‘Add the Words’ sticky note campaign continues

For immediate release
January 24, 2012
Add the Words Continues to Post Sticky Notes in Capitol

In an ongoing effort, members of the Add the Words, Idaho campaign, continue to post sticky notes daily on the doors of the House and Senate Chambers in the Capitol Building.

“It was a bit tense the first week when the state police still seemed determined to stop our volunteers from peacefully posting any of the hundreds of stickies we’ve gathered from around the state,” said Mistie Tolman, spokesperson for Add the Words. “Still, volunteers and members of the community are posting the notes every day on the glass doors of the chambers and committee rooms. In meeting with the ProTem and Speaker they wanted us to understand that the notes will be taken down as soon as they are posted.It’s frustrating for some of our volunteers but at least no one is being detained by the troopers. People’s words are there in the statehouse. For some of us, that’s a start to a powerful conversation that’s constantly improving the outlook for the legislation this year.”

Lisa Perry was asked more than once to stop or she’d be removed from the building, “I went in there last week for my gay and transgender friends. We’re determined to make sure people’s voices are heard since in years past the community’s never been given the chance to speak at a public hearing. People still live in fear and too often face discrimination at work and school and in renting houses and apartments.”

Add the Words campaign member, Cody Hafer, explained that every day volunteers read the following statement as they post sticky notes: “This is the most peaceful way we could think of to both protest the fact that year after year we are denied a public hearing, and to make sure that those across the state can have their voices heard inside the capitol. Our sticky notes are simply words, not a permanent fixture, just our calm way of respectfully and quietly bringing the voices and stories of thousands of Idahoans here.”

“We find that many lawmakers still believe that gay and transgender people have legal recourse when they get fired from their jobs or denied housing just because they are gay or transgender.” said Emilie Jackson-Edney of Add the Words. “Many in the statehouse don’t know how the Human Rights Act works. It created a process already in use in Idaho to investigate, mediate and make findings to protect both businesses and employees should discrimination happen. Even after six years there’s still a lot of education work to do to explain that we are not asking for anything new or different, just to let the Commission work on those cases that involve us.”

Add the Words, Idaho is an all volunteer organization of people across Idaho working to demonstrate the level of public support for inclusion of gay and transgender Idahoans in the state’s laws banning discrimination in employment, housing education and public accommodation. Add the Words has gathered over 500 of messages to Idaho legislators written on sticky notes from people in more than 50 Idaho towns. Add the Words is working with organizations and individuals in more than 13 towns to hold public candlelight vigils, rallies and events on Saturday January 28th  in support of passage of legislation to add the words “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to Idaho’s Human Rights Act.

Those wishing to send sticky notes to law makers or hoping to participate in the groups vigils, rallies and other events statewide on January 28 can go to http://addthewords.org , for more information.


For More Information please contact Mistie Tolman 208 861-4371 mistie@4idaho.org

Attached are photos of Idaho people with their sticky notes:
1) Idaho Human Rights Leader Marilyn Shuler

2) Idaho jazz musician and recording artist Curtis Stigers
3) Emily Walton originally of Declo, related to Kelly Walton leader of Idaho’s 1994 anti gay initiative. The initiative was defeated by Idaho voters in November of that year.