remember how full of hope and optimism I was four years ago. My
colleagues in the Senate collectively fended of an anti-gay
constitutional amendment, standing up for us as gay people against
intense political pressure. Fourteen Senators stood, brave and
eloquent. Tom Gannon was one of them.
It felt then like things could only get better, for our families and
for safety and equality. But marriage became a tool of political power
like the atomic bomb. It struck fear into the heart of every
progressive law maker from here to Alaska and back. Those who once knew
a line of discrimination they would not cross, lost that line in blind
fear.
And our community here in Idaho grew understandably angry and bitter,
even if briefly. And for those legislators who stood up for us once,
the anger may be all they remember.
I hope not. I hope they remember the tears of relief after the vote in
2005. The flowers we sent. The cards and packages of candies. It was
not that we gained any new rights in that vote. It was that we could
remain in legal limbo for awhile more. And we did for another year until
Idaho passed arguably one of the most restrictive Constitutional
Amendments in the country.
I see the looks on other Senator's faces when I mention gays and
lesbians. Do they think I love reminding them that I belong to a sub
class of Idahoans that does not have the right to work at a job, attend
a school in peace, hold a family gym membership or health insurance
policy as they do? Do I love reminding them I belong to the group of
people that can be forced to die alone in a hospital room; whose
possessions at death can be distributed to estranged family members
over the wishes of the immediate family because that family is not of
the right gender.
Please tell me this all makes sense to someone…. outside religion,
beyond what one person believes verses what another believes through
their religious faith. Please tell me we have a legal and
constitutional reason why I deserve less than those men and women I
serve with every day. I am, in the words of others, a good person, a
good Senator, a good hard working American, someone who has given of
myself to my country and community. But I'm not good enough for
equality for one small reason. A reason that affects no one in the
whole world in a way that is not positive. My partner who served her
country in the Air Force, is she less worthy of love or happiness? Of
equality? Fairness? Respect? Humanity?
So yes to my colleagues, I am coming back this year to bother you,
because you have not yet stood up again. So many of you are willing if
only others will just be brave. This is the time to be brave. There is
harm being done to good people every day we delay, every single day
that we remain one of the few states that does not allow gay people the
simple right to be employed, to go to school, to live somewhere
regardless of who we love, who we have spent our lives with.
All of us can hide in that comfortable place where we don't have to
educate our constituents or colleagues, where we don't have to be brave
or take a stand on something hard. We can hide there forever and
pretend that is OK. But I know so well how many of you have gay family
members, sons , daughters, brothers, sisters. Each of you will think
I'm talking about you, but I'm not. I'm talking about LOTS of you and
you never talk to each other about it. And if you think your sons and
daughters, nieces and nephews want to bring it up any more than I do…
just imagine.
Where is the time for bravery? For justice? For eloquence? I can't do
this alone. Believe me. Can we not be brave enough to make some step
forward this year?
…………..
Friday we have a hearing to amend the Idaho Human Rights Act to add
sexual orientation and gender identity and to include protections for
gay people in employment, housing and education. 8 AM Senate State
Affairs Committee, Second Floor, Old Ada County Court House at 6th
& State St.
If you care, please do not stand by this year. We need supporters,
parents, employers, friends, students, landlords, farmers. This will
not be a hearing for testimony, just for witness and to steel those we
are asking to vote yes. There are nine members on the committee. Please
bring cards, flowers, something to thank those who vote yes.
If you can not come but want to write a letter to the editor of your
local paper big or small PLEASE do… especially those of you out there
who have never written a letter to support us before.