More protesters arrested at Idaho Capitol

BOISE – Nearly two dozen people were arrested in the Idaho state Capitol on Monday after they refused to leave the House and Senate chambers and stood in silent protest over the lack of anti-discrimination protections for gays in Idaho.

Legislation to outlaw discrimination against gay and transgender Idahoans was the subject of a lengthy public hearing in January, but it was voted down on a party-line vote, with all Republicans on the House State Affairs Committee opposing it and only minority Democrats supporting it.

“Compromise language which we and many lawmakers are comfortable with is out there,” the protesters said in a statement distributed to the news media. They blamed the Legislature’s top GOP leaders for refusing to bring up a compromise bill this session.

Twenty-three people were arrested on trespassing charges, including at least two clergymen. Two juveniles were cited and released to their parents, and one disabled senior was cited and released; all the rest were bound with plastic handcuffs, loaded on a bus and taken to jail. Most posted bond and were released within hours.

House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, said, “I think it’s unfortunate that that’s where we’re at again. … I don’t think that it helps, frankly.”

Last year, more than 100 people were arrested in similar protests.

They stood silent with their hands over their mouths, to symbolize that they hadn’t been heard. Lawmakers had refused to allow a hearing on the bill for the past nine years before granting one this year. The measure would have banned discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations.

At the close of this year’s emotional, multiday hearing, many of those opposing the bill said they had learned much about the discrimination that some in Idaho face, and would support compromise legislation that included protections for religious freedom.

“It’s something I will be reviewing in the interim,” Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, said Monday. “I don’t see it really happening this session.”

Former state Sen. Nicole LeFavour, who was Idaho’s first openly gay state lawmaker, said she’s heard of acceptable compromise legislation that would add protections for business owners’ First Amendment rights, by ensuring they’re not required to endorse something with which they disagree, along with protections for churches and other measures.

Before the Idaho House adjourned on Monday, Rep. Sue Chew, D-Boise, urged fellow lawmakers to act on the bill this year.

“I understand they ask our lawmakers to return to the committee rooms downstairs and finish the work of crafting a good bill to allow gay and transgender people to work hard without fear of being fired, evicted and denied service by restaurants and businesses,” said Chew, who is Chinese-American. “Boy, that’s something that my family and myself deeply understand, because we experienced that as well for things that we could not control, which was the color of our skin.”

Rep. Stephen Hartgen, R-Twin Falls, objected to Chew’s remarks. “This is not on an agenda nor is it appropriate to be debating a bill that is not before us,” he declared.

Even as state lawmakers have resisted, 10 Idaho cities, including Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint, have passed local ordinances protecting gays from discrimination.