Rep. Andy Josephson of Anchorage says passing his HB 17 “will strengthen Alaska’s statutory protections for one of Alaska’s fastest-growing demographic groups, make our state more attractive to workers considering a move from elsewhere, and continue Alaska’s position as a model for human rights advocacy in the US.” The bill adding protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Alaskans will get a hearing in House Judiciary at 1 pm Monday.
HB 17 adds gender expression and sexual identity to protected classes covered by the Alaska Human Rights Commission.
It is illegal to discriminate against someone for the purposes of employment, finance, credit, or rentals due to their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation/gender identity or expression, national origin, or physical or mental disability. The Human Rights Commission, however, doesn’t include LGBTQ matters in its portfolio of rights covered.
In order to start enforcing LGBTQ rights, legislation must pass that empowers the commission to investigate and adjudicate cases.
Not everyone thinks it is needed or desirable. The bill would allow the commission to investigate cases such as the Downtown Hope Center in Anchorage, which doesn’t allow biological men to sleep in the abused women shelter, shoulder to shoulder with women. If the Human Rights Commission says, for instance, the Hope Center must shelter transgenders or those who are not clear about their gender, that shelter will likely close, as it is a Christian facility and is there for the protection of traumatized women.
HB 17 will encourage discrimination against religious institutions or others who make decisions based on their religious beliefs, critics say. This may affect activities like personal services, pageants, and sports competitions, for example.
Documents with pro and con letters can be found at this link.
Co-sponsors of the bill are Democrat-aligned Reps. Grier Hopkins, Geran Tarr, Sara Hannan, Harriet Drummond, Cal Schrage, Ivy Spohnholz, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Andi Story, Liz Snyder, and Zack Fields. The bill has also been referred to House State Affairs Committee.
