The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force is urging Gov. Tom Vilsack and the Iowa Legislature to adopt policies to end harassment and bullying of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students in Iowa schools.

In September 2003, the task force released a report to the governor’s office and legislature highlighting some of the facts facing those students. Vilsack and the legislature are currently looking at the report, the task force said in a statement.

While the Iowa schools task force is a program directed more toward high school students, the figures also relate to Iowa State, said the program’s coordinator, Brad Clark.

Todd Herriott, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Ally Alliance adviser, said he sees a worsening trend in the amount of harassment directed toward such students on campus. In about the past 18 months, Herriott said, harassment and general threats from students have led to three students leaving campus.

“I’m fearful of increased violence on campus,” he said. “The problems we face are becoming more well known, more open. Historically, when issues such as this become more open the opposition becomes more violent, due to fear of change. It happened with women’s suffrage and I’m afraid it may be happening now.”

Clark said students are coming out as gay at younger ages, which not only brings more attention to the issue, but to threats as well.

“This translates to the sort of vandalism that has occurred at ISU over the past few years,” he said, referring to derogatory phrases that were painted on the walls of the Durham Center and the Student Services Building Nov. 18, 2002, and near Hamilton Hall on March 6, 2003.

Joel Taylor, senior in political science and a member of the alliance, said he agrees with Herriott.

“Since I came to ISU two and a half years ago, there have been few direct confrontations that I’ve heard of. I hear a lot more about messages on people’s doors and whiteboards,” he said.

Walter Gmelch is co-coordinator of a campuswide diversity survey intended to find more concrete facts involving diversity on campus.

“I do believe we have a good campus as far as these issues are concerned, but this only goes to show that we cannot possibly become complacent,” said Gmelch, dean of the College of Education. “It proves we need to be proactive in doing a better job learning, teaching, and discussing diversity issues.”