Thread by @LauraRBelin

An #Iowa Senate Education subcommittee will soon consider one of the many anti- #LGBTQ bills Republican lawmakers have introduced this year. Details on meeting: legis.iowa.gov/committees/mee…

Bill designed to stop #Iowa schools from accommodating #trans students: legis.iowa.gov/legislation/Bi…
Really unfortunate that some lawmakers are so hung up on bathrooms. The younger generation by and large does not care. #ialegis

#Iowa's #CivilRights Act has prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity since 2007. Bill would carve out an exception to allow (in fact require) schools to ban students from using the bathroom that conforms to their gender identity. #ialegis

First speaker is @DamianJThompson of @iowasafeschools. He noted #Iowa has had zero problems in schools related to accommodating #trans students and cited research showing negative effects of bathroom bills (e.g. students not drinking enough fluids so as not to need the bathroom)

#Iowa high school student speaking now against bill, saying separating bathrooms by biological sex rather than gender identity would create an unwelcoming atmosphere for trans and gender-nonconforming students. Also would violate state/federal civil rights law.

Emily Piper, lobbyist for #Iowa Association of School Boards, speaking against the bill. Says it would force school districts to violate state Civil Rights Act as well as forthcoming policy from federal government. Would lead to litigation. They strongly oppose bill.

Keenan Crow speaking against bill on behalf of @OneIowa. #Iowa schools have accommodated #trans students since 2007, we have seen no uptick in bathroom-related safety incidents.
"Student abuse of these policies simply does not occur" #ialegis

"School policies should protect students from bullying--they shouldn't promote it," Keenan Crow said after noting that #trans students would be at higher risk for bullying and assault if forced to use bathroom not matching their gender identity.

Mother of 5-year-old trans girl now speaking against bill that would force her daughter to use the boy's bathroom in school. "This law opens the door to all kinds of abuse," making kids "prove" their gender. Trans kids already face bullying.

Trans man with a 10-year-old daughter in Waukee schools now speaking against bill. This bill would force him to use the girls' restroom when volunteering at his daughter's school. He's sure no one would want a 39-year old trans man using the girls' room in an elementary school.

Connie Ryan spoke against the bill on behalf of @interfaithiowa.
Now Chuck Hurley of FAMiLY Leader is first speaker in favor of bill. Complained that not all student is transgender and no one is thinking about the students who are not trans and deserve privacy.

Social conservative activist Chuck Hurley thanks Republican lawmakers for thinking about privacy of students "who aren't confused about their gender."

Student testifying against bill said it would disrupt student learning and could endanger trans students, who already have to deal with stress, fear, and discrimination.
Jamie Burch Elliott now speaking against bill on behalf of #PlannedParenthood Advocates of #Iowa.

Representative of Human Rights Campaign noted that trans students have right to education and discriminating against them would violate Title IX and the federal constitution.
Last public speaker is Melissa Peterson on behalf of #Iowa State Education Association (teachers union)

Democratic State @SenClaireCelsi speaking now. Apologized for this "hateful" and "hurtful" bill and the fact that people have to be there today.
Bill singles people out for discriminatory treatment. "Frankly reprehensible" that some senators cannot read the Iowa Civil Rights Act

Republican State Senator Jeff Taylor speaking now (on right). I didn't mention this earlier but yet again we have #Iowa GOP lawmakers sitting right next to each other in an enclosed space with no masks or social distancing. #ialegis

Hard to know where to begin with Taylor's comments, claiming he doesn't intend to be hateful before going on to say "sex" and "gender" are the same thing, even if some people "incorrectly" feel they are part of another gender.

Republican Senator Jim Carlin and Taylor both voted to bring bill to full Education Committee. Carlin claimed he has no "animus" toward LGBT Iowans but wants to protect privacy of women and girls.
Has talked to girls who were assaulted in restrooms.

Celsi restated her opposition and told Carlin that this bill would lead to more assaults of children.
Carlin has adjourned meeting, SF224 moves on to full Senate Education Committee.
legis.iowa.gov/legislation/Bi…
#Iowa's business community may need to step up to kill this bill.