Add the 4 Words Idaho

Hello IDAHO! No better time than now to show up and bring all the LOVE because it’s next week in Boise and we are making some history this time.
See you on the 13th!

Idaho has transgender & non-binary veterans of the Air Force & Navy, botanists, taxidermists, computer programmers, pilots, artists, biologists, anthropologists, fromer Senators, writers, graphic designers, engineers, former Sheriffs officers…. We have always been your neighbors & members of your community. We will always be born in your families. It is beautiful and the way the humanity has always been. ❤️

Sue Chew may be the longest serving Democrat in the Idaho legislature, but most important of all is HOW Sue has served. Knocking doors of not only Democrats but all residents, voters and not-yet-voters, Sue has listened, educated, involved, worked tirelessly for the people of Idaho's district 17. I remember well the last day of the 2014 legislative session when I arrived in the House from a Senate closet to find Sue finishing a speech on the floor of the Idaho House on the need to Add the Words, & Add the 4 Words in Idaho. It had been a session where we'd begun silent, peaceful, respectful civil disobedience in the capitol and no one had stood on the floor of the house or senate to speak in favor of the bill to include gay, bi, and gender non-conforming people in Idaho's non discrimination laws. But that was what Sue Chew had stood up and taken the floor of the Idaho House of Representatives to do. Sue listens to her constituents. She has spent years crafting bills for the issues that matter to them. She had heard what mattered to the people she stood in the Capitol for, and this was an issue she knew mattered. I send love to Sue tonight for all her work, for being the model of democratic representation, for being a beautiful human being. Please join me in appreciation of Sue by sharing. Love out to you all out there in these hard times. It is time to say in law that cruelty and discrimination against gay and transgender people is wrong. ❤🔥

The Idaho Press has a very informative article today on what it means for library content to be harmful to children.

For avoiding negative mental health consequences (like su***de, self harm, or intentionally risky behaviors) it’s important to avoid leaving kids with feelings of shame.

Staley likened complete restriction of info on being lgbtq “to well-meaning parents who are afraid their kids might get hurt in a nearby river responding by never providing any access or information about rivers or swimming in general.”

He said, “Eventually, you’re going to come across the river, and discovery that it’s fun to play and splash around in ... and if that kid wanders out there, and they don’t even know what a river is and don’t have any safeguards in place, they might get hurt... “

The article suggested kids need parents to be or to find safe mentors, someone they can ask questions and get answers from so avoidance and restriction doesn’t cause them to feel shame or make them think there’s something wrong with them.

This is one of my favorite quotes from Susan Cain's new book "Bittersweet." This book grabs you by the heart and doesn't let go.

Susan's book "Quiet" helped me understand and appreciate my introversion, and her new book helped me understand and appreciate the bittersweet state of mind that's always been central to who I am.

My bittersweet state of mind is not about perpetual sadness or melancholy. In fact, it is the source of my joy, my gratitude, and my hope. I have a very clear understanding of pain and sorrow and loss, and the reverence I have for what is hard makes what is sweet and good about life even sweeter.

These dichotomies—joy through sorrow, hope through struggle—are the crux of bittersweet. As Susan writes, “the recognition that light and dark, birth and death—bitter and sweet—are forever paired.”

The book comes out on April 5th. Pre-order now and join us for this 2-episode conversation about sad songs, the beauty of longing, and the hard edges of love. And, a little Leonard Cohen, of course.

https://bit.ly/3iwKIBu

Today by the hand of the US Supreme Court, gay and transgender people are now included in US civil rights non-discrimination protections for employment. A person can no longer legally fire you for the gender of the person you love or for how you express your gender. May we also reach the day where discrimination in public accommodation and business services is also banned. That is the work ahead. Today we CELEBRATE. With love to ALL THOSE WHO HAVE labored for this justice thank you... and to the court for today being the hand of justice in our lives. To those in Idaho who have given so much for this struggle, our gratitude.

NAMES OF THOSE THE IDAHO LEGISLATURE CHOSE TO ARREST RATHER THAN even HEAR in 2014 & 2015, you were beautiful, silent, peaceful, respectful and focused on ending the cruelty, giving hope and saving Idaho's gay and transgender adults and young people from harm and despair. We had to wait this long for partial justice but finally there is a reflection of our nation's belief that discrimination against us is unjust and will not be tolerated in law. Thank you
Abersold Barbara Anne
Amlin Krishelle Jeanette
Axtell Shelley
Axtell Richard Chaddon
Bates Gretchen
Berto Nancy Diane
Blakely James Michael
Blazor Keith Vincent
Blazor James Robert
Bolen Susan L.
Bowman Jeannette
Bray Gene Edwin
Briese Casie
Busbee Jim Rodney
Butts Michael
Butts Meredith Jordan
Carson Denae
Carson Tyler R.
Caruso Carmine Emilio
Caughey Michael
Cavin Stefan Alexander
Christophersen Joseph Ambrose
Collette Frances
Costa Shelly Denise
Cross Judy Ellen J.
Daniels Alexandra Storm
DeAngelis Ellen Louise
Djembe Salem Christian
Everhart Daniel
Fink Rabbi Daniel
Gelletly Susan K
Gonzalez Daniel James
Graham Reverend Deborah M
Gregory Sharon
Gross Cynthia Ann
Grubbs John
Hansen Caleb Foster
Harwood Donna
Hastings Kerstyn Leann
Hausrath Anne Stites
Hausrath Alan Richard
Haworth Nichol Betty
Holm Rich
Howard Colin C.
Ibarra Gabriel
Jackson-Ebney Emilie M
Jensen Neysa
Jones Deja
Just James Richard
Kachigian Jo-Ann
Keener Reverend Edwin Keith
Kelley Karen S.
Kibbe Joseph Larell
Kirsch Kristine Ann
Lampman Rebecca
LeFavour Nicole
Lema Jessica Nicole
Leonard Nicole E
Looslie Sheena Marie
Luna Rosie
Mallis Debbie Ann
Mandigo Kaitlin P
Marquart Cay
Marquart Ron
McEvoy Arla Catherine
McKay Terry B
McKernan Patricia Lee
McVicker​ Evangel Kealy
Smith Paddy
Monsees David Milton
Montoya Matthew
Morgan Lois
Murphy Stephen Francis
Ness Justin Robert
O'Shea Molly Anne
Orison Theresa
Piggott Dianne Grace
Piper-Ruth Pamela Jyll
Powell Jami Dawn
Preheim Jenna Avery
Raino Patricia Brightwing
Rayhill Hilary Kay
Rhuman Jacqueline
Richardson Patricia
Roncevic Andrej
Robinson Kelly Lynae
Rowen Elliott Kristopher
Rylee Jennie Gay
Sanchez Maria E
Schlegel Pastor Marcus
Shannon Oliver
Simmons Terri Lee
Smith Mary Evelyn
Spiva Marth Lou
Statham Alonzo
Sutton Karissa
Taylor Madelynn Lee
Taylor Mary Lou
Tenney Lisa Marie
Thomson Ashley C
Tikala Kyle Lindsey
Tipton Diane
Tracy Kerstyn Hastings
Tupaz Benjamin Brian
Vasquez Donna Marie
Walker Jade
Wargo John Sidney
Watkins Reverend Janine M
Weight Cody Rodney
Wilson Benjamin Dale
Wintersteen Janelle Davis
Woods Gayle Michelle
Wortman Mitchell Garrett
Wray Frances Eileen

Thank you to leaders of Idaho's movement, like Mistie Tolman former head of Add the Words Idaho, without whom our work would not have been possible. Cammie Pavesic and Michael Gough, Carmen Stanger, Julie Zicha, all our trainers and videographers and legal observers.

Thank you to all who have spoken up for justice for LGBT people and who have led the work, written letters, testified, written stick notes, donated toward bail, thank you. There is work ahead.