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‘Add the Words’ compromise in works

Demonstrators line the rotunda and halls of the Idaho Statehouse on Monday morning in support of
Demonstrators line the rotunda and halls of the Idaho Statehouse on Monday morning in support of "Add the Words" and against House Bill 427. The protestors are advocating for a hearing to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the state's human rights statute, and against a bill that would allow those with religious convictions to withhold services from persons who may violate those convictions. They cover their mouths to symbolize their feeling of disenfranchisement. (Statesman photo: Joe Jaszewski)

After nearly a decade of talk, rallies, protests and arrests, a possible compromise is in the works in the state legislature about the "Add the Words" movement. Supporters want the words "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" added to the Idaho Human Rights Act. If that happens, it would ban discrimination based on those two factors. Republican State Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill told KTVB's Doug Petcash during a taping of "Viewpoint" that he's been involved in discussions to find a compromise on the issue. It would be a compromise between the "Add the Words" proposal and concerns about religious liberty. "We're getting very close to having some legislation that we'd like to put out there," said Senator Hill. "Of course, both sides will be critical of that because a compromise is just that, you don't get everything"/KTVB. More here.

Question: What do you think a compromise will look like?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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