This is a contentious time in our national culture for LGBTQ rights and religious freedom. There have been several acts by legislatures in many states over the last few months that provide businesses, professionals and practitioners the legal right to determine service based on strongly-held religious beliefs.
While these bills do not specifically name LGBTQ identities and people as the source of the legislation, the LGBTQ community is the community most cited as affected by the current proliferation of bills.
In Idaho, LGBTQ rights activists and supporters have recently received national press with rallies and non-violent protests in the Idaho Capital Building. Photos of activists show people of different ages, backgrounds and religious beliefs. This is important to note. LGBTQ equality and religious freedom are not mutually exclusive ideals.
The LGBTQ community is made up of a vast diversity of people from a variety of different religious and spiritual backgrounds. There is no way to solely classify people based on the two categories. The larger issues that have been part of the national discussion for the past few months is creating a polarized “us vs. them” mentality that creates unsafe climates and inequalities for LGBTQ people.
No one should ever have to fear they will be denied important life-saving services because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity. And no one should be worried about losing their children, home, job, or support in the state of Idaho because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, either. It is important to remember that we are all human beings, and that each of us should be guaranteed the same access, safety and freedom to be ourselves.
–Julia Keleher
LGBTQA Office coordinator