Sparse crowds, stage disruption at ‘Hetero Awesome Fest’ in Boise
A self-proclaimed celebration of “family values” turned into a weekend of sparse turnout and a minor public disruption at Boise’s Hetero Awesome Fest, held June 20–21 in Cecil D. Andrus Park, across from the Idaho State Capitol.
The two-day event, organized by Heterosexual Awesomeness Inc. — a nonprofit created by Old State Saloon owner Mark Fitzpatrick — was promoted as an alternative to LGBTQ+ Pride festivities. Attendance was light, with estimates ranging from 30 to 50 people on-site at any given time.
But it was a brief musical protest that drew the most attention.
On Saturday afternoon, Boise singer-songwriter Daniel Hamrick took to the stage and began performing a pro-trans song after allegedly misleading staff about his intentions. Video of the moment, shared to Instagram here, shows Hamrick performing for about a minute before Fitzpatrick intervenes, grabbing the microphone.
An attendee, apparently unaware that Fitzpatrick was the event organizer, confronted him, resulting in a brief scuffle before security intervened. Hamrick was escorted out by security and was later seen speaking to Boise Police officers. No arrests were made, and no charges have been reported.
Fitzpatrick confirmed to KTVB that no further violence occurred. “He [the attendee] wasn’t aware of what was happening and thought I might have been a random guy pulling the mic,” Fitzpatrick said. “Just a misunderstanding from a good citizen who had never met me yet.”
In a statement after the incident, Fitzpatrick labeled Hamrick a deceiver and suggested the LGBTQ+ community uses similar tactics to, in his words, “victimize children.” His inflammatory comments have drawn criticism on social media but remain consistent with the messaging Fitzpatrick has promoted through his bar and now his nonprofit.
The Old State Saloon, located in nearby Eagle, has become known for hosting controversial events, including “Beers for Breeders” nights, flat-earther meetups, Christian singles mixers, and trivia contests where attendees can win AR-15s. Last year, it gained national attention for announcing “Heterosexual Awesomeness Month” throughout June.
Despite Fitzpatrick’s outspoken promotion, the Hetero Awesome Fest lacked public sponsors and failed to attract notable community support. Boise Pride and Canyon County Pride both declined to comment prior to the event but wished the organizers well in brief statements.
Meanwhile, Boise’s LGBTQ+ community responded with humor and purpose. The Balcony Club hosted a satirical drag show titled But, What About Straight Pride? on Friday, poking fun at efforts to counter Pride Month while highlighting ongoing struggles for queer rights.
“This is why we have Pride,” said co-producer Aunt Tifa. “In 72 countries, it’s still illegal to be queer. We remember those we’ve lost, and we celebrate who we are.”
Though the Hetero Awesome Fest was staged during June’s national Pride Month, Boise’s official Pride celebration is scheduled for September, a holdover from its pandemic-era rescheduling. Canyon County Pride, which took place earlier this month, drew a significantly larger and peaceful crowd.
As for what’s next, Fitzpatrick has not confirmed if the Hetero Awesome Fest will return in 2026. With little community buy-in and an incident that overshadowed much of the programming, the event’s future appears uncertain.
The Boise Police Department had not issued a statement on the incident at the time of publication.
