<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:16px"><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_12807" dir="ltr">OK, Ken Andrus is a Mormon, The church issued a statement on LGBT laws. NPR asked an Elder to clarify the Church's stand. Can you figure out what it is by listening to the story? I can't.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_12807" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_12807" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_12807" dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.npr.org/2015/01/29/382463494/mormon-lgbt-announcement-met-with-cheers-skepticism" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13281">Mormon LGBT Announcement Met With Cheers, Skepticism</a><br></div><div style="width:450px; font-family: 'Georgia', 'Times', 'Times New Roman', 'serif';margin-top:5px; margin-bottom: 5px; background-color: #ffffff;" contenteditable="false" id="enhancrCard_0" class="link-enhancr-attachment link-enhancr-element"><table class="link-enhancr-element" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" style="width:450px; height:170px; position: relative; display: block;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13303"><tbody id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13302"><tr class="link-enhancr-element"><td class="link-enhancr-element" colspan="8" style="height: 1px; background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 1px; border-collapse: collapse;"><div class="link-enhancr-element" style="height: 1px; background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 1px; line-height:0px;"> </div></td></tr><tr class="link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13830"><td rowspan="5" class="link-enhancr-element" style="width: 1px; background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 1pt; border-collapse: collapse;"><div class="link-enhancr-element" style="width: 1px; background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 1pt;"> </div></td><td class="link-enhancr-element" rowspan="5" style="vertical-align: middle; width: 168px; height: 168px; background-color: #000000;border-collapse: collapse;"><div class="link-enhancr-element" style="width: 168px;" align="center"><a href="http://www.npr.org/2015/01/29/382463494/mormon-lgbt-announcement-met-with-cheers-skepticism" class="link-enhancr-card-urlWrapper link-enhancr-element" style="text-decoration: none !important; color: #000000 !important;"><img alt="image" src="http://media.npr.org/chrome/news/nprlogo_138x46.gif" class="link-enhancr-thumbnail-image link-enhancr-element" width="168" height="56" style="display: block; margin: auto;" data-id="2bca3de4-fc04-72be-86f9-348fd494de0d"></a></div></td><td rowspan="5" class="link-enhancr-element" style="width: 1px; background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 0pt; border-collapse: collapse;"><div class="link-enhancr-element" style="width: 1px; background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 1pt;"> </div></td><td rowspan="5" class="link-enhancr-element" style="width: 14px; background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 0pt; border-collapse: collapse;"><div class="link-enhancr-element" style="width: 14px; background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 14pt;"> </div></td><td colspan="2" class="link-enhancr-element" style="height: 6px; background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 0pt; border-collapse: collapse;"><div class="link-enhancr-element" style="height: 6px; background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 6pt;"> </div></td><td rowspan="5" class="link-enhancr-element" style="width: 20px; background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 0pt; border-collapse: collapse;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13829"><div class="link-enhancr-element" style="width: 20px; background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 20pt;"> </div></td><td class="link-enhancr-element" rowspan="5" width="1" style="width: 1px; background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 1pt; border-collapse: collapse;"><div class="link-enhancr-element" style="width: 1px; background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 1pt;"> </div></td></tr><tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13301"><td class="link-enhancr-element" colspan="2" style="width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; font-family: 'Georgia', 'Times', 'Times New Roman', 'serif';" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13300"><div class="link-enhancr-text-part link-enhancr-element" style="line-height:16.5px; background-color: #ffffff; height: 135px; width: 245px;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13306"><div class="link-enhancr-element" style="word-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-all;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13305"><span class="link-enhancr-element icon icon-shrink link-enhancr-toggle"></span><span class="link-enhancr-element icon icon-close link-enhancr-delete" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13304"></span><a href="http://www.npr.org/2015/01/29/382463494/mormon-lgbt-announcement-met-with-cheers-skepticism" class="link-enhancr-card-urlWrapper link-enhancr-element" style="text-decoration: none !important; color: #000000 !important; line-height: 100%; font-size: 18px; display: block;"><span class="link-enhancr-element link-enhancr-card-title" style="margin: 0; font-weight: normal;margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px; max-height: 43px; color: #000000; overflow: hidden !important; display: inline-block;">Mormon LGBT Announcement Met With Cheers, Skepticism</span></a><div style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; color: #999999; max-height: 81px; font-family: 'Georgia', 'Times', 'Times New Roman', 'serif';overflow: hidden;" class="link-enhancr-card-description link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13831">Robert Siegel talks to Mormon leader Elder Dallin Oaks about the press conference this week where the church announced it would support LGBT anti-discrimination...</div></div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="link-enhancr-element" style="height: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 0pt; border-collapse: collapse;"><div class="link-enhancr-element" style="height: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 4pt;"></div></td></tr><tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13835"><td class="link-enhancr-element" style="vertical-align: middle; font-family: 'Arial', 'Helvetica Neue', 'Helvetica', 'sans-serif';"><div class="link-enhancr-element" style="font-size: 0pt;"><a href="http://www.npr.org/2015/01/29/382463494/mormon-lgbt-announcement-met-with-cheers-skepticism" class="link-enhancr-card-url link-enhancr-element" style="color: black; text-decoration: none !important;cursor:pointer !important;" target="_blank"><span class="link-enhancr-element link-enhancr-view-on" style="display: inline-block; line-height: 11px; max-width: 145px; min-width: 85px; overflow: hidden; max-height: 13px; word-break: break-all;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13297"><span class="link-enhancr-element link-enhancr-mobile-no-resize" style="vertical-align:middle; font-size: 9px; line-height: 11px; color: #999999; -moz-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust:none; text-size-adjust:none;">View on <span style="font-weight: bold" class="link-enhancr-view-on-domain">www.npr.org</span></span></span></a></div></td><td class="link-enhancr-element" style="vertical-align: middle; width: 100px; font-family: 'Arial', 'Helvetica Neue', 'Helvetica', 'sans-serif';" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13834"><div class="link-enhancr-element link-enhancr-preview-wrapper" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px; overflow: hidden; text-align: right; line-height: 11px; max-height: 13px; font-size: 0pt;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13833"><span class="link-enhancr-element link-enhancr-preview-by link-enhancr-mobile-no-resize" style="vertical-align:middle; font-size: 9px; line-height: 11px; color: #999999; -moz-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust:none; text-size-adjust:none;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13832">Preview by Yahoo</span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="link-enhancr-element" style="height: 9px; background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 0pt; border-collapse: collapse;"><div class="link-enhancr-element" style="height: 9px; background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 9pt;"></div></td></tr><tr class="link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13838"><td class="link-enhancr-element" colspan="8" style="height: 1px; background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 1px; border-collapse: collapse;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13837"><div class="link-enhancr-element" style="height: 1px; background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 1px; line-height:0px" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_13836"> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_12807"> </div><div class="signature" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1422546641173_12779">Ron Force<br>Moscow Idaho USA</div> <div class="qtdSeparateBR"><br><br></div><div class="yahoo_quoted" style="display: block;"> <div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <div dir="ltr"> <font size="2" face="Arial"> On Thursday, January 29, 2015 1:40 PM, Paul Rumelhart <paul.rumelhart@gmail.com> wrote:<br> </font> </div> <br><br> <div class="y_msg_container"><div id="yiv9849323389"><div><div dir="ltr">I haven't had time to read the bill, so I don't know what Rep. Andrus is referring to when talking about forcing clergy to marry gays or of any first amendment violations. I'll look over the bill and the AG's letter later, I can't at the moment. If there is something in the bill specifically addressing those points, then that is where I would suggest compromising, not on any of the items you mentioned above. Rep. Andrus' comments may be unfounded, I don't know and I don't have time to research it right now. That's why I asked about it. Maybe someone has already looked into it.<br clear="none"><br clear="none">Paul<br clear="none"></div><div class="yiv9849323389yqt8785463765" id="yiv9849323389yqt11622"><div class="yiv9849323389gmail_extra"><br clear="none"><div class="yiv9849323389gmail_quote">On Thu, Jan 29, 2015 at 1:20 PM, Saundra Lund <span dir="ltr"><<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:v2020@ssl1.fastmail.fm" target="_blank" href="mailto:v2020@ssl1.fastmail.fm" onclick="window.open('https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&tf=1&to=v2020@ssl1.fastmail.fm&cc=&bcc=&su=&body=','_blank');return false;">v2020@ssl1.fastmail.fm</a>></span> wrote:<br clear="none"><blockquote class="yiv9849323389gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;"><div lang="EN-US"><div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Paul, feel free to read the IHRA yourself:<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title67/T67CH59SECT67-5909.htm">http://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title67/T67CH59SECT67-5909.htm</a><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">My understanding is that the bill would have added “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the first sentence. You might find this Web site helpful . . . or not:<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://www.addthewords.org/#!about/aboutPage">http://www.addthewords.org/#!about/aboutPage</a><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">I’d also recommend reading the AG Office’s letter:<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://media.idahostatesman.com/smedia/2015/01/28/10/18/DngRt.So.36.pdf#storylink=relast">http://media.idahostatesman.com/smedia/2015/01/28/10/18/DngRt.So.36.pdf#storylink=relast</a><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">I’m not sure what you mean by compromise? I don’t think you mean that basic human rights should only be extended on the whim of the majority and only so far as the tyranny of a bigoted majority wishes, so can you please clarify what a compromise acceptable to you would look like? Protection from being fired but not protection from housing discrimination or vice versa? Someone can ride this bus but not that one? You can buy a house in this neighborhood but not that one? “Separate but equal”? Or do you envision carving out yet another religious exemption?<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">I’m genuinely interested in how a compromise would look to you.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Thanks,<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">Saundra<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;"> Paul Rumelhart [mailto:<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:paul.rumelhart@gmail.com" target="_blank" href="mailto:paul.rumelhart@gmail.com" onclick="window.open('https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&tf=1&to=paul.rumelhart@gmail.com&cc=&bcc=&su=&body=','_blank');return false;">paul.rumelhart@gmail.com</a>] <br clear="none"><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, January 29, 2015 11:46 AM<br clear="none"><b>To:</b> Saundra Lund<br clear="none"><b>Cc:</b> Moscow Vision 2020<br clear="none"><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] Bigotry Reigns in Idaho<u></u><u></u></span></div><div><div class="yiv9849323389h5"><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></div><div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal">Quotes from the article:<u></u><u></u></div><div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal">"<span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Some of the legislators who voted to defeat the bill expressed their willingness to support a future compromise bill.</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">"We have come a long way. I think this very hearing has brought us a long, long way," said Rep. Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs, addressing supporters of the bill. "Do not despair. Your concerns are legitimate, very legitimate, and people in Idaho and in the Legislature have heard you and are hearing you."</span><u></u><u></u></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">But, he added, "We have to be very careful how we make those rules and today my feeling is that this is not the rule that addresses the whole picture.""</span><u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></div></div><div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">-and-<br clear="none"><br clear="none">"Earlier this week, the Idaho Attorney General's Office issued an opinion in the form of a letter dated Jan. 26 to Rep. Ilana Rubel stating that the proposed Add the Words bill would not force clergy to marry gay couples, nor would its passage likely impair any Idahoan's freedom of speech, specifically as it relates to someone's ability to express views about homosexuality. The letter, signed by Assistant Chief Deputy Brian Kane, was in response to three questions posed to the AG's Office by Rep. Rubel."</span><u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">I can totally understand not wanting to force clergy to marry specific people and I can also understand not wanting to go against freedom of speech by limiting someone's ability to state their religious views on a topic, but then I've always been anti-pc.</span><u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">What does the bill say exactly about forcing clergy to marry gay couples and what is it in the bill that they object to on freedom of speech grounds? Is Rep. Andrus being obtuse or is there actually something in the bill which could be construed to do what he fears? If there is wording in the bill that could be construed that way, could a compromise be reached?</span><u></u><u></u></div></div><div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Paul</span><u></u><u></u></div></div></div><div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></div><div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal">On Thu, Jan 29, 2015 at 11:18 AM, Saundra Lund <<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:v2020@ssl1.fastmail.fm" target="_blank" href="mailto:v2020@ssl1.fastmail.fm" onclick="window.open('https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&tf=1&to=v2020@ssl1.fastmail.fm&cc=&bcc=&su=&body=','_blank');return false;">v2020@ssl1.fastmail.fm</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></div><blockquote style="border:none;border-left:solid #cccccc 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;"><div><div><div>For those who think I'm employing hyperbole, I can only assume you didn't listen to the same public testimony I did.<u></u><u></u></div><div> <u></u><u></u></div><div><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/01/29/3617387_idaho-house-committee-to-debate.html?rh=1">http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/01/29/3617387_idaho-house-committee-to-debate.html?rh=1</a><u></u><u></u></div><div> <u></u><u></u></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline;"><b><span style="font-size:22.5pt;"> </span></b><u></u><u></u></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline;"><b><span style="font-size:22.5pt;">Idaho House committee rejects Add the Words bill along party-line vote</span></b><u></u><u></u></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal" style="line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;">BY STATESMAN STAFF</span></b><u></u><u></u></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal" style="line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;">January 29, 2015</span><u></u><u></u></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;"><br clear="none"></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Idaho's House State Affairs Committee voted 13-4 on Thursday morning to defeat a bill that would have added the words "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the state's Human Rights Act. The vote fell along party lines.</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Some of the legislators who voted to defeat the bill expressed their willingness to support a future compromise bill.</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">"We have come a long way. I think this very hearing has brought us a long, long way," said Rep. Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs, addressing supporters of the bill. "Do not despair. Your concerns are legitimate, very legitimate, and people in Idaho and in the Legislature have heard you and are hearing you."</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">But, he added, "We have to be very careful how we make those rules and today my feeling is that this is not the rule that addresses the whole picture."</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">The approved motion to block the bill was made by Andrus.</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Thursday's vote came after nearly 21 hours of public testimony Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. After a closing statement from Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb, D-Boise, committee members made a several motions and statements before the deciding vote to hold the bill in committee.</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">"I know what it's like to walk in fear and uncertainty," Buckner-Webb said. "I know what it’s like to face the fear of being treated with disdain and to be diminished. I know the energy it takes to constantly be on guard. I stand before you today compelled to call out for the right that some in their privilege continue to take for granted."</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">An amended motion to move the bill to the entire House without a committee recommendation that it be passed was defeated 13-4. A different amended version, to move the bill to the House floor with a do-pass recommendation from the committee, also failed by a 13-4 vote.</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">"These are good human beings that deserve the same right and privilege that everybody else does," said Rep. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise. "Even if we vote to pass it to the floor, that would at least give it its time for everyone to vote."</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Loertscher noted that the committee was "past 22 hours now on this project."</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">"Every member of this committee is changed because of this process," he said. But, he added, he feared the financial burden for people to "defend themselves against government action or the actions of another."</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">"I am certainly open to something that will work for the state of Idaho. This is not that bill," he said.</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Tears flowed among spectators who filled the Lincoln auditorium as the votes were cast defeating the legislation. After the voting was done, supporters filed out and lined the corridor in silent protest, their hands over their mouths, many still crying or stifling sobs.</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">The committee took testimony this week from 190 people — 134 in favor, 54 against and two neutral.</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Advocates of adding anti-discrimination protections for Idahoans based on sexual orientation or gender identity have sought legislative action for nine years. This was the first year the Legislature held hearings.</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Even so, the bill wasn't expected to move out of committee. As reported Tuesday by the Statesman, the committee's makeup (13 Republicans versus four Democrats) and the split in testimony provided an uphill battle for bill supporters. Several lawmakers had said privately that simply hearing the bill is the first step in a process that likely to take several years.</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Earlier this week, the Idaho Attorney General's Office issued an opinion in the form of a letter dated Jan. 26 to Rep. Ilana Rubel stating that the proposed Add the Words bill would not force clergy to marry gay couples, nor would its passage likely impair any Idahoan's freedom of speech, specifically as it relates to someone's ability to express views about homosexuality. The letter, signed by Assistant Chief Deputy Brian Kane, was in response to three questions posed to the AG's Office by Rep. Rubel.</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;"><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://media.idahostatesman.com/smedia/2015/01/28/10/18/DngRt.So.36.pdf#storylink=relast"><span style="">Read the AG's Office response here</span></a>.</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Kane wrote that Rubel's question about whether "federal (or state) law already exist which protects gays/transgender people in Idaho from discrimination in employment, housing and public services/accommodations?" could not be answered with a "simple 'yes' or 'no' because the relevant law is not settled."</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Add the Words advocates applauded the legal opinion. Cindy Gross, an Add the Words organizer, said in a release Wednesday: "There was a significant amount of confusion about what the results of this bill would be, and I am happy to see an opinion from the AG's office so that we can avoid the mischaracterization of this bill."</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">Also Tuesday, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officials made news with their<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/01/27/3613540/mormon-leaders-gay-rights-religious.html"><span style="">nationwide call for new laws that protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people</span></a> from discrimination while somehow also protecting those who suffer repercussions for asserting their religious beliefs toward these people.</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">On Wednesday, the Statesman's editorial board came out <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/01/28/3615005/only-acceptable-move-add-the-words.html"><span style="">in support of the Add the Words legislation,</span></a> writing in part: "Any rejection of the amendment in House Bill 2 from here on out is tantamount to endorsing discrimination against gay and transgender people."</span><u></u><u></u></div><div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline;outline:0px;max-width:620px!important;word-spacing:0px;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;">The front page of Wednesday's Statesman featured a controversial peel-off sticker ad that read, in part, "Add No Words." It was paid for by an Idaho man named Lance Wells who says he wants to "draw people closer to God." Anger over the ad <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/01/28/3615900_upset-about-the-sticker-ad-on.html?rh=1"><span style="">prompted a note from Statesman Publisher Mike Jung</span></a>.</span><u></u><u></u></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;"><br clear="none">Read more here: <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/01/29/3617387_idaho-house-committee-to-debate.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy">http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/01/29/3617387_idaho-house-committee-to-debate.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy</a></span><u></u><u></u></div><div> <u></u><u></u></div><div> <u></u><u></u></div><div> <u></u><u></u></div><div> <u></u><u></u></div></div></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><br clear="none">=======================================================<br clear="none"> List services made available by First Step Internet,<br clear="none"> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.<br clear="none"> <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://www.fsr.net/">http://www.fsr.net</a><br clear="none"> mailto:<a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com" target="_blank" href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com" onclick="window.open('https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&tf=1&to=Vision2020@moscow.com&cc=&bcc=&su=&body=','_blank');return false;">Vision2020@moscow.com</a><br clear="none">=======================================================<u></u><u></u></div></blockquote></div><div class="yiv9849323389MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div><br clear="none"></div></div></div></div><br><div class="yqt8785463765" id="yqt64275">=======================================================<br clear="none"> List services made available by First Step Internet,<br clear="none"> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.<br clear="none"> <a shape="rect" href="http://www.fsr.net/" target="_blank">http://www.fsr.net</a><br clear="none"> mailto:<a shape="rect" ymailto="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com" href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com" onclick="window.open('https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&tf=1&to=Vision2020@moscow.com&cc=&bcc=&su=&body=','_blank');return false;">Vision2020@moscow.com</a><br clear="none">=======================================================</div><br><br></div> </div> </div> </div> </div></body></html>