Sioux City Journal

Senate approves extension of civil rights to gays

8:15 AM

Posted: Tuesday, March 27, 2007

BC-IA-XGR--Gay Rights,0338

By MIKE GLOVER

Associated Press Writer

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- The Senate has approved a significant expansion of the state's civil rights laws, adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of traits that are protected from discrimination.

The bill passed 32-17 Monday and moves to the House for more debate.

"Today, we have the opportunity to reaffirm that in Iowa job performance is what counts -- not what you look like, not what church you attend, not how old you are or who you love," said Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs. "It is difficult to convince a talented young person to come to Iowa or to stay in Iowa when they can be discriminated against because of who they are."

Republicans sought to limit the measure, including pushing a provision that would have specified that the bill would not affect the state's ban on gay marriage. The Legislature nearly 10 years ago approved a measure defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

"We are opening the door to a whole host of unintended consequences," warned Sen. Nancy Boettger, R-Harlan. She sought to exempt schools from the gender identity provisions, saying the measure could allow cross-dressing in schools.

The measure is the second piece of gay rights legislation debated in the Legislature this year. Last month the Legislature approved a bill that adds sexual orientation to the list of characteristics for which students in school can't be harassed. That measure has been signed into law by Gov. Chet Culver.

Gronstal said the public is ready for lawmakers to take the next step. He noted that similar legislation has already been approved in 19 states.

"I'm asking you to approve this expansion of civil rights because we want every American to know they and their families are welcome to live in Iowa, work in Iowa and to help us build a more prosperous Iowa," Gronstal said.

The state's civil rights laws already protect against discrimination based on race, religion, gender and age.

AP-CS-03-27-07 0104EDT

Story Comments

Saturn69 wrote on Mar 29, 2007 10:18 AM:

" One more thing: How is it a 'special protection' to give gays the SAME protections that straight people have? Since when is basic human rights a 'special protection'? "

Saturn69 wrote on Mar 29, 2007 9:44 AM:

" For such a loving, caring religion, I sure see a lot of hatred and foaming at the mouth towards people who just want to live their lives in peace. Do you think your God is up there, pumping his fist in the air like Arsenio Hall cheering your hatred on? Do you really think He works that way? God is not to be anthropomorphosized, does anyone really know what, if anything, He wants? Those that claim to know the mind of God scare me more than anything; how can you know the unknowable? No, you no what MAN wrote in a book 2000+ years ago - that is NOT the word of God, it is the word of MAN. Be careful of that which you worship and idolize. Let go of your fear...fear leads to hate, hate leads to anger, anger leads to the Dark Side. "

Saturn69 wrote on Mar 29, 2007 9:44 AM:

" Nowhere do I see the word marriage in that bill. No one is asking for your acceptance, I don't accept your Judeo-Christian lifestyle since it tries to deprive anyone who doesn't think like you, live like you or act like you of basic human rights. Rights which are gauranteed by the U.S. Constitution, which is the governing document of this Nation, not the Bible. We are not, nor shall we ever be a Theocracy. You are entitled to your life, as are all citizens of this Country, whether we like it or not. Will you use your God to deprive others of a safe, secure working environment or equal opportunity to own a home? How 'Christian' is that? Since when did the basic foundation of Christianity become the villification and dehumanization of a minority? Iowa values are whatever the individual Iowan deems them to be, values are not something you can make everyone share. "

The Truth wrote on Mar 28, 2007 11:57 AM:

" Iowa values are the marriage of a Man and Women, not two women playing with dildo's who can't reproduce!What you freaks do in your bedroom should not provide you any special protection in public.You are the minority and you always will be. You flaunt your sad sexual lifestyle in parades in San Fransisco, dressing up as cleregy and you say you want to be accepted. No law will ever force me to accept you or your kind.You persecute me if I try to pray in the classroom, you have removed the Judeo Christian symbols from the public place, yet it's ok to be a homosexual and get special protections under the LAW! I don't think so. America is in a downhill spiral and you liberals are leading the way! You are intolerant of my IOWA VALUES!I will remember this come election time! "

Saturn69 wrote on Mar 28, 2007 8:37 AM:

" What, exactly, are Iowa values? Common decency, equal treatment in the eyes of the law? Those sound like AMERICAN values to me. How is providing anti-discrimination protection for gays 'force feeding the homosexual lifestyle'? Treating each other with compassion and equality isn't force feeding, it's one of the basic principles of our Constitution. Would you allow religious persecution? No? How about segregation? No? Then what is so bad about making it illegal to fire someone from their job because of their sexual orientation? What business is it of ours anyway? If you want Theocracy, there are plenty of places in the Middle East that would be more than willing to embrace your intolerance. "