12 | OutBoise Magazine | NEWS
OutBoisemag.com | Issue 14 | January 2016
Add the Words Rally To Be Held Jan. 16
By Konrad Juengling
Add The Words, Idaho (ATW) will be holding a rally at the
Capitol on Saturday, January 16, 2016. The rally is a public
demonstration for the political action committee, with anyone supporting the cause welcomed to attend. Demonstrators
are meeting at the steps of the capitol at 2:30pm.
ATW is a PAC that supports the addition of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the Idaho Human Rights Act
(IHRA). As the act currently stands, sexual orientation and
gender identity are not protected, meaning someone can be
fired from their place of employment because of their sexual
orientation or gender identity. This means LGBTQ people
are faced with economic insecurity as their jobs can be in
jeopardy if they are outed, or if someone takes issue with
their perceived orientation. Adding the words will give people
employment security and the basic dignity all Idahoans
deserve.
The 2015 legislative session was the ninth session where
ATW advocated for their mission. With this tenth attempt,
ATW will be holding the rally the week the legislature reconvenes. Last session, the vote held by the Idaho House State
Affairs Committee was along party lines, where it got killed in
committee. The Democrat “yea” votes included Elaine Smith,
Paulette Jordan, John McCrostie, and Melissa Wintrow.
If someone is unable to attend the rally, there are other ways
to offer support. ATW encourages supporters to contact their
legislator, write a letter to a newspaper editor, or donate to
the campaign on the ATW website (www.addthewords.org).
For those interested in t-shirts, they can be purchased at
Signs 2 U, located at 4828 W Emerald St, Boise, ID, 83706.
For those interested in buttons, contact addthewords@gmail.
com.
Last year, over 1,000 people attended the rally, with hopefully more to attend in 2016.
Photos from Add The Words Rally January 2015
Courtesy Budge Photography