When Iowa Democrats had full control of the state government in 2007, they inserted gender identity and sexual orientation into the Civil Rights code.
Iowa still has those protections in its code. It, along with Utah, are the only two “red” states out of the 22 states that provide special protected status for individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.
Due to that change in the law, taxpayer-owned swimming pools in Pella and Sioux Center have had a couple controversial issues.
In Pella, a middle teenaged biological female who “identifies” as a male was allowed to use the pool topless and use the men’s facilities at the location. In Sioux Center, a biological male who “identifies” as a female was able to use the changing room for biological females.
The Iowa Standard contacted every state legislator to ask their thoughts on the situation, if individuals should be allowed to wear swimwear based on their gender identity rather than their body parts and if they support removing sexual orientation and gender identity from the Civil Rights code.
About eight Republicans in the legislature have responded to those questions, but not a single Democrat has.
The only response we’ve received from anyone affiliated with the Democrats in the legislature is the response from an email we sent to Sen. Zach Wahls, who is the minority leader in the Iowa Senate.
While the email was sent to Wahls in an effort to get an idea on where state lawmakers stand on these situations, the reply came from Ron Parker. Parker is the staff director for the Senate Democrats.
His answer:
“I encourage you to contact One Iowa about this.”
Parker attached the business card of Keenan Crow, the director of policy and advocacy for the LGBTQ organization.
Will any Iowa Democrat in the legislature stand up and say publicly they support a policy that allows a middle teenaged biological female to use a pool topless in Iowa?
While the 2007 law change passed with some Republican support, it never would have happened if Democrats were not in control.
Republicans may be to blame for keeping this policy in place, but Democrats put it there.
They should have to own this insanity. Iowa voters deserve to know where legislators are on this consequential issue regardless of how red — or blue — a state house or state senate district may be.
