Jonathan Wilson’s recent defeat in the Des Moines school board race is troubling. Wilson’s attributes are second to none.

*He served on the school board for longer than nearly anyone else, 12 years, being reelected three times.

*He served as board president three times and has been the driving force behind several key initiatives.

*He is a senior partner at one of Iowa’s largest law firms.

*He was praised by the Des Moines Register for his analytical skills and as an eloquent advocate for public education.

*He is certainly one of Des Moines’ most prominent, high-profile men.

*He is gay.

Ultimately, though, only one of the above mattered. Wilson is gay.

With the privilege of the vote, Des Moines voters proved just how homophobic central Iowa can be. For 12 years, Wilson served his community diligently and with the backing of its residents.

But until recently, Des Moines voters thought they were supporting a straight candidate. And in Wilson’s first run as himself, a gay candidate, he lost by a school board landslide: 3,598 votes.

Make no mistake about it, Jonathan Wilson lost his bid for reelection because he is gay. If he would have stayed in the closet, Wilson would be serving his fifth term.

Way to go voters; more hate is just what Iowa needed.