By Jess McCafferty, LGBT Equality Fellow
The city of Idaho Falls,ID recently passed a nondiscrimination ordinance with contentious results. The law that passed now protects people from being discriminated based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the areas of housing and employment. While the ordinance advances LGBT Equality, it exempts public accommodations making Idaho Falls the first city in the state to enact an ordinance that doesn’t protect public places. I was in Idaho Falls during some of the council meetings where I had the great privilege to meet courageous advocates, including Niona and her mother.
A young girl waited in line to testify against any nondiscrimination ordinance that did not include public places. She read her name and address confidently before reading her prepared statement. She was in the process of changing her name legally, which means that her given name and current address were published in the paper already. Though she was worried about exposing her family further, she also felt that she needed to speak out on this important issue. Her testimony started “I am twelve years old and I happen to have been born inside the wrong body.” Niona was born male. She has come into her own as a advocate for LGBT equality at a young age. I interviewed Niona and her mom about the ordinance process.
Niona’s Mother: We only went to the first meeting to watch and be supportive of others who were speaking.
Niona: And I felt inspired to speak and started thinking about what I would say.
Niona’s Mother: I was hesitant to have her go up and testify.
Niona: But after the second meeting, after they changed it [so public places were not protected] I REALLY wanted to speak.
Niona’s Mother: And I let her, and was very proud. She made me cry.
When talking about how the ordinance was passed, neither of them are happy with it.
Niona: I don’t like the outcome.
Niona’s Mother: I feel like they stripped the ordinance to the point of uselessness.
Niona: Below uselessness, like it went negative.
Niona’s Mother: And as it’s written now, it pretty much just codifies discrimination. We left that first meeting feeling pretty good –
Niona: We left the 3rd crying.
Niona’s Mother: She feels less safe now than she did before the process started. We definitely intend to keep pushing for a full ordinance.
Although the ordinance isn’t what they were hoping for, Niona has had a lot of positive experiences in Idaho Falls. She started middle school this past fall and has been pleasantly surprised that she enjoys English more than Art, and her homework load is about the same as before. She is also allowed to use the girls’ restroom.
Niona was born in Idaho and has lived here ever since. Because our state will not allow for gender marker changes on birth certificates, Niona will have to deal with her birth certificate not reflecting the gender she identifies with. But she did get her name changed.
Niona: I’m really glad that there are lots of people supporting me and everyone else in the LGBT family.
Niona’s Mother: And after this past week and weekend, it truly does feel like a family.