Date: Thu, 29 Sep 94 10:30:58 EDT
From: BoiseBear@aol.com

Reprinted from the Thursday, Sept. 29, 1994
[Boise] Idaho Statesman -- FRONT PAGE
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Proposition One

TROY IS THE TINIEST TOWN IN U.S. THAT
PROTECTS GAYS

Decision was no big deal, town's mayor figures

By Marianne Flagg
The Idaho Statesman

TROY -- The mayor and City Council of Troy never expected
to stand alone in the deepening political quicksand of Proposition
One.

This North Idaho town, tucked between hills 11 miles east of
Moscow, is the only city or county in Idaho with a policy that
protects city employees from discrimination based on sexual
orientation.

The U.S. Census pegs the town's population at 646, but current
estimates put it at 820.

Either way, it's the smallest municipality in the country to extend
such protection to public employees.  The next-smallest are Aspen,
Colo., pop. 5,049, and Marshall, Minn., with 12,023 residents.

Troy added sexual orientation to the city's non-discimination clause
in December 1993 after an unremarkable council meeting.  Troy has
five employees: a full-time clerk, a part-time clerk, two full-time
maintenance workers and a part-time police chief.

Mayor Marie Vogel describes the policy as no big deal.  It only became
a cause celebre when Troy was cited by both sides in the fight over
gay rights.

"We were reviewing our personnel policy," said Vogel, who volunteers
as mayor.  "We were looking at things that make the job more
comfortable to our employees.  When Kelly Walton (Proposition One
proponent) started his big push, a lot of public officals took a stand
against Proposition One.   ... I brought it to the council's attention.
It was discussed briefly."

The city found itself very much alone.  Vogel thought other Idaho
cities would adopt similar policies as a stand against the initiative.

"All of a sudden, we were in the news.  I was surprised that anybody
cared we had done this," she said.

To proponents of Proposition One, Troy represents the feared
incursion of a gay agenda in public policy.  To opponents, the
community is a brave, front-line defender of civil rights.

"It starts the ball rolling in the state," said Bill Proctor, executive
director of the Idaho Citizens Alliance, which is pushing the
initiative.  "It's an example of what's going on in Cincinnati, San
Francisco, Aspen and Denver, where they have ordinances that
give special rights to the gay community."

Brian Bergquist, chairman of the No On One Coalition, said Troy's
action is an example of a town standing up for what it believes
is right.

If passed by Idaho voters Nov. 8, Proposition One would prevent the
state from extending protection from discrimination specifically to
gays and lesbians and would prevent state money from being used
to promote homosexuality as acceptable.

In addition, it would keep from minors public library books addressing
homosexuality.

Troy appears an unlikely entry in such a controversial political debate.
Residents say they are neighborly and tend to stay out of the
contentious issues -- unles they involve the occasional annexation
squabble.

>From either end of town, visitors descend into Troy after a drive
through some of Idaho's loveliest farm country.  On a bright fall
day, the wavy hills of the Palouse, neatly combed by tractors,
reveal deep brown soil and golden wheat fields.

Troy's Main Street takes about 20 seconds to cruise, if you're
following the 25-mile-per-hour speed limit -- and Police Chief KT
Whiteley strongly advices that you do.

The grocery store, town pub, volunteer Fire Department and
community library line the street, along with an espresso shop
that reflects the cosmopolitan citizenry.

The second-term mayor insists Troy isn't small in its attitiudes,
and that explains the decision to amend the discrimination policy.

"The town has a lot of diverse people in it, and we're very accepting
of people's personal rights," Vogel, 55, said in the kitchen of her
home, where she runs a day care.

"It's an important and necessary start to say we will not
discriminate against anyone if they can do their jobs.  We
aren't going to enter their bedrooms."

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Contact:  No on 1 Coalition, PO Box 797, Boise, ID 83701,
208-376-1599 voice, 208-376-1699 fax or
NoProp1ID@aol.com

Submitted by BoiseBear@aol.com
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