The Idaho legislature currently has six bills targeting the LGBTQ community working their way through, all with the intent of making life hell for someone represented by a rainbow flag.
House Bill 71 makes gender-affirming care a felony when the patient is under 18. The bill includes puberty blocking medication which was left out of previous bills. House Bill 170 is designed to block state funding for Pride. HB 265 criminalizes drag shows on public property, SB 1016 bans requirements for trans accommodations. But it’s the debate surrounding Senate Bill 1100, Idaho’s bathroom bill requiring “bathrooms and locker rooms [to be] based on a student’s sex at birth” that is the most telling:
When Sen. Carrie Semmelroth, D-Boise, asked if [Sen. Ben Adams (R-Nampa)] believes transgender students are people, Adams said, “Everyone that comes into this world … is a biological male or a biological female.”
If “are trans students people?” requires such a backhanded response that still denies their existence, I don’t know what else needs to be said. This is State Sen. Adams saying the quiet part out loud. In his mind, the dehumanization is complete.
What “equality” do trans people in Idaho expect at this point? What “moral argument” do you expect to fall on any less than deaf ears? What “humanity” do you expect him to see?
We need to start seeing these people for the enemies they are. Towards us and the next generation of LGBTQ Americans.
