BY JIMMY HANCOCK
POCATELLO — On the heels of similar changes made last semester in Idaho State University’s codeof conduct and at the urging of their counterparts at the University of Idaho, the ISU student senate approved a resolution last week that urges Idaho legislators to add “sexual orientation,” and “gender identity,” to theIdaho Human Rights Act. Emma Doupe, a music major who also serves as one of the studentsenators representing the College of Arts and Letters, said that when she saw the resolution and the recommendation from the University of Idaho, she went right to work.
“I took it upon myself to write a similar resolution,” Doupe said. “It followed suit to the one from the University of Idaho, but I added a clause that pertains to Pocatello and Idaho State University, something to personalize it for us.”
That additional clause also includes the consideration of protecting all the many organizations and clubs on ISU’s campus.
The amendment of the Idaho Human Rights Act, which is essentially Idaho’s civil rights legislation, to include the words “sexual orientation,” and “gender identity,” has become a hot topic as of late. Among the driving forces to that end is the campaign called Add the Words, which has gained new vigor during the past few months.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with whether you believe in gay rights,” Doupe said. “This has nothing to do with whether you believe in gay marriage or any of that. This has to do with discriminating against people. You don’t haveto like somebody or what they do, but they shouldn’t be fired or discriminated against because of who they are.”
The ASISU Resolution 525 passed with a vote of 18-2 last week, and Doupe says there are a couple of steps left to make the process official, including the approval of that meeting’s minutes. But once that’s completed, she plans to take point on sending that resolution to Idaho Legislators and a couple of local civic leaders.
“I am going to be sending it to the mayors of Pocatello and Chubbuck, and I will be sending it to all of our state representatives and senators,” she said. “I will also be sending it to the governorof Idaho.”
Doupe is also sending a copy of Resolution 525 to the University of Idaho Student Senate so they can see ISU followed suit, and to the student governing body at Boise State University.