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Item: Senate panel rejects human rights protections for gays/Betsy Russell, SR Eye On Boise
More Info: The Senate State Affairs Committee just voted down a motion to introduce legislation to extend the Idaho Human Rights Act’s anti-discrimination provisions to cover sexual orientation and gender identity. Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, gave a heartfelt pitch to her fellow senators to introduce the measure, which she said has an array of legislative co-sponsors. “At least 20 members of our Legislature have members of their families that are gay or lesbian and directly affected by these issues,” she told the committee.
Question: Do you support Sen. LeFavour’s bill to add protections for sexual orientation and gender identity to the Human Rights Act?
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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scootermom on February 20 at 9:24 a.m.
A sad day for Idaho.
moscow_minidoka on February 20 at 9:29 a.m.
Scootermom - Every day that this legislature meets has been a sad day for Idaho, as far as I’m concerned.
tjh on February 20 at 9:45 a.m.
In only-in-Idaho fashion, they voted down a motion to INTRODUCE the legislation. The legislature won’t even hold a hearing! Both procedurally and substantively sad, if you ask me.
GaryIngram on February 20 at 12:05 p.m.
How does she know, as she claims, that there are 20 legislators who have family members directly involved?
misc on February 20 at 12:12 p.m.
The legislature is on the wrong side of history on this issue.
And Gary, she’s most likely extrapolating from statistics. Most studies say, as I recall, that 10 - 15 percent of humans are homosexual. That stat certainly bears out in my family.
BlueinIdaho on February 20 at 12:49 p.m.
For the Idaho GOP State, “transparency” only means that they fly their bigot flags freely. Bravo. Another feather in their backwards hat.
toadman on February 20 at 1:05 p.m.
Damn.. y’all jus dont git it, do ya? How else’s we sposed ta get dem gays outta Idaho so duh gay dont rub off on ta r chidren? It’s a dezeezze, ya know.
;-)
My apologies to Digger.
florined on February 20 at 1:35 p.m.
15-20% would apply to my family, also. But what if it were only 1-2%, would that somehow negate the reality? Gays are not protected in Idaho from employment discrimination. Conservatives often defend their stand by insisting that legislation is not needed since gays are already protected under current legislation…they are NOT.
IVA can now crow and solicit more contributions to protect the innocent against the unholy (she muttered).
But don’t just wallow in dismay, if you do indeed find this refusal to even allow a hearing comtemptible, at least let your contempt be known. The article names the R’s on the committee who voted no…tell them about your outrage, and (better yet) think of any acquaintances you might have in their districts and contact those acquaintances, personally asking them to express their contempt into the ears of their respective senators. More than anything, legislators want to be reelected. And copy Senator LeFavour. Give her the courage to try again.
Aliasjax on February 20 at 2:23 p.m.
Don’t yell at me, please, because I really don’t know… but is there any evidence of employment discrimination against gays; or is this just statement legislation? How many cases?
scootermom on February 20 at 3:23 p.m.
Aliasjax,
How many cases is unknown, because such discrimination is currently allowed. If a person is fired, or not hired, because they are gay, or perceived to be gay, there’s nothing they can do. It’s perfectly legal.
There’s plenty of other discrimination going on, based on gender, race religion, etc., so there’s no reason to believe that gays aren’t discriminated against also.