Former State Senator Hides in Statehouse Closet

Former state Sen. 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.

The Spokesman-Review reports (http://bit.ly/PPzQiU) that LeFavour, a Boise Democrat, was discovered late Tuesday afternoon in a closet in the Senate lounge behind the Senate chamber.

Republican Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill of Rexburg says he asked her to leave and she complied.

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. More than 140 arrests have been made.

She told the newspaper that "closets are never safe for gay or transgender people."