Yesterday we told you about the “sex ed” that was given to students who attended the Governor’s Conference on LGBTQ Youth. The group that hosts the conference, GLBT Youth In Iowa Schools Task Force (which prefers to go by its fictitious name of ‘Iowa Safe Schools’) is an extreme activist group that at its core runs contrary to the principles of the Republican Party.
We wanted to provide a timeline of the “activities” that Iowa Safe Schools has done so people understand just how vile the group actually is — and keep in mind it has received support from some Republican legislators.
*To his credit, Bob Vander Plaats lobbied former Gov. Terry Branstad to remove his title from the conference in 2012.
“Instead of passing out ‘safe’ sex kits to students, the conference could provide abstinence-based education, emphasizing healthy behavior and the healthy aspects of preventing unwanted pregnancies, STDs, depression and other problems resulting from sexual activity outside of marriage,” Vander Plaats wrote.
Branstad, though, refused. In fact, he had someone go to the conference to speak on his behalf and read his proclamation that Sept. 1 would be “Safe Schools Day.” Branstad sent a letter of support to the event, extending his “very best wishes for a successful conference this year and in future years.”
*The 2015 Governor’s Conference on LGBTQ Youth resulted in an investigation by Iowa lawmakers. The committee submitted a few recommendations, including removing the Governor’s title from the event or specifying former Gov. Tom Vilsack’s involvement.
Former Rep. Greg Heartsill said he believes the title of the conference is purposely misleading by the organizers at GLBT Youth In Iowa Schools Task Force.
Among the concerns from the 2015 conference:
*One father said his daughter was “absolutely distraught” by what she witnessed and left the conference early in shock. Rather than learning how to bring unity to her school, she was subjected to “basically a sexual education class for same-sex couples. It was crude,” he said.
*Another presentation discussed medical transition options available for transgender youth, and how to utilize private insurance and government programs to pay for various procedures. Students were advised on the types of transgender accessories are available to make it appear they have certain body parts they do not really have, or items to hide certain body parts they do have. Students were given tips on what kind of binders to use or not use and how to obtain them without paying for them. Puberty blockers were another topic. Discussion was had on how that hormone treatment is ‘safe and effective.’
*A drag performance at the close of the conference also drew ire. Coco used words like sh-t and f-ckin’ frequently. Coco also encouraged students to slash the tires of someone if they have a bumper sticker that shows support for one-man, one-woman marriage.
*One teacher who attended the conference with her students said “the conference went way beyond the subject of anti-bullying. With all the profanity, obscenities, and shock valley that were used during presentations, the conference did not serve its intended purpose. There was no educational value to this conference.”
*A high school principal said he first heard about what was happening when a student’s mother contacted him to say her daughter was uncomfortable and wanted to leave, but was afraid she might get in trouble for skipping out. He instructed the student could leave immediately without consequence.
“The following Monday the two teachers from our school (that attended with the students) confirmed what the mother had stated and also expressed strong disapproval of the conference content,” he said.
*Another superintendent stated, “our students went there looking for strategies to create a safe school environment. But due to the profanity and content, it was evident that the focus of the conference was about something else.”
According to The FAMiLY Leader’s summary:
*One speaker wore a dress made of condoms, so they could be easily detached and “used as needed.”
*Another told a story of how he used social media to find friends and accidentally stumbled into an orgy.
*One session taught how to properly use “binders” to reduce the visibility of a girl’s breasts and discussed hormone treatments for delaying puberty, assuring kids the drugs were safe.
*In November of 2019, GLBT Youth In Iowa Schools Task Force was responsible for flying the transgender pride flag above the Iowa Capitol. That was against Capitol ground rules and made Iowa the first state in the nation to fly the transgender pride flag at its Capitol.
There was a lot of confusion about how that whole incident happened, but sources told The Iowa Standard they believed that GLBT Youth In Iowa Schools Task Force policy director Damian Thompson, who used to work in the Governor’s office for Kim Reynolds, sought permission to fly the flag at the Capitol and Capitol staff mistakenly thought he either still worked for Gov. Reynolds or her office approved it.
*In March of 2020, GLBT Youth In Iowa Schools Task Force caused a scene at the Capitol during their day on the Hill. Students were using the wrong bathroom and asked by State Troopers at the Capitol to use specific bathrooms.
Eventually, the group was escorted out of the Capitol.
In the aftermath, GLBT Youth In Iowa Schools Task Force was calling for the State Troopers to be fired and hinting at possible litigation.
A few days later the COVID pandemic caused the legislative session to pause, and this story quickly died down.
*In April of 2020, GLBT Youth In Iowa Schools Task Force posted a Drag Queen Story Time about “Santa’s Husband.”
In this book, everyone shows up for Santa’s homosexual wedding — including Jesus.
Please, by all means, watch the video here.
*In the spring of 2020, GLBT Youth In Iowa Schools Task Force denied two individuals who purchased tickets for the conference. The group cited the customers’ affiliations with Christian groups.
The Iowa Standard reached out to the Governor’s office to see if Gov. Reynolds had concerns with Christians being banned from the Governor’s Conference, but we never heard back from her office.
*And finally, as we pointed out yesterday, at this year’s conference students were given sex education that had some crazy comparisons.
Meanwhile, the organization is fighting tooth and nail to ban reparative therapy in Iowa. GLBT Youth In Iowa Schools Task Force is working to make it illegal for a parent to take a child to a licensed counselor to talk about unwanted same-sex attraction, behavior or gender confusion.
Under the law that the group is pushing for, it would only be legal to talk with a licensed counselor IF the counselor affirms the confusion or the same-sex attraction and/or behavior.
It is important that Republicans are not fooled by their smiles and their bubbly personalities. They must remember what they’re dealing with.
This is not a great organization. This is not a group to be thankful for.
This is a group that is advocating for the destruction of the family. And the family, the traditional, nuclear family, is something Republicans are supposed to stand up and defend.
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