Tag Archives: Idaho

IDAHO: Governor Asks Ninth Circuit Court To Stop Friday’s Same-Sex Marriages

Having been rejected today by the district court that overturned Idaho’s marriage ban, Gov. Butch Otter (seriously) tonight took his stay demand to the Ninth Circuit Court. Same-sex marriages are due to commence Friday morning. Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed: “Absent the stay requested by Governor Otter’s emergency motion, there will be a repetition in Idaho of the unseemly chaos, …

Read More »

Tony Perkins Has The Idaho Sadz

“For the 12th time since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last summer, a local judge felt empowered to bulldoze the will of an entire state, declaring a ‘fundamental right to marry’ that even the justices didn’t acknowledge. In Boise, the ruling stings a bit more than others, since unlike the courts’ other victims, Idaho had overwhelmingly voted for an amendment …

Read More »

BREAKING: Federal Court REJECTS Stay Request From Idaho Gov. Butch Otter

Via the Idaho State Journal: U.S. District Magistrate Judge Candy Dale wrote Wednesday morning that Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s appeal isn’t likely to succeed, and so there’s no reason to keep same-sex couples from seeking marriage licenses or marrying on Friday. On Tuesday, Dale struck down Idaho’s same-sex marriage ban in response to a lawsuit from four Idaho couples. Dale …

Read More »

Bryan Fischer Has The Idaho Sadz

Read More »

BREAKING: Judge Rules Idaho Marriage Ban Is Unconstitutional, No Stay Issued

Via the Idaho Statesman: U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy Dale has ruled Idaho’s ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional. In her 57-page decision, Dale stated, “Idaho’s Marriage Laws withhold from them a profound and personal choice, one that most can take for granted. By doing so, Idaho’s Marriage Laws deny same-sex couples the economic, practical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of marriage, …

Read More »

IDAHO: Judge Promises Swift Ruling In Same-Sex Marriage Lawsuit

Oral arguments in Idaho’s same-sex marriage lawsuit took place yesterday and the judge promised to issue a ruling soon. U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale told attorneys for four couples Monday that the emotional case raised lots of questions, and that she would get a ruling out in the “relatively near future.” She declined to give a specific date, and …

Read More »

IDAHO: Marriage Case Begins Monday

Idaho’s marriage equality case begins on Monday in federal court. Four Boise-based same-sex couples are challenging Idaho’s constitutional ban after Ada County refused to issue marriage certificates or recognize marriages from other states. Similar bans in other states, including Utah’s, have recently been struck down in district-level federal courts and are under appeal. The Idaho suit was filed in November …

Read More »

IDAHO: Retired Colonel Offers Burial Plot To Lesbian Widow Refused By Cemetery

A retired colonel has offered his burial plot to a veteran Idaho lesbian who was refused the right to be buried in a military cemetery next to her late wife, who also served in the armed forces. The push by U.S. Navy veteran Madelynn Taylor and a woman she married out-of-state comes as four Idaho lesbian couples are challenging the …

Read More »

IDAHO: Hundreds Demand LGBT Rights

Hundreds of LGBT activists returned to the Idaho statehouse yesterday in another demand that lawmakers add sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s anti-discrimination protections.  “This is the eighth year we’ve been working on this, the eighth consecutive session that they told us they won’t even give us a public hearing,” said Mistie Tolman, co-chair and spokeswoman for Add …

Read More »

IDAHO: Police Arrest 43 LGBT Activists For Occupying State Senate Entrance

Via the Associated Press: Police have arrested dozens of gay rights activists, saying their protest blocked entrances to the Idaho Senate chambers for more than two hours. Idaho State Police say they took 43 people into custody Monday after the demonstrators stood shoulder to shoulder and prevented lawmakers from getting past. Former state Sen. Nicole LeFavour, the Idaho Legislature’s first …

Read More »

IDAHO: Rally Tomorrow At Statehouse

Via Boise State Public Radio: For the eighth year in a row, Idaho gay rights advocates will attempt to get the attention of the Legislature with a rally at the Capitol this Saturday. “Add the Words Idaho” organizer Mistie Tolman says more than 600 people have said on Facebook that they’ll attend. She says people from all across the state …

Read More »

IDAHO: Marriage Lawsuit Filed

And today we add Idaho to the ever-growing list. Via press release from the National Center for Lesbian Rights: Today, four same-sex couples filed a federal lawsuit in Boise challenging Idaho’s laws that prohibit same-sex couples from marrying and refuse to respect the legal marriages of same-sex couples who married in other states. The couples, all from Boise, include university …

Read More »

NYT Ponders Legacy Of Ken Mehlman

The New York Times is wondering what Ken Mehlman’s legacy will be regarding LGBT rights. Mr. Mehlman, 46, remains the hyper-intense, guarded strategist he was in his Bush days, with the same habit of looking past people instead of meeting their eyes. He shuns most interviews and still deflects personal questions, as he did back when rumors about his sexuality …

Read More »

IDAHO: State GOP Seeks To Void Local LGBT Anti-Discrimination Laws

The Idaho state GOP is seeking to overturn the LGBT anti-discrimination laws that have passed in six cities around the state by imposing a law than bans such protections. Cornel Rasor, a former Bonner County commissioner and chairman of the Idaho GOP’s resolutions committee, said, “I’d hire a gay guy if I thought he was a good worker. But if …

Read More »

Born In A Trunk In Pocatello

The town of Pocatello, Idaho has approved a bill that protects LGBT residents from discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations. A similar bill had deadlocked the city council 3-3 in April. Voting for the ordinance that contains only three modifications compared to one that failed in April were Roger Bray, Gary Moore, Steve Brown and Eva Nye. Those opposed …

Read More »

OREGON: Portland Timbers Pro Soccer Fan Club Display Denounces Homophobia

On Sunday the fan club for the Portland Timbers pro soccer team created the above display in support of the International Day Against Homophobia, which is this Friday. From the Major League Soccer site: Sometimes, supporters groups’ tifo displays are designed to look really cool, to recognize a player’s career-long contributions to the club or even to intimidate that day’s …

Read More »

Idaho Town Rejects LGBT Rights

Last night the Idaho town of Pocatello (population 54,000) rejected a proposed ordinance that would have banned anti-LGBT discrimination in housing, accommodations, and employment.  An evenly divided Pocatello City Council voted 3-3 on a motion to approve the ordinance following another short public hearing on changes made since the ordinance was first proposed April 4. Voting for the ordinance were …

Read More »

IDAHO: Survivalists Plan Armed Fortress

Idaho survivalists have launched a website detailing their plan to create an armed fortress city surrounded by a “defensible perimeter” complete with gun towers. Citadel organizers envision their project to be a community where residents are bound by a desire to “live together in accordance with Thomas Jefferson’s ideal of Rightful Liberty,” which they have determined to mean “that neighbors …

Read More »

Boise Approves LGBT Protections

Yesterday the city council of Boise, Idaho unanimously approved sweeping protections for LGBT residents. Starting in January 2013 in Boise, no one can be discriminated against for their job, housing, or at local businesses because of their sexual orientation. The passing of the ordinance brought a standing ovation from the packed auditorium of supporters in the audience. There are exceptions …

Read More »

Boise Considers LGBT Protections

Last night the city council of Idaho’s capital met to debate the passage of an LGBT anti-discrimination bill. Dozens of city residents spoke in support of the measure. Though support was overwhelming Tuesday night, at least one person spoke in support of “traditional marriage” and warned of the dangers of sodomy. Boise resident Curt Vieselmeyer urged the council to reject …

Read More »