Zions Bank withdraws support of Boise Pride over 'Drag Kids' performance

BY MICHAEL AARON

Zions Bank withdrew its sponsorship of Boise Pride after being targeted by ultra-conservative Idahoans. At the event, which starts on Friday, “Drag Kids” will showcase drag performances by children from 11 to 18 years of age and something called “Drag Story Time.” Boise Pride organizers “postponed” the Drag Kids performance.

Zions Bank CEO Scott Anderson

Zions Bank signed up as an “Orange” level sponsor which, according to Boise Pride’s brochure, meant it contributed at least $18,000 to the festival.

ZIONS BANK IN-HOUSE RESPONSE

In an internal memo obtained by QSaltLake Magazine, Zions Bank CEO Scott Anderson explained why the bank made the decision to pull its support and assured the bank’s support of the LGBTQ community is strong. “Beginning earlier this week, we began seeing a number of messages in social media expressing concern about a couple of activities connected with this year’s festival and calling on sponsors to not support these activities,” Anderson wrote. “Specifically, the concern was about two shows — ‘Kids Drag’ and ‘Drag Story Time.’ These comments quickly escalated into messages directed at Zions Bank. We received numerous formal complaints through the Office of the President and hundreds of negative tweets. Employees across Utah and Idaho were also receiving calls and emails from clients and others related to our sponsorship of Boise Pride.”

“While these complaints created potential reputational risk for the bank, even more concerning was a situation that evolved into a physical risk issue. We received a call from the local police that a protest was planned at our Weiser branch, which prompted concerns for the safety of our employees and clients.

Other comments in social media likewise escalated to a level of threats against the bank,” Anderson continued. “Additionally, two counter protests of Boise Pride have been scheduled and promoted in social media and have been generating angry and even violent rhetoric. You may recall news about armed extremists who attempted to riot at a Pride event in Coeur d’Alene in June.”

Executives at the bank, he said, believed there was a threat to the safety of employees working a booth at the festival if the bank didn’t pull out.

“As a result of these threats and our concern regarding the specific events involving children/minors, we made the decision to withdraw our participation in the event,” Anderson wrote.

ZIONS BANK PUBLIC RESPONSE

The bank released a statement through Twitter:

“Over the years, Zions Bank has supported a variety of Pride events because they are an important part of our support for our LGBTQ employees and allies and are representative of our efforts to foster an inclusive, diverse and equitable workplace and community. This support for all of our employees and communities remains unchanged.”

“However,” the statement continued, “when we committed to our sponsorship of this year’s Boise Pride event, we were unaware of the event’s activities involving children/minors. Since learning of these specific activities, we have made the decision to withdraw our participation in this year’s Boise Pride event and have communicated this to the event organizers.”

In the internal memo, Anderson amplified the bank’s statement of support for the LGBTQ community.

“First, our support for our LGBTQ employees and their allies remains unchanged. We appreciate and support all employees. Specific to this message I want all of our employees who identify as LGBTQIA+ and employee allies to know they are important to the bank, are supported by the bank and its executive management, and are recognized as their authentic individual selves,” he wrote. “Second, our support for our

LGBTQ clients and friends remains unchanged. As stated publicly yesterday, we have been, and will continue to be, supportive of Pride events because they are an important part of our support for our LGBTQ employees and allies and are representative of our efforts to foster an inclusive, diverse and equitable workplace and community.”

Anderson noted past support for Boise Pride, the Utah Pride Center, Equality Utah and Encircle. The bank also sponsors the Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, including a representative sitting on the Chamber’s board. It also hosts a “Zions Bank Community Speaker Series” that has focused on Pride Month.

“Those in the LGBTQ community are our neighbors, our business associates, our family members, and our friends. They deserve a safe space to be their authentic selves, and we remain committed to supporting and championing efforts in our communities to make this possible.”

Anderson ended the letter thanking LGBTQ employees for “contributing to the tapestry of our diversity and Zions Bank and in the community.

IDAHO REPUBLICAN PARTY

Social media was first stirred up by Dorothy Moon, chairwoman of the Idaho Republican Party, who slammed Boise Mayor Lauren McLean for a welcome letter she penned for the Boise Pride Guide. Moon said the mayor helped cause a “national firestorm over the sexualization of children,” “Idaho’s Democrat party believes it is not only okay but laudable to encourage children to engage in public displays of sexuality,” Moon wrote.

Moon went on to name all of the event’s sponsors.

“What is surprising is to see who is financing this attack on Idaho’s children. Out-of-state companies promise to bring investment and jobs to Idaho. Instead, they are financing the sexualization of our children and the perverse idea that children should engage in sexual performances with adult entertainers,” Moon wrote.

Ultra-conservative group, Idaho Freedom Foundation, jumped on and got people to write and call corporate sponsors to withdraw. They also are encouraged protestors at the event, which they called a “filth fest.”

BOISE PRIDE’S RESPONSE

Boise Pride responded that it is the conservative adults who are sexualizing the performances.

“The drag kids performance is a celebration of self-expression and confidence,” Boise Pride wrote in a statement. “The only perversion and sexualization of this performance are coming from extremists and people like Dorothy Moon, who are twisting it into something it is not. The kids performing have the enthusiastic support of their parents.

“Often when younger people come out, they struggle with their identity, self-acceptance, and self-expression. Dressing in costume and performing builds that confidence, encourages individuality, and ultimately is empowering. “Drag is a powerful form of creative expression and offers a community to youth who are looking to feel accepted and loved, things they often don’t experience at home or at school.

”Seeing others like you on stage offers a beacon of visibility and hope for LGBTQ+ youth, and that is one of the reasons Boise Pride exists and why we celebrate Pride,” the statement concluded.

OTHER SPONSORS LEAVE

Other sponsors have also bailed on Boise Pride because of the controversy.

Idaho Power dropped its sponsorship. Its logo was removed from the festival’s online list of supporters and it issued a statement Thursday afternoon, stating: “Due to programming changes that occurred after our sponsorship and concerns for the safety of our employees and volunteers, we have withdrawn our participation in the Boise Pride event. We will continue to support our diverse communities.”

Idaho Health and Welfare pulled their sponsorship of the event over the Drag Kids event.

“DHW’s sponsorship of Boise Pride 2022 has led to some confusion about whether DHW endorses specific event activities involving minors during this event. To avoid any confusion regarding DHW’s support of such activities, DHW is withdrawing both of its Orange Level sponsorships and Project Filter will no longer be supporting a booth at the event this weekend. We value our partnership and collaborations with the LGBTQ+ community and look forward to opportunities in the future to continue to help all Idahoans live safe, independent, and healthy lives,” the department wrote.

Idaho House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, wrote “I hope that the Department of Health & Welfare is remembering to put their mission first, in terms of getting critical and accurate health information regarding HIV to the public. And it’s unfortunate if they would desert that mission in the face of partisan pressure from the Republican Party.”

Other sponsors that were removed from the sponsor pages of Boise Pride’s website include T-Mobile, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and University of Idaho.

UTAH LGBTQ+ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PULLS CONFERENCE FROM ZIONS FOUNDERS ROOM

Leaders of the Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce were dismayed by Zion Bank’s decision and moved a conference away from the Zions Bank Founders Room in downtown Salt Lake.

“We value Zions Bank’s strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and its support, financial and otherwise, for many community organizations,” the organization said in a statement. “Historically, one of the most pernicious weapons enemies of the LGBTQ+ community have used against us is to equate homosexuality (and later any non-heterosexual or -cisgender identities) to pedophilia. This rhetoric fell out of favor for a time but has come back in full force in recent years. Nationwide, LGBTQ+ and gender-diverse youth are under attack, and anyone who supports them is labeled a ‘groomer’ or a pedophile. We see these attacks take the form of banning books, ‘Don’t Say Gay’ laws, bans on gender-affirming medical care, trans sports bans, declaring parents’ support of trans kids to be child abuse, support for conversion therapy, etc., etc. Everywhere we look, anti-LGBTQ+ politicians, organizations, and individuals are working to stoke the flames of hate against us, and our youth are paying the price.”

“Whether intentionally or carelessly, Zions Bank’s public statements support the idea that being LGBTQ+ is wrong and that affirming our youth in their identities harms and corrupts them. These statements reinforced the disgusting and harmful dogma surrounding the controversy and taught our adversaries that violent tactics work,” the statement continued. “We respect Zions’ concern for its employees’ safety. Every major public LGBTQ+ event faces these same safety concerns, addresses them the best they can with their limited resources, and cautiously proceeds. We take these calculated risks because we know from experience that letting our enemies push us back into obscurity threatens a much more severe loss of life. Our adversaries prefer that we die quietly in the closet. We refuse. Pride is a celebration of coming out of that darkness and choosing to live. That is why we must allow our children to participate. Pride saves lives.”

We call upon Zions Bank, the Idaho Republican Party, and Rep. Moon to publicly condemn the violent threats against Boise Pride and the LGBTQ+ community. Legitimate political and social discourse can only take place in the absence of threats.’

The Chamber event will take place on Sept. 22 at the Community Opportunity Center at the Columbus Center in South Salt Lake.

The group also posted a link to support Boise Pride.