Iowa became first in the nation for one more thing earlier this week…flying the transgender flag over its state Capitol.
According to reports, the flag was flown for the Transgender Day of Remembrance. The Iowa Starting Line said that Iowa Safe Schools petitioned the Iowa Department of Administrative Services about a month ago and showed up at the Capitol with the flag when they were instructed to.
The flag went up and flew for 3-5 minutes, according to Iowa Starting Line.
Rep. Dean Fisher (R-Montour) said he plans to file legislation next session to limit what flags can be flown at the Capitol.
“I’d sure like to know the history of who else has been able to fly their flag over the Capitol, but I think it’s kind of disappointing that we’re doing it,” Fisher said. “I’m preparing a bill to specify that, as far as the official flag poles, it would only be the United States and Iowa flags, and we’ll see where that goes.”
Fisher said there’s a chance exceptions would have to be made, but he is anxious to have the dialogue.
“Maybe the bill would have to get massaged a little bit, but generally I don’t think we should be flying anybody’s flag over the Capitol,” he said. “I’m not sure what message that sends. As we go through that process, I’d certainly listen to what exceptions there should be. I can’t think of what they might be, if there’s a visiting foreign dignitary, would we fly their flag? I don’t know why we would, but I’ll listen to that discussion. I don’t think it ought to be any group that wants to.”
Fisher was not aware the transgender flag would be flying over the Capitol until after the fact.
“I thought it was ridiculous,” he said. “My question is, why are we doing that? Why is it anything but the United States flag or the Iowa flag? We’ll head down the path and see where we can get. I guess the question is, can I fly the Christian flag over it? Do I think that’s right? Well, not necessarily. Yeah, I’m solidly a Christian, but should I be flying my flag over somebody else’s instead of the Iowa flag or the United States flag?”
He speculated it was an attempt by the group to simply gain legitimacy.
“It’s the same point that the atheists made with getting one of their guys to have the time for the prayer in the House chamber,” he said. “He didn’t actually pray, he simply gave a speech, which I think was inappropriate. It’s the same thing, they’re trying to gain attention and get legitimacy.”
Rep. Skyler Wheeler (R-Orange City) said he too was unaware of the flag being flown.
“I found out the same time as most Iowans,” he said. “Nothing was sent to my legislative email, no phone call, absolutely nothing. It’s another way that the Rainbow Jihad continues to give those of us who don’t agree with them a finger in the eye and push their beliefs on us.”
He echoed Fisher’s concern.
“Flags flown at our state Capitol should not be flags that fuel division among Iowans,” Wheeler said. “How would the Rainbow Jihad react if we were trying to fly the Christian flag over the state Capitol? The Rainbow Jihad is not OK with simply living their lives. They are so hellbent on pushing their beliefs on us that they would go so far as to fly that flag over the state Capitol. It’s one of the most egregious acts of political aggression I’ve ever seen.”
