Support from advocates, a famous Alaska musician and at least one Republican lawmaker propelled a measure to ban various forms of discrimination against LGBTQ people in Alaska out of the House Labor and Commerce Committee.
that the state’s policy banning discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in most areas was quietly dropped last year on advice of the attorney general. The bill’s supporters say it’s been in the works for months., would enshrine protections for LGBTQ people in Alaska based on housing, government practices, finance and “public accommodation,” which were extended in 2021 but rescinded in August based on advice from Republican Attorney General Treg Taylor.
Versions of the bill, which would make gender identity a protected class under the state’s human rights laws, had in previous years never gained support from Republican lawmakers. But on Mondayout of the House Labor and Commerce Committee without objection, thanks in part to support from the committee’s chair Rep. Jesse Sumner, a Wasilla Republican.
“Discrimination is wrong and it seems like a probably good thing to restore to where we were a few months ago as far as preventing discrimination,” Sumner said in a brief interview after the committee hearing concluded.Several hurdles remain before the bill can reach a vote by the full House. The measure heads next to the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee, where it could receive a favorable review from Democratic chair Rep. CJ McCormick of Bethel.
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