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DES MOINES— Lt. Governor Patty Judge and Senate Leader Mike Gronstal joined the Iowa Pride Network College Coalition at a press conference today at the State Capitol to advocate for the Iowa Civil Rights Code to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons. “Our state’s civil rights code has a glaring omission – our LGBT community is not protected. We know that gays and lesbians are discriminated against in our society, and they currently have no recourse or protection under the law. This simply is unacceptable,” said the Lt. Governor. “Discrimination and intolerance have no place in our society, and that is why the Governor and I are supporting this simple, yet inclusive, change to our civil rights code.” Iowa’s current civil rights code does not extend protection to LGBT persons. By adding LGBT persons to the code, it will prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, credit, public accommodations, and education based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Currently three of the six states that border Iowa - Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois - have state statutes that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Speaking at the capitol press conference, Leah Gjertson, a second year law student at Drake University and coalition member stated, “The unavailability of employment protection for LGBT people is a major part of my decision to stay or leave Iowa. Why would I put myself and the family I hope to have at risk by working in Iowa when discrimination protection is offered elsewhere?” “Adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the state civil rights code is not only a solution to the “brain drain” of LGBT graduates; it is a necessary step for any State that would claim that all of its citizens are equal human beings,” said Matt Fender, a junior at Iowa State University. The press conference coincided with the College Coalition’s second LGBT and Allied Student Day at the Capitol. The College Coalition brings university and college LGBT student groups together to strengthen LGBT organizations, work to put a human face on the type of adversity that many LGBT youth face and promotes social and political solutions. The coalition brings students from numerous Iowa cities, colleges and high schools: 38 Cities: Adel, Alden, Ames, Burlington, Carlisle, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Denison, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, Glenwood, Homick, Hudson, Indianola, Iowa City, Iowa Falls, Johnston, Lamoni, Le Grand, Le Mars, Marshall, Marshalltown, Mt. Vernon, North Liberty, Oakland, Pella, Peosta, Pleasant Hill, Sioux City, Solon, Urbandale, Walker, Wapello, Waterloo, Waverly, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights 18 Colleges: Central College, Coe College, Cornell College, Des Moines Area Community College, Drake University, Ellsworth Community College, Hawkeye Community College, Indian Hills Community College, Iowa State University, Iowa Central Community College, Kirkwood Community College, Loras College, Northeast Iowa Community College, Simpson College, University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, Wartburg College, Western Iowa Technical Community College 16 High Schools: Burlington High School, Carlisle High School, Cedar Falls High School, East Marshall High School, Indianola High School, Iowa City West High School, Iowa Falls-Alden High School, Johnston High School, Lamoni High School, Marshalltown High School, North Linn High School, Roosevelt High School, Southeast Polk High School, Waterloo West High School, West Des Moines Valley High School |