To the editor,
I am totally baffled by the outrage that is being expressed by the citizens and press of North Dakota concerning the Republican’s platform denouncing the LGBTQ+ community. Since my involvement with the legislature in 2006, the Republicans have never sponsored a bill in support of LGBTQ+ rights and have voted down every single effort to give LGBTQ+ individuals their constitutional rights to freedom from discrimination.
In 2007, I co-sponsored the bill that asked that LGBTQ+ be included as a protected class in the discrimination code in North Dakota law. It failed overwhelmingly with Republicans killing the bill. Twelve years later, in 2019, I sponsored a bill asking that LGBTQ+ individuals at the very least not be discriminated against in the areas of housing and within the workplace. Again, it failed because of lack of support from the Republican members of the legislature. Until, we vote individuals into the North Dakota Legislature who understand the difficulties and discrimination that LGBTQ+ have faced, this will continue. With the recent Supreme Court ruling, LGBTQ+ individuals in North Dakota will now be free from discrimination in the workplace, but that does not address the issues in housing, social situations and in other North Dakota establishments.
Personally, I feel we need to include this community of people as a protective class in Century Code. Obviously, with this recent move by the Republican Party and the fact that they control both the Senate and House in North Dakota, that will not happen.
As we face this upcoming election, think about those in your family or circle of friends who are not seen as equal and are not protected from discrimination in our state by the majority party. Ask the candidates where they stand on this issue as they knock on your door or call your home. Make sure you are voting for those who understand the needs of all citizens of our state.
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Sen. JoNell Bakke
District 43
Grand Forks
