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.