carries a big question mark because the parade committee allowed the local community center participate only if they did not use the center's full name or make any reference to sexual orientation or gender identity.

No rainbows.  No colors. 

The center was also barred from handing out AIDS awareness information to the crowds.

"They didn't want us in it at all," center spokesman Mitch Sylvester told KIVI-TV's Today's 6 News.  "I don't know if they let us in to relieve some pressure that they got put on them by media and other influences last year."

Immediately after the parade, Silvester told the Times-News that the crowds probably didn't react because no one knew who the controversial float belonged to.

Organizers of the three-day Western Days festival had banned the group's rainbow-decorated float from the parade last year, saying they wanted the event to reflect the "conservative, religious, and family values" of the area. Private donations make up the $27,000 budget for Western Days.

"The parade represents community and family, and that's exactly what we stand for as well," said Lisa Cuellar, chairwoman of the Western Days board. "When we can be proud of our own families and community, I don't think that's offensive at all."

After weeks of controversy this year, the center's float was allowed, but only under what center representatives called "fairly ridiculous" restrictions, including no rainbows and no promotions or references to homosexuality, including T-shirts or fliers.

The restrictions resulted in a float bearing a cowboy-and-Indian diorama, signs such as "Who pays for school supplies?" and a giant question mark in the middle of it. Asked whether people understood the question mark, he said he wasn't sure.

"That's the question," Silvester said.

The float seemed to produce little response from parade-goers, according to the Times-News, even when the group's name was announced as it passed City Park.

Silvester said Saturday that another reported requirement -- shortening the group's name to the Southern Idaho Community Center -- was actually caused by a typo the group made when it applied. But speaking to several media representatives after the parade, with another center member waving an American flag in the background, he blamed the name change as one reason no one recognized the group.

"Not being able to us our whole name, so we put a question mark, who are we, just so to ask some questions.  And on the back we put we support human rights, which is a big part of our mission," Silvester told KTVB TV.

Despite the official restrictions, a vocal handful of high-school students set up near the parade route with signs and T-shirts in support of the LGBT Center. As the parade wrapped up around noon, the students said they received a few "death glares" but overall felt their morning had been a success, highlighting how unfairly they thought the center had been treated.

"It was good for our first protest, I think," Alisha Neal told the Times-News.

Nearby parade-goers willing to give their names to a Times-News reporter seemed to give limited support the float, or at least have no strong feelings against it.

"They can do whatever they want, long as they keep it away from me," said Twin Falls resident Stacy Randell.

"We will follow what the parade organizers have allowed so that we can keep some common ground and not loose any," Silvester told KTVB.

Silvester told the News-Times that the center plans to submit for a float again next year, and that he hopes to sit down with someone from the event's board well in advance to work out any problems before they occur.

Cuellar said she was happy with the outcome and wouldn't have a problem with the group next year as long as they followed the same requirements - no rainbows, and nothing making it obvious who they are.

"That's all we would ask of them next year," she said.

"We just want them to be in the parade with everyone else, don’t push your agenda, we don't have every single person in the parade pushing agenda, we just want them to come and have a good time, and that's all we are asking for," said Cuellar.

Organizers of an LGBT Pride event in nearby Salt Lake City, Utah invited the Twin Falls center to attend their event without restrictions.

"We hope they will take us up on our offer to come over here and be guests," said Valerie Larabee, executive director of the Utah Pride Center.

The Utah Pride Festival is June 6-8 at Washington Square in downtown Salt Lake City. The Pride Parade is downtown June 8 at 10 a.m

Full article: Controversial float provokes limited reaction in Western Days parade | Times-News
Gay Rights Float Allowed in Twin Falls Parade | KIVI-TV
Pride Parade organizers make room for Idaho group | Deseret News
Thousands come out for Western Days parade | KTVB

hattip: GLAAD