FEBRUARY LEGISLATIVE FORUM/PART B
As promised, I am giving a second report on the Senators' and
Representatives' Legislative Forum held at St. Ambrose University,
Davenport, IOWA, which took place Saturday, February 25th.
A question from a young man, Andrew, drew applause from many in the
audience. He wanted to know, especially from the Republicans,
what was going to be done in the state of IOWA regarding
bullying. Andrew said gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender
persons (GLBT's) are not given the same protections as “other minority”
groups. He wanted to know what was going to be done to protect
him and others of the GLBT group.
First to respond was Rep. Jim Van Fossen (R), “…they (school
administrators) all say there is a bullying policy in place, and is
this something that the state of IOWA needs to get involved?…We try to
allow the school boards to set their own policies on hours, numbers of
days that they're working…” Take a stand here Jim, take a stand.
(((It is going to be so sweet to see your opponent, the articulate
ELESHA GAYMAN, take you to task on so many issues, including this
one.)))
Andrew said, “Kids now use 'gay' in a slang term as something
bad. We don't go around saying: 'That's so black. That's so
Asian. That's so Jewish.' We don't do that…I'm just wanting my
officials of the state of IOWA regardless of party to do something to
insure my rights as an American citizen.”
When asked by the senior Rep. Jim Van Fossen what rights Andrew himself
did not have that he, Van Fossen, had, the young man's answer was that
he lost his job. He was “actively and maliciously sought out for
being a homosexual.”
Senator Joe Seng (D-Davenport) said he was on the Davenport city
council when they passed a law regarding no discrimination on credit,
housing, and employment. He said we (Democratic legislators) are
working on getting a law standardized. Although, Sen. Seng said
he was not sure the Republicans were working on one. “We're
working to try to get a statewide anti-bullying bill. I am.
I think it's needed.” He thanked Andrew for coming forward
with his concerns.
But it was Representative Jamie Van Fossen (R-Davenport) who really
seemed out of touch. He said he didn't understand the problem
after Andrew had described being fired from his job for being gay and
for nearly being run off the road 5 times by the same individual just
because he was gay. Andrew said he learned that the IOWA hate
crime law does nothing to protect him as a gay person.
So, for Rep. Jamie Van Fossen not being more aware, more in touch, more
inclusive-thinking about this, well, I guess it's time to step aside
and let someone govern who does. Step down Jamie, step down.
Though this episode has nothing to do with environmental issues, please still take time to CPR…CONSERVE/PARTICIPATE/RECYCLE.
Blog For Iowa 
This does not surprise me one bit. In a State riddled through with backward-looking bigots and religious fundies, all working their pscychological pressures upon our young and powerless in one way or another, anyone with enough cash and sense may just want to get the heck outta here. It aint worth it – this is the all-whitebread-american bread and butter-basket of konservatism. No alternatives desired, we teach our young to crush and hate.
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