( Post Millennial )
Update: The City of Coeur d’Alene Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has reviewed reports of the incident and determined that no genitals were exposed during the event.
According to KXLY, the office reviewed uncensored versions of the video recordings and determined that no indecent exposure occurred.
"The allegations of indecent exposure, or other crimes cannot be supported by the evidence. Therefore, prosecution is declined," said Chief Criminal Deputy city Attorney Wes Somerton in a press release.
A male performer in drag has been accused of exposing his genitals to children at North Idaho Pride Alliance's June 11 "Pride in the Park" event in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Video of the incident was posted by Libs of Tik Tok to Twitter, who wrote "This is what a 'family-friendly' drag show looks like," and showed the male performer in drag dancing while dozens of children watched from the lip of the stage. The man's censored groin was displayed as the dancer squatted and splayed his legs open.
The video was subsequently taken down by Twitter and marked with the message: "This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules."
This is what a “family-friendly” drag show looks like https://t.co/TMOG8KH7Ri — Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 31, 2022
Just days after the Pride event had taken place in June, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s office said in a statement that they had been "made aware of a performance during the recent Pride in the park event wherein a dancer’s genitals may have been exposed," adding that "the Coeur d'Alene Police Department has initiated an investigation into this incident."
Another angle of the same performance was posted by the Idaho Tribune, who tweeted, "'Sexually Charged 'Drag Show' Performance in front of children at Coeur d'Alene's 'Pride in the Park' LGBT event."
Sexually Charged “Drag Show” Performance in front of children at Coeur d’Alene’s “Pride in the Park” LGBT event pic.twitter.com/S5jEm7vO6t — Idaho Tribune (@IdahoTribune) June 12, 2022
According to their website, "Pride in the Park" is a free "family-friendly, community event celebrating diversity and building a stronger and more unified community for ALL" and this year promised to be "bigger and bolder than ever."
Libs of Tik Tok posted a flyer of the event to Twitter days before it was scheduled to take place, writing, "'Family friendly drag dance party' being promoted by the Satanic Temple in Idaho. We are living in hell."
“Family friendly drag dance party” being promoted by the Satanic Temple in Idaho. We are living in hell https://t.co/H53miiywk8 — Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 7, 2022
According to local news, the event was organized by the American Civil Liverties Union (ACLU) of Idaho, Everytown for Gun Safety, Citizens' Climate Lobby, Idaho State Police District 1, a local public library, the Ecumenical Catholic Communion Church, and the Satanic Temple Idaho.
The Satanic Temple wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post, "We will have merchandise for sale, be offering support to our community and performing unbaptisms for those interested! Just know, Satan loves you for you! Hail Satan!"
Fox News reported that the Satanic Temple eventually had to drop out as sponsors were dropping out of the event due to backlash over temple's "unbaptisms."
A spokesperson for the Satanic Temple, Lucien Greaves, said, "our congregation opted to pull out so as not force organizers to accept that their real dedication to inclusion would deprive them of sponsorship from spineless, opportunistic corporations that seek to purchase an unjustified image of inclusivity, so long as it appears relatively uncontroversial to the mainstream consumer."
According to local news, "Pride in the Park'' was protested by the group Patriot Front, with a total of 31 members being arrested by FBI and local law enforcement. After the group's arrest, Libs of Tik Tok was labelled a terrorist for weeks and sited as the cause for Patriot Front's attendance.
However, a June 28 article by Rolling Stone titled "FBI Eyed White Nationalist 'Patriot Front' for a Year, Documents Show" revealed that the group had planned to protest for weeks before Libs of Tik Tok posted anything about the event.
The Post Millennial Editor-at-Large Andy Ngo noted that in addition to the arrests of Patriot Front members, a member of Portland Antifa had been arrested as well.
The sheriff in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho has initiated an investigation into a family drag show at the weekend pride event where “genitals may have been exposed.” The controversial pride event led to the arrest of 31 Patriot Front members & an #Antifa member from Portland. pic.twitter.com/n5RNZhC5RK — Andy Ngô ???? (@MrAndyNgo) June 14, 2022
The Antifa member arrested at the event, Robert John Storms, had been arrested for the possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, as well as fighting.
Confirmed: Robert John Stoms (b. 10-28-88, pronouns it/its) was the #Antifa member from Portland who was arrested for violence & drug crimes at the pride event in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Press has reported extensively on arrests of 31 Patriot Front members but ignored this arrest. pic.twitter.com/mEf2lnRrSQ — Andy Ngô ???? (@MrAndyNgo) June 14, 2022
The Kootenai Couny Sheriff’s Office identified the Patriot Front members arrested inside of a U-Haul truck as Jared Boyce, Nathan Brenner, Colton Brown, Josiah Buster, Mishael Buster, Devin Center, Dylan Corio, Winston Durham, Garret Garland, Branden Haney, Richard Jessop, James Julius Johnson, James Michael Johnson, Connor Moran, Kieran Morris, Lawrence Norman, Justin O'Leary, Cameron Pruitt, Forrest Rankin, Thomas Rousseau, Conor Ryan, Spencer Simpson, Alexander Sisenstein, Derek Smith, Dakota Tabler, Steven Tucker, Wesley Van Horn, Mitchell Wagner, Nathaniel Whitfield, Graham Whitsom and Robert Whitted, according to Fox News.