Add the Words bill to be heard in committee, supporters come together
The House Ways and Means Committee approved the introduction of a bill with a 6-1 vote last week to add the words “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to Idaho’s existing Human Rights Act.
George Wood Jr. | Argonaut
Add the Words Chair Cindy Gross estimated 1,300 people rallied in front of the Idaho State Capitol Saturday to supporting adding the words ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ to the existing Idaho Human Rights Act.
Add the Words campaign chair Cindy Gross said the bill has been in the works for nine years, and there will finally be a committee hearing for the bill the week of Jan. 26. House Minority Leader John Rusche, of Lewiston, introduced the bill.
Meanwhile, a rainbow flag stretched across the Idaho Capitol Building steps Saturday. More than 1,000 Add the Words rally participants yelled in unison, “the time is now,” in an effort to motivate the Idaho Legislature to add the four words to Idaho Law.
District 5A Rep. Paulette Jordan was one of the rally speakers, alongside Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb, Boise Police Chief Mike Masterson, Gross and Add the Words advocate Karen McMillin. Jordan announced her support with a group of nine other Idaho legislators behind her.
“Today, we are given the opportunity to decide our history,” Jordan said. “Together we have the power to move mountains. Not one of us will rest until we are able to add the words ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identification’ into the Human Rights Act in Idaho.”
The Add the Words campaign has had a presence in Boise for nearly 10 years. However, this is the first year a committee has agreed to hear the Add the Words bill during its legislative session.
The current Human Rights Act, passed in 1969, provides protections from discrimination based on race, sex, color, religion and national origin regarding employment, public housing and educational institutions.
Sen. Buckner-Webb, one of the bill sponsors, said she is hopeful 2015 will be the year the Add the Words campaign will see success.
“I think (the legislature) sees the verve and the enthusiasm, and they are also hearing what the corporate community has to say,” Buckner-Webb said. “They are missing opportunities with great workers, and they’re finally hearing some of those messages.”
At the University of Idaho, ASUI passed a resolution in 2013 urging the state legislature to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the Human Rights Act.
George Wood Jr. | Argonaut
Add the Words Chair Cindy Gross estimated 1,300 people rallied in front of the
Idaho State Capitol Saturday to supporting adding the words ‘sexual orientation’
and ‘gender identity’ to the existing Idaho Human Rights Act.
Gay-Straight Alliance President Samantha Hansen, one of the original sponsors of the ASUI resolution, said she plans to continue to work with ASUI to submit another resolution this session, as well as coordinate a student trip to Boise to lobby for the Add the Words campaign in person.
ASUI President Nate Fisher said ASUI supports the Add the Words campaign, but as of Thursday, has no plans to submit another resolution.
“Once a resolution has been passed, it continues to carry its weight from that point,” Fisher said.
Speakers in front of the crowd at Saturday’s rally took multiple photos, and there was ample opportunity for attendees to plaster a door and tables with sticky notes declaring their support for the Add the Words campaign.
According to rally officials, this action was taken in lieu of sticking them on doors inside the Capitol Building, which was practiced by Add the Words protestors in 2011 but has since been made a finable offense. They said a picture of the door and tables would be sent to legislators following the rally.
Gross estimated around 1,200 people attended the rally, and is confident the bill will pass this time around.
“Once the legislators hear all of the stories from Idahoans across the state, once they read the polling that 67 percent of Idahoans fully support adding the words, I think they will have no choice but to pass the bill,” Gross said.
George Wood Jr. can be reached at [email protected]