BOISE, Idaho — A group of roughly 30 protesters has formed in and around Governor Brad Little's office at the Idaho Statehouse on Wednesday afternoon, to protest against the passage of House Bill 752, also known as the 'bathroom bill,' along with several other pieces of legislation the group says target the transgender community.
The measure, which Little signed into law on Tuesday, makes it a crime to enter a bathroom that doesn't align with an individual's biological sex. Many opponents have spoken up, claiming that the bill targets transgender individuals, while supporters say it's meant to ensure public safety.
The new law outlines that someone who commits multiple violations can be subject to a felony charge and up to 5 years in prison, making it one of the strictest regulations in the country.
Maxine Durant, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate for Idaho, says she saw the protest on social media and immediately drove to the Statehouse to take part in the sit-in.
"The bills that Governor Brad Little keeps deciding to sign are draconian, they're evil, they are meant to punish transgender people and erase us from public life," Durant said. "We're here to say enough is enough."
Durant added that protesters are hoping to have a conversation with Little and encourage him to veto House Bill 822, which would prohibit healthcare providers, educational institutions, and childcare providers from "facilitating a minor's medical sex transition or 'social transition' in any capacity without informing a child's parent or guardian.
Idaho News 6 reporter Riley Shoemaker is at the statehouse and says she has seen at least 10 protesters being arrested and zip-tied. Less than an hour after the arrests, a GoFundMe has been set up to cover "bail, bond and legal fees" for those detained, which has already raised over $5,000.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
