This post was updated on Feb. 4 at 10:30 a.m.
Forty-four gay-rights advocates were arrested at the Idaho Capitol Monday for a silent protest to draw attention to anti-discrimination legislation that lawmakers have refused to publicly vet for the last eight years.
With one hand over their mouths, the protesters blocked all entrances to the Senate chambers for more than two hours. They want lawmakers to hear a bill that would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender residents from job loss and eviction.
Boise resident Ty Carson was among the protesters and says being arrested felt like an important thing to do.
"If the Legislature is not making a statement that discrimination is wrong, then they're saying it's OK," says Carson. "And that's not right."
The 44 protesters, including former state lawmaker Nicole LeFavour, were cited for trespassing and could face fines of up to $1,000 and six months of jail time.
Updated, Feb. 3, 11:40 a.m.:
Police have arrested dozens of gay rights activists, saying their protest blocked entrances to the Idaho Senate chambers for more than two hours.
Idaho State Police say they took 43 people into custody Monday after the demonstrators stood shoulder to shoulder and prevented lawmakers from getting past.
Former state Sen. Nicole LeFavour, a Boise Democrat and the Idaho Legislature's first openly gay lawmaker, had said the group would block the entrances until lawmakers agreed to take up a bill adding protections for gay and transgender people to the Idaho Human Rights Act.
Idaho Republicans have blocked passage of such a proposal for eight years, and they have declined to give such a plan a hearing this year.
Original post:
Gay-rights activists occupied the three entrances to the Idaho Senate chambers, vowing to stay until lawmakers pass a bill adding discrimination protections to the Idaho Human Rights Act.
More than three dozen protesters stood shoulder to shoulder just outside the chamber Monday morning.
They wore "Add the Words Idaho" t-shirts and covered their mouths with their hands.
Security was on the scene, mulling what to do.
Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill, a Rexburg Republican, says he's told his members to remain outside the chambers until the protesters had vacated the entrances, to avoid a conflict.
They're due to convene on the Senate floor at 11 a.m.
For eight years, gay-rights activists have sought workplace and housing protections afforded other groups by Idaho law.
Idaho Republicans have blocked such measures.
