BOISE, Idaho, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Protesters who blockaded the Idaho Senate chamber to demand anti-discrimination protection for gays were arrested Monday morning.
The demonstration was a quiet one, the (Spokane, Wash.) Spokesman-Review reported. The 43 protesters stood in the doorways with hands over their mouths.
They wore T-shirts with the slogan "Add the Words, Idaho; Finally say cruelty to gay and transgender people is wrong."
State Police arrested 42 protesters before the Senate went into session at 11 a.m. They were given citations for misdemeanor trespass and released by noon.
Former state Sen. Nicole LeFavour, a Boise Democrat, was not arrested. But after the session began, the Republican majority leader, Bart Davis, moved to suspend the rules that extend floor privileges to former Senate members on the grounds LeFavour was lobbying.
An "Add the words" amendment that would extend protection against discrimination in employment, accommodation and other areas has been introduced eight times in the Idaho Legislature and has never received a committee hearing.
