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LGBT STUDENTS TO MEET LT. GOVERNOR, THANK SUPPORTIVE LEGISLATORS
Dozens of LGBT and straight allied students will meet with Lt. Governor Patty Judge and supportive legislators during Iowa Pride Network's Fifth Annual Student Day at Capitol being held today. The day is meant to encourage students to be civically engaged and politically aware.
The event comes at an important time. In early February, House Representatives Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig and Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, co-sponsored legislation which sought to exclude LGBT students from the 2007 Safe Schools Law. The legislation died in the House Education Committee.
"While that piece of anti-gay legislation is dead, we hope that our time at the Capitol will serve as a reminder that every student has a right to a safe school and that all students deserve to be treated with respect-not just from their peers, but from their legislators at the statehouse," stated Emily Frerichs, a senior at the University of Iowa and Iowa Pride Network Board Member.
"We also want to thank legislators who have stood by us and show we appreciate them," said Sara Puffer, a senior at Cedar Rapids Linn-Mar High School and also a board member for Iowa Pride Network. Puffer described how personalized thank-you cards will be given out and a legislative reception will be held in the afternoon.
Students attending the Day at the Capitol hail from numerous Iowa cities, colleges and high schools:
21 Cities: Altoona, Ames, Burlington, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Cumming, Des Moines, Forest City, Grinnell, Iowa City, Marion, Omaha, NE, Pella, Pleasant Hill, Red Oak, Runnells, Lamoni, Sioux City, Urbandale, Waterloo, and Waverly
9 Colleges: Central College, Drake University, Grinnell College, Iowa State University, Mercy College of Health Sciences, Morningside College, University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, Waldorf College
15 High Schools: Burlington High School, Cedar Falls High School, Central Academy, East High School (Des Moines), Hinton High School (Sioux City), Hoover High School (Des Moines), Cedar Rapids Linn-Mar High School, Millard South High School (Omaha, NE), North High School (Sioux City), Red Oak High School, Southeast Polk High School, Walnut Creek High School, Waverly-Shell Rock High School, Iowa City West High School, Sioux City West High School Full Story. [3/3/10]
'HISTORIC’ HEARING ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN MINNESOTA
Three bills will be up for discussion on Monday, and all three are supportive of expanded relationship rights for Minnesota's same-sex couples. > Full Story. [2/19/10]
IOWA HOUSE REPUBLICANS SEEK TO BULLY GAY STUDENTS
Two Iowa GOP State Representatives, Jason Schultz, and Matt Windschitl, this week, co-sponsored legislation which seeks to remove LGBT students from the 2007 Iowa Safe Schools Law that protects students from harassment and bullying in Iowa's schools and the measure has been referred to the Iowa House Education Committee for consideration Sexual Orientation and Gender identity are currently covered under the Safe Schools Law, but the bill introduced by Schultz, and Windschitl would strike those protections... > Full Story. [2/8/10]
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