Idaho State Rep. Linden Bateman voted
against passage of an LGBT protections bill after giving an emotional
speech in which he vowed to be kinder and more compassionate.
After hearing more than 20 hours of
public testimony over three days, the Idaho House State Affairs
Committee on Thursday voted 13-4 along party lines, with Democrats
voting in the minority, to kill the so-called “Add the Words”
bill, which sought to prohibit discrimination based on sexual
orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, education and
public accommodations.
The hearing took place after 9 years of
intense lobbying by supporters, who far outnumbered opponents at the
hearing. Many supporters openly wept during a silent protest that
took place after the vote.
“My heart has been touched by this
hearing,” Bateman said, holding back tears. “I've gotten to know
you, and I know from this point on – forever – I will be kinder
and I will be more compassionate to those who bear a heavy burden.”
“Somewhere in Scripture it says that
if we are not kind to the needy, and to the lonely, and to the
afflicted, and to those who bear a heavy burden, our prayers will not
be answered.”
“I will be kinder, and I will be more
compassionate. While I will support the original motion [to block
the bill], I'd like to go on record that I will support a
compromise,” he
added without elaboration. (The video is embedded on this page.
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