A year has passed since we attended rallies, a hearing, and posted
notes in the Statehouse asking our legislators to add the words “sexual
orientation” and “gender identity” to the Idaho Human Rights Act. Nothing happened last year. This year organizers decided to try a
different tactic. Lawmakers were
approached individually for conversation.
Organizers asked them about their concerns on this subject and listened
carefully to their answers. What they
discovered was a lot of fear—of constituents, of what could happen next, of
flamboyant behavior, and more.
In early February, an educational panel discussion was held on the
Idaho Human Rights Act. Community
leaders, businessmen, and clergy spoke about the importance of amending the
Act. This event was well attended by the
community, but unfortunately not by lawmakers, even though it was held in the
capitol building during lunch hour. The
discussion was videotaped and is being shown around Idaho. We hosted a viewing at my church.
Yesterday supporters were given the opportunity to educate the Senate
and House State Affairs Committees in a joint listening session. This was a huge step. No public testimony was taken, but everyone
was welcome to attend. I was there with
other members from my church. There were
five speakers—a conservative, retired business manager with a gay son, the
Boise City Chief of Police, a lesbian, a representative of a large business
organization, and a Human Resources manager of a large company. These people spoke clearly about why a change
is needed. The first speaker shared from
his heart about his struggle to change his point of view when his employer
mandated a non-discrimination policy and he had to help implement it. When his son announced he was gay, his
attitude began to shift. The police
chief was eloquent in his plea for safety for all citizens. The lesbian touched everyone, I think, when
she told how she had feared for her job and was unable to openly share about
her family. She is very normal-looking,
even beautiful—perhaps some legislators noticed her lack of
flamboyance. The businessman talked
about the importance of having diversity and non-discrimination policies in
order to attract new businesses to our state.
The HR manager explained how she integrated gay and transgender
employees into the workplace. At the
end, legislators asked a few questions of the speakers, and of some of the
community leaders sitting in the front row.
(My pastor was there.) It was a
good hour, and hopefully some minds were opened. However, there will be no bill this year.
At a time when other states are passing laws allowing same-sex
marriage, Idaho cannot even pass non-discrimination legislation. It is very discouraging. Our LGBT citizens have been waiting a long
time. If lawmakers would just take the
time to get to know some of their LGBT constituents, I think their hearts would
be opened. Since my church has become a
Reconciling Congregation (welcoming all), we have had all sorts of people walk
through our doors. My Reconciling
Ministries team actually has five lesbians on it. They are very normal people living very
ordinary lives. They have shared some of
their fears and struggles with the rest of us.
We have just begun a LGBT support group.
There were seven people at the first meeting and more will be
joining. On Sunday, while chatting with
another member, he came out to me and said he wants to be a part of this group. I was so pleased that he trusted me and our
church enough to take this big step. All
of these LGBT members are good people and make our church much richer for their
presence.
The gay man I mentioned asked me yesterday, “Why is this such an issue?” Honestly, I don’t know. Why are people so obsessed with who others
love and what they do in their bedrooms?
As I’ve told a lesbian friend, the least interesting thing about her is
that she is a lesbian. She is so much
more. The state senator who organized
yesterday’s session said that many mothers all over the state have contacted
her and said that their gay son or daughter can’t come home to their small
town. The hurt runs deep. When are lawmakers going to show compassion
and end the discrimination? As this senator
stated, “I don’t like ‘oughts’ and ‘shoulds,’ but the light comes on at some
time. I’m ready for the light.” Let there be light.
3/21/2013
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