Idaho Falls city council approves partial protections for LGBT residents

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — The city council in Idaho Falls, Idaho, has passed an ordinance prohibiting discrimination against LGBT residents in the areas of housing and employment.

The council, however, defeated a clause that would have added public accommodations to the ordinance.

The divided council heard nearly three hours of testimony before voting 3-3 for the ordinance.

Get the Daily Brief

The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you:

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Mayor Jared Fuhriman cast the deciding vote just after midnight, to pass the measure 4-3.

“This is a significant ordinance, one of the most significant ordinances to come before us in this community,” Fuhriman said. “(It has been) important that we take our time and do it right. We want to make sure this is something we, today, can be proud of as we move forward.”

Idaho Falls becomes the seventh Idaho city to approve an LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance.

Article continues below

Unlike the other six cities that have passed similar ordinances — Sandpoint, Boise, Ketchum, Moscow, Coeur d’Alene and Pocatello — Idaho Falls is the first not include public accommodations.

Council member Karen Cornwell made a motion to include the public accommodations language, but her motion failed by a vote of 2-4.