Unfinished Business

Earlier this month the Idaho Legislature packed up and went home.  I had mixed feelings.  The first was “good riddance!”  The second was sadness over unfinished business.  There were multiple important issues ignored by this legislature but one is especially close to my heart.  They failed to add four words—sexual orientation and gender identity—to the Idaho Human Rights Act. 

Just five days before they adjourned, I participated in the last Add the 4 Words protest of the session.  We stood with signs which told stories of harm done to LGBT people in Idaho.  I carried a sign saying “Joseph  Beaten in alley  February 1997  Boise, Idaho.”  Joseph’s sign said “Joel O.—Boise, ID  Completed suicide  March 1997.”  What the signs didn’t say was that Joseph’s friend, Joel, was beaten too and it was Joseph who found him hanging from a tree.  These stories are so painful.  We stood silently, solemnly in the State Capitol building, hoping the stories would touch hearts and let them know that we’re not going away.

That day I wore my cross that says “hope.”  It was my statement about why I was there.  As a follower of Jesus, I believe God loves all.  I stood by Joseph and carried his story with the hope that we won’t have to keep doing this—no more stories of harm, of discrimination, of death.  Everybody deserves to be treated equally, to have hope for the future.  Everybody.

Two days later we gathered around a bonfire and shared our feelings.  It was quite emotional.  Yes, there was anger and frustration with our legislature.  However, there was more.  We have all been changed by our experiences with activism.  LGBT activists have learned to step up and stand up for themselves, forming close bonds with others in the struggle.  A couple straight activists spoke of their respect for the courage of LGBT people and how it inspired them to be brave.  A gay man told me how much it meant to have straight allies and religious people standing with them after fighting alone for so long.  I told him how much I respect him.  I had to examine my faith and I realized that I needed to stand up for what I believe and be there for him and others.  We hugged.

I will see many of my fellow activists next week when we get our day in court.  I don’t know what will happen but I know I will continue to stand up for what is right, for what is just.

The Invasion of the Flies

 . . . buzz. . . buzzzzzzzzzzzz. . . The loud buzzing of the flies brings memories of summer—hot, sticky days, sprawled out in a chair swatting at flies.  However, this is only April and the hot weather has not yet arrived.  We are just beginning to venture outside on lovely, warm spring days.

The flies have moved inside to torture us, I think.  There were just a few at first and we thought it unusual to see them so early in the year.  Our young cats sat and stared at the ceiling.  Eventually, I had to go to see what they were looking at.  When the flies moved the cats would follow, sometimes jumping—and missing.  The flies have provided great entertainment for them.  However, their hunting instincts appear to be lacking.  One day I spotted our black cat up on a window sill next to a fly.  Buzzzzzz.  Get it!!  She leaned over. . . and sniffed it.  Arghh!  To her credit, I did see her catch one recently.  The other cat quickly ran over to investigate.  They sniffed it, batted at it, and apparently lost it.

As the number of flies in the house has increased, the cats' interest has seemed to decrease.  Old news, I guess.  The other day I was on a mission—I got out the fly swatter and killed ten flies on our dining room window.  Ten more flies quickly replaced them!  Arghh.  I sat at the computer and tried to concentrate.  Buzzz. . .buzzzz. . . buzzzzzzzzz.  Ack!  I jumped up and killed a few more.

We have no idea where they are coming from.  The other morning I got up and it was quiet.  No flies were in sight.  Did we get them all?  No.  Soon they began to reappear, one by one—flying around the kitchen, on the dining room window, in our bedroom.  Buzz. . . buzzzzzzzz. .. buzzzzzzzzzzzzz.  The day warmed up and we opened the doors.  Soon they were buzzing against the screen doors.  We opened them up and let the flies out.  We discovered that was an easy way to get rid of them.  It’s almost as if they knew we’d let them out. . .

I came home this afternoon and opened the blinds in the dining room.  A dozen flies appeared.  I killed them and sat down.  More flies appeared.  I left the room. 

Is this some diabolical plot to rob me of my sanity?  Buzzzzzzzzz.  Should I buy ear plugs?  Buzzzzzz.  Maybe a bug zapper.  Buzzz. . .buzzzz. . .buzzzzzap!  I am writing this outside.  I would like to point out that there are no flies out here.  Unfortunately the sun is preparing to set and I will have to go back inside.  The battle with the flies will continue. . . buzz. . . buzzzzz. . . buzzzzzzzzzz. . . SWAT!