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Gay rights activists gather again at Idaho capitol seeking statewide protections

Gay rights activists gather again at Idaho capitol seeking statewide protections
John Miller, AP Some of the more than 200 demonstrators fill the rotunda of the Idaho Capitol on Monday, Feb. 17, 2014 in another bid to convince Republican lawmakers to schedule a hearing on a bill to add discrimination protections for gays and lesbians to the Idaho Human Rights Act in Boise, Idaho.
John Miller, AP
Some of the more than 200 demonstrators fill the rotunda of the Idaho Capitol on Monday, Feb. 17, 2014 in another bid to convince Republican lawmakers to schedule a hearing on a bill to add discrimination protections for gays and lesbians to the Idaho Human Rights Act in Boise, Idaho.

BOISE, Idaho — More than 200 gay rights demonstrators descended on the Idaho Capitol, with placard-holding, flag-bearing activists filling multiple rotunda floors as they sought again to convince Republican lawmakers to hold a hearing on a bill to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination.

Monday’s showing was the largest this year at the Idaho Legislature.

But the group mixed without incident with other visitors to the Capitol, including representatives of Idaho’s livestock industry and children promoting school choice.

There were no arrests or incidents.

Some demonstrators wore black-and-white “Add the Words Idaho” T-shirts and covered their mouths with their hands.

They want lawmakers to add four words, sexual orientation and gender identity, to Idaho law banning discrimination in employment, housing and business services.

Majority GOP lawmakers have declined to hold a hearing.

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