Mormon church support may not change Idaho bill outcome

BOISE – The Mormon church announced its support for measures protecting the rights of gays and lesbians as Idaho lawmakers held a second day of hearings on a bill that would add civil rights protections for gays in the state.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has big influence in Idaho. A Gallup survey last year estimated that 24 percent of Idaho’s population is Mormon; many members of the church serve in the Idaho Legislature.

However, lawmakers said they didn’t think the announcement would change the outcome for the bill that would add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the Idaho Human Rights Act. The measure would prohibit discrimination on those bases in housing, employment and public accommodations. Hours and hours of public testimony on the bill has been nearly evenly divided, with backers saying it will end harmful discrimination and opponents raising religious and moral objections.

“It’s welcome,” said Rep. John Rusche, D-Lewiston, the bill’s lead sponsor. But, he said, “I think it’s a little too late for this cycle.”

Rep. Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs, who serves on the House committee that’s hearing the bill and is a member of the LDS church, said, “I think it plays into the discussion. I don’t know if it affects the outcome of this bill. But I thought it was interesting, very interesting.”

Asked if he’s decided yet on the bill, Andrus said, “Something could come up to make me change my mind.”

The hearings mark a breakthrough on the issue for Idaho, after lawmakers refused to grant the bill a hearing for the past nine years. During last year’s Idaho legislative session, hundreds of people were arrested in protests calling for a hearing.

An Idaho House committee is scheduled to vote on the bill today.