Yesterday we told you about the Pella Aquatic Center allowing a middle-teenaged biological female to walk around the facility topless and to utilize the men’s facilities. The assistant manager of the facility told The Iowa Standard on Saturday that the incident did indeed happen and is in accordance with guidelines or policies put in place by the Pella City Council.
After hearing that, The Iowa Standard immediately emailed members of the Pella City Council. Phone numbers for the council members are not posted online, and we have not heard from any of the members via email.
Mark De Jong is an at-large member of the city council. His term expires Dec. 31, 2021.
Lynn Branderhorst represents Ward 1. Her term expires on Dec. 31, 2021.
Bruce Schiebout represents Ward 3. His term expires Dec. 31, 2021.
Liz Sporrer is an at-large member of the city council as well. Her term expires Dec. 31, 2023.
Calvin Bandstra represents Ward 2. His term expires Dec. 31, 2023.
Dave Hopkins represents Ward 4. His term expires Dec. 31, 2023.
We will provide updates as soon as the council members respond and publish their full responses unedited.
Meanwhile, state legislators have sounded off on the issue. One state representative told The Iowa Standard that the Pella Aquatic Center is either using the laws as an excuse or they are ignorant of the law. Indecent exposure laws are “very clear,” we were told.
“And it doesn’t matter what gender you are or anything else,” they said. “They could’ve easily prevented this based upon current law.”
Another state representative warned this is a consequence of including sexual orientation and gender identity in the Iowa Civil Rights Code. They added this situation could be coming soon to a water park or public school near you.
“Democrats added ‘gender identity’ to the Iowa Civil Rights Code in 2007,” they said. “That’s the legal basis for this nonsense.”
This legislator noted there have been two efforts to remove gender identity from code, but no action has been taken.
“Gender identity is not in federal code, so Iowa could make this change and stop this nonsense,” they said. “More people need to speak up.”
