FAST FIVE: Sky's the limit for Scott Kennedy

Meet Scott Kennedy, who has lived in Coeur d'Alene for most of his life.

Scott lives with his parents and younger brother. Motivated by his interest in human rights and the legal system, Scott is pursuing a Juris Doctorate at Gonzaga University School of Law (GU Law). He is on track to complete his degree in May 2024. In addition to his studies, Scott is involved in many extracurriculars, such as volunteering with the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations (KCTFHR), working as an associate editor for his school’s legal journal and serving as the student body president at GU Law. Scott enjoys spending time with his family, traveling and being outdoors during his free time. He is an avid hiker and aspires to spend more doing photography.

1) When and why did you become involved with the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations?

I joined the task force in November 2018. I was initially exposed to the task force while serving as student body vice president at North Idaho College. Tony Stewart previously served as the adviser for the Associated Students of North Idaho College (ASNIC), and he would visit the president and vice president each year following his retirement. Tony took Peter Soderberg (ASNIC president) and me out to lunch, and he extended the opportunity to serve as the LGBTQ+ board representative.

I joined the KCTFHR to be involved with an organization that positively contributes to the community. As I progressed through my education, my identity as a gay man became more important to me. I wanted to be involved in local efforts advocating diversity and human rights.

2) What does it mean to you to represent the LGBTQ community on the board of this organization, and what goals do you have in this role?

It has been an honor to serve in this position. It was intimidating starting my service at 19, but I have grown into the position over the years. The KCTFHR consists of members who have been pivotal in improving the community. My participation has not only informed me how I can better represent queer people and promote human rights, but it has given me a purpose. Before joining the task force, I was unsure what I wanted to do with my career. I had a vague idea of attending law school but was not sold on that route. My involvement fostered a lifelong desire to advocate for human rights. It also showed me that the legal field was a viable avenue for achieving that goal, so it solidified my path toward a career in law.

The sky is the limit for this position and the task force. In 2021, I assumed the role of treasurer for the task force in addition to being the LGBTQ+ board member. During this period, I have been primarily focused on familiarizing myself with the task force’s finances and the practices and procedures of the role. Once I am done with school and studying for the bar exam, I hope to establish more connections with local organizations to provide resources to LGBTQ+ youth.

3) What are your plans as you complete your studies at Gonzaga University and transition into your career?

If everything goes as planned, I will graduate in May 2024. After taking the bar exam in July, I will start my clerkship with a judge on the Washington Court of Appeals. I hope to clerk for a few years and move on to the United States Attorney’s Office or the Washington Attorney General’s Office. Both organizations have civil rights departments, which I am very interested in.

I chose to go to law school because I saw how the legal field could be used to promote change in the community. Consequently, a long-term goal for my career is to ensure people are treated equally and can exist without fear of being persecuted because of their association with a minority population. I also want to serve as a role model for LGBTQ+ youth. Growing up, I do not remember seeing many queer figures in politics, the legal field, etc., and I want to change that.

4) What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

I do not drink coffee! My colleagues are surprised when they learn that I have made it this far in my educational career without caffeine. Frankly, I do not know how I do it myself, but my bank account has thanked me for it over the years.

5) If you could share any words of wisdom, kindness, or any other messages with our community, what would they be?

We need to recognize that all people are deserving of value. During an era of hyper-polarization, it may be easy to dehumanize people of different walks of life, whether it be political beliefs, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, etc. Isolating ourselves in familiarity only perpetuates this issue. This phenomenon results in stereotypes dominating narratives, which lessens the value of people’s lived experiences. It is not easy to “lean across the aisle” to see where someone different from you is coming from, but it is always important to remember that all people have value and deserve dignity and respect.