The ACLU of Idaho stands in full support of updating Idaho’s non-discrimination law (Idaho Human Rights Act, or “IHRA”) to prevent discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Lawmakers should ensure that all Idahoans are free from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations, while also rejecting the use of religion as a tool to discriminate against gay and transgender Idahoans.
 
Despite receiving a public hearing on good amendments to the IHRA during the 2015 Legislative Session, the hearing resulted in a heart breaking “no” vote. The following legislative session (2016) came with high hopes to succeed in passing Add the Words legislation. However, the potential so-called “compromise” bills that Senate leaders were working on never materialized due to concerns around the need to protect religious freedom. For the 10th year in a row, the LGBT community will see no relief provided to them, but we can guarantee our supporters, we’ll be back at the statehouse in 2017 demanding equality. 
 
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