I’ve talked before about the growing shortage of doctors in Idaho. Hospitals have problems hiring them, especially when they learn about our abortion ban, the most restrictive in the United States. Clark Corbin from the Idaho Capitol Sun said last week at the Idaho Falls City Club that our state would need 1,400 new doctors to even meet the national average of the number of doctors per state. Now we’re giving doctors another reason to leave.

The transgender bathroom ban. It is ridiculous, and another hateful way to let the LGBTQ community know they’re not welcome here. Many of my friends had no idea this law had passed last legislative session. In Idaho, a trans person has to use the bathroom designated to the sex they were born with, rather than the gender they identify with today.

What could possibly go wrong? My trans friend identifies as a woman. She looks like a woman, dresses like a woman and quite frankly, no one would know she is transgender if she didn’t choose to share that information. So she’s at the mall, needing a restroom and has to enter the men’s bathroom? That’s the law starting July 1. You don’t think the men at the urinal won’t feel a little uncomfortable when a woman comes into their restroom?

Or how about when a man enters the woman’s bathroom? He’s tall, strong, has a full beard, huge biceps and looks every bit a man. But in Idaho, he was born with female genitalia, so no matter how he looks now, or chooses to live his life, he’ll be washing his hands right next to the woman at the sink applying fresh lipstick.

The Sun reports:

Michael and Dr. Angie Devitt, both medical professionals, have a trans daughter. This year’s criminal transgender bathroom ban — described by advocates as the most extreme in the nation for extending to private businesses — was the couple’s last straw.

So early this month, Michael Devitt notified patients that his practice, Focus Physical Therapy, would shut down at the end of August as his family prepared to move out of Idaho. They just can’t take the politics in Idaho anymore.

A Pocatello teacher had a youngster come into her classroom and take a picture of the little pride flag on her desk, and told her she was breaking the law. He doesn’t even go to school there, much less spend time in her classroom. He was on a mission, no doubt sent in by some anti-trans Idahoan. She’s moving at the end of the school year to Canada.

And the topper:

The bishop of the United Methodist Church for the entire Pacific Northwest sent out this message:

“We find ourselves in a painful and difficult moment when the Idaho governor signs a bill that criminalizes trans and/or non-binary people for using bathrooms that align with their identity and affirms their dignity. There are no winners in any of this, and I do not take lightly the fear, anger, and weariness many are carrying. Let me be clear: I strongly and unequivocally support our trans and non-binary friends, members, allies, families, and neighbors. We will not require anyone to go anywhere that poses a risk. At the same time, we will not abandon our witness and work in Idaho. I abhor the actions taken by the State of Idaho to criminalize something as basic and personal as where a person uses the bathroom. That is a private matter, not a political weapon.

“Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth”

At our church, we’re trying to create a safe place for everyone.

There will be traditional men’s and women’s bathrooms, and one designated non-gender bathroom. There will be clear signage.

I saw a Facebook post where a store put up a sign that showed the usual man stick figure, female stick figure and an alien. Anyone can use that bathroom.

I’m ashamed of the lawmakers who voted yes on such a hateful bill. But I’m a big believer in karma. What goes around comes around, and you will get yours someday.