Passage of bill would prohibit discrimination, extend opportunity
January 23, 2003
The Iowa Civil Rights Commission is supporting a bill in the state Legislature that would add sexual orientation to the state’s current discrimination law this month.
The proposed bill would add sexual orientation to the other 11 classifications protected from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodation, education and credit practices.
Cedar Rapids, Ames, Davenport, Des Moines and Iowa City already include sexual orientation in their local ordinances.
However, obtaining that protection for the entire state of Iowa may be an unrealistic step, state officials say.
Todd Herriott, adviser to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Alliance, said he sees similarities in the arguments used in opposition to the current bill and the arguments used in the mid-1980s regarding racial discrimination.
“Irrational, bigoted fear is the main reason why a bill like this [hasn’t passed before]. Fear of the unknown in what might happen in the future if the bill passes scares people into opposition,” he said.
“The same arguments used against the toleration of interracial marriages are the exact same ones being used 20 years later in opposition of gay [and] lesbian unions.”
Herriott said calling homosexuality a choice made by individuals is a poor excuse for opposing the sexual orientation bill.
“I feel this is not true, and even if it was, religion and voting are both examples of rights that are protected from discriminatory acts that both involve choices made by the individual,” he said.
Ben Stone, executive director of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union, said he is optimistic about the bill’s chances of passing.
“The bills of the past were filed by individual parties, not a group such as the commission. This has drawn more local media coverage and has informed many more citizens about the positive aspects of adding sexual orientation to Iowa’s current discrimination laws,” he said.
Stone said equal housing and teaching opportunities for people of all sexual orientations would be positive outcomes of the bill’s implementation.
