What 43 LGBT Activists Did In The Idaho State Capitol ThatLed To Their Arrest

What 43 LGBT Activists Did In The Idaho State Capitol That Led To Their Arrest / Queerty

Idaho isn't exactly famous for its warmembrace of LGBT rights, but things took a decidedly dramatic turn on Monday when police arrested43 activists in the state capitol. Their crime: silently? blocking the entrance to the state Senatechamber to urge the legislature to take up a nondiscrimination bill, which has been stalled becauseof Republican opposition.

"We are here to insist the Idaho Legislature finally add four words, 'sexual orientation' and 'genderidentity,' to Idaho"s Human Rights Act to prevent the suicides, beatings, loss of jobs, evictions andthe fear that too many gay and transgender Idahoans live with every day," the group, appropriatelynamed Add the Words, ? said in a news release. "We do this for those who live in fear and those whomay despair this year if no one speaks for them."

The group, dressed in black T-shirts with "Add the Words" on them, blocked the entrance for twohours before police began arresting them. Those arrested were charged with suspicion ofmisdemeanor trespassing.

Among the organizers was former state Sen.? Nicole LeFavour, who was the first openly lesbianmember of the legislature. She stood in the doorway of the Senate, with her hand over her mouth,refusing to talk. As a former senator, LeFavour had privileges to be on the floor of the Senate.However, the Senate voted to suspend those privileges so that she could be arrested.

"We have no issue with police," LeFavour said after her arrest. "Our issue is with a Legislature thatwon't stand up and say 'cruelty to gay, lesbian and transgender people is wrong.'"Photo credit: Josh Malan/Add the Words

http://www.queerty.com/what-43-lgbt-activists-did-in-the-idaho-state-capitol-that-led-to-their-arrest-20140203/