Because children are ripe for political maneuvering, a pair of Iowa lawmakers figured queer youth didn’t need any legal protections from bullying in schools, which explains why they’re trying to remove sexual orientation and gender identity from the state’s Safe Schools Law — all as a means to chip away at the Iowa Supreme Court’s gay marriage approval.
Rep. Jason Schultz’s theory? The law “doesn’t protect anyone anyway,” so “to remove few words doesn’t change the intent or effect of the law.” Along with Rep. Matt Windschitl (pictured, right), the two Republican lawmakers are working to amend the 2007 law. But if Iowa’s dominating Democrats can shut down a vote to amend the constitution that would ban gay marriage, certainly they can kill this bill too.
But it still has trans vlogger Zinnia Jones appropriately wondering, “Why Do Jason Schultz and Matt Windschitl Hate LGBT Students?”
Wade macMorrighan
Yeah, I saw this on the news last night, where the Bill’s sponsors are using it as a platform to get a debate on the floor on a Gay marriage Amend.! I believe they know full well that the longer Gay marriage is allowed to exist in Iowa, the less likely they will have the votes to get rid of it.
Also, it was about 4 years ago that I lobbied at the State House for the passage of the Legislation (and my attempts were successful!) that they want to tamper with, because the IA. Supreme Court unanimously declared that we are a Suspect Class, and afforded the HIGHEST level of judicial scrutiny in order to protect us from any legislation that might unfairly target us. Sadly, I have NOT seen ANYONE in the local news media attempting to sell that last point to ANYONE! And, that bugs me most of all. But, if anyone feels like asking them,m be my guest!
Here’s an article from the WHO TV 13 website (I wasn’t able to find the video coverage that I saw last night!): http://www.whotv.com/news/who-tv-safe-schools-020710,0,164239.story
Caitlin
AGH. I was there when the Safe Schools Law was signed, took pictures and everything! It was really exciting and I was happy about it. Now I’m just annoyed and I hope that this gets shut down, and fast.
mike
Matt Windschitl is so handsome. You can introduce any policy you want, Matt. So long as you come home with me, I’m inclined to vote for you.
RomanHans
I’m just glad no commentator has taken a look at those wussy faces and declared that these dudes are in the closet.
Mike in Asheville, nee "in Brooklyn"
@ No. 3 Mike
Are you fucking crazy? You would enjoy a roll in the hay with a vile bigoted homophobic wingnut who, for political gain, puts the lives of school children at risk?
Irrespective whether one thinks this guy is handsome (not me), under his skin he is of the ugliest of ugly natures. His ugliness exudes from every pore! And you are “inclined” to support his seizing your civil rights away from you for what, a blow job?
Darrell
Yeah! People need to understand that being beaten up because you’re gay is WAY worse than being beaten up because you’re small, or shy, or just because you’re different in some intangible way!
I don’t understand why breeder wingnuts aren’t willing to acknowledge that if they get beaten up in a bar, it’s not as bad as if we gay people do!
The Bony Man
I officially love Zinnia Jones. It’s clear that she was a debater at one point in time. She’s got “the voice” and her speeches are all very well practiced and delivered.