Hey everyone,
Thank you so much for your support for this cause. When I first set out on this journey, I wanted to truly make a change here in Idaho. A change that would greatly improve the lives of families all over the state. Just the other day I was at an event where a mother needed to change her very young baby but the business we were at did not have a changing table.
After posting this petition on the Nextdoor app, hoping to garner support, I was floored at the number of truly hateful and anti-this-cause comments. It had honestly never crossed my mind that people would be so against it or that people would turn it into a political thing. I truly believed this would be something any party affiliated person would and could get behind because all parties have people with babies. However, a large number of people told me I would be hurting local businesses with this, I was pushing a liberal California agenda and I should go back there. (For the record, the states who do have laws on the books requiring changing tables are spread between red and blue states, not just blue states.) While I did gain a few supporters on the Nextdoor app, I ultimately chose to unfollow my petition post because the number combative comments was too distracting.
Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with people expressing their concerns over costs to small businesses and to the city. I welcome discussion and appreciate it as it helps to ensure we see all angles of the possible results of having building codes require infant changing tables in public restrooms. In fact, because of some of the honest feedback, I looked more into the laws in other states requiring changing tables and saw that some states only require changing tables in new construction and businesses who do substantial remodels. I believe even having that for Idaho would truly help parents and families.
However, after reaching out to my local representatives and representatives from other districts, it seems that this is not a cause that they are wanting to even discuss with their colleagues. I have since learned that party pressure has been preventing causes like this one from getting traction because of the potential ramifications (i.e. loss of party support for the representative).
I KNOW that requiring changing tables in public restrooms would greatly improve the quality of life for Idaho families. This is an important cause, however I don't personally have the capital or fame to get enough attention from lawmakers or businesses to make the changes needed. If you know anyone in Idaho government that would be willing to take this on, I implore you to reach out to them, encourage them.
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported this cause. I pray someday having changing tables in all public restrooms will be a reality for Idaho.
Hugs,
Carly