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In a Tie Breaker, City of Idaho Falls Passes Partial LGBT Protections

IDAHO FALLS -- After listening to nearly three hours of at times contentious testimony and debate Thursday evening, The Idaho Falls City Council passed a law barring discrimination in housing and employment against the city's LGBT  residents. However, the city council did not add a clause protecting LGBT residents from discrimination in public accommodations.

The measure passed a sharply divided council in the 3 to 3 vote when Idaho Falls Mayor Jared Fuhriman cast the deciding tie-breaking vote just after midnight, ending the marathon council session.

"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."

The Idaho Falls is now the seventh Idaho town to pass a law that provides some protection to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents.

The city- which is known for it's large Mormon population- is the first city in Idaho to pass a law like this without clause protecting LGBT residents from discrimination in public accommodations which differs from the six others passed in towns like Sandpoint, Boise and Pocatello.

Councilwoman Karen Cornwell made a motion to include the public accommodations language. But her motion failed on a 2-4 vote.