Monday, October 7, 2000

A story released today by the Associated Press reports that owners of a downtown motel in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho refuse to rent rooms to unwed couples citing their Christian beliefs.

A sign at the Sandman Motel reads, "No unmarried couples" -- a policy that's been in effect for a year. The state has anti-fornication and adultery laws on the books, but apparently the law is rarely enforced.

"We just want to run a clean motel," said Dave Boerner, owner of the eight-room motel. Boerner bought the Sandman in May 1998 and has been in the motel business for seven years. In the past, he said people renting rooms sometimes brought prostitutes from Spokane

Now Boerner won't rent rooms if the guests' last names don't match on photo IDs. And he questions people when they call for reservations.

Boerner said he's complying with state laws enacted in 1972 on adultery and fornication, both misdemeanors punishable by fines or imprisonment.

Jack Van Valkenburgh, executive director for the Idaho American Civil Liberties Union in Boise, said he's not surprised by the policy.

"We'd be interested in receiving complaints and we'd give it some thought, but it's unlikely that we'd take the case," he said. "We do oppose it, but we also support the rights of individuals to make decisions in regards to their property."

Boerner's wife and co-owner, Liz, said she doesn't want to aid people in breaking the law, and wants to know the motel makes money with a clear conscience.

"If we're getting money from people who are violating the law, then we feel we're not running our business honestly," she said. "We need to have peace of mind."

Norm Gissel, a volunteer lawyer for Gonzaga University pro bono panel in Spokane, said the statutes weren't relevant to discrimination, but unless an Idaho law exclusively prohibited marital discrimination the policy couldn't be challenged.

Richard Mabbutt, executive director of the Idaho Intermountain Fair Housing Council in Boise, said the motel's policy isn't covered by the Federal Housing Act.

"We make the distinction if it's illegal discrimination, but under state law it is OK," he said.