Today, we stood in solidarity with our trans students at the Iowa Capitol. Flanked by the American and Iowa flags, we stood silently behind @IAGovernor as she signed this discriminatory bill with the same flag that flew over the State Capitol for Trans Day of Remembrance in 2019 
Iowa Safe Schools' Executive Director, Becky Smith, released the following statement today:
"With the stroke of a pen, Governor Kim Reynolds has made it clear that the lives of transgender children in Iowa do not matter.
"With the stroke of a pen, Governor Kim Reynolds has made it clear that the lives of transgender children in Iowa do not matter.
After our trans students and their parents requested a meeting with the governor over a week ago, she ignored their pleas to have their voices heard. The passage of this bill will directly result in increased suicidality, disparate mental health outcomes, and further isolation.
Our most vulnerable children deserve love, affirmation, and support – not to be bullied by the highest officeholder in the state.
The dialogue pushed by proponents of this bill, calling LGBTQ individuals “mentally ill” and referring to being transgender as a “cancer”, has permanently tarnished the reputation of Iowa Legislature and Governor Kim Reynolds.
To be crystal clear – this legislation is a solution in search of a problem, scoring petty political points at the expense of Iowa’s children. Today is a dark day in Iowa’s history and will be remembered by our students, their families, and voters alike." #ialegis
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