Former senator hides in closet

BOISE, Idaho (AP):

Former state Senator Nicole LeFavour hid in an Idaho Statehouse closet for more than five hours as part of her effort to persuade Republican lawmakers to update the Idaho Human Rights Act.

LeFavour, a Boise Democrat, was discovered late Tuesday afternoon in a closet in the Senate lounge behind the Senate chamber.

"Closets are never safe for gay or transgender people," she told The Spokesman-Review. "It's a very large closet. There are lots of people in closets out there, and they're not comfortable."

Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, said he asked her to leave.

Eventually left

"It seemed to me that there was some initial reluctance, but there was compliance," Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis said.

During a demonstration earlier this year, the rule that allows former senators in the Senate chambers was suspended to remove LeFavour, who stood in the chamber and refused to leave.

LeFavour, Idaho's first openly gay lawmaker, has long sought protections for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender individuals and has been at the forefront of protests this year.