Idaho legislator wants to amend indecent exposure law after pride celebration

BOISE (Idaho Capital Sun) — A Nampa legislator wants to amend Idaho’s indecent exposure law after receiving complaints about Canyon County Pride. 

Idaho law currently defines indecent exposure as the exposure of someone’s genitals in any public place. It’s a misdemeanor on the first offense, and a felony on the second offense within five years.

Rep. Jeff Cornilles, R-Nampa introduced a bill to the House State Affairs Committee on Tuesday to add to that law, also making it a misdemeanor to show the following in public spaces: 

• Developed female breasts, not including those of someone breastfeeding a child
• Adult male breasts that have been medically or hormonally altered to appear like developing or developed female breasts
• Artificial breasts
• Toys or products intended to resemble male or female genitals

The committee voted on party lines to introduce the bill for a hearing at a later date, with both of its Democrats voting against moving the bill forward.  

Rep. Todd Achilles, D-Boise, explained his vote, saying it targets four different groups of people. 

“This explicitly targets trans Idahoans in terms of the language,” he said. “Two, anyone with breast surgery is going to be targeted on this. Three, plastic surgeons are also targeted because they counsel people that get surgery. And fourth, anyone with a set of truck nuts hanging off of their rig is also going to be caught up in this thing for indecent exposure.”

Canyon County Pride included drag performers, musicians

In June 2024, LGBTQ+ event organizers hosted an inaugural Canyon County Pride at Lakeview Park in Nampa, which included musicians and drag performers. 

“There were a few individuals who attended last year who wore nipple pasties (which is legal within the Nampa City Code),” Canyon County Pride President Tom Wheeler told the Sun. “This year, we will require everyone to wear a shirt.” 

The event was quick to become controversial within the Canyon County community, attracting protesters the day of the event. Nampa Mayor Mayor Debbie Kling even issued a press release saying the event went against her and the Nampa City Council’s beliefs, but the city’s lawyer said they had to respect the organizers’ First Amendment rights, the Washington Post reported.

Cornilles said Nampa City Councilmember Sebastian Griffin would testify in support of the bill.

Wheeler said this year’s festival has already been approved, and his team is hoping to have an even more successful year, tripling security measures, attendance and fundraising efforts. Canyon County Pride received official nonprofit status this year, and the event will showcase over 50 local art and resource booths, Wheeler said. 

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