Idaho Bill would okay Denial of Services to Gays, Single Mothers

Source

An Idaho lawmaker is pushing legislation that would allow businesses to deny services to gay people as long as they cited sincerely held religious beliefs.

Under the new bill, Idahoans would not lose their professional or occupational licenses if they refused to provide their services to an individual or a group because they were exercising their religion.

“We've seen the government attempt to come in and dictate who a church should hire for their personnel,” said state Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, to the House State Affairs Committee. “We’ve seen the government mandate health care which requires businesses and individuals to support paying for … contraceptions against their religious feelings.“

Under the bill, doctors could deny providing medical treatment to gay people or even unmarried mothers and not lose their medical license. The same would be allowed for teachers to deny educating one of their students if they were gay. The bill would also allow psychologists to provide faith-based services as long as they cited they were exercising their religion.

This is the state of Idaho, in which I experienced unethical and unconstitutional violations of my rights by the police force - including them falsifying a police report, searching the house and my room without a warrant and the like.

In addition to that, the court has systematically messed up on court dates for people I know on multiple occasions, meaning that when they show up to the court house, as their court date was moved without them being notified, they are immediately arrested or a bench warrant goes out for their arrest.

I am talking about college-educated people who are not career criminals and who do check their mail. I have personally gone to the court house with one of my friends in order to deal with legal issues, and we spent an extra ten minutes interrogating the legal clerk in order to make sure that all he had to do was pay a fine, and that he had no more court dates.

Yet there was a warrant issued for his arrest due to paperwork he was not aware of not being turned in, and that is what resulted in the police gaining entrance to our house.

My attorney pushed for discovery, and their audio log mysteriously "dissipated" and the police report they handed over was falsified, with entirely incorrect sequences of events and even incorrect evidence logs - new evidence was added and some even went missing.

The education system in the state is also broken. My friend is a teacher who works there, and when his school doesn't meet the state or national standards, he is told "not to worry about it" and the paper work just never gets turned in - and the school opens up like normal the next year, even though, under the law, it has to be shut down.

My aunt is an attorney in the state, and she knows that the people that run the prisons are corrupt and milk them for profit and violate many laws. The state is too dangerous to live in. I would recommend never moving there, and also never visiting. If you get caught up in the corrupt system there, you might not get out.

I might seem like I am over-reacting, but this news article is actually not hitting on the issue hard enough. From what I saw while living in Idaho, this bill will not only pass, it will probably be actively used as a spring-board to systematically deny medical services and other services to gays and single mothers in a legal manner with no oversight. Notice that education can be denied as well.

This is not just about contraception or abortion services. This is about medical services such as treating a broken leg, or someone who is dying. And trust me, this is what the bill means to do.

This is in direct violation of the Hippocratic Oath (Link)

At the time of being admitted as a member of the medical profession:
I solemnly pledge to consecrate my life to the service of humanity;
I will give to my teachers the respect and gratitude that is their due;
I will practice my profession with conscience and dignity;
The health of my patient will be my first consideration;
I will respect the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died;
I will maintain by all the means in my power, the honour and the noble traditions of the medical profession;
My colleagues will be my sisters and brothers;
I will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;
I will maintain the utmost respect for human life;
I will not use my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;
I make these promises solemnly, freely and upon my honour.

Declaration of Geneva

We have a state in the U.S. that is about to violate human rights on a massive scale by denying medical services to gays and single mothers. This may sound like a joke, but I assure you, I am not joking. This is Idaho. This is the example your Tea Party state is giving you right now.

There is absolutely no excuse to promote human rights violations just because you happen to be a Tea Party member or Libertarian or Conservative. No excuse. I am trying to explain how dangerous this vein of thought is, and also how terrifying it is that our nation is heading down this road. In the end, it is policies like this that are going to stain and tarnish the reputations of the Tea Party, Libertarians and Conservatives as well.

Here me: I just made a case for this violating human rights. And if Christianity is the motive, I can assure you, this is a bastardized version of Christianity that will not result in Heaven. Whatever the motive is, it is sick.

Whoa.. doesn't that mean like 1 in 10 guys and 1 in 5 parents is discriminated?

I read somewhere that a few years back, Idaho's single parent rate is 20%

How will they even control who enters their business? That is just a big can of worms, next thing you know, gays or single mothers are gonna get shot in stores/urgent care clinics when staff/owners decide they're not welcome/2nd class citizens

What's next, gays & single parents to the back of the bus?

reply to post by gardener


Your statistics are probably somewhere close to being accurate, and the thing is, although this seems like a fringe news report, I was just living in Idaho for a year and I think it is entirely credible. As if gays were bad enough, the single mother thing crosses the line, and as I said, this is denying basic educational and medical services.

I think the goal is to enforce straight marriage through denial of human rights, well that is the goal. I don't think that is an appropriate approach, and it is also a dangerous one that affects me - I know single mothers and gays in Idaho who could be affected, and people in Idaho have thought I was gay before, meaning that if I still lived there, I might be affected.

From what I know about Idaho, all that has to happen is the doctor decides you are gay and denies services. Although this is an extreme case, this is the first example of what strong-arm Tea Party-esque tactics are going to look like - unethical, violations of constitutional rights and the Geneva Convention.

I'm not jumping on board that train to hell, even though I don't like the liberal alternative, this goes against my code of ethics, which yes, I do have. See - there, I drew a line. I'm not going to stand for violations of the constitution or Geneva Convention.

gardener
How will they even control who enters their business? That is just a big can of worms, next thing you know, gays or single mothers are gonna get shot in stores/urgent care clinics when staff/owners decide they're not welcome/2nd class citizens

What's next, gays & single parents to the back of the bus?

edit on 29-1-2014 by gardener because: (no reason given)

Quite unfortunately, they just might - get shot, I mean, when they go to get a doctor check-up - and then they are out of luck, aren't they - with no medical care.

Wrabbit, Beezer, Ketsuko - I apologize for jumping ship (pun intended) on the Tea Party, of which I am still a member and have gone to meetings for (I never explained that before lol). I do sympathize with a lot of things you guys have to say, but not stuff like this.

Actually, I might go to the next meeting and bring this up. I don't like it. I just wrote to my local Tea Party faction, actually, I might as well go on the ground out there and participate.

reply to post by darkbake


Wow Idaho sounds more like a third world nation....err...my bad I have been to many third world nations that were not as bad as what you have described.

Great thread S&F for the info. I don't think I will ever be traveling through Idaho if I can help it based off that bit of info.

I don't care what brand of fundamentalism one prescribes they are all equal in my eyes.


This thread should be interesting at least to see if anyone try's to defend such reprehensible practices.

reply to post by Grimpachi


I have lived there and it really does feel like that - I was getting pulled over constantly and asked questions for weird reasons, for example, as was my mom and P.S.R. worker (on-site counselor) and room-mates, as if the police were feeling us out.

Go up north about 2 hours out of Boise, and you get to Star and Emmet - these towns are nestled in the middle of a valley between mountains, and imagine a place where people are building fences and finding things for their houses from the dump or trash bins, that's what it was like - actually, great people here though - I always liked Fallout 3. I actually kind of liked Emmet.

Adding some local color for you guys!

reply to post by Grimpachi

I agree. Idaho is one of the few places not on my list of travels. That said, to each his own. At least the US is big enough to keep that place at arms length. I know where I'm not wanted and feel no need to kick up any dust over it.

People are free to leave ... and others may know where they'll be welcomed with open, if not misguided, arms.

reply to post by darkbake


I stayed in Boise for a week once and it was a very nice town.. nice people.. good vibes and no trouble. Idaho is a beautiful state. Hard to imagine that this would pass. But it has been 15 years since I've been there.. maybe things have changed.

This is the "Freedom of America"?

What happened to the Separation between Church and State? Religion is a personal belief and should not be able to dictate laws

with all the talk of "Progress" and "Liberal Agenda" and yet this discrimination and Human Rights violations continue

I can care less what business do. If they don't want your business then u can always go somewhere else. It's not like they are the only store in town. It's not a big deal.

reply to post by amfirst1


But taking away Humans Rights is a big deal, saying you can't get treatment because you are Gay or a Single Mother is a big deal. it's like saying any "Heterosexual" can be discriminated and not provided medical attention, or anyone who owns Guns is not provided Medical Attention.

Humans Rights violations are a big deal as it further divides people

Darth_Prime
This is the "Freedom of America"?

What happened to the Separation between Church and State? Religion is a personal belief and should not be able to dictate laws

with all the talk of "Progress" and "Liberal Agenda" and yet this discrimination and Human Rights violations continue

A fascism government controls the free enterprise of the people and a democratic republic with a bill of rights tend to respect that right of it’s people to run their business to hire employees that represent their company interest and private as well as religious beliefs. Now if you have a problem with our U.S. Constitution you may move to another country that suits you better, but do NOT screw around with our Bill of Rights!

reply to post by darkbake

Okay, well this could very well open up a HUGE can of worms. That would not only be inclusive to Christian Beliefs, but Lets see, Scientology, Muslims, Jews, Satanist, You freaking name it...They can NOT do this for one religion and not another. My gosh people are so ignorant. Also.. HIPPOCRATIC OATH COMES TO MIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

reply to post by darkbake

Again, a little thing called HIPPOCRATIC OATH......

Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panacea and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfill according to my ability and judgment this oath and this covenant:

To hold him who has taught me this art as equal to my parents and to live my life in partnership with him, and if he is in need of money to give him a share of mine, and to regard his offspring as equal to my brothers in male lineage and to teach them this art — if they desire to learn it — without fee and covenant; to give a share of precepts and oral instruction and all the other learning to my sons and to the sons of him who has instructed me and to pupils who have signed the covenant and have taken an oath according to the medical law, but to no one else.

I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice.

I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.

I will not use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as are engaged in this work.

Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves.

What I may see or hear in the course of the treatment or even outside of the treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account one must spread abroad, I will keep to myself holding such things shameful to be spoken about.

If I fulfill this path and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and art, being honored with fame among all men for all time to come; if I transgress it and swear falsely, may the opposite of all this be my lot.[5]

So Uh yeah...this goes against ANYTHING THE OATH STANDS FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WIKI

en.wikipedia.org...

ItCameFromOuterSpace
reply to post by darkbake

 

I stayed in Boise for a week once and it was a very nice town.. nice people.. good vibes and no trouble. Idaho is a beautiful state. Hard to imagine that this would pass. But it has been 15 years since I've been there.. maybe things have changed.

Idaho is still sparsely populated, as far as states go, and there are a lot of small towns filled with rednecks that are 'undereducated', shall we say.

Most of them have never experienced a big city of over 30,000 people, so yes, they are behind the times.
It is rapidly changing as far as prejudice goes, though.

Wages are some of the lowest in the nation, and requirements for teachers and police/fire personal reflect this somewhat, I think....especially in the smaller cities and towns.
The old saying "one bad apple spoils the whole barrel" comes to mind.
I have seen it more than once where somebody will get on the wrong side of the law, and half the force then keeps them in their line of sight for anything from jaywalking to speeding.
It's not just gays that get singled out, though I can see why it may seem this way.

Having been here since 1975, I can say Idaho is behind the times, but we're running fast to catch up.
Please don't judge us all by our bad apples....we need a little more time to get them up to speed.

Darth_Prime
reply to post by amfirst1

 

But taking away Humans Rights is a big deal, saying you can't get treatment because you are Gay or a Single Mother is a big deal. it's like saying any "Heterosexual" can be discriminated and not provided medical attention, or anyone who owns Guns is not provided Medical Attention.

Humans Rights violations are a big deal as it further divides people

Hello, my friend! I hope you are well, Darth_Prime!

I can see where Darkbake would be upset over this, given his experience, but it won't fly.
That sort of attitude is definitely in the minority now, thank goodness.
There are still a lot of bible totin' anti-everything in these parts, but they're a dying breed.
Some people with these belief systems aren't ever going to change, so only time (and old age) will thin them out.

Our town has the 'cowboy' bar (where all the rednecks hang out), and when one gay youth was there with a friend playing pool, a drunk 'cowboy' decided to make a scene. It was amazing how many straight ones put him in his place!

I have a lot more hope for this state evolving than I used to.

amfirst1
I can care less what business do. If they don't want your business then u can always go somewhere else. It's not like they are the only store in town. It's not a big deal.

This is Idaho, they could very well be the only "Store" in town. And if that store happens to be providing basic services like medical care or education, that is a big deal. And once again, this is Idaho, the intention of this law is absolutely to starve single mothers and gays out of services so they either die or leave the state or change their ways.

I guess whether or not the law passes is a different story! There are definitely Democrats in Idaho as well, although they remind me of the Rebel Alliance, with hidden bases and such.

Look at the way the law is written, it isn't written to allow people to deny services like abortions, it is written to allow people to deny basic medical and educational services based on discrimination.

Once again, this is Idaho - the intention is to starve the people, the whole point is to get a monopoly on services and use it for political gain. Whether or not the law passes is a different story, but I'm glad I don't live there anymore -

nugget1
I can see where Darkbake would be upset over this, given his experience, but it won't fly.
That sort of attitude is definitely in the minority now, thank goodness.
There are still a lot of bible totin' anti-everything in these parts, but they're a dying breed.
Some people with these belief systems aren't ever going to change, so only time (and old age) will thin them out.

Hopefully it doesn't fly! Thanks for the report from over there on the ground
I am going to try to keep tabs on what happens.

ItCameFromOuterSpace
reply to post by darkbake

 

I stayed in Boise for a week once and it was a very nice town.. nice people.. good vibes and no trouble. Idaho is a beautiful state. Hard to imagine that this would pass. But it has been 15 years since I've been there.. maybe things have changed.

Boise is a great place - The Boise Weekly is also a great weekly periodical. Boise even has a gay bar or two, and a very awesome night life, with over 50 karaoke bars - that's like how many wineries Walla Walla had back in the day.

But I would say the awesomeness diminishes every 10 blocks from the capitol building, in a similar manner to the physics of gravity.

darkbake

amfirst1
I can care less what business do. If they don't want your business then u can always go somewhere else. It's not like they are the only store in town. It's not a big deal.

This is Idaho, they could very well be the only "Store" in town. And if that store happens to be providing basic services like medical care or education, that is a big deal. And once again, this is Idaho, the intention of this law is absolutely to starve single mothers and gays out of services so they either die or leave the state or change their ways.

Look at the way the law is written, it isn't written to allow people to deny services like abortions, it is written to allow people to deny basic medical and educational services based on discrimination.

Once again, this is Idaho - the intention is to starve the people, the whole point is to get a monopoly on services and use it for political gain.

That's not going to happen, Darkbake. It's just a whole lot of saber rattling by a small number of idiots.

I moved to Idaho in 1970's and left in the 1980's. It is not "rednecks" that control the state government. It is religious right and conservatives. There is nothing wrong with Idaho people, all the power, government and religion is in southern Idaho.

The private company that has been running the prison system has so many investigations and lawsuits, that governor had to take over.

You have to be near bone dead to qualify for medicaid. The Free Clinic for one north Idaho small city, is a lineup outside where you get a number, no matter the weather. Then you get to come back at some future date and go inside the nice building to see a nurse.

If I were a big, tech corporation, I don't know if I would want employees who believe the earth is 6000 yrs old.