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Boise First Spotted IN The News
Canyon County Pride
We were thrilled to be featured in local media for our presence at Canyon County Pride! A heartfelt THANK YOU to our incredible volunteers who shared love, hospitality, and the spirit of radical welcome at our booth. 💖
Rev. Josh also led a moving interfaith service where participants honored those who first loved and accepted them as queer by adding names to a communal altar cloth. As part of a ritual of release, folks wrote down lies or painful memories on dissolvable paper and placed them in water—letting them go with intention and grace. 💧🕊️
At Boise First UCC, we are proud to be a safe, affirming space where LGBTQ+ people are embraced in faith, healing, and community.
We’re honored that Rev. Josh Lee was prominently featured in Idaho media—speaking out passionately before the House State Affairs Committee against House Joint Memorial 1, the petition urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges and roll back same-sex marriage rights. Read More…
Drawing from his personal journey—from undergoing conversion therapy and struggling with despair to embracing queer-affirming Christian faith—Rev. Josh urged lawmakers to address real issues impacting Idahoans like education, healthcare, and infrastructure, rather than undermining LGBTQ+ families. In his testimony, he reflected:
“I knew growing up that I loved Jesus, I loved being a pastor, and I loved men, and I had no idea how these three things could ever coexist in the world.” Read More…
Rev. Josh’s witness was joined by other faith leaders and community members—many walking out in protest—for a powerful display of collective solidarity and resistance eastidahonews.com+7eastidahonews.com+7favs.news+7.
Featured on Dutch Television
We’re excited to share that Rev. Josh Lee from Boise First UCC was recently featured in a poignant segment on Dutch television—airing internationally—to highlight his inspiring journey and ministry. The story shared how Josh courageously speaks out as an LGBTQ+ pastor of faith, offering love, hope, and healing in a time when queer-affirming religious voices are more crucial than ever. Viewers were moved by his authentic testimony, witnessing how spiritual life and queer identity can flourish together.
This Dutch media spotlight amplifies our church’s message of radical welcome far beyond Idaho’s borders. At Boise First UCC, we’re honored to stand at the intersection of faith and inclusivity, and to share our story with communities around the globe.
Advocating Against Criminizaltion of Homelessness
Read the Idaho Press article »
Boise First UCC joined advocates, unhoused neighbors, and local faith leaders on the steps of Boise City Hall for the Housing Not Handcuffs rally—part of a nationwide call to replace criminalization with compassionate support for people experiencing homelessness
The rally followed the recent passage of Idaho’s public‑camping ban, SB 1141, and marked the one‑year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Johnson v. Grants Pass, which revived the criminalization of unhoused individuals living without shelter. Read more…
At Boise First UCC, we stand with our community to champion justice, dignity, and hope—believing that everyone deserves a place to call home. 🕊️
Doumentary Showing: 1946
Boise First UCC was recently highlighted in the Idaho Capital Sun for co-hosting a screening of 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture with Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. The film explores how the word “homosexual” was first mistranslated into the Bible in 1946—and the far-reaching harm that followed.
The event featured a post-film discussion led by Rev. Josh Lee, building on his public testimony at the Statehouse opposing House Joint Memorial 1. Josh emphasized how biblical misinterpretations have fueled anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs and how reclaiming scripture can be an act of justice, healing, and faith.
At Boise First, we’re committed to truth-telling, sacred curiosity, and being a community of radical welcome.
