A panel in the Idaho House is expected to vote this morning on a bill that would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The vote comes after three days of hearings.
The nearly 20 hours of testimony came from gay people speaking about their experience with discrimination in Idaho. Parents talked about worrying their gay or transgender children would be fired or kicked out apartments.
Lawmakers also heard from people who thought the bill went too far and questioned whether sexual orientation and gender identity should be protected the way race is.
The House State Affairs Committee is made up of 13 Republicans and four Democrats, and it was clear Republicans are very concerned about what the bill could mean for religious business owners.
If the bill does pass out of committee, it would be heard by the Idaho Legislature for the first time.
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