Bills would codify discrimination in Idaho

We fully support the U.S. and Idaho constitutions' guarantee of religious freedom for one to freely believe and worship as he or she chooses. But we oppose any law that permits one’s use of his or her religious beliefs in the public arena to harm or discriminate against persons that happen to hold different beliefs.

HB426 and HB427 provide sweeping broad powers for one to use his or her religious views to create havoc for Idaho’s business community and invite widespread discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations.

The poorly written bills could create a significant increase in litigation for Idaho businesses regarding contracts, signing of legal documents, enforcing professional licensing standards and other legal issues when one of the parties objects based on religious grounds. We suggest this constant threat of litigation could possibly cause an exit from Idaho by some businesses and certainly discourage others from moving to Idaho.

HB426 could result in serious consequences to the health and safety of Idahoans. If some licensed professionals acted according to their sincerely held religious beliefs, a licensing board could not reprimand or discipline a professional that caused harm to the patient or client. What if a physician based on religious grounds refused to administer a blood transfusion to a patient? What if a teacher guided by a religious conviction ignored negative comments directed at a gay student? What if a licensed counselor using a religious view failed to apply the most effective intervention methods in treating a troubled sexual minority client that is showing signs of suicide?

HB427 would open the door to widespread practices of discrimination in Idaho. The owners of a housing complex, a restaurant/hotel or employer could use his or her religious beliefs to adopt a policy of discrimination against members of the LGBT community thus seriously weakening enforcement of the anti-discrimination ordinances in seven Idaho cities. HB247 could also invite discrimination against women. For example, if an orthodox religious male leader, as an employer, ordered his female employee(s) to wear a certain headdress and she refused, he could fire her under HB427.

This legislation could discourage tourism and future out of state conventions whose delegates represent diversity.

We fear that HB247 would unintentionally open the door to such hate groups as the Aryan Nations’ Church of Jesus Christ Christian or the religious’ dogma of the Ku Klux Klan to adversely impact the lives of people these hate groups target.

The late Richard Butler preached a religious dogma that the Jewish race was the result of a sexual union between Eve and the serpent in the Garden of Eden (Christian Identity Theology) to justify his hatred of Jews. He used his religious perspective regarding the Biblical story of Cain and Abel to label people of color the mud race. We have for more than 30 years worked with leaders of many faiths in condemning these doctrines. Under HB427, who will determine what is a legitimate religion?

The good people of Idaho do not deserve another episode of an unfair stain on our state’s reputation. Some national media outlets have already reported on the bills.

The businesses of Idaho should not be subjected to a flood of costly litigation.

If these bills become law, the state of Idaho will be embroiled in years of litigation as to the constitutionality of the broad sweep of the legislation. Idaho should not have to spend millions of dollars defending this flawed legislation.

Idaho should be guaranteeing full equality for all Idahoans rather than expanding discrimination.

CHRISTIE WOOD,

President

Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations

Coeur d’Alene

BRENDA HAMMOND,

President

Bonner County Human Rights Task Force

Sandpoint