I am disappointed in the State of Iowa, my home state, for what they are doing to the trans community. Once upon a time the State of Iowa was considered top in the nation for its education system. Students from Iowa were the best and the brightest in the country. That has all changed and Iowa has sunk below #18.
Now, instead of trying to educate students, Iowa is making being trans illegal its its schools. Transgender students won’t be allowed to use the bathroom that makese the most sense for them. Republican lawmakers, who have pushed the bill, claim it’s to make schools safer.
However singling out a minority for oppression has never made us a safer and better country. Their bill hurts real people. It’s frustrating to see Iowa, a state with a rich history of progressivism, fall prey to bigotry and discrimination towards the transgender community. It’s a shame that rather than focusing on sensible solutions to real problems, like implementing background checks for firearm sales, lawmakers are pushing for harmful and unnecessary legislation. The reality is that trans students, like all students, have a right to access safe and appropriate facilities. It’s time for our leaders to focus on real solutions that make our communities safer – not just for some of us, but for all.
This is not about safety or comfort. Imagine a transgender male teenager being forced to use the women’s room! Imagine them in jeans, a shirt, and facial hair – looking as traditionally masculine as they come. Should they be forced to use the women’s room? Absolutely not.
(I could rant about bathrooms in America all day – the whole thing is so stupid. Why are there cracks in the damn stall doors? Who’s idiot idea was that!)
And these laws are sure not about safety!
Iowa lawmakers in the legislature refuse to enact sensible gun laws to prevent school shootings. (What is sensible? Well, there is no background check required for a gun sale from Craigslist or Reddit. That would be a sensible thing to change with a 5-minute online background check submission system. Right now individuals who are prohibited from owning firearms, such as felons, domestic abusers, and individuals with a history of mental illness, can still purchase firearms through private sales without undergoing a background check.)
More than 6000 children and teens were injured or killed in shootings in 2022!
No trans student has ever attacked or harmed someone in a bathroom. In fact, transgender students are far more likely to be victimized and bullied by both peers and zealot administrators and teachers.
Regressive lawmakers like the current Republican, pushing an agenda of division – an agenda that hurts real people – really hurts my heart.
I am usually proud of Iowa. We rank #1 right now for opportunity. That’s largely why I have gotten to where I am today, thanks to starting in such a great place. I received a great education. Even though we were financially limited growing up (very poor!) I was able to save up money from working to host conventions to growing my company to where it is today.
As a business owner and longtime resident of Iowa, I want to stress the importance of supporting and standing up for marginalized communities. Discrimination and prejudice have never helped anyone, and laws that target certain groups of people for oppression will only lead to harm and suffering.
We have an obligation to make sure that everyone has access to safe and appropriate facilities regardless of their gender identity. Schools should be safe spaces where all students feel welcomed and accepted, and it’s up to all of us to make that a reality. Instead of focusing on divisive and harmful legislation, our lawmakers should be working on real solutions that benefit all members of our communities. Let’s continue to fight against bigotry and discrimination and ensure that Iowa remains a welcoming and inclusive place for all.
If you want to do something about it, call the Governor’s Office at 515-281-5211. You will almost certainly be ignored or belittled, but our voices should be used to stand up against discrimination.