Panel Passes Bill To Ban Same-Sex Marriages Lawmakers Fear Legalization Of Gay Weddings In Hawaii Would Force Idaho To Recognize The Unions

Despite testimony urging recognition of homosexual marriages, a legislative committee has given its blessing to legislation making it clear that Idaho will not recognize same-sex nuptials.

Current law does not recognize such marriages, but House Speaker Michael Simpson urged the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee on Thursday to pass a law that would make it clear that Idaho will not recognize the unions - even if they are approved by other states.

The bill was sent to the full House for action, which should come about the middle of next week.

Only Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, opposed the bill.

“It should stay in committee,” she said.

Simpson said Hawaii is considering legislation that would recognize gay marriages. If that happens, he said, Idaho would have to give them legal status because the state must accept legal contracts from other states.

“To our knowledge, no state ever has recognized same-sex marriages,” Simpson said. “But some states are looking at the possibility.”

Eventually, it will happen, he said. If Idaho does not make it clear that gay marriages are not recognized, the agreements will have to be approved.

“To do nothing is to recognize same-sex marriages. We will establish policy one way or the other, by action or inaction,” he said.

An Episcopal priest, health care professional, American Civil Liberties Union lawyer, a rabbi, nurse and heterosexual parents all urged the state to recognize homosexual marriages and give them the same rights and privileges as heterosexual couples have.

Dallas Chase, health care professional, said she was married 18 years and had two children, before her husband died. Later, she became involved in a lesbian relationship.

“It was a rude shock to me that I am a lesser person than I was,” she said, about the lack of recognition of same-gender couples.

Stephen Rowley, the ACLU’s legislative director, said the bill was “the same sort of discriminatory legislation that once outlawed mixed-raced marriages.”

He said it would generate lawsuits, but Rep. Bill Sali, R-Meridian, who made the motion to send the bill to the full House, said that shouldn’t stop the Legislature.

Sali called the issue “a serious question of public policy.” He said if Idaho does nothing, another state’s laws would dictate that Idaho recognize gay marriages.

“Should the action of Hawaii be allowed to dictate public policy in Idaho?”