Breaking news: 43 gay rights activists arrested in Idaho Senate

Boise, Idaho (AP) — 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, a Boise Democrat and the Idaho Legislature's first openly gay lawmaker, had said the group would block the entrances until lawmakers agreed to take up a bill adding protections for gay and transgender people to the Idaho Human Rights Act.

Idaho Republicans have blocked passage of such a proposal for eight years, and they have declined to give such a plan a hearing this year.

In an earlier report from Boise, AP’s John Miller wrote:

Gay-rights activists Monday morning occupied the three entrances to the Idaho Senate chambers, vowing to stay until lawmakers pass a bill adding protections for gay and transgender people to the Idaho Human Rights Act.

More than three dozen protesters stood shoulder to shoulder just outside the chamber, with groups at the main and two rear chamber entrances.

They wore "Add the Words Idaho" t-shirts and covered their mouths with their hands, a symbolic gesture made because Idaho Republicans have refused to hold a hearing on a measure that would add workplace and housing protections for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender individuals to state law.

For eight years, gay-rights activists have sought protections afforded other groups by Idaho law.

"If (lawmakers) get a bill through committee, we would let them in to do their work," said former state Sen. Nicole LeFavour, a Boise Democrat and Idaho's first openly gay lawmaker, who joined in the protest Monday.

Security was on the scene, mulling the situation.

Parked on the street below the Capitol's front steps were about 10 Idaho State Police cruisers, as well as a large white bus with secure windows.

It wasn't immediately clear if it would be used in case arrests occur.

Idaho Republicans have blocked such gay-rights measures in the past and this year have told activists they won't get a hearing.

The last formal hearing was in 2012.

Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill, a Rexburg Republican, said he's told his members to remain outside the chambers until the protesters had vacated the entrances, to avoid a conflict.

He and state Senate Minority Leader Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, and an advocate for adding protections to the Human Rights Act, rushed through Senate quarters around 10 a.m. for a hasty meeting over what to do.

The Senate had been scheduled to convene at 11 a.m.

Amid growing tension over whether the "Add the Words" bill will get a hearing, Idaho's Capitol has been the scene of several low-key protests.

On Friday, for instance, a small group with guitars sang songs in the Capitol, urging lawmakers to take up the issue.

by John Miller, Associated Press

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Gayly – February 3, 2014 @ 12:35pm