2/11/10

Garden State Equality invites You to Help DEMOLISH THE DiViDE!

Next week marks the three-year anniversary of one of the worst public policy failures of our time, New Jersey's civil union law. Many hospitals and employers still reject the law because it is not marriage. At the recent state Senate hearing and floor vote, even legislators who oppose marriage equality admitted the civil union law has failed.
New Jersey's civil union law took effect on February 22, 2007. Through waivers of the waiting period, the first couples got civil unioned on February 19, 2007.
DEMOLISH THE DIVIDE! To mark the three-year anniversary of the civil union law, join Garden State Equality at marriage equality rallies, marches and free dinners from Wednesday night, February 17, 2010 through Monday night, February 22, 2010. New Jersey Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, a great champion of marriage equality, is our special speaker at the Thursday night, February 18 event in Montclair.
No tickets, no RSVP required. Just show up and please spread the word by emailing your friends and colleagues and by posting on list servs, blogs and Facebook. Questions? Press, contact Chair Steven Goldstein at Goldstein@GardenStateEquality.org or cell (917) 449-8918. Members, contact Field Manager Troy Stevenson at Stevenson@GardenStateEquality.org or cell (405) 802-8229.
The schedule for DEMOLISH THE DIVIDE:
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 7:00 pm, Collingswood. Meet at 7:00 pm for a rally at the Scottish Rite Auditorium, 315 White Horse Pike. We'll then do a candlelight march through Collingswood, ending at Cafe Antonio in downtown Collingswood for a free pizza dinner. This event is in the district of Senator Jim Beach, who abstained on the marriage equality bill.
Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 7:00 pm, Montclair. Meet at 7:00 pm for a rally at Bnai Keshet Reconstructionist Synagogue, 99 South Fullerton Avenue, with Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver. We'll then do a candlelight march through Montclair, ending at the Lower Lounge in downtown Montclair for a free pizza dinner.
Friday, February 19, 2010 at 7:00 pm, Asbury Park. Meet at 7:00 pm in front of Garden State Equality's Asbury Park office, 658 Cookman Avenue. From there we'll do a candlelight march through downtown Asbury Park, past the law office of Senator Sean Kean and then onto the Brickwall restaurant for a free dinner. This event is in the district of Senator Sean Kean, who voted no on the marriage equality bill.
Monday, February 22, 2010 at 6:00 pm, Trenton (note time). Meet at 6:00 pm in front of the Hughes Justice Complex, 25 Market Street, where we'll hold a candlelight vigil on the plaza. From there we'll do a candlelight march through Trenton, ending the evening at Covello’s Pizza in downtown Trenton for a free pizza dinner. Note: This event is in the district of Senator Shirley Turner, who voted no on the marriage equality bill.

Dallas Freedom to Marry Day 2010

Freedom to Marry Day 2010 is still on despite possible inclement weather. The Kay and Wendy's wedding ceremony will begin at 12:00 PM on Friday at the Records Building (509 Main St). After the kiss and bouquet toss the couple with crown in tow will make it's way to the Marriage License Office to place an application.

The Dallas Voice has reported that Joey Faust and his band of Christian bigots are planning on crashing our party. At previous QL events this group of right wing extremists have been very aggressive towards LGBT demonstrators. Please join us in solidarity as we celebrate the union of Kay and Wendy Churitch.

Some 1300+ rights and benefits that accompany a civil marriage are consistently denied to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) couples. These rights include:

· Access to a deceased spouses Social Security pension

· Sponsorship of a spouse for immigration

· Legally recognized joint parenting

· Next-of-kin status for emergency medical decision

· Property inheritance

· Domestic violence intervention

LGBT families lack the same legal protection that straight families often times take for granted. The denial of access to marriage is tantamount to the denial of full citizenship. For the our personal wellbeing and that of our families and society we demand to no longer be treated as second-class citizens.

Many are correct when they say that marriage is the bedrock of society. It’s a grave injustice however that such a fundamental institution is denied to a group of citizens solely on the basis of their gender. As LGBT couples become more integrated into society our demands of equality and to be treated with respect grows louder. In order for the LGBT community to make serious advancements in our struggle for equality and liberation we must come out of the closet and in the great tradition of previous civil rights movements take our grievances as an oppressed people into the streets. As the great abolitionist Frederick Douglas said “power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did, and never will”!

President Obama took the 2008 election full of promises to the LGBT community. His tepidness and lack of leadership in standing up for minority's rights has been quite troubling.

Unfortunately, during his campaign Obama chose to cozy up to anti-gay foes such as Rick Warren while backing off marriage equality. This constitutional lawyer turned president of the United States once supported marriage equality when in the Illinois Senate. In the run up to the election Obama said to the Chicago Tribune, "I'm a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman."

As a GLBT community we must demand that Obama grow a spine, separate church and state and begin using the most powerful position in the world to advocate for Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgender equality and liberation. We can, and must, do better for ourselves. Like any oppressed group, however, the onus to liberate ourselves lies solely on us. Organize, agitate and demand a brighter future for yourself and your Queer family!

2/10/10

Trans411: New Transgender Resource for locating Medical and Community Services Worldwide!

Locate a transgender recommended Doctor, Surgeon, Clinic , Psychologist, Therapist, Counselor, Support and community or activity group anywhere worldwide.

The sad truth is that many therapists are actually taking advantage of you, the unprotected uninformed patient, and are only concerned with bring you back for another costly visit.

Trans411 is a user friendly site that allows you instant access to the information that will save you money, and very possibly the heartbreak of becoming drawn into a costly and time consuming process of finding out your current health provider is unqualified or only concerned with their own job preservation.

From the Tran411 website about us:
"Trans411 was created by under-employed trans webheads in San Francisco, California. We feel very lucky to live in a city where we have easy access to so many resources, but we know from experience that in too many places it is difficult for people to find quality and compassionate care. Though 'trans' is included in our title, and our target audience is transgender, transsexual, intersex, genderqueer and other gender non-conforming people we have a feeling our site will be able to serve a variety of constituencies, and acknowledge there is a great deal of diversity in gender identities and beyond."

"We hope that this site allows a wide array of people to share their local knowledge about providers, groups and organizations that serve our community. We've taken a great deal of feedback from our past projects, such as being too United States centric or not including the ability to edit entries, and incorporated these ideas into this site from the get-go."
http://trans411.org/

American Psychiatric Association (APA) DSM-5, USA Proposed Changes


American Psychiatric Association (APA) DSM-5, USA

[2/10/2010]

Gender Identity Disorder in Adolescents or Adults

PROPOSED REVISION

Gender Incongruence (in Adolescents or Adults) [1]

A. A marked incongruence between one’s experienced/ expressed gender
and assigned gender, of at least 6 months duration, as manifested by
2* or more of the following indicators: [2, 3, 4]

1. a marked incongruence between one’s experienced/ expressed gender
and primary and/or secondary sex characteristics (or, in young
adolescents, the anticipated secondary sex characteristics) [13, 16]

2. a strong desire to be rid of one’s primary and/or secondary sex
characteristics because of a marked incongruence with one’s
experienced/ expressed gender (or, in young adolescents, a desire to
prevent the development of the anticipated secondary sex
characteristics) [17]

3. a strong desire for the primary and/or secondary sex
characteristics of the other gender

4. a strong desire to be of the other gender (or some alternative
gender different from one’s assigned gender)

5. a strong desire to be treated as the other gender (or some
alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)

6. a strong conviction that one has the typical feelings and reactions
of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s
assigned gender)

Subtypes

With a disorder of sex development

Without a disorder of sex development

[14, 15, 16, 19]

RATIONALE

For the adult criteria, we propose, on a preliminary basis, the
requirement of only 2 indicators. This is based on a preliminary
secondary data analysis of 154 adolescent and adults patients with GID
compared to 684 controls (Deogracias et al., 2007; Singh et al.,
2010). From a 27-item dimensional measure of gender dysphoria, the
Gender Identity/Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire for Adolescents and
Adults (GIDYQ), we extracted five items that correspond to the
proposed A2-A6 indicators (we could not extract a corresponding item
for A1). Each item was rated on a 5-point response scale, ranging from
Never to Always, with the past 12 months as the time frame. For the
current analysis, we coded a symptom as present if the participant
endorsed one of the two most extreme response options (frequently or
always) and as absent if the participant endorsed one of the three
other options (never, rarely, sometimes). This yielded a true positive
rate of 94.2% and a false positive rate of 0.7%. Because the wording
of the items on the GIDYQ is not identical to the wording of the
proposed indicators, further validational work will be required during
field trials.

End notes

1. It is proposed that the name gender identity disorder (GID) be
replaced by “Gender Incongruence” (GI) because the latter is a
descriptive term that better reflects the core of the problem: an
incongruence between, on the one hand, what identity one experiences
and/or expresses and, on the other hand, how one is expected to live
based on one’s assigned gender (usually at birth) (Meyer-Bahlburg,
2009a; Winters, 2005). In a recent survey that we conducted among
consumer organizations for transgendered people (Vance et al., in
press), many very clearly indicated their rejection of the GID term
because, in their view, it contributes to the stigmatization of their
condition.

2. In addition to the proposed name change for the diagnosis (see
Endnote 1), there are 6 substantive proposed changes to the DSM-IV
descriptive and diagnostic material: (a) we have proposed a change in
conceptualization of the defining features by emphasizing the
phenomenon of “gender incongruence” in contrast to cross-gender
identification per se (Meyer-Bahlburg, 2009a); (b) we have proposed a
merging of the A and B clinical indicator criteria in DSM-IV (see
Endnotes 10, 13); (c) for the adolescent/adult criteria, we have
proposed a more detailed and specific set of polythetic indicators
than was the case in DSM-IV (Cohen-Kettenis & Pfäfflin, 2009; Zucker,
2006); (d) for the child criteria, we have proposed that the A1
indicator be necessary (but not sufficient) for the diagnosis of GI
(see Endnote 5); (e) we have proposed that the “distress/impairment”
criterion not be a prerequisite for the diagnosis of GI (see Endnote
15); and (f) we have proposed that subtyping by sexual attraction (for
adolescents/ adults) be eliminated (see Endnote 18) but that subtyping
by the presence or absence of a co-occurring disorder of sex
development (DSD) be introduced (see Endnote 14). As in DSM-IV, we
recommend one overarching diagnosis, GI, with separate,
developmentally- appropriate criteria sets for children vs.
adolescents/ adults. The text material will provide updated information
on developmental trajectory data for clients who received the GI
diagnosis in childhood vs. adolescence or adulthood.

The term “sex” has been replaced by assigned “gender” in order to make
the criteria applicable to individuals with a DSD (Meyer-Bahlburg,
2009b). During the course of physical sex differentiation, some
aspects of biological sex (e.g., 46,XY genes) may be incongruent with
other aspects (e.g., the external genitalia); thus, using the term
“sex” would be confusing. The change also makes it possible for
individuals who have successfully transitioned to “lose” the diagnosis
after satisfactory treatment. This resolves the problem that, in the
DSM-IV-TR, there was a lack of an “exit clause,” meaning that
individuals once diagnosed with GID will always be considered to have
the diagnosis, regardless of whether they have transitioned and are
psychosocially adjusted in the identified gender role (Winters, 2008).
The diagnosis will also be applicable to transitioned individuals who
have regrets, because they did not feel like the other gender after
all. For instance, a natal male living in the female role and having
regrets experiences an incongruence between the “newly assigned”
female gender and the experienced/ expressed (still or again male)
gender.

3. It has been recommended by the Workgroup to delete the “perceived
cultural advantages” proviso. This was also recommended by the DSM-IV
Subcommittee on Gender Identity Disorders (Bradley et al., 1991).
There is no reason to “impute” one causal explanation for GI at the
expense of others (Zucker, 1992, 2009).

4. The 6 month duration was introduced to make at least a minimal
distinction between very transient and persistent GI. The duration
criterion was decided upon by clinical consensus. However, there is no
clear empirical literature supporting this particular period (e.g., 3
months vs. 6 months or 6 months vs. 12 months). There was, however,
consensus among the group that a lower-bound duration of 6 months
would be unlikely to yield false positives.

13. In the DSM-IV, there are two sets of clinical indicators (Criteria
A and B). This distinction is not supported by factor analytic
studies. The existing studies suggest that the concept of GI is best
captured by one underlying dimension (Cohen-Kettenis & van Goozen,
1997; Deogracias et al., 2007; Green, 1987; Johnson et al., 2004;
Singh et al., 2010).

14. There is considerable evidence individuals with a DSD experience
GI and may wish to change from their assigned gender; the percentage
of such individuals who experience GI is syndrome-dependent
(Cohen-Kettenis, 2005; Dessens, Slijper, & Drop, 2005; Mazur, 2005;
Meyer-Bahlburg, 1994, 2005, 2009a, 2009b). From a phenomenologic
perspective, DSD individuals with GI have both similarities and
differences to individuals with GI with no known DSD. Developmental
trajectories also have similarities and differences. The presence of a
DSD is suggestive of a specific causal mechanism that may not be
present in individuals without a diagnosable DSD.

15. It is our recommendation that the GI diagnosis be given on the
basis of the A criterion alone and that distress and/or impairment
(the D criterion in DSM-IV) be evaluated separately and independently.
This definitional issue remains under discussion in the DSM-V Task
Force for all psychiatric disorders and may have to be revisited
pending the outcome of that discussion. Although there are studies
showing that adolescents and adults with the DSM-IV diagnosis of GID
function poorly, this type of impairment is by no means a universal
finding. In some studies, for example, adolescents or adults with GID
were found to generally function psychologically in the non-clinical
range (Cohen-Kettenis & Pfäfflin, 2009; Meyer-Bahlburg, 2009a).
Moreover, increased psychiatric problems in transsexuals appear to be
preceded by increased experiences of stigma (Nuttbrock et al., 2009).
Postulating “inherent distress” in case one desires to be rid of body
parts that do not fit one’s identity is, in the absence of data, also
questionable (Meyer-Bahlburg, 2009a).

16. Although the DSM-IV diagnosis of GID encompasses more than
transsexualism, it is still often used as an equivalent to
transsexualism (Sohn & Bosinski, 2007). For instance, a man can meet
the two core criteria if he only believes he has the typical feelings
of a woman and does not feel at ease with the male gender role. The
same holds for a woman who just frequently passes as a man (e.g., in
terms of first name, clothing, and/or haircut) and does not feel
comfortable living as a conventional woman. Someone having a GID
diagnosis based on these subcriteria clearly differs from a person who
identifies completely with the other gender, can only relax when
permanently living in the other gender role, has a strong aversion
against the sex characteristics of his/her body, and wants to adjust
his/her body as much as technically possible in the direction of the
desired sex. Those who are distressed by having problems with just one
of the two criteria (e.g., feeling uncomfortable living as a
conventional man or woman) will have a GIDNOS diagnosis. This is
highly confusing for clinicians. It perpetuates the search for the
“true transsexual” only, in order to identify the right candidates for
hormone and surgical treatment instead of facilitating clinicians to
assess the type and severity of any type of GI and offer appropriate
treatment. Furthermore, in the DSM-IV, gender identity and gender role
were described as a dichotomy (either male or female) rather than a
multi-category concept or spectrum (Bockting, 2008; Bornstein, 1994;
Ekins & King, 2006; Lev, 2007; Røn, 2002). The current formulation
makes more explicit that a conceptualization of GI acknowledging the
wide variation of conditions will make it less likely that only one
type of treatment is connected to the diagnosis. Taking the above
regarding the avoidance of male-female dichotomies into account, in
the new formulation, the focus is on the discrepancy between
experienced/ expressed gender (which can be either male, female,
in-between or otherwise) and assigned gender (in most societies male
or female) rather than cross-gender identification and same-gender
aversion (Cohen-Kettenis & Pfäfflin, 2009).

17. In referring to secondary sex characteristics, anticipation of the
development of secondary sex characteristics has been added for young
adolescents. Adolescents increasingly show up at gender identity
clinics requesting gender reassignment, before the first signs of
puberty are visible (Delemarre-van de Waal & Cohen-Kettenis, 2006;
Zucker & Cohen-Kettenis, 2008).

18. In contemporary clinical practice, sexual orientation per se plays
only a minor role in treatment protocols or decisions. Also, changes
as to the preferred gender of sex partner occur during or after
treatment (DeCuypere, Janes, & Rubens, 2005; Lawrence, 2005; Schroder
& Carroll, 1999). It can be difficult to assess sexual orientation in
individuals with a GI diagnosis, as they preoperatively might give
incorrect information in order to be approved for hormonal and
surgical treatment (Lawrence, 1999). Because sexual orientation
subtyping is of interest to researchers in the field, it is
recommended that reference to it be addressed in the text, but not as
a specifier. It should also be assessed as a dimensional construct.

19. The subworkgroup has had extensive discussion about the placement
of GI in the nomenclature for DSM-V, as the meta-structure of the
entire manual is under review. The subworkgroup questions the
rationale for the current DSM-IV chapter Sexual and Gender Identity
Disorders, which contains three major classes of diagnoses: sexual
dysfunctions, paraphilias, and gender identity disorders (see
Meyer-Bahlburg, 2009a). Various alternative options to the current
placement are under consideration.

References Click Here#
302.85

SEVERITY

For Adolescents and Adults

Please complete the following questions: [Note to Task Force—these
first 4 questions are preliminary; the corresponding dimensional
questions for the categorical diagnosis are on the next page]

1. My current legal sex or gender (e.g., as listed under “sex” on my
passport or driver’s license, also called “assigned” gender) is:
a. Female
b. Male
c. Other (describe): ____________ _____

2. My confidence that I really am what my legal “sex” states (namely,
a girl/woman or boy/man) is:
a. None
b. Mild
c. Moderate
d. Strong
e. Very Stong

3. The way that I experience and express my true gender compared to my
legal sex or gender is:
a. Not at all different
b. Mildly different
c. Moderately different
d. Strongly different
e. Very Stongly different

4. I am distressed by feeling different from my legal sex or gender:
a. None
b. Mild
c. Moderate
d. Strong
e. Very Stong

Note to the Task Force: Definitions will be provided for primary and
secondary sex characteristics and “assigned sex” and “assigned
gender.” Questions A1-A6 are the dimensional metrics for the
corresponding categorical criteria.

For Questions 1-8, please circle the letter next to the statement that
applies to you the best.

A1. Over the past 6 months, how intense was your discomfort because
your primary and/or secondary sex characteristics do not match your
gender identity?

1. None
2. Mild
3. Moderate
4. Strong
5. Very Strong

A2. Over the past 6 months, how intense was your desire to be rid of
your primary and/or secondary sex characteristics because they do not
match your gender identity?

1. None
2. Mild
3. Moderate
4. Strong
5. Very Strong

A3. Over the past 6 months, how intense was your desire for the
primary and/or secondary sex characteristics of the other gender?

1. None
2. Mild
3. Moderate
4. Strong
5. Very Strong

A4. Over the past 6 months, how intense was your desire to be of the
other gender (or some gender different from your assigned gender)?
a. None
b. Mild
c. Moderate
d. Strong
e. Very Stong

A5. Over the past 6 months, how intense was your desire to be treated
as the other gender (or some gender different from your assigned
gender)?
a. None
b. Mild
c. Moderate
d. Strong
e. Very Stong

A6. Over the past 6 months, how intense was your conviction that you
have the typical feelings and reactions of the other gender (or some
gender different from your assigned gender)?
a. None
b. Mild
c. Moderate
d. Strong
e. Very Stong

7. Over the past 6 months, how would you describe your sexual
attraction to other people?
a. Sexually attracted to males
b. Sexually attracted to females
c. Sexually attracted to both males and females
d. Sexually attracted to neither males or females
e. Other (please describe): ____________ _________ _________ _________

8. How old were you when you first had the strong desire to be, or to
live in the gender role, of the other gender (or some gender different
from your assigned gender)?
a. Age 5 years or younger
b. Between 6 and 9 years
c. Between 10 and 12 years
d. Between 13 and 17 years
e. Age 18 years or older

DSM-IV

Gender Identity Disorder

A. A strong and persistent cross-gender identification (not merely a
desire for any perceived cultural advantages of being the other sex).

In children, the disturbance is manifested by four (or more) of the following:

1. Repeatedly stated desire to be, or insistence that he or she
is, the other sex

2. In boys, preference for cross-dressing or simulating female
attire; in girls, insistence on wearing only stereotypical masculine
clothing

3. Strong and persistent preferences for cross-sex roles in
make-believe play or persistent fantasies of being the other sex

4. Intense desire to participate in the stereotypical games and
pastimes of the other sex

5. Strong preference for playmates of the other sex

In adolescents and adults, the disturbance is manifested by symptoms
such as a stated desire to be the other sex, frequent passing as the
other sex, desire to live or be treated as the other sex, or the
conviction that he or she has the typical feelings and reactions of
the other sex.

B. Persistent discomfort with his or her sex or sense of
inappropriateness in the gender role of that sex.

In children, the disturbance is manifested by any of the following:

In boys, assertion that his penis or testes are disgusting or will
disappear or assertion that it would be better not to have a penis, or
aversion toward rough-and-tumble play and rejection of male
stereotypical toys, games, and activities;

In girls, rejection of urinating in a sitting position, assertion
that she has or will grow a penis, or assertion that she does not want
to grow breasts or menstruate, or marked aversion toward normative
feminine clothing.

In adolescents and adults, the disturbance is manifested by symptoms
such as preoccupation with getting rid of primary and secondary sex
characteristics (e.g., request for hormones, surgery, or other
procedures to physically alter sexual characteristics to simulate the
other sex) or belief that he or she was born the wrong sex.

C. The disturbance is not concurrent with a physical intersex condition.

D. The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or
impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of
functioning.

Code based on current age

Specify if (for sexually mature individuals) :

Sexually Attracted to Males

Sexually Attracted to Females

Sexually Attracted to Both

Sexually Attracted to Neither

http://www.dsm5.org proposed revision

Iowa House Rejects Anti Equality Amendment

One Iowa: Iowa House rejects attempt to advance amendment

2/9/2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 9, 2010

CONTACT JUSTIN UEBELHOR
515-288-4019 x 205 515-333-2525 (cell) justin@oneiowa.org

IOWA HOUSE REJECTS ATTEMPT TO ADVANCE AMENDMENT

(Des Moines, IA) The Iowa House today rejected procedural attempts by opponents of equality to advance an amendment to the Iowa Constitution seeking to overturn last April’s unanimous Iowa Supreme Court ruling and to deny the protections of civil marriage to gay and lesbian couples. “We applaud those legislators who voted to protect the freedoms of all Iowans and continue the job of balancing the budget and putting Iowans back to work. It’s time to move on from the destructive politics of division and focus on what matters to a great majority of Iowans,” said One Iowa Executive Director Carolyn Jenison.

One Iowa’s annual Lobby Day at the Capitol takes place tomorrow. Supporters will gather at the Capitol to share their stories with Iowa legislators, demonstrating the importance of civil marriage equality to Iowa families. Please contact Justin Uebelhor at 515-333-2525 to arrange press availability.

One Iowa is the state’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) advocacy organization, committed to full equality for LGBT individuals, including the freedom to marry. More information at http://www.oneiowa.org.

2/9/10

TELL IOWA LEGISLATURE: HANDS OFF LGBT SCHOOL CHILDREN

Tell the Iowa legislature that using school children as weapons to further a political agenda is unconscionable and will not be tolerated. The bill which would remove protections for LGBT children from bullying, 2291 is in the House Education subcommittee and being considered by:

Rep. Dennis M. Cohoon(D)
E-mail: dennis.cohoon@legis.state.ia.us
Home Address: 816 Randall Lane, P.O. Box 157, Burlington, IA, 52601
Home Telephone: 319-752-5057

Rep. Annette Sweeney(R)
E-mail: annette.sweeney@legis.state.ia.us
Home Address: 21547 Hwy S27, Alden, IA, 50006
Capitol Telephone: 515-281-3221

Rep. Phyllis Thede(D)
E-mail: phyllis.thede@legis.state.ia.us
Capitol Telephone: 515-281-3221

Sample email

Dear Representative

I am writing to express my objection to Bill 2291 which would remove protections currently in place for LGBT school children from bullying and harassment. This proposed bill is doubly odious because it would in essence use innocent children as weapons in pursuit of a political agenda.

Please do not pass this bill for consideration.

Thank you,


Bill Text after Back ground

Source: Iowa Independent A pair of Republican state legislators has introduced a bill that would remove protections for gay, lesbian and transgender students from an anti-bullying law passed in 2007.

State Reps. Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig, and Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, sponsored the legislation to remove sexual orientation and gender identity as definitions used for purposes of protecting students in public and nonpublic schools from harassment and bullying.

Schultz told NBC affiliate WHO-TV that the rationale behind the move is to force a vote on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, since the Iowa Supreme Court pointed to laws like Iowa’s Safe Schools Law in making its April decision to legalize same-sex marriage. Ryan Roemerman, executive director of Iowa Pride Network, said the bill would open up LGBT students to bullying and harassment.

“When our state is facing record budget deficits and unemployment, House Republicans feel their time is best spent picking on Iowa’s LGBT youth,” Roemerman said in a statement. “There is no better example as to why we have this law, so youth in Iowa don’t grow up to be like these bigots.”

******************
House File 2291 - Introduced

HOUSE FILE
BY SCHULTZ and WINDSCHITL

A BILL FOR

1 An Act relating to protected traits or characteristics of
2 students under public and nonpublic school harassment and
3 bullying prohibitions and policies.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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PAG LIN

1 1 Section 1. Section 280.28, subsection 2, paragraph c, Code
1 2 2009, is amended to read as follows:
1 3 c. "Trait or characteristic of the student" includes but
1 4 is not limited to age, color, creed, national origin, race,
1 5 religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender
1 6 identity, physical attributes, physical or mental ability or
1 7 disability, ancestry, political party preference, political
1 8 belief, socioeconomic status, or familial status.
1 9 EXPLANATION
1 10 This bill strikes sexual orientation and gender identity
1 11 from the definition of the term "trait or characteristic of the
1 12 student" used for purposes of protecting students in public and
1 13 nonpublic schools from harassment and bullying.
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