Idaho Votes 2006
This Election Day Idaho voters sent a clear message about two groups in the state. “I never did like the gays” said David Jennings of Sandpoint. “I don’t particularly hate children, I just think they’re mooches. Why don’t they get a job and pay for their own education.” Voters approved HJR-2, which will add a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships, common law marriage and fabulous window treatments. However, voters did not approve Proposition 1, a measure that would have increased K-12 education funding by 20%. Sarah Munchausen of Idaho Falls was shocked by the news. “Well, I’m disappointed but not surprised about the gay thing. My parents still pretend my brother isn’t gay-even though he came out 10 years ago. But I’m flabbergasted that Prop 1 didn’t pass. I mean, it’s for the kids! Now I’m going to have to organize more PTA bake sales. I hate PTA bake sales!”
Lennis Dake, a re-elected state legislator, not only disagrees with Sarah but wants to take Idaho’s message one step farther. He wants to help pass a law that would ban gay children. “If we’re not going to let them get married, why educate them as children?” His proposed bill would define gay children as “not really people” and “kind of creepy”. Also under this legislation gay children could be deported to nearby Wyoming if they do not immediately become heterosexual adults. “Become heterosexual adults!?! How are they supposed to do that?” said Brandee Swindelsworth of Boise. “You can’t just choose to be an adult!” Brandee’s friend, Lavender, disagreed with her saying, “Brandee, of course they can choose to be adults, I mean, they chose to be gay.”
Darell Dida of Make Education Reasonable, an educational watchdog group, says the problem isn’t gays or children, it’s money. “There is no reason to spend so much on education. In today’s world kids only need to learn how to read and write. They don’t need any other skills.” Dida believes that banning gay children would save the state money on education funding and is therefore in favor of it.
When Margaret Hutchinson of Concerned Citizens of Idaho was asked about the ban on gay children she responded, “That’s hilarious! A ban on gay children. Did Chris put you up to this? Oh, you’re serious. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Seriously?”
While many disagree about the implications of a ban on gay children, one thing is clear: Idaho’s priorities are completely screwed up.