Press Release from Idaho Family Policy Center
BOISE, IDAHO – Idaho Family Policy Center, a pro-family Christian ministry, celebrates the introduction of our Uniformity in Local Antidiscrimination Ordinances Act by the Idaho House Local Government Committee. The committee will soon consider the bill in a public hearing.
The bill which—was drafted by Idaho Family Policy Center and is sponsored by Rep. Bruce Skaug (R-Nampa)—would prevent local government entities, such as counties and cities, from enacting ordinances that impose antidiscrimination requirements beyond those present in state law.
In recent years, the Idaho Legislature has preempted rogue local governments in a wide variety of contexts, including gun control, knife control, ideological flags, mask mandates, and plastic grocery bag bans.
More than twelve Idaho cities and counties have adopted local antidiscrimination ordinances that contain the categories of sexual orientation and gender identity, including Bellevue, Boise, Coeur d’Alene, Driggs, Hailey, Idaho Falls, Ketchum, Lewiston, Meridian, Moscow, Pocatello, and Victor. These antidiscrimination ordinances are frequently weaponized against small business owners who don’t want to participate in events that violate their sincerely held beliefs, including same-sex wedding ceremonies and Pride festivals.
According to statewide public opinion polling, more than 71% of likely Idaho voters support protecting photographs, cake artists, and event planners with sincerely held religious beliefs from antidiscrimination ordinances.
A statement from Blaine Conzatti, President of Idaho Family Policy Center:
No small business owner should ever be forced to choose between violating their sincerely held religious beliefs or leaving the marketplace altogether. But local antidiscrimination ordinances are frequently weaponized against small business owners—especially wedding vendors or those offering creative design services.
Government officials have forced bakers, photographers, florists, graphic designers, and wedding venue operators to participate in same-sex wedding ceremonies and pride festivals. And that has even taken place here in Idaho, where more than a dozen Idaho cities have enacted ordinances that violate individual conscience rights.
We call on the Idaho Legislature to rein in these rogue local governments by ensuring that these local antidiscrimination ordinances align with state law.
