GOP has it wrong on anti-discrimination bills

I congratulate the Sandpoint City Council for being the first community in Idaho to pass an ordinance that protects sexual orientation and gender identity. That aspect of human rights was left out of the Idaho Human Rights Act.

A former county commissioner, Cornel Rasor, and the Idaho Republican Party Central Committee, with “little debate,” are urging our 81-percent Republican Legislature to make this feature of local human rights codes unenforceable. Rasor said he would employ a gay guy as long as he didn’t come to work in a tutu. Rasor is a man for our time. My partner never lets me wear my tutu when I go to work.

Although Rasor and the Republican Party will vehemently deny it, they are the direct heirs of those 50 years ago who, out of stern piety and violent purity, fought against civil rights for African Americans. Their reasons always come from the Bible and the wisdom of “no-nothings.” Our City Council is a tough bunch. I expect them to foil our own Taliban-Lite with decent and, dare I say it, progressive legislation.

LAWRENCE BLAKEY

Sandpoint