Friday
March 5, 1993
Supporters wary about granting
minority status based on behavior
By David Woolsey
The Idaho Statesman
the first signers of a petition
to get an anti-gay initiative on
the ballot in Idaho said their
main concern is extending min-
ority status based on behavior
to a group.
A leading reason behind their
Involvement also lies in their
Belief that schools should not
teach homosexuality is an ac-
ceptable lifestyle.
“When we allow minority sta-
tus based on a behavior, we're
simply opening up a door to
many things to come, and I'm
really concerned about that
door being opened,” said Kimberly
Engelbreit of Boise.
"The people on the other side
are really sensitive to their
cause being lumped in with the
pedophile example, but to me, I
do see a direct correlation. Once
you give minority status based
on a behavior that is the next
behavior that would have the
exact same arguments."
Milton T. Williams of Boise
said that even though opponents
of the initiative say homosexuals
are not asking for "special
rights," that possibility is exactly
what he wants to prevent.
"I feel very strong about this.
It's not persecuting homosexuals,
it's not ta king away any
rights. It's against granting
them special rights," he said.
"They don't deserve minority
rights like blacks and Hispanics
and others - and this is what
they want."
Supporters of the initiative
also mentioned concerns about
the way homosexuality is portrayed
in public schools.
Engelbreit referred to a November
controversy at Meridian
High School after lesbian guest
speakers talked to students:
"I feel that when three lesbians
can go into a high school
with impressionable young peo-
ple and talk about gay parenting
and the gay lifestyle - and it
would be against the law for me
and my husband to speak to the
same kids about Christian parenting
or the Christian lifestyle
- something is wrong."
Robert Hoover of Boise said
he does not believe minority status
was appropriate for homosexuals
because that status
should not be based on behavior.
"What we're trying to do is
preserve the status quo without
trying to deprive anybody of the
rights and the privileges that
they already have," he said.
" It's not a hate group kind of
thing."
Doris Neiford, Boise, turned out to show her support for Kelly Walton
and the ICA initiative. "I'm 100 percent behind them," she said.
Katherine Jonea/The Idaho Statesman
