Legislators will again look at adding sexual orientation and gender identity to classes protected under the state’s anti-discrimination law.
Senate Minority Leader Edgar Malapeai, D-Pocatello, has put forward a bill that would make it illegal to fire (or refuse to hire) someone, or deny someone housing, because he or she is gay. A similar bill was introduced in 2008, but it died in committee.
Malapeai said it’s simply the right thing to do to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the state Human Rights Act, which already covers creed, color, sex, and national origin. The senator said that as things are people who feel they have been fired from a job because they are gay have no recourse.
“Let’s allow the Human Rights Commission, give them power to investigate, just to give them a little more latitude,” he said, adding that the protections are important to keeping Idaho competitive economically.
Sen. Nicole LeFavour, the only openly gay member of the Legislature, said some gay people are forced to keep secret their orientation and live in fear of being found out and losing their jobs. Adding sexual orientation to the Human Rights Act could quell the “chilling effect” that occurs in some workplaces, she said.
Malapeai said he hopes the bill gets a hearing this time around.
“I think it would be really important to allow a chance,” he said.
The anti-discrimination laws in 21 states include sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
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