Meeting Public Comments

Subcommittee meeting and times are as follows:

A bill for an act relating to parental and guardian consent and information regarding the gender identity of students enrolled in a school district or charter school.(See HF 180.)

Subcommittee members: Wheeler-CH, Boden

Date: Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Time: 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

Location: RM 19

Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

Comments Submitted:

01-30-2023

Aidan Yoder

This is a bad bill that will hurt LGBTQ youth. Schools should be able to work with the students to accommodate them. If the students dont feel safe telling their parents, then the schools should be able to respect that to keep them safe.

01-30-2023

Megan Clausen

This bill is extremely harmful to the well being of LGBTQ children and youth. It is never okay to out someone before they are ready. To force educators to break confidences is never okay. It will be detrimental to students as well as teachers.

01-30-2023

Emily Elliott

As a mental health therapist, I can say with absolute certainty that this bill will harm kids as well as their relationships with their parents. The state has no right to meddle in a childs gender identity. STOP LEGISLATING HATE.

01-30-2023

Stacy Broders

Not all children have safe homes. Not all adults care about the safety and we'll being of young children as you all are proving by bringing forth this hateful and dangerous bill. Children deserve respect and safety just as much as adults do that's how they learn to be confident and successful; that's how they learn to become who they are meant to be. No one has the right to tell any of us who we are, nor do they have the right to tell anyone else who we are or who they think we are. My story is mine to tell; your story is yours to tell their story is theirs to tell.Protect children's we'll being by not pushing this disgusting bill through. Stop making Iowa a hateful place to raise a family.

01-30-2023

Abigail Cornejo [Iowa Teacher]

This bill endangers the safety, welfare, and autonomy of our youth. It puts educators in an impossible decision: risk legal and career ending consequences or endanger a child when forcibly outing LGBT+ youth is mandated by the government.

01-30-2023

Steve Ball

I implore any legislator with decency to vote against this. There are a million better ways to spend taxpayers time and money than this ridiculous LGTBQ culture war that seems rife in conservatism. This will help no one and become a black eye for a state that once was at the forefront for treating people with respect and dignity.

01-30-2023

Carl Rowles

I am writing to you to encourage you to vote AGAINST House File 9. Not only does this bill have the potential to increase rates of depression and suicides attempts in LGBTQ youth, but could put students in actual danger in their home lives. It is essential that schools remain a safe and accepting place for students. Please consider the following:Suicide is already the secondleading cause of death amongst young people in the country aged 1024 and LGBTQ youth are FOUR times as likely to attempt suicide. Transgender and nonbinary youth are 2 to 2.5 times as likely to experience depressive symptoms, seriously consider suicide, and attempt suicide compared to their cisgender LGBQ peers.Research suggests that most LGBTQ youth do not have parental acceptance at home. Only onethird experience parental acceptance, with an additional onethird experiencing parental rejection, and the final onethird not disclosing their LGBTQ identity until they are adults. Another study found that LGB young adults who report high levels of parental rejection are eight times more likely to report attempting suicide and six times more likely to report high levels of depression. Requiring schools to out students to parents can be dangerous for the students. House File 9 goes against research and policies that protect students. Having at least ONE accepting adult can reduce the risk of suicide attempts among LGBTQ young people by 40%. This holds true especially for transgender and nonbinary youth who feel acceptance from adults and peers. Transgender and nonbinary youth attempt suicide less when their pronouns are respected and when they have access to spaces (such as school) that affirm their gender identity. Since we know that an overwhelming majority of students do not find acceptance at home, school becomes their refuge. School must remain an accepting and safe place for students. Weaponizing that space and their relationships with staff members only harms students. The research is clear that students need a space and adults in their lives who affirm who they are and often these people are teachers, counselors, or staff members in their school. Any good school policy is focused on the students, not the parents. What is best for the students? What do they need to help them develop emotionally, academically, and socially? This bill does not aid them in that quest. In fact, it does the opposite. Please be an advocate for students and vote AGAINST House File 9.

01-30-2023

Lindsay Drake

As a parent of an LGBTQIA+ student, I find this bill incredibly harmful. Im terrified with how this could affect students who do not feel safe at home to express their true identity. This will only increase suicide rates among our LGBTQIA+ students, which is already higher than their peers. There is no need for this bill. Please let our queer kids be! Let them be themselves!

01-30-2023

Steph Philipps

This is an extremely harmful and unnecessary piece of legislation. The only data to exist on this topic supports protecting children not outing them. On top of that forcing teachers hand and risking a childs potential safety is aggressively reckless. For a party so boastful about small government, theyre sure obsessed with legislating ever facet of peoples lives.

01-30-2023

Andrew Biederman

Once again, the legislators and governor are intending to punch down to hurt the already extremely vulnerable and oppressed trans community. Especially young people need to be listened to, cared for, and supported in their exploration of their identity. Preventing teachers and other school people from being openly supportive and following the young person's wishes is cruel. If a person wants to only be out to who they want to, that is their choice.

01-30-2023

Paula Thome

Please vote No! This bill serves no purpose except to be harmful and reinforce hate. All persons in this state deserve to be safe and protected from this type of cruelty. No one has the right to out someone but especially in the case of our youth who we can not always guarantee have a safe home.

01-30-2023

Susan Atwater

Schools should not be forced to out kids. I have lived through 10 student suicides and it is devastating for teachers, students and families. I could not live with myself if a student committed suicide because I was forced to tell their parents about their sexual orientation or gender. Please do not vote for this bill!

01-30-2023

Aden Stroup

This bill will not helpa SINGLE person, however it will hurt MANY. Stop making life harder for people who want to be able to be who they are and stop making it so students are not able to talk to trusted adults at school without fear of the information not remaining private. Stop attacking public educations and Iowa teachers and STOP attacking Iowa kids!

01-30-2023

Kat Barrett

This bill is horrible. School is meant to be a place of safety and inclusion for any child. Gender identity and sexuality is deeply personal and if a child feels it is their time to share or speak about it they should be free to do so on their own way. Please show support and love to our children. ALL of them

01-30-2023

Liz Jacavino

As a queer Catholic Iowan who went to public school, I am called by my faith to ask you to protect our most vulnerable populations. Outing children is heartless, cruel and puts their lives at risk. It is no one else's place to share their story, most certainly not the government's. Queer children deserve kindness, love and the space to be themselves without fear of bodily or psychological harm. This bill would not be protecting anyone. It would be intentionally harming children. Thank you for reading my concern.

01-30-2023

Teresa Baustian

I am writing to the subcommittee in opposition to this bill because I believe that it endangers Iowa youth. If a child felt safe at home to discuss their sexuality and gender matters with their parents, that would be happening, already. At present, a young person who finds a trusted adult at their school, has someone with whom to share their thoughts, fears, and perhapscheck their social transitioning. This bill takes that away from the child, leaving them adrift at a very confusing and vulnerable point in their lives. This is a dangerous course for Iowa to take, and may well cost lives.

01-30-2023

Lauren Friedrichs

Please vote no on HF 9. This would only harm some of our most vulnerable students. Suicide rates are extremely high in trans and gender nonconforming kids and this would only increase that number if students don't feel like they can safely be themselves somewhere.

01-30-2023

Kristen Friedrichs

Vote no to HF9. This bill is just going to hurt transgender youth who are not supported by their families which will lead to more mental health issues and suicides. If parents are supportive this bill is a nonissue so we are only talking about unsupportive parents. Those students are the ones that need a safe place the most and an adult they can talk to and feel safe around like a counselor or teacher. Outing them to their unsupportive parents won't change who they are. It will only cause them to have mental health issues because of not being supported and possibly worse things like being kicked out of their home or even committing suicide. This is a terrible bill that will only cause harm. Vote NO!

01-30-2023

Achol Biong

Im not sure what Iowa Republicans think theyve been achieving, but so many of these recent bills have been nothing but power trips. Back to back; you divert funding from public schools even though so many of our children are struggling; you divert funding from those struggling with food insecurity even though its well within your budget to HELP our struggling citizens; and now you simply want to micromanage and screw up the lives of our LGBTQ+ youth.. FOR WHAT??? FOR WHAT??? How is someones sexuality the teachers business??? And I ask with utmost disrespect: How is it YOUR business AT ALL??? AnotherANOTHERschool shooting takes place and our governor goes on national tv to say that shes shocked and saddened by this tragedy, yet I see no efforts to REQUIRE A PERMIT TO DO ANYTHING WITH A GUN IN THIS STATE. Age requirements are not enough. REPUBLICANS ARE FOCUSED ON THE WRONG THINGS. AND IT IS HURTING OUR COMMUNITY. If you are in office simply wanting to boss people around, get out. Go become a manager at an Old Navy or something, we dont need people who do not advocate for ALL IOWANS in office. Period point blank. Stop projecting your discriminatory prejudices onto legislation. I promise you you are doing more harm than good. Put this bill to rest, and protect Iowas youth instead. Its already tough times out here; no closeted child needs to be worrying about whether or not their teacher will out them. This bill would create distrust in schools. I dont know who is proposing these bills, but please stop.

01-30-2023

Maggie Williams

This bill will be detrimental to so many of our youth. For many, home may not be a safe place!! Protect them, their identities, & their sexualities at all costs!!!! TEACH them, ENCOURAGE them, INSPIRE them, but dont EVER out them!!!!!

01-30-2023

Elizabeth Mensing

Youth are able to understand and to communicate their understanding of gender, as early as two and three years old. Not every young person lives in a household that is welcoming to ideas of gender fluidity, or identifying as a gender, other than what you were assigned at birth. Laws that require parental consent or parental involvement are going to continue to put an already struggling, marginalized group of young people at higher risk for mental health crises, or even suicidal ideation. We can protect their identities and protect their lives.

01-30-2023

Tiffany DeBow

I'm asking the subcommittee to vote no on this bill. This forces the outting of students & it should be the student alone that decides when they come out. This bill will endanger students whose parents are unaccepting of their true identity by either the student being in physical or psychological danger from their parent, lose shelter & care because of it or remove the one place the student can feel refuge & freedom and give them the strength to keep going until they are legally able to be on they own away from abusive parents. Protect students, not their parents ideology.

01-30-2023

Emmaline Mitchell

Greetings, Representative I am reaching out to you today regarding House File Eight which is a bill that will force students like my friends and my youngest brother to be forcefully outed to their parents by educators if they are found to be expressing feelings of gender dysphoria or wanting to change their names and pronouns within the school setting. I am reaching out not only as a sibling of a transgender child but as someone that has seen the pain that can happen when one is forcefully outed to unsupportive parents. I have had many instances where I have had friends of mine staying on mine or other friends' couches after being outed and this bill will only make it worse. When looking at a local study conducted here in Iowa it was found that "78% of LGBT Youth here in Iowa say that their family is low to moderately supportive." (The Trevor Project, 2022) With this being said I urge you not to vote no on this bill. Thank you for your time, Emmaline

01-30-2023

Allison Graham

As a school counselor in the state of iowa this bill would be extremely harmful to students. School should be a safe place for students and forcing school employees to out students to their families would make school unsafe.

01-30-2023

Ben Millett

HF9 is a bill that does not put the needs of children first. I grew up in a household that limited what could be say about anything that wasnt strictly heterosexualityaligned. Had more discussion been allowed, I wouldnt have been as miserable as a child, teen, or 20something. If I would have heard about gay parents, lesbian parents, trans parents at school from classmates, if a teacher happened to have a photo of their samesex partner on their desk, I would have felt so much more comfortable accepting myself.

01-30-2023

Mandy Bradac

You claim that all this recent legislation is to help children. But yet there is now consideration to cause potential harm to children by "outing" them. Instead of fixing ACTUAL problems, you are now going after a small part of the Iowa population.IowaLGBTQ population is not a problem. They are our kids, they are our mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles, neighbors and friends. Stop peddling this ridiculous culture war bullshit and focus on actual problems in Iowa. Turn off Fox News and Tucker Carlson for 5 minutes and represent the actual people in your communities!

01-30-2023

Gentry Neveu

Coming out is a very scary and personal choice. How and when someone decides to share that information is THEIRS to share and forcing teachers to do that for them is uncalled for. Our teachers need to be focusing on TEACHING and providing safe spaces. Stop taking away what is often one of the only safe spaces kids have to be themselves. NO HF 9

01-30-2023

Holly Pilkington

I need to respectfully denounce any processes the state lawmakers intend to make regarding teachers outing LGBTQIA+ children/teenagers to their parents. Why is it their business? Their job is to teach, not cause undue harm to young people. There are kids out there whose families would not be accepting of this, and then what?? Disown them? Put them out of the family home? Why is someones gender identity ANYONEs business? In truth, its no ones business but the person in question. Not their classmates. Not their parents. Not their teachers. To purposefully potentially be legally required to ruin someones life is beyond the pale. There are so many things I could say in regards to this, and Im infuriated that weve gotten to this point. I used to be proud to be an Iowan. Not anymore. Love and let live. We are not a Christian nation and never have been. Keep your bible out of the public schools and take your BS ideology with you.

01-30-2023

Emma Roberts

It is concerning that this bill is even on the table. I thought Republicans were the party of small government, why are you trying to force yourselves into the personal lives of LGBTQ+ children? Waste of time and taxpayer dollars. If you actually care about children, focus on the 1 in 9 Iowa children experiencing food insecurity.

01-30-2023

Dyann Herweh

We have to stop persecut8ng people for their differences. We have to stop forcing teachers to be educators, social workers, psychosis, and police all rolled into one person. We have to stop forcing our beliefs onto other people. If a student hasn't told their parent already, it is because they don't feel safe. Do we want to make teachers who do make students feel safe out their students to someone who doesn't? Isn't that like encouraging the bully instead of being antibully? Stop being the bully!

01-30-2023

Madison Reed

Leave the homophobia and LGBT hatred out of the classroom! What is the purpose of this bill other than to put vulnerable children in potentially dangerous and life threatening situations. Using preferred pronouns or being open about who they are doesnt affect any students ability to learn, but choosing to ignoring pronouns and betraying students trust by outing them to their parents sure does!

01-30-2023

Megan Webber

There is no need to make adolescence harder for kids in Iowa, especially the population of kids who statistically have higher rates of depression and suicide. If some day I have a child who is LGBTQ, specifically identifying with a gender different than they were assigned at birth, I hope they would never be afraid to share this with me, but I would absolutely support them putting their trust in a teacher until they were ready to talk to me about it. I request that you do not pass this bill and instead focus on more pressing issues such as adolescent mental health and the extreme lack of treatment facilities with open beds/available staff in the state.

01-30-2023

Shelby West

This bill will which I believe is inspired by hate will bring a rise in homeless teens,abuse and or teen suicides. I as an LGBTQIA plus community member always believed iowa to be at least tolerate. This is setting us back and is not what the constituents you represent want!

01-30-2023

Kacey Baker

I personally dont care about YOUR religion, how YOU live your life, but how dare you think you have the right to decide that for someone else. Since when did the government feel the need to micromanage students identities and put them harmful situations. YOUR job is to help and serve ALL Iowans not just the ones who line your pockets and support such hateful legislation. DO SOME ACTUAL RESEARCH INTO THIS AND ITS HARMFUL EFFECTS!https://www.thetaskforce.org/whyoutingcanbedeadly/

01-30-2023

Shelley Urban

By supporting a bill like this, you are putting children and teenagers are risk of Hate crimes being committed against to them just for exploring their sexuality and experience as a human. All humans express love and friendship different. As a teen, I would hug and kiss my friends and treat them with love because I loved them like family. This you put this bill into law a teen like me could be 'accused' but a teacher of being gay when their not. There were homophobic people at my school who asked if I was lesbo or a bifreak, I was treated like 'shit' by people in my church because that gay label was hung on me. In my late twenties, I realized that I am Bisexual and that it ok to be different. I find beauty in the human figure no matter then gender. But I was lucky to have friends and family who said we love you no matter what. The family rules is as long, as it's not immortal, unethical, illegal and your not hurting anyone including yourself then who gives a damn.please Don't let FEAR and prejudice guide your hands. Please let people grow in their own way, learn to express themselves in their own way, and let them turn to teachers for help or support if they don't have anyone else to turn to.

01-30-2023

Susan Stevens

Leave kids alone, you've already chosen to not support public education. You've chosen not to put money in public schools, choose not to put your religious and personal beliefs in them, too. Let teachers teach and support our youth, not be fearful for their jobs.

01-30-2023

Mandy Gilbert

In Support of HF9. This legislation is codifying FERPA, that some school districts have twisted to keep information confidential from parents when it was designed to keep children and parents info confidential amongst district employees. Devastating losses of life and permanent physical and mental damage have resulted in other states that have allowed schools to provide resources to physically alter a childs reproductive organs during an impressionable stage in life, without parents knowledge. Girls are most severely affected by this social contagion, as all data indicates a sharp rise in transgenderism affecting females. Read Irreversible Damage to understand the trend. Thank you for bringing forth this legislation as some districts in Iowa are already pushing against parental rights on this very topic. Please protect our children!

01-30-2023

Isaac Orozco

Its really disheartening that people are still putting their nose in a random humans business. I really dont know how you just cant live your life and ignore other and treat them with respect. Republicans preach that they want to protect the children but then push this bill on opposition of your word. Maybe consider the internal hypocrisy and fix yourselves before trying to fix someone else.

01-30-2023

Ellie Sandeman

I hope the individuals pushing this bill really think about the kind of repercussions these children may face if this becomes law. We should be protecting Iowa kids not potentially putting them in harms way. For many kids school is the only place where they can really be themselves. Lets not take that away from them.

01-30-2023

Chris Rozenboom

My heart is broken. This state needs leadership. We do not need grown adults attacking children who are different. You never know what happens at home for some of these kids. If any person who says this is protecting children by outing them then you are no better than people in nazi Germany. Im so tired of this. Fix this state! Stop with all the hate for people who are different.

01-30-2023

Jayne Savage

Don't you idiots have something better to do? Leave LGBTQ+ kids alone! Let them be who they are. Love is love. Stop pushing your ignorant Christian agenda on everyone. I'm so embarrassed to live in this state anymore. Just let them be.

01-30-2023

Darren Caray

I cant believe any rational human is opposed to this. Your opposition is why so many parents are looking to flee public schools. These are our kids, not yours. If our kids are dealing with complex psychological issues related to gender dysphoria, we should be the first notified.

01-30-2023

Seana Perkins

There is not a single person who has an obligation to report another humans sexuality to their parents, guardians, or anyone. LGBTQ+ children face enough difficulties as it is. Forcing teachers to out these children will undeniably make life harder for them. IF they want to come out, it should be on their own terms. We should be proposing bills to make school a safer environment for LGBTQ+ youth, not more harmful.

01-30-2023

Reanna Holton

It is really disheartening to see this even being considered as a bill. Leave LGBTQ+ children alone. Many of them do not have a safe enough environment at home to come out. School could be the only safe place they feel they can explore and express themselves. Leave the teachers alone. It is not their responsibility to out a child to their parents or to anyone.

01-30-2023

Maddilyn Boche

As someone who works in schools with children and trans individuals, I can say that this piece of legislation can cause so much harm. If the aim of this bill is to increase the homelessness or suicide rates, then go ahead and pass it. This will not erase the existence of trans students or people. There are too many people wanting to fight this fight.

01-30-2023

Barrie Chileen Martinez

Public schools have no right to out a students gender identity to their parents. Doing so could could put the students life, access to housing, and other vital resources at stake. This bill endangers Iowa students. Students have a right to privacy relating to their gender identity. This law would put kids at risk and could cause trauma that will affect them for the rest of their lives.

01-30-2023

Nicholas Dunsdon

Why is this such an issue for you? Why cant people love each for who they are, and not on their sexuality or gender identity? Even if you pass this bill, you are shooting yourself in the foot. Firstly, we should be protecting our children, not putting them in harms way. According to a Vanderbilt study (linked here: https://www.thetaskforce.org/whyoutingcanbedeadly/) LGBTQIA+, a minority whom suicide attempts outpace the national average almost 26 times over, perhaps as high as 41 percent for all trans people.Secondly, what will this accomplish? In the 2022 General Election, according to CNN Exit Polling, 1829 year olds voted for Democrats 63% to 35% for Republicans. In the same exit poll, LGBTQIA+ individuals voted for Democrats 84% to 14%. Lastly, outing students will not stop the number of LGBTQIA+ students. They will still be there. And they will be able to vote soon. Please reconsider this bill. It is harmful and dangerous to many children.

01-30-2023

Kate Winterink

I really think it's completely sad that LGBTQ members can't be themselves without having to worry about judgment from others and the GOP wanting to put hienus laws into place due to some adam and eve garbage from the Bible. Being LGTBQ doesn't define who you are. It's your actions/choices, and your character. If anyone's showing their true colors it's the Iowa GOP and it's nothing but dark and full of hatred. Let people live their lives. Spread love not hate. I attended Sunday school as a kid and I was taught to not judge anyone. It's pathetic that government officials can't do the same. Iowa GOP, yall should be ashamed of yourselves. I'm starting to second guess the land of the free part. Because clearly it only applies to yall and anyone who supports yall. If you're a woman or LGBTQ that doesn't even exist anymore. All because of a corrupt GOP who wants to make corrupt rules based off of their beliefs. If yall want freedom so bad it needs to be for EVERYONE. Treat EVERYONE with respect. Stop picking and choosing who does and who doesn't. Yall really need to fill your empty souls with some common courtesy. Iowa has gone from bad to worse and there's a lot of fingers pointing at yall.

01-30-2023

Angie klein

Please leave these poor kids alone. You have bigger things to worry about than what is going on in someones personal, PRIVATE life. Worry about more finding more funding for public schools and giving teachers a raise, the local economy, lowering property taxes, making it easier for all Iowa citizens to vote. I doubt you would like someone in the government interfering in your private life and trying to tell you how you can and cannot live your life so dont do it to others just because they dont have the same beliefs as you. God gave everyone free will to make their own choices in life regardless if you think they are right or wrong. You cant call yourself Christian if you judge or persecute others just because they dont believe in your God. Shame on you all!

01-30-2023

Angie klein

Please leave these poor kids alone. You have bigger things to worry about than what is going on in someones personal, PRIVATE life. Worry about finding more funding for public schools and giving teachers a raise, the local economy, lowering property taxes, making it easier for all Iowa citizens to vote. I doubt you would like someone in the government interfering in your private life and trying to tell you how you can and cannot live your life so dont do it to others just because they dont have the same beliefs as you. God gave everyone free will to make their own choices in life regardless if you think they are right or wrong. You cant call yourself Christian if you judge or persecute others just because they dont believe in your God. Shame on you all!

01-30-2023

Kelsey Sage

School aged students have enough on their plate without being bullied by our government. How is disrupting childrens lives constitutional and why is this even necessary? There are more pressing issues that need addressed like homelessness, our veterans, etc.

01-30-2023

Miriam Ochs

Any legislation that requires instructors to put children directly in danger is cowardly, a government power trip that can only do do damage. Revealing sexual orientation or gender identity to a parent who has not been trusted with that information WILL put children through lasting psychological, emotional, and even physical harm. Children are not a political prop for you to play with. This is not the fight you should be fighting. Iowans want better. Do better.

01-30-2023

Maggie Severson

Surely there are better things you can focus on. Stop with the hate! This is a dangerous bill. Outing someone to a family that is unsupportive will irrevocably cause harm. For some of these kids, the only supportive environment they ever experience is at school. While you keep pushing your agenda, younger adults will continue to flee to places they can be safe and teachers will continue to leave classrooms, as you continue to defund and devalue them. While you keep pushing your dangerous and tyrannical agenda, Ill keep teaching my children to be kind. To love others as they are. To stand up for those who dont have a voice. My preteen children see what youre doing to this state and cannot understand the maliciousness in which you operate. Do better!

01-30-2023

Raiven Andersons

There are so many other way more important things you could spend time doing/building legislation forthat don't involve traumatizing or potentially creating unsafe situations for CHILDREN!!USE YOUR TIME MORE WISELY!!

01-30-2023

Caroline Brown

I was born and raised in Iowa. I went to college here, high school here, middle school here, elementary school here, and I can tell you that this bill is dangerous. I knew I was queer since I was young; living in rural Iowa, I also was very good at hiding it and suppressing it. School, and the close friends I had there, was my sanctuary. I never told any of my teachers about my experiences with being queer, with questioning my gender, but if I had, and this bill would have been law, it would have been devastating.Coming out is hard. It is scary, because even if you think your family or parents or whoever you are coming out to will be supportive, there's always that unknowing to prepare for. The unknowing of how they actually feel once it's youwill they be angry? Loving? Hateful? Disappointed? Losing that preparation, that security of having the choice of who to tell and who to not, is devastating. If this bill was law while I was in middle school or high school, and I would have told a teacher I trusted about my experiences, I would have lost all trust in every adult figure in my life. It would have broken me, telling an adult I trust only for them to turn around and tell someone else. And if you cannot trust your teachers or your parents, who can you turn to when the going gets rough? Who can you depend on when you cannot lean on those you are supposed to trust the most?I cannot speak for every queer child in this stateeach is their own being, with their own minds and heartsbut I can speak on behalf of the little Iowa girl I once was. This bill, if it was law, could have destroyed her before she ever flourished, got two degrees, fell in love. Before she became me.Do not destroy all the children just trying to be themselves and grow.

01-30-2023

Samantha Riley

Please vote to protect LGBTQ children. Spend your time making Iowa a great and safe state for children. These children have enough problems and don't need their teachers turned against them. Mind your business and worry about things that matter.

01-30-2023

Emily Handke

Can you all please let teachers do their jobs and let children find the right time for them to come out to the people around them? How about instead of worrying about who a child loves we make sure those children have a future. Maybe we focus a little more on keeping them safe from guns and violence in their schools and little less on who they are attracted to.

01-30-2023

Peyton G

I am college student studying away from my 2 younger siblings who happen to be part of the LGBTQ+ community. I come from an extremely conservative household where being anything but cisgender and heterosexual is seen as shameful and sinful. I can't even express in words how afraid I am of the consequences that would happen if my siblings were outed to my parents. One option would be conversion camp, which has been proven to drastically increase suicide rates in attendees. School is a space to learn and grow, where a student should be unafraid to ask questions and learn about themselves without the fear of persecution or consequences. Just because someone is different than the narrative pushed by society does not mean that person is wrong or a mistake. Schools are often the only place where kids can simply be curious kids and I am so afraid for what will happen to those kids, who seem to get absolutely no sympathy from politicians who only push an agenda without educating themselves. Sex education is a required section in almost all health sections. The fact that someone's preferred gender is innately seen as sexual activity which needs "reporting" is appalling and frankly hypocritical. This isn't policy, these are the lives of children and the fact that this issue is what we've decided to start the year off with, rather than deplorable education funding, poverty rates, or literally anything more pressing is embarrassing and I am ashamed to live in a state where we have decided to continue to oppress a community of individuals who have faced some of the most debilitating oppression this country. I am pleading on behalf of my siblings and all the kids in Iowa schools, do not let this bill pass. Please don't take our state back to a time of divison and hate. Just because someone is different than you or what you might believe, does not mean they are a mistake or shouldn't be given some place to feel cared for or seen.

01-30-2023

Austin Fitzgerald

Why would you terrorize children. Isnt that what you are. The future of America. We need to support our children not make it so they get to go home to parents that will verbally and sometimes physically abuse their child because of who they are. Maybe raise wages for teachers and make Iowa a place everyone wants to live. Not just a place for white straight people. We are lucky enough we have a woman as our governor.

01-30-2023

Madeline Gibson

School is a place for all students to feel loved and welcomed. Students should be able to express who they are and what they like to do (ex. play soccer, sing, dance, read, play chess, run track, etc.). Ultimately, school should be a place for learning. Learning not only what is in books, but learning that the world is made up of all different kinds of people who work together to create a functioning society. Kids have shown us that they are adaptable. We cannot shelter kids from others who are different from them and expect them to function in the real world, which is full of rich diversity. We cannot make kids who know that they were born in the wrong body and gender into feeling less than those who were born into their true body and gender. Shame on you for thinking otherwise.

01-30-2023

Jazzmin Cherry

Dont you have anything else to do? Hmm?!?!? ARENT THERE REAL ISSUES TO WORK ON!!! oh I dont know the CLASSISM, DAILY RACISM, THE INABILITY FOR GOOD HEALTHCARE, THE FACT YOU JUST DEFUNDED PUBLIC EDUCATION!!! Just because you cis het MORONS lives are terrible and you justify your bigotry with your shite religions makes you have small Peen Energy. Not a vibe!

01-30-2023

Courtney Collier

I am in support of HF9 because I care about and love children and believe that parents have a sacred relationship to and with their children.No one should come between the relationship of a parent and a child. Minor aged students require written parent consent to take medicine while at school or to attend a field trip. It goes without saying that something as serious as diagnosing and treating a students mental health condition, should require parent consent and involvement. Gender dysphoria is a diagnosable mental health condition in the DSM 5. A licensed medical doctor must make the diagnosis and provide treatment. A teacher or school staff member is not qualified or licensed to practice medicine. Providing medical care whether physical or mental to a minor aged child is illegal without parent consent. Affirming a students gender dysphoria without their parents consent is a violation of not only trust but also parental rights. If we want whats best for children and their future, school systems and teachers will partner with parents not edge them out. It is a shame that we are even having this conversation and that this legislation is even necessary. But it has become abundantly clear that some Iowa school systems and unfortunately a great deal of teachers, feel it is their place to have these conversations with our children and to keep us in the dark. We cannot allow that. The foundation of a successful society is the family unit. We must foster that and protect that sacred bond, not destroy it. Finally, has anyone in the education system who supports this practice, considered how insulting it is to a student to be asked for their pronouns and their gender? I communicated in writing to my school and all teachers, to never ask my children for their pronouns or their gender. Its totally inappropriate and complete lunacy. I also instructed my sons to respond with the anatomically correct names and biological facts about who they are and what parts they have, if a teacher wants to be so foolish to ask the obvious. Or to respond to the teacher with, that is violating and borderline abusive question. Again, sad that this is the state of our society today, where I have to instruct my school age children on how to handle inappropriate and unsafe teachers.

01-30-2023

Debra Mitchell

Please do not pass legislation that perpetuates the stigmas placed on citizens who are defined as "different" aka "dangerous" by a small group of people who believe there is only one correct religion, one correct sexual preference, one correct political party, etc.. Please represent all Iowans with choice for all, inclusivity for all and civility for all. Thank you.

01-30-2023

Michelle Ploss

As a former Iowa resident this causes serious alarm. No one has the right to out someone else. It is up to the individual when they are ready. Between mandatory gun safety and proposing teachers be armed seems like your goal intends to make school students at greatest risk possible. Why wait for someone to instigate the violence, you know kids will find a way to access that gun. Why wait for kids to target someone different, when you can serve them up on a silver platter. Inhumane, cruel, and as far from Christian values as it can get.

01-31-2023

Jill Bjorklund

My name is Jill Bjorklund, and I am an educator and mother of 3 from Ankeny writing to you to vote NO on HF9. This bill is in open violation to the protections already afforded to transgender and nonbinary students. Teachers have enough on our plates and do not have the training to be mediating extremely sensitive and private family conversations around a student's journey with their gender identity. Queer people should fully control who they tell and when they tell to ensure their safety. As the mother of a transgender child, I intimately know that a parent's own journey with this information may move at different speeds than a child's needs. Although it is hard to believe that some parents would disown or force their child to hide who they truly are, statistics show it happens all too often. In fact approximately 1/3 of trans students are rejected by their families after coming out (or being forced out). Sometimes, the only support queer youth experience is found in a school setting, and I personally believe inclusive classrooms should be one of the highest priorities in our schools. Research shows that trans and nonbinary individuals who have at least one affirming person in their life using their pronouns and chosen name, see lowered rates of depression, selfharm, and suicidality. When students feel safe, they are more likely to attend school and achieve at higher rates. Conversely, can you imagine the opposite effect this would have? We would see an extremely marginalized and gravely misunderstood population be devastated and endangered by this bill. I'm certain that's not what any of you or the 40 cosponsors are after harming children. But if you insist on pushing this through, what happens when each of the parents don't agree with each other? Is this written consent mandatory from one parent/guardian or two? What about parents who are no longer active in a child's life... do they get a say? Who's approval/disapproval is more important than the other's? And what becomes of our schools' GSAs? We know that Gender and Sexuality Alliances can't be shut down without violating the Equal Access Act, so does this mean students would need written consent to attend a meeting because that could be signaling their own journey with gender identity? Does this mean that students would need written consent to enroll in courses traditionally divided by male / female such as treble and bass clef choirs, where many schools are honoring student requests to be placed with the choir that affirms their gender identity? Again, this bill is in open violation to the protections already afforded to these students and will not hold up in a court of law. Please don't play games with this incredibly vulnerable group of students to fuel a culture war. Please focus your energy and our tax dollars on solving actual problems. Vote NO on HF9.

01-31-2023

Heather Berg

Hey,Iowa GOP, can we stop with the nazi stuff? That would be great. You're putting kids in danger, for no reason at all. We have actual issues in Iowa. Do something useful to solve the real issues. We are so extremely tired of the culture wars. K, thanks bye. Have the day you deserve.

01-31-2023

Heather Humberg

I am dumbfounded and very frustrated by this potential bill. Why would you ask teachers to out possible gay or non hetero kids? I live in a very small town. Some of their parents would be loving and accepting, but some would not be. How cruel are you?? This isn't something they can change. They were born that way!

01-31-2023

Zoe Zawadzki

This is not something that should be allowed. Children should have the right to tell their parents what they want and when they want regarding their sexuality and gender. This bill would be extremely harmful to children and must not go through.

01-31-2023

Nora Epping

Please vote no on this bill. It is harmful to students. All students need a safe place where they are accepted, and for many that place is school. The research is clear that LGBTQ youth have rates of suicide four times higher than their peers and are often rejected by their parents. The support they receive at school is incredibly important to mitigating this risk and giving these students a safe place and a teacher or councilor with whom they can confide and feel respected. Something as simple as using their chosen pronouns can have a huge impact. Please do not take this safety away from our students in Iowa.

01-31-2023

Lori Martin

You have got to be kidding me with this bill! You are potentially endangering vulnerable kids by outing them to their parents! Why don't you worry about things that could harm kids like hmmm...school violence/shootings. You should want to protect kids instead of trying to put them in harms way! This could also drastically cause a rise in suicide. Seriously, what are you thinking???? This is madness!

01-31-2023

Meri Nelson

This is dangerous. If you have any interest in the safety of children in our state this will not pass. This would put so many kids at risk and you know it.Allowing this to move further is harm directly from you to those children and that will be on each person that votes to affirm this bill.

01-31-2023

Makalah Ayala

Please do not pass this bill, it will be detrimental to queer youth throughout the state. Its important to respect and leave a childs sexual or gender identity alone and anonymous. Its none of the teachers business, let alone another human beings. Parents knowing without the childs consent can create a toxic and hostile environment at home. You could possibly be putting these childrens lives in danger.

01-31-2023

Katherine Murcia

We are all humans. We are only vessels of skin. Let us experience our time as humans as we want to on this planet. It doesnt affect you, or me, how someone chooses to live in their own body. So fuck you if you think differently (quite frankly). Peace and love always. This is what Jesus would want.

01-31-2023

Rebekah Domayer

Maybe instead of focusing on what a teachers responsibility is, you should include supports in counseling at schools. Stop alienating populations by making them othered. In this case, you will be harming more than doing good. Can you all for once do some good for a change? Allow funding for LGBTQ support groups so students can be seen and heard. Pushing your own agendas is harming the future of Iowans.

01-31-2023

B. Kane

Why is it the legislatures issue to have teachers out their students to the students parents. Isn't school meant to be a safe space for kids to be open about who they are. I don't think the government should have a say in anything LGBTQ. Let our future and current children be.

01-31-2023

Sara Heiserman

I do not believe that this bill should even be considered by the legislators of Iowa. During COVID closure we touted educators as the safety net for children, they cannot be that if children do. not trust them. Moreover, they (teachers) cannot allow themselves to be that if they cannot keep the children safe, yes safe, from parental abuse. I will never support putting children in peril and that is what this bill will do for SOME children, maybe not all but even 1 is too many.

01-31-2023

Katelyn Swanson

As someone who is lgbtqia+ I already know how difficult it was to have to hide this very important and very real part of myself I was born with from my family and close loved ones growing up. That being said, I also know that had I NOT had that time to come to terms with myself on my own by choosing to keep this part of myself hidden, I could have been in a much different and likely traumatizing or harmful situation at school, with family, and even by losing close friends. By having had the time to choose to shelter myself, I also had the time to also find the support I needed both within myself, through changing social opinions, and people I could trust. There are so many young lgbtqia+ kids out there, right now, who are just learning and exploring who they are. This is a fact regardless of if they are lgbtqia+ or straight and cisgender. Its normal, and happens regardless of if we say this or that about it. And of those kids, those vulnerable young lgbtqia+ kids need support too, through teachers they can trust, especially when they know that their lives as young as 1112 years old could be completely uprooted by being forced to be outted by those they thought they could trust. When you force a young lgbtqia kid to come out before they are ready, you are directly putting them in harms way to parents and guardians who could be hostile, abusive, traumatizing, manipulative, and even be lead then disown their own children. These kids need to time come into their own on their own time and terms as they learn to stand on their own two feet in a world that rejects them for being who they are naturally. Please, take a moment to truly put yourself in the mindset of these young lgbtqia+ kids and empathize with their situation outside of your own political, personal, or spiritual point of view. These kids are humans just like you and me, and deserve to be loved and supported in who they are and protected from the harm that outting them might deeply cause, as for many that can even be their own life.

01-31-2023

Roger Jensen Jr

This bill is not one that would cause safe and conducive learning environments. This will instead cause conflict between teachers and parents. And it will cause self harm rates in queer youth to go up. Please stop this bill now!How does this bill align with the belief of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Instead this goes against all of it.

01-31-2023

Bobbie Joe Swanson

I am absolutely against this bill. I believe this bill would force young venerable lgbtqia+ kids to come out before they are ready and how dangerous, harmful, and traumatic that can be especially since many children dont have a supportive network or home to go to when lgbtqia+.

01-31-2023

Anthony Birdashaw

Children need support from their schools and their teachers especially the vulnerable students who are LGBTQ+ I was lucky to have a family who was open and accepting of myself growing up but not every kid is as lucky as myself. This bill could raise the homeless rate among teenagers or worse the suicide rate. I dont know if I can handle losing more people because of bills like this.

01-31-2023

Danielle Howard

This legislation will lead to children being harmed. The forced outing of children to parents with no concern for whether those parents may be verbally or physically abusive is unacceptable. If you truly have an interest in protecting children then trust them to make judgements on disclosing their gender identity and sexuality. Instead of pursuing the dog whistle of hate, pass legislation to help working class Iowans at the grocery store checkout and the gas pump.

01-31-2023

Emily Bradley

Hello,I am deeply concerned about this bill. It will put many kids in an extremely unsafe situation. This bill will lead to the harm and even death of Iowa children and teens. I am an Iowan and I do not support this bill, please do not move forward with this.

01-31-2023

Heather Carr

I stand against HF 9. I am an educator, and I do not feel this is in the best interest of children. Children should be able to talk to an adult that they trust if they are dealing with very serious and sensitive issues such as their sexual or gender identity. Sometimes they are not able to trust their parents to be supportive or handle it well. Im 51 years old, and Ive been aware of too many families throughout my life with abusive dynamics. If you think its a good idea to force educators to out students to their parents immediately, these young people may feel like they have no one they can trust or talk to. This will lead to a dangerous situation and quite possibly deaths that could and should be preventable. Please do not move forward with this bill. It would not solve a problem, it would create a huge one.Thank you,Heather Carr

01-31-2023

Jen Jaeger

As a school counselor I find this very problematic. As I am sometimes the only one my kids can talk to As they are going through this extremely difficult time for them. If I am forced to call a parent and tell them this information that child is now left with noone to talk to bc they WILL NOT come back to me for anything If they are being hurt or someone else, I will not be a person they will talk to. If they need advice on how to deal with billing due to thier life style. They WILL NOT come back to me. I beg you to protect thier journey so they can tell who they want when they want. This could cause so many problems within tjier homes when they are just trying to figure things out. This move could damage our students in so many ways. If the student is ready to talk to a parent they would do it, but we are sometimes the only person they can talk to. If we think this is going to STOP student from being lgbtq+it's not. It pushes them further into unsafe and problematic conversations with peers or untrusted adults that don't support them. I understand having conversations with them to encourage conversations with parents, I already do that, but some homes are not understanding and students are judged and frowned upon in thier own homes. Give students the right to find themselves, work through it and tell people as they feel fit.

01-31-2023

Kara Gibson

As a Nationally Certified Counselor and current School Counselor HF 9 specifically goes AGAINST the American School Counseling Associations Ethics A2 of Confidentiality. For the potential safety of students, and whatever their home life may be. If they disclose something they have to consent to who I share that information with. It also goes against ASCAs Ethics A10 regarding Marginalized Populations.

01-31-2023

Devin Rohr

Why are people in power choosing to use their power to harm those they serve? Kids of the LGBTQIA + are not the enemy and shouldnt be targeted. As a gay educator, it is not my place to ever out a student because of their sexual orientation. Its not a choice as many think to love who you want regardless of gender. We are all human and using a platform to bring others down because of bigotry and hate is not doing whats best for your people of Iowa and it sure isnt doing whats best for the future of Iowa. Stay in your lane and start building a state that is fair and just instead of targeting minority groups.

01-31-2023

Cara Muta

This is busywork, an attempt to look like youre doing something. This is not a problem. There are far more pressing issues in our state that need to be addressed: homelessness, infrastructure, inflation, clean air and water, and mental health. This violates basic human rights. This will cause harm to LGBTQ students. You must Vote No on this dangerous bill.

01-31-2023

Sarah Boatright

The Republicans need to leave our children alone! The majority of Iowans do not support anything the republicans have doing. History is repeating itself and they are following in Hitlers footsteps. You already took away school funding fromour children. Now you want to put them in potential harmful situations.

01-31-2023

Chelsea Newton

I am in support of this Bill. Promoting and encouraging a child to mislead and keep information from parents is a slippery slope. It hinders a parents ability to properly be engaged with that child's home and school life. Parents matter and are one of the most valuable pieces to a successful educational journey. Schools promoting hiding information from the parents is setting up a gateway for disaster to come.This is not a discussion that should be had between a school district and a minor. It is imperative that the parent is involved as they would be the one who would seek additional help for the minor. School districts do not employ individuals with the background and credentials to be able to discuss and handle these types of discussions. There is not a single therapist or psychologist in the world that would encourage hiding information from parents. It is not the school's job for this determination.

01-31-2023

Bryant Corkins

As a teacher, I unfortunately know many parents who don't educate themselves on trans issues and who have vocalized disdain of the LGBTQ+ community. Kids should not be forced to come out to their parents unless they feel it is safe to do so, but they should also be allowed to have a support system outside of their parents. I have personally heard at least a handful of parents who said they would disown a child for being gay or trans. I personally refuse to out a child for fear of such repercussions on them. I also have several teacher peers who have their resignation ready to hand in if this goes into effect since they refuse to participate in the system that obviously doesn't support the needs of LGBTQ+ youth. Trans youth are already more likely to commit suicide than their cisgender counterparts, and forcing them to come out to unsupportive home adults could potentially increase that. I, for one, don't want to play with their lives like that.

01-31-2023

Jaelyn Nielson

This bill would seriously injure thousands of children. Scientific studies have shown that children who are outed to their parents as transgender, nonbinary, or part of the LGBTQIA face more violence at home and are more likely to die by suicide. If Iowa cares about their children, this bill, this transphobic and homophobic bill, should not pass.

01-31-2023

Katie Hitchcock

This bill is incredibly dangerous. If a student isn't out to their parents, they either aren't ready or their homelife isn't safe for them to be out. Let our kids have some space and privacy to discover their own identities. If this passes and a student is harmed by their families for being gay, bi, lesbian trans, etcthat will be on you.

01-31-2023

Bridget Mohler

If this bill passes, there are some people out there that would harm their children because of something that is not their child's choice, but the way they were born. If a parent hurts, or even murders their child over this, that child's pain, suffering and blood is on your hands.

01-31-2023

Gabrielle Baker

This is very dangerous. You are putting kids in danger if their parents dont agree with their sexuality or gender identity. Kids could be kicked out or abused mentally, physically, and emotionally. It is not the governments place to step in here. You are also affecting kids relationships with their teachers. Kids are not going to come forward with other information and concerns if they cant have confidence and privacy with their teachers

01-31-2023

Rylee Runge

Dont you you have other and bigger things to worry about in the state of Iowa?? In case you forgot, its 2023, let kids be whoever the hell they want to be. For most kids, school can be a safe place for them, so why take that away?

01-31-2023

Grace Officer

It is absolutely disgusting that republicans, most of whom claim to be prolife, want to create a bill that will put the lives of LGBTQ+ youth at risk. Over 50% of trans and nonbinary youth have considered suicide in the last year. And 40% of homeless youth identified as LGBTQ+. Anyone who wants to pass this bill has no respect for the freedom of others. They only care about passing their own antiLGBTQ+ agendas.

01-31-2023

Dennise Weber

I stand with the lgbtq+ children!! The fact that this hateful bill is even being introduced in Ia is frightening, sad & dangerous. It is one of the most hateful & harmful bills to date for our Iowa children for reasons I know you have to already be aware of,so let me ask you this. Do you know the home situation of every child in Iowa? NO, you don't. Do you know the mental health status of every child in Iowa? NO, you don't. Do you know the horrific peesonal struggles most members of the lgbtq+ children face on a daily basis? NO, unless you are a member of this community, you don't. How can you call yourself prolife when you're more than willing to end lives or cause additional struggles, bullying,physical harm, etc to our precious youth? You say that mental health is an important issue in stopping gun violence, yet you want to do anything you can to destroy the lgbtq+ mental health. Do you not remember how hard your teen years were? We should be building all children up and reinforcing inclusion for all children, not trying to break them. What possible good can come of this hateful law? and just as important, what business is it of yours? You are not saving anyone may forcing them to reveal personal information they are not mentally ready or that could put them in harms way by being forced to reveal information they are not ready to,to the wrong people at the wrong time. If you have this much hate in your heart for people over something that really is none of your business, than you are the ones that will be going to hell at the end of your days. There is nothing christian about wanting to cause harm to children. You should be ashamed & appalled to even entertain the idea of the HF9 bill. This is not who Iowa is!

01-31-2023

Melissa Hood

This hurts our kids. Stop. Right now look at the number of foster youth in Iowa who have been removed from their homes because of sex and gender identity issues. Become trauma informed. Stop making laws you know nothing about. Where are your experts? Stop this hateful bigoted christo facist crap. This would only hurts people.

01-31-2023

Katie Klinkhammer

Hello. I grew up in Agency, Iowa. My wife grew up in Dubuque, Iowa and we love our home state but bills like this make it ever clear that our home state is not a safe place for queer youth. This bill will endanger the lives of young trans kids something that is already precious as it is. As a trans adult, I know too well how an outing like this can impact mental health and safety. Please do not make our schools even less safe for children.

01-31-2023

Shaine Hoffman

Please reconsider this bill. This would infringe upon students' right to privacy and would be potentially harmful to some students. Outing LGBTQ+ students whose parents are unaccepting could lead to violence against the student, selfharm by the student, homelessness of the student, and other negative effects.

01-31-2023

Amanda Grimm

What I need from my children's school is not to know the gender of their peers but to actually learn things and be prepared for adulthood and further education. LGBTQIA+ students deserve privacy and safety in their schools, to develop caring relationships with adults, and to not feel like their very life is at stake each time they walk into the buildings. This proposed bill only serves to support hate in our schools and puts teachers in harms way as well, with possibly providing explosive parents with info they don't want to hear, as well as massively negative ramifications for students once they get home. Which bathroom a student uses, how they identify, etc is of little importance when the obligation is forthe state has to provide education. For crying out loud, there's still selfidentified Tom Brady fans in the world and we're not outing them! This bill needs to be thrown in the trash and a show of support for our young people made. This state is losing thousands of people every year with archaic bills like this, that "other" people and invade their privacy while simultaneously preaching about "personal choice" when it comes to masks or guns. So make a personal choice to mind your own business and not force more work upon teachers in outing their students.

01-31-2023

Chelsea Newton

01-31-2023

Lindsey Azizeh

How dare you take away what SHOULD be a safe space for children to explore and grow and learn who they are and the impact they want to have on this world. Youre making the world LESS safe for children and our community. Shame on you.

01-31-2023

Jennifer Ver Helst

This bill is awful. If a student is coming out to a teacher first then there is a reason they are not coming out to their parents. This could cause so much turmoil for the student. I hope every teacher doesnt follow this and stands for their students above all else. Iowa does NOT put families first. Iowa does NOT care about their students.

01-31-2023

Hilary Johnson [Prism Therapy Solutions, LLC]

As a licensed mental health therapist this bill will cause unnecessary and irreversible harm to children. This bill could cause children to be subject to harm at home if they do not have supporting parents. Schools should be safe places for children to be themselves. Schools are protective capacities for children who do not have that at home. Forcing teachers to put their students to their parents is not supporting the student teacher bond/relationship. The rates of mental health disorders in children who identify as LGBTQIA+ is already high due to the lack of mental health access in the state of Iowa. This bill will cause further harm and increase the rates of self harm and suicide in children. Sometimes school is the only safe places for children to be out and open. LGBTQIA+ children are at higher risk for suicide and having one supportive adult reduces that risk significantly. Do not take awake some of these childrens only supportive adults.

01-31-2023

Hay Cloven

Agreeing to this bill is showing children that you dont care for their safety and teaching them they cannot trust the adults on whom they rely to teach them. We are moving backwards in history with proposals like this. Please vote no.

01-31-2023

Micaela Knapp

I cant fathom why you all think this bill is okay?! First off making teachers out to be the villains to students, is taking away that safe person for some info them. Also why the hell does it matter someones sexual orientation?! I cannot wrap my head around the evil that is the Republican Party. #pharasees

01-31-2023

K B

This bill will kill kids by taking away children's space to figure themselves out and talk to teachers they trust safely it will lead to a rise in suicides among the young lgbtq population. It will also lead to more cases of abuse because by outing children to their parents you open then to an unsafe situation that can and for some will result in abuse and possibly death. So if you care so much about protecting our children get up an actually do something to protect them prevent child abuse give them safety stop trying to take away everything from them just because they aren't you.

01-31-2023

Rebekah Winters

My son is 16. He heard about this bill and was angry. Almost inconsolable. Not out of fear or concern for himself, but for his friends. Parents believe what they want to believe about their children. If they need this bill, they don't want to hear the truth anyway.

01-31-2023

Tiffany Hoffman

This bill is dangerous. So many youth live in dangerous homes and are not free to voice their wants and needs. Outing these humans to people they fear is inhumane. There are so many bigger issues we face than the heart and soul of human beings. Please vote no.

01-31-2023

Mason McDougall

Leave the LGBTQIA plus community alone. The potential danger passing a bill requiring teachers to out students to their parents before the student is ready is dangerous. Many students come out at school and not home because home isnt a safe place for them!!

01-31-2023

Alexandria Pratt

Our children deserve to feel comfortable in their school environment. If a child doesnt feel safe opening up to their family yet, that is not a teachers place to intervene. Unless there is a threat to the childs safety, trust to confide in a teacher is important! Students shouldnt be made to feel like they cant talk to anyone. This will ruin students relationship with teachers. Not to mention add more stress to an already hard underpaid job,

01-31-2023

Brenda Doyle

Is this what we elected you all for? To attack the children we are now forced to have?Why is terrorizing kids at the top of your list?Lets concentrate on economic improvements that can benefit iowa families instead of tearing them apart.

01-31-2023

Erin Drake

This bill is dangerous for Iowas LGBTQ youth. Turning school staff into mandatory informers denies transgender students a support system at school. It creates fear and danger. We know suicide rates are high among LGBTQ youth already and this will make it even worse. LGBTQ Iowans are our students, teachers, neighbors, family and friends. They deserve to feel safe and welcome in our school system. Vote no on this bill!

01-31-2023

Geralyn Jones

It is a parents fundamental right to raise their children how they see fit, this does not stop at the classroom door. Unfortunately, here at LinnMar we must also state, it is NOT a schools fundamental right to raise our children how society feels fit. It is their duty to educate by teaching academics. Since their focus has shifted to social politics and cultural responsive teaching, children are emotionally responding in a negative way. Teachers are having a behavior issues in every grade level, especially on days where SEL participation is being forced. No child should have to be forced to share feelings with anyone aside from their parents. And teachers shouldnt be put in this situation. School districts are not family counseling centers, they do not keep records from parents such as their child having a different alias at school than they do at home and they certainly should lie about it when a parent asks that teacher why their child is putting a different name on their homework.

01-31-2023

Nancy Lund

Vote NO on HF 9. Government does not belong in the discussion of sexuality. How about you spend some time funding our public Schools, or making Iowa a safe space for ALL children and their parents, regardless of what their family picture looks like.

01-31-2023

Ashley Lamos

There are far more important things for our government to be focusing on besides discriminating against children and families who are not white and straight and middle class. We do not need nor want any laws that discriminate against LGBTQ+ populations. Say no to HF 9

01-31-2023

Patty Koester

Praying you have courage to pass this bill. We dont want our children sexualized . The truth is God designed us with our born gender for our good and changing this only hurts us. Just look at the statistics of transgender suicide and depression. Please help keep our children healthy and safe.

01-31-2023

Kaitlyn Cope

This is going to be so harmful to students. Its going to lose their trust in their teachers, their parents, and their government. You think these kids are going to vote for someone like you in the future when theyve been betrayed over and over again? Stop terrorizing lgbt+ children and actually do something to fix the mess of a country we are in. Ridiculous.

01-31-2023

Caitlin Brannaman

This bill is a clear violation of privacy for our LGBT+ youth. They deserve the right to come out to their families at the time of their choosing. Many students who entrust this information to their teachers dont want their parents to know until a later date and its no place for the government to tell teachers that they have to share this info with parents. What happened to the party of small government? Power to the people. Power to the LGBT folks of Iowa!!

01-31-2023

Nellie Morf

This bill is incredibly harmful to lgbtq+ students. Not only is coming out something that should be done when one is ready, but it something that needs to be done by the person themselves. Not all families in iowa are welcoming of lgbtq+ people, and by forcibly outing students to their parents, we as a state are risking a hostile and unsafe Enviorment for students. This bill would push kids back into the closet and would make schools a fearful place to be. And teachers will no longer be a safe place for students if bills like this are made into law.How about, instead of attacking teachers and students who are trying to live their lives and do their best in the world, we focus our attention as a legislature on other issues.

01-31-2023

Andrea Frantz

HF9 will endanger LGBTQ+ students in the state of Iowa. Compelled speech is constitutionally illegal based on the First Amendment, and this bill actively forces teachers and counselors to "out" students they suspect of struggling with gender identity issues. In many cases, students choose not to tell family members out of fear of rejection or worse. If this bill passes, how many young people will be forced into programs that seek to "pray the gay away?" It is horrifying to me that the Iowa legislature is actively working to push the state backwards in terms of human rights. Vote NO on HF9.

01-31-2023

McKenzie Satterwhite

Leave the youth of America alone, don't you have bigger issues to worry abt than the sexuality of teenagers. There are rapists and murderers out there yet you're worried abt whether or not I'm kissing women? Be for real. We're just trying to figure ourselves out, we shouldn't have to worry abt small minded people like you infringing on our business. Look me in the eyes and say it to my face if you feel the need to belittle a teenage girl because of the people she likes. Get a life

01-31-2023

Melissa Backer

I am absolutely baffled by this state. Are there not more important issues to look at such as housing and food poverty for example? Just because someone doesnt line up with your ideal doesnt give you or anyone the right to pass judgement. That is exactly what you are doing. This is just an attempt to blur the line and eventually remove the line between the separation of church and state. It is an educators responsibility to provide a safe space for all students. Students who have horrible home environments where being outed could have such negative repercussions. You are fine with a child being beaten at home just because they are a certain way that is beyond their control? Absolutely deplorable.

01-31-2023

Lindsay Haukap

A persons gender identity and sexual orientation is theirs and only theirs. Lets not get carried away with spilling other peoples tea, unless its going to be fair and equal and include all of the skeletons of those in office.

01-31-2023

Nadilia Gómez

I am against HF9. To create effective learning environments, teachers must provide opportunities for all children to feel included and safe. HF9 would compromise the safety young students need to feel at schools in order to learn effectively.

01-31-2023

Camden Hale

This bill is disgusting and will harm students more than help! If this had been a law 5 years ago, I would not be alive today. Young people need time to adjust to their lives and figure it out on their own, and time to figure out how to tell their families on their own. Taking that decision away from them will only cause young people more harm than good!

01-31-2023

Karla Damiano

The school should not have rights to secrecy over parents! As a parent I am responsible for the ultimate well being of my child. I would like to be in the know for all school decisions with my child! This is insanity to think that a school has the authority to hold information back from the parents. I support HF9!

01-31-2023

Allie Smaha

This bill and the continued attacks on LGBTQIA+ children and adults in your legislative agendas are extremely harmful and not in the best interest of Iowans. These bills do not represent the views of the vast majority of your constituents and will have a huge negative impact on the health and safety of many Iowans. Just let the LGBTQIA+ and trans community live in peace and stop legislating their existence, access to medical care and safety at school.

01-31-2023

Sam Edmondson

Turning school staff into mandatory informers denies transgender students a support system at school. We know suicide rates are high among trans students, and that having even one supportive adult in their lives can cut the rate of suicides. Do lawmakers really want to put transgender kids in danger simply to score political points with their conservative supporters? The GazetteI cant understand how this is controversial

01-31-2023

Patti Kelnhofer

Hopefully Im at the right place to comment. This is in regards of the bill that is being heard today. For this bill to come to the floor is ridiculous, and scary, a child should be able to come out and tell their parents when theyre ready, not to be tattled on by a teacher because the GOB think that theyre all mighty and they know whats best for everyone. Please fight for the lgbtq&a community. Thank you, Patti.

01-31-2023

Lynn Deyen

Please do not let these horrible people pass this ridiculous bill to torment our children and out them to their parents! Not all parents are loving and understanding, this will cause so many young Iowans abuse and immense pain and suffering. Its very hard to be a kid, little lone a kid who is transitioning or gay! These children need and deserve the chance to learn who they are without teachers passing judgments about them!

01-31-2023

Jocelyn Krueger

Please oppose HF 9. As a transgender Iowan, a parent, and an education worker I know how hard it can be to be safe being oneself and want that for one's own kids and pupils as well.LGBTQ kids need support from wherever they can get it, sometimes it's at home, but all too often it is not and schools can be a safer environment for them. Sometimes someone in a kid's school can be that bridge of support that extends back to the family, and sometimes it is the only support that keeps them alive until they are older and can find another supportive community. Please oppose HF 9.

01-31-2023

Brenna Bakke

Please do not pass this law. This is incredibly dangerous for LGBTQ children. This could lead to extreme mental health issues and potentially even suicide. It is not a teachers right to tell parents if their child is gay, straight , bisexual etc. this will be incredibly harmful towards LGBTQ children and not helpful in anyway.

01-31-2023

Zachariah Grissom

What a heinous waste of time, I want you to consider the potential ramifications beyond your obsession with gender politics of stripping away item by item a student's right to privacy and a safe and effective education. You you step in between the trust I've a student in teawhen a particular student may not be living in a safe home, you severely impact the ability for those teachers to be able to recognize and ultimately report recognized kinds of abuse. What is not recognized as abuse, by any peer respected or widely ascribed to medical organization, is gender affirming practices such as using a student's preferred name, preferred from pronouns, Or allowing them the personal privacy to bring up topics with their legal guardians that present no other immediate danger to their health or legal status at a time of their own choosing. As a 7 year active duty navy veteran I am disgusted by your attempts to force the demonstrably damaging, unconstitutional, and immoral successor to Don't Ask Don't Tell onto my children and the other children of this state.This matter should be abandoned, and I welcome your direct communication to me as to why you will not.

01-31-2023

Willa Casstevens

Please vote against this bill. I am a clinical social worker with 15 years of practice experience in mental health, followed by more than a decade of experience teaching at the graduate level. There are many misunderstandings involved with this topic, and the bill reflects what appears to be a lack of concern for the children/youth themselves. These youth are already at higher risk of suicide. Parents may not understand or may stigmatize gender identity related concerns, which could leave these students at even greater risk if this bill passes.

01-31-2023

Tricia Thinnes

Bullies are people who have no good ideas of their own so they decide to create an issue where there isnt an issue. They pick on the most fragile of us to make themselves feel like they are doing something productive and worthwhile. Please DONT BE A BULLY. PROTECT. LGBTQ kids statewide instead of hurting them. if you are looking for a problem, just find a mirror.

01-31-2023

Abby Schultes

There are kids in our state who dont have a loving home or safe space. School can, and often times, is there safe space especially with teachers who care. To put a teacher in a position that can harm a child is unspeakable and disgusting. Isnt there more to focus on than the terrorizing of our youth? Childhood and teenage years are already hard, why complicate them even more? Stay out of business that IS NOT YOURS to be involved in.

01-31-2023

Susan Hettinger

Wow I can not believe this even a bill before the house. Who gives you the right to put any one????? What is wrong with you????? Please use common since. It is never your place or anyone else's to say what you think their sexual orientation is. How would you know? Are you in their bed????

01-31-2023

MELISSA MCALLISTER [Dungeon's Gate]

I beg you to vote no on HF9. These bills are incredibly dangerous and harmful to students who are in the LGBTQIA+ community. LGBTQIA+ youth are already at a higher risk for selfharm; they are already ostracized by their peers, feel little to no support from their community, and, for some, even from their families. Our youth need what protection they do have from the schools right now to continue. I am the parent of a trans daughter. My daughter often feels unsafe at school with her peers and experiences bullying. Making it illegal for teachers to advocate for her, and even to purposely out her, is cruel. And, imagine LGBTQIA+ youth who are not out to their families. Imagine the harm that can come to them because of this bill. Surely you don't want that? Violence and bullying overwhelmingly affects kids in the trans community and forced outing will only increase that. As a mother I am filled with fear for my daughter each day she goes to school. I am grateful for the supportive teachers she has. I know it can be hard to understand something you have not directly experienced. I beg you to recognize that our LGBTQIA+ youth are just thatkids who are trying their best to survive and thrive and just be themselves in an otherwise unaccepting world. I beg you to let them keep what protection and safety they still have.

01-31-2023

Lindsey Page

This is a horrible idea. Teachers should not have to out their students to their parents. Our teachers deal with enough already and LGBTQ+ children deserved to navigate their own story and tell their parents when they are ready. Absolutely despicable.

01-31-2023

Melissa & Rob McAllister [Dungeon's Gate Games & Books]

As a small business owner with a substantial LGBTQIA+ community of customers, I beg you to vote no on HF9. These bills are incredibly dangerous and harmful to students who are in the LGBTQIA+ community. LGBTQIA+ youth are already at a higher risk for selfharm; they are already ostracized by their peers, feel little to no support from their community, and, for some, even from their families. Our youth need what protection they do have from the schools right now to continue. Making it illegal for teachers to advocate for LGBTQIA+ youth, and even to purposely out them, is cruel. And, imagine LGBTQIA+ youth who are not out to their families. Imagine the harm that can come to them because of this bill. Surely you don't want that? Violence and bullying overwhelmingly affects kids in the trans community and forced outing will only increase that. We beg you to recognize that our LGBTQIA+ youth are just thatkids who are trying their best to survive and thrive and just be themselves in an otherwise unaccepting world. We beg you to let them keep what protection and safety they still have.

01-31-2023

Anna Holstine

This is a bad bill. A child knows what his parents think and how they will likely react. Teachers should not be forced to disclose to parents information that they may have received in confidence. Im disgusted by morality police mentality that has taken over our state government. VOTE NO!

01-31-2023

Courtney Gibson

What is someone's sexual orientation any business of the government we have police out here killing citizens and you care more about someone being attracted to the same sex your priorities are misplaced and religion is poisoning our country! Kids and women are being raped and abused and nothing is being done about people are being kid nap by human traffickers people can't afford rent or food to feed their kids. Be for real right now is someone's sexual orientation that important when we have so many other issues? Leave the LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY ALONE!!!! They don't need you oppressing them any more than what you have already!!! I'm ashamed this is even a topic in Iowa and if this passes I will be selling my house and moving out of here. Get your priorities straight!

01-31-2023

Katherine A Kunau

I stand with the kids. This is a harmful bill. These are not the actions of Christians. Do better, GOP. Home is not always a safe space for these kiddos after they come out. Stop the harassment of the LGBTQ+ community especially the Trans gender community.

01-31-2023

Maya Justice

LGBTQIA+ people are people too. If you were forced to be outed for something that you felt was personal and not something the whole world should know yet, you'd want to fight back too. Let people live their lives and stop trying to bud into something that you don't understand. Hear the voices of the people you choose to represent, don't shut them out.

01-31-2023

Melissa DeLong

How do we keep attacking the marginalized people in Iowa through ridiculous laws? This new law proposed requiring teachers to out a student for their LGBTQ orientation is ridiculous? What is this solving and how is this making our community more safe and caring for others? Government needs to govern and stay out of our personal lives. Stay in your lane!

01-31-2023

Van Housen Stephanie

Stop the hate. When kids feel safe they tell their truth. It is up to the adults in the room to create a safe, loving and accepting environment for disclosure of these very personal thoughts and feelings. STOP THE HATE!

01-31-2023

Margaret Arnold

Teachers should be safe places for their students. As a parent, I hope my children feel safe at school and have connections with their teachers. All students need to have their social emotional needs met before learning can take place. Bills like this are filled with hate. Please vote no and please continue to support ALL Iowans.

01-31-2023

Kait Mozingo

This bill is potentially harmful to all students in the LGBTQ+ community with unsupportive parents. Ive personally been one who had unsupportive parents after allowing my parents to know I was with someone of the same gender. And at the age of 18 I was on my own. Allowing teachers to out their students can put so many children at risk of increased rates of abandonment, abuse, and discrimination FROM THEIR FAMILY. The Republican Party always says how for the kids they are, but wont respect them if they dont fit into their ideal mold. The times are changing, and so are the people. Let people be with and love whoever they want.

01-31-2023

Tanner Lehtinen

Hello I am 16 years old and use she/her pronouns but for about 3 years of my life I went by he/him pronouns and while I do not identify as trans I know many many people who do and who have been on that journey and Although I have only had a fraction of that experience the discrimination and backlash I got from my family in friends was horrible so I will fight for the people who cannot fight for themselves I have known countless people who have used different pronouns and names from what there parents call them I am so extremely blessed to have a support system and school district but I know many people who dont have that and many people that would be in danger if there parents found out about there gender I dont think people who have gone through trauma understand how the school having to tell your parents your secrets makes absolutely everything worse I have seen people have to go to the mental hospital after experiences like that so I am here to fight to not let this pass because I dont want my friends and LGBTQ+ youth to grow up scared that the school could interfere with there personal expression school is a place where people should feel safe and accepted and this bill passing would ruin that these republicans need to know how this effects real people and real Iowans I just want my friends to be safe and to feel supported where they need to be I am not very good at talking at politics because I think with my heart and my heart physically aches for the people that will be affected by this so if you need someone to fight this in court this is my number 6415906313

01-31-2023

Josh Briggs

I am in support of this Bill HF9.Our schools unfortunately continue to push the bounds of their authority and role in educating young people in the state of Iowa, including informing parents of critical information about their child. In one Central Iowa School District, the superintendent recognized these challenges and asked his staff to not ask students about their pronouns or sexual identity. Unfortunately, in a grand display of insubordination over 100 teachers ignored their boss and asked children this information anyways. Many times explicitly saying it was their secret. These teachers have crossed a threshold that cannot be unwound, they have moved from education to social justice to activism to potentially destroying lives in the name of inclusion. Inclusion is amazing, but inclusion without boundaries is unhealthy. Many will say that these teachers are protecting students from abusive parents that may not understand their child. This is true, not all parents are worthwhile of the title but I believe they are missing the forest by focusing on a tree. They should not be in a position to make this decision as they are not remotely qualified to understand the mental health of a child that may just be joining their classroom. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Boston Childrens Hospital, the Mayo Clinic, and many others recognize gender dysphoria as a clinical diagnosis for those that have feelings their gender does not align with their body. It is a clinical diagnosis for licensed medical professionals to make not licensed educators. These same institutions also provide details on treatment options for individuals suffering from gender dysphoria, in nearly all literature on the topic the first step is having the patient begin to identify as the gender they believe they are...name, dress, body hair, pronouns. The exact treatment plan being administered by licensed educators in public schools in our state.Unfortunately for the child receiving a diagnosis and treatment plan from an educator is a dangerous scenario on a variety of levels. Those with gender dysphoria unfortunately experience substancerelated disorders, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts more commonly than those in the general population.Gender dysphoria looks different in different age groups. Making it nearly impossible to diagnosis without a trained and licensed professional.individual and family counseling is recommended for children with gender dysphoria. How can this occur without the knowledge of the guardian? Are our public schools now making medical decisions for our children? How can a parent give the child the help necessary when they dont know about it? Anyone who diagnoses and treats a child without the proper medical license or anyone who denies a child and parent the ability to seek medical treatment should be sent to jail and lose the privilege of educating children. Their role is not to play doctor or guardian or to make healthcare decisions for children. They are licensed by the state of Iowa to educate the child. How have we lost this basic understanding to now have 100s of teachers in one district ignoring their Superintendents request and extending their role to medicine. Those that disagree are ignoring science, the mental well being of children, and the obligation of parents to act in the best interest of their child.

01-31-2023

Hana Krommenhoek

My name is Hana Krommenhoek, and while I currently live in Nebraska. I am an Iowan. I grew up in Iowa and have now come back to teach in Iowa. I came back to teach in Iowa because of my deep care for the community I grew up in and wanting to help the community that gave me so much. As a teacher it is not only my job to educate children but also to advocate for them and care for them. I have worked with students who are experiencing abuse in the home, students who are experiencing hardships at school due to their identity, and many students who just want to feel safe so they can learn. Bill HF9 would hinder that desire to feel safe, and we know that students learn best when they are safe and cared for. HF9 not only threatens learning but also would put children in danger should they be in a home where their identity would not accepted. When, how, and to whom someone comes out is a deeply personal decision that schools should not be making for children and their families. I urge you, for the learning and safety of our Iowa youth to vote no on HF9.

01-31-2023

Ashley Dingman

Parents should absolutely be included in discussions about their child's gender identity. The vast majority of parents care far, far more about their child than some random school employee. How else will teachers be held accountable for manipulating students and providing harmful messaging? Requiring parental involvement at least provides a measure of protection.

01-31-2023

Chelsea Davis

As a registered voter in Iowa, I am writing to express my strong opposition to House File 9, which would prohibit schools from affirming students' gender identity without parental consent. This type of legislation strips students of their autonomy and freedom of personal expression. Every child has a right to safely explore their identity and what that means to them, from religion to fashion to politics to gender identity. The Supreme Court already decided this more than 50 years ago: Students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate."There is zero harm in a child broadening their mind and the way they think about the world and themselves. On the contrary, restrictions of the sort being attempted through HF9 have extreme detrimental effects on a child. Studies have shown that outing a child before they are ready can lead to them facing rejection and abuse at home, as well as increase their risk of suicide, substance abuse and mental health issues. Please find more information here: https://www.aclu.org/news/lgbtqrights/transstudentsshouldbetreatedwithdignitynotoutedbytheirschoolsThe intentions of Rep. Skyler Wheeler and his Republican counterparts are clear: They want governmental oversight of children and their bodies, a clear infringement on their constitutional rights.While HF9 does not yet detail penalties, it is not impossible to think that it could follow past GOP attempts to hold our schools hostage with the threat of withholding state funding or penalizing our education professionals.With a Republican majority in the Iowa House, Senate and governors office in 2023, I am deeply concerned that HF9 could become a reality and do irreparable harm to Iowa's children.I ask that you oppose HF9 and protect Iowa's children's rights.

01-31-2023

Brooke Porter

This bill is atrocious and needs to be dismissed. Not only is this highly dangerous and threatening towards LGBTQ students, but it is also discriminatory. LGBTQ students should be protected under our laws and feel safe at school. They should not fear their teachers. By passing this bill Iowa sends a message that its not okay to be who you really are. Additionally, this bill eliminates specific education on gender and sexual identity. There is more than just 2 sexes. Right down to our chromosomes. We have people who are xx and people who are xy but we also have people who are xxy, xyy, and just x. This is fact its not about belief systems. Public education surrounding this subject need not be censored by those with a hateful agenda against LGBTQ children.

01-31-2023

Shawn Byom

Shame on Iowa gor continuing to take our state backwards instead of forwards!! We have become a state full of racism and bigotry and homophobia. Start listening to the people Spend your time improving public schools and providing more services for mental illness instead of Picking on an already vulnerable part of our community. Move from the past and take us into the future Iowa!!!

01-31-2023

Darby Miner

I believe this would infringe upon students lives and further put into peril the comfort and safety they should be feeling in a place of learning. Leave. Kids. Alone.When children are more comfortable sharing personal information with a teacher than their parents, this says something of the parenting. A better suggestion would be a social program on parenting for new and existing Iowan parentsespecially with curriculum on children who are questioning their identities.

01-31-2023

Bailey Werner

Involvement in the lives of LGBTQIA children is a breach of privacy. Outing them could kill them if they are not accepted, raises the chance of suicide, could leave them homeless if their family kicks them out. This shows you don't care about children. You care about straight children. Stay in your lane and leave them alone.

01-31-2023

Chelsey Christensen

I do not support this bill. The choice of when and how to come out belongs to no one but yourself. To expose the sexual/gender identity of another person can be deadly, with outing being linked to higher suicide rates. Please do not pass this.

01-31-2023

Rae Beebe

It is dangerous to not the personal rights of these children. To be betrayed on this level by someone they should be able to trust will have lasting consequences well into their adult lives. Instead why not embrace who they are no matter their preference and show them yielding support. Passing this has sever consequences.

01-31-2023

Suzanne Feigofsky

Why is there a continued attack on LGBTQ+ students? Can we not spend out efforts protecting our students from gun violence? How many perpetrators of mass shootings are members of the LGBTQ+ community? Most seem to be white Catholics. Perhaps we should have bills restricting white catholic males instead of women and underrepresented minorities.

01-31-2023

Elena Downs

Schools are supposed to be a safe place for kids. Since you won't get rid of guns for the love of God don't force students to hide from their teachers when they already feel the need to hide from their parents. Students need to be able to trust the adults around them, not be worried that they will be forced to disclose private information to their legal guardians

01-31-2023

David Wilkinson

Iowans are suffering under your leadership in more important ways than your culture wars. Your hate, and fear is pungent in this state and you are driving people away in droves. Stop now. Stop promoting hate and bigotry. You're continually doing more harm than good here and if you pass this bill it will violate human rights. Go work to fix bigger issues and unite the state instead of working to divide us even more than we already are.

01-31-2023

Whitney Mixdorf

This bill will harm both LGBTQ+ children and the teachers who are forced to "out" them. It is not up to anyone except the individual to decide if/when they are ready to come out, no matter their age. If parents are concerned about the sexual identity of their child, it is up to them to act as parents and open a line of communication with their child. Not all children live in a home where they will be safe. What happens when a child is physically harmed because of the information the teacher was forced to share with the parents? Is the teacher responsible? Is the school district responsible? Is our state legislature responsible?This bill is intrusive and harmful to our students and it is downright ridiculous that we are even debating putting this into law. Please vote NO.

01-31-2023

Kayla Monahan

This is one of the worst ideas yet! This will ruin the relationship that teachers work so hard to build with their students, especially those in the LGBTQ Community. Teachers are often a safe place for students who are being bullies or misunderstood by peers, why would we want to out them to their parents if they are not ready to do that on their own! This is a horrible idea that will have dire consequences to teacherstudent relationships, and potentially harmful repercussions to the lives of these students. Vote no!

01-31-2023

Jennifer Briggs

I am in support of this bill HF9 and it has become an imperative piece of legislation that must pass.Its unfortunate that such a law is needed as not long ago this would have been an obvious and mutual understanding between caregiver and school that such personal topics regarding a students private parts and Genitalia preferences would not be solicited & discussed and hidden from parents with their minor aged child in a loco parentis situation to be passed off as education by the public school. The public school is available for children to receive education and does not exist to be a secret society of sexual conversation under the guise of protecting children from their own parents who are following the law by sending their child to school & whom are wholly responsible for that child.If a teacher or administrator suspects abuse or a child has sought out help from school out of fear of their families reaction or their home life, there are processes in place for this. Think about this for a second and realize what the subject of discussing gender identity really is. It is adults and children at school discussing their genitalia and private parts. Every time you ask a child to state their pronouns or discuss the issue of gender identity you are asking that child to think about their sexual makeup and affirm what their private parts mean to them. Giving them an opportunity to reflect on sexuality far before some are even ready to think about such things and it is grossly inappropriate. Gender dysphoria is a very real, very rare, very torturous medical and mental health diagnosis reflecting high depressive, suicidal and poor mental health rates. Nothing that a public school is licensed or equipped to handle and certainly not in the absence of parents or with permission to withhold such conditions from parents. At this point, many schools have taken the liberty of exploring our Childrens sexual mental health without consent and are owning and hiding their findings from the families. This is not a liberty they are afforded, and therefore this legislation is imperative. Iowa has an opportunity to uphold our conservative values and proper protections of children outside the care of their families while attending our public school systems. Gender identity and sexuality outside the bounds of a preapproved sexual education course is a gross overreach and dangerous behavior being allowed to occur in our public school system. Please pass this bill.

01-31-2023

Elizabeth Pospisil

Please vote against this bill to protection our children from being outed to their parents. Children have the right to privacy. It is not the parents decision how a child wants to be addressed but up to the child to make that decision. It does not harm anyone to respect someones pronounces/ gender identity/ sexuality.

01-31-2023

Nicole Romey

This bill is an obvious attack at our LGBTQ community. Instead of passing bills that harm our citizens I urge you to start learning how to better represent our state, our community and bring Iowa together instead of cause division.

01-31-2023

Samantha Hintz

Why? There is no valid reason for outing someone. Let alone children. Its been shown again and again that this is a poor practice and even dangerous to the children you claim to want to protect. Stop endangering and harming the LGBTQ+ community. I promise you, their existence does Not harm you.

01-31-2023

Maddelynne McGovern

This bill is extremely dangerous for ALL Iowan children. Imagine what would happen if a teacher had to inform a students parents that their child might be transgender and their parents happened to be transphobic. Even if the teacher was wrong, this could result in the parents disowning or even murdering their own child. This bill should not be passed.

01-31-2023

Amanda Mac

I am in favor of HF 9. There is absolutely no logical reasons for the schools to withhold any information about a child from a parent. If theres a mass influx of children struggling with gender identity issues, the parents should be informed, so that THEY may make the proper choice for THEIR child. It is not the place of the teacher, the school board, the superintendent, or anyone else besides the parents to decide what course of action works best for their child. For all the hysteria surrounding this issue, please dont let the hysteria from the left, circumvent the truth. It has no place in our schools.

01-31-2023

Alice Cue

In a world where children face pressures many of us have never known, this is an exceedingly cruel measure to enact. Find your humanity. Act with kindness and care for the children you say you value. Passing this bill will result in harm and even death. Vote no.

01-31-2023

M L Schabacker

I oppose this bill. I am ashamed of & embarrassed by any legislation that in this manner singles out a specific group of law abiding Iowans. Please focus your energy on legislation that addresses issues that affect every Iowan in their daily lives.

01-31-2023

Alexis Awe

The bills that Iowa GOP members have created are disgusting and do not represent Iowa or the interest of Iowans. LGBTQIA students deserve respect, authenticity, and safety. Please stop pursuing your personal agendas and listen to the people of Iowa. We elected YOU. You do not hold any power without us.Stop wasting our taxpayers dollars to play personal chess.

01-31-2023

Andrew Johnson

Kids need, and should have, more options for safe people to talk to, not less! By doing this you are restricting their options and isolating them! If a kid is being abused (for example) and confides that to their teacher you dont run to the parent and rat them out, you provide resources to the child to help them! Voting for this bill limits a childs resources, makes them less safe, and you may be putting that child directly in harms way! We should all want our children to feel safe!

01-31-2023

Katelynn Wilson

Why are you all wasting time on attacking children when we have waaaay bigger issues in Iowa like a billion surplus that sits unused but so many Iowans are facing food insecurity or houselessness. stop terrorizing children.

01-31-2023

Alyssa Ketelsen

To Whom It May Concern,Please vote NO to this harmful proposal. This is none of a teachers concern and I have no idea why it is any concern of legislators to propose this other than hateful hearts and smoke and mirrors policies to distract from doing real and meaningful work for ALL citizens of Iowa. Did you know lgbtq kids are at higher rates of suicide than non. Is that what this is aiming for here? More miserable home lives for kids who already know they need to protect themselves and you want to out them? I moved back to Iowa a year ago after 17 years away and cannot believe the harmful policies from GOP that have been and are being proposed by hateful and disconnected hearts. From being against housing help for the poor, attack on education, attack on lgbtq, attack on healthy food for poor. What moral compass is being followed? Why is the focus on harming the vulnerable minority instead of helping? Why cant we be #IowaNice to everyone instead of #IowaGross to the easy to bully.I grew up in Iowa and left partially because I didnt feel I could be myself in Iowa. I came back with my black wife to be close to family. 100% of my friends and colleagues whether straight, gay, white, black, brown, immigrant or born in US asked are you sure you want to go back there since youre gay with a black wife? It doesnt seem safe. Voting for this ensures not everyone is going to be safe as they should be. I encourage you to help current and future citizens of Iowa rather than hurting. Lead with love or please, dont lead at all.Alyssa

01-31-2023

Matthew Wilkinson [Self]

The subcommittee should take into the account the assured harm this will cause to children in the state of Iowa. Many parents do not agree or condone LGBTQ+ people and therefore may have reactions ranging from disappointment, to anger, to child abuse. Also, there is no such measure to ensure parents are informed that their children are straight so there is no logic behind this House File beyond outing children and causing emotional or physical harm. The subcommittee should consider the basic autonomy of children in Iowa and that they be allowed to have the freedom of choice to express (or not) their gender identity and sexual orientation to their parents. There is no reason why the government of Iowa should plan to interfere with a child's personal identity. The subcommittee will be prepared to face the consequences of this House File should it pass and become law. This includes the aforementioned harm that can and will come to children when they are inevitably outed to parents whose belief systems do not allow for LGBTQ+ people. This also includes the spiritual consequences of the blatantly callous and discriminatory effects this House File would have. Shame on anyone who would seriously consider such a law. And may God have mercy on your souls. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." John 13:34

01-31-2023

Brooke Dearborn Huston

I do not support the antitrans and antiLGBTQ laws proposed. If the issue was truly about protecting children, these bills would not exist! Denying a child's identity is a recipe for depression, anxiety, and death (suicide). Gay and trans people are simply just people, please leave them alone!

01-31-2023

Sabrina Martinez

As a medical professional, I see no benefit to this bill. There is potential for serious harm to targeted individuals. I worry that we will see an increase in mental health crisis and suicidal ideation in targeted individuals. Dr. Sabrina MartinezBoard certified Family Medicine Physician

01-31-2023

Katie Byrd

It feels like the committee members presenting this bill are too far removed from a teacher/child relationship to understand how they work. Many children come from homes where the only adults they can trust or rely on are their teachers. You are taking away healthy, necessary, important conversations. This type of legislation will have far reaching and long term terrible consequences for the children who cannot trust teachers. Just because you dont understand something does not mean you should attack it. The LGBTQ+ community is a peaceful one under constant attack for no other reason than you are able to. Voting for this bill will be detrimental to our children, both those in the community and those out. Please spend time legislating things that mean something. Quit using your privilege to bully minority communities.

01-31-2023

Morgan McChurch

The 2 new house bills to terrorize LGBTQ+ students are awful. Outing is terrible in and of itself. If these bills pass ever student who attempts to harm themselves (or successfully harm themselves) will be on your heads. There are SO many more important things that Iowans need addressed, why dont you find some compassion and leave LGBTQ+ kids and adults alone? We just want to live. Some of us don't have a choice to leave this state and the Iowa Republicans' attempts to take us back to the 1950s. Time travel isn't possible. And even if it were bringing thr 50s & 60s to today would be awful. Iowa republicans have forgotten that their duty is to serve the people of aiowa not target groups of Iowans they dont like. Both HF8 & HF9 are horrible and only detrimental to students, educators, and administrators. They both need to fail. Do the just thing and keep these bills off the floor. Otherwise you may lose financial benefits like NCAA early round March Madness being selected for Des Moines. The people that run these organizations that select where events are want all their athletes to be safe, as well as any spectators who travel here to see these. The NCAA already moved some events out of a state (NC) when another bill laced with homophobia and transphobia was passed there. It wont take much for them to pass on Iowa if these bills pass.

01-31-2023

Kerri Peterson

Do not force kids to be outed by their schools! For many, this is the only safe space they have. It is not your business or place to determine if and when kids come out to their parents. You will be doing irreparable harm to them! It disgusts me that we have legislators doing this. How does WHO these kids are hurt you in any way? What event does it have on your personal life and wellbeing? Absolutely none. Youre just bigoted bullies.

01-31-2023

Rebecka Lynn [iHeartMedia]

In high school, my school counselor called my parents and told them about my sexuality without my consent or knowledge. It made me lose trust in my school system, but also in everyone around me. Because, if the person who is hired to help guide and support you through your life as a young adult betrays your trust, why wouldnt anyone else?I wouldnt wish what happened to me upon ANYONE. It took years of recovery. It was difficult enough to navigate who I had became, but to have my voice taken away by someone that I was taught to trust it is a whole other level of pain and confusion. Not to mention the issues it had caused at home.Please take time to consider what bill you are trying to put into action. What do you gain? How many people will suffer?

01-31-2023

Emilee Hintz

Are they trying to get people beaten and kicked out?? Because that would be the consequence. Let these children live and get through high school without having to worry about getting outed by a teacher. School should be a place that kids do not have to worry about hate and discrimination.

01-31-2023

Miranda Hoffland

You say you care so much about children but apparently not after theyre born? Children keep secrets from abusive parents often, this is asking to see higher rates of child abuse. How about you focus on the care of children in our system, where children are more likely to be abused.

01-31-2023

Katelynn Nank

This bill is harmful to our students who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. It is NOT okay to out someone before they are ready. By forcing educators to break that trust with their students it will push their students confidence in themselves down. The students will form bigger trust issues with others and it will have a negative affect on their mental health possibly resulting in more hardships in life.

01-31-2023

Elizabeth Ekanger

Iowa, we can do better than this. It's bad enough we've funneled money away from public schools, let's not add legally mandating getting involved with very PRIVATE SEX LIVES of children. It's disgusting and frankly deeply upsetting that you are so obsessed with this. Perverted is the term I would use. We have real issues to address, and you guys make me take time out of my day to address some nonsense. What an immense waste of everyone's time. Meanwhile these poor kids not only have to worry about being shot in a poorly funded school, they might have to worry about whether or not their under paid, over worked teacher, someone they should be able to trust might have to turn them in to their parents if they suspect they might be gay or trans. Y'all are on a new one. Unhinged bullies. See you in hell, I guess, cause I can't see God forgiving you for this.

01-31-2023

Nicolle Hook

I oppose this bill in its entirety. There is no value in pushing forward a bill that will undoubtedly harm trans youth for the sake of political pageantry. This is government overreach in its worst form. Trans kids are 4x more likely to attempt suicide (Trevor Project) than their peers. Legislation such as this will only contribute further to those staggering statistics. This is not prolife.

01-31-2023

Mattie Carstens

I am a teacher in the state of Iowa. Trying to force teachers to put their students to family members is dangerous and idiotic. Students who have not informed their parents already but have talked to teachers do not feel safe sharing with their parents. Forcing a student to live in a possibly hostile environment is harmful, disrespectful, and disgusting. Part of my job as a teacher is to help students feel respected, loved, and safe. Forcing me to share such a big piece of information against a students will defeats that purpose and will have longlasting effects in the education system. Education is already struggling; teachers are leaving in droves. This is only going to add to bullying, suicide rates, and teacher shortages. Try supporting LGBTQ+ students who only want to live their lives in peace instead of putting a bigger target on their backs.

01-31-2023

Nick West

Should students be able to go to a trusted adult at school if they're being physically abused at home? Yes, obviously, right? So should students be able to go to a trusted adult at school if they fear they would be mentally abused at home? This should also be a resounding "YES". You would be stripping them of that safety by forcing staff to out a student to their parents when they don't feel safe at home. We need to protect all students, not just the heterosexual ones, from both mental and physical harm.

01-31-2023

Pamela Mohr

Please vote against HF9. Nearly 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary youth attempted suicide and LGBTQ youth of color reported higher rates than their white peers. Public schools should be safe places for ALL students. I encourage you to listen to the voices of LGBTQ individuals, youth, and parents. Thank you.

01-31-2023

Darla Sharar

Parents have every right to know what is going on with their children and to support them and help with decisions that could potentially ruin their life. This is not the schools place whatsoever! Schools need to stop overstepping their boundaries and keeping things from parents. A parent has the most and best interest of their child at heart, not the school.

01-31-2023

Marco Morel

To whom it may concern, I am writing to you regarding this bill and how destructive it could be to children who attend Iowa public schools. Being a queer student who attended Holy Family Catholic Schools in Dubuque, Iowa from kindergarten all the way through graduation gives me an insight on this issue that I feel I should share. For many Iowa students, even in private catholic schools, school is an escape from abusive parents and turbulent home lives. It is where they can truly be themselves and focus on building their future without fear of mitigation from their parents or legal guardians. This bill is highly invasive to the personal lives of Iowa children and school is supposed to be a place to be educated and form connections, Iowa schools have no place interfering with a child's private life unless the child is putting themselves or other peers in harm's way, which asking to be called a different set of pronouns is simply not that serious of an issue. HF9 just further clouds the true role of teachers and administrators within a school and will have lasting effects on how children view school and their safety at school. They will begin to not be as engaged in classes, some may drop out, and it also puts stress on the peers who may have been friends with this individual. This bill will create a domino effect of negative effects that will put someone's status above their right to education. Public education serves to educate ALL students without discrimination, and this bill throws all of that out the window.

01-31-2023

Kaitlin Laing

As an Iowan and a former student who is part of the LGBT+ community, I am vehemently against HF8 and HF9. Learning is best achieved when all students are on a level and equal ground, and both of these bills would keep that from being possible for students. Gender and sexuality should be simply ALLOWED for discussion even now, many are afraid to say anything because of backlash from bullies. But those who are comfortable in their journey and feel they want to share it should be not just allowed but encouraged. Had I been encouraged to embrace who I was in high school, I would have been much happier and felt free to try extracurriculars or different classes without fear of being bullied or reprimanded by teachers (who, by the way, are supposed provide a SAFE, WELCOMING space for students to learn). Students should not have to feel afraid of being themselves at school. Period, end of sentence. These bills would make that impossible for many already vulnerable students so I am pleading DO NOT PASS HF8 and HF9. THANK YOU.

01-31-2023

Kate Davies

I am begging you to vote against this legislation. This will not stop LGBTQ children from existing. This will not protect nonLGBTQ+ individuals, but rather arm them with ways to hurt, vilify, and isolate LGBTQ+ students. Our LGBTQ+ students are already suffering! These rulings will have immeasurable harm to them. And they will do NOTHING to benefit the nonLGBTQ+ community! People are not things to be owned & operated as we see fit. Do I want to know if my child is struggling in school? Absolutely. But what are we doing about situations where the guardians are abusive? Or absent? If a student tells a teacher, from a place of fear and of trust in that teacher, that they are afraid if they come out as LGBTQ+ in any way their parent will physically harm them or kick them out how are you addressing that? Just telling the parent and abandoning that child to fend for themselves in a potentially unsafe home? The schools are there for the students. For some students, the schools are the only safe place they have. Not all students even have a home! These measures are making scary, isolating situations for LGBTQ+ students even more so. Every student should have a safe space outside their family home for many, many reasons child abuse being a huge one. Please, even if you do not understand how or why these measures will do immeasurable damage they will. Please vote against this for the sake of ALL the children not just the ones who you have deemed acceptable to exist as they are.

01-31-2023

Matthew Molin

I am a physician in Des Moines that cares for LGBTQ individuals. It is already well studied that LGBTQ youth suffer from increased mental health disorders, substance abuse, and homelessness compared to the general population. Outing a vulnerable youth to a family that may not be accepting has very damaging ramifications. It is not even good medical practice to out a patient under age to their family unless the patient gives consent first. Will the Iowa legislative also provide resources for this child if their family disowns them? What about the mental health consequences for a forced coming out? Iowa already lags in mental health resources and professionals compared to neighboring states. Shouldn't schools provide a safe and accommodating environment for all Iowans? Maybe consult with actual experts who care for these individuals before drafting discriminating harmful legislation.

01-31-2023

Haley Smith

45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year.LGBTQ youth who felt high social support from their family reported attempting suicide at less than half the rate of those who felt low or moderate social support.Fewer than 1 in 3 transgender and nonbinary youth found their home to be genderaffirming.

01-31-2023

Matthew Molin

01-31-2023

Chelsee Rotter

A school should not withhold any information from me about my children. Its breaks trust between other adults and parents. If my child is going through something, I need to be able to help them through it. Lets support families while building trust, not breaking it.

01-31-2023

Ashley Petersen

I am in favor of HF9. Parents have a right to be informed and should absolutely be notified regarding anything concerning their child, which includes gender identity issues. The school has no right to keep information about a student withheld from that student's parents/guardians.

01-31-2023

Megan Conrad

I am against this bill as this can cause untold harm and damage to children's emotional and physical safety. A child should be able to request how they wish to be address, as many of us experienced when teachers ask us for nicknames, without fear of parental retaliation. The school should not involve itself in matters which a parent should be attentive to. If you are unsure about your child's gender, pronouns or preferred name, I suggest speaking with your child and/or looking at yourself to see why your child may not feel comfortable to share those things with you. All this bill will do it create more secretively amongst children and more distance between children and their parents. No one is forcing gender decisions or exposing children except for their peers. I think again, this issues can be discussed between parent and child. I think that schools are showing respect and if parents need support to understand or speak with children, I recommend therapy. Please do not put children at harm from those parents who will take emotional and physical action against a child for their choices (and yes it happens a lot unfortunately) and don't create more secrets and distrust amongst children and the support they need. Sincerely, A therapist who works with children and parents on a daily basis and has seen too much harm come to children when none should.

01-31-2023

Kaitlyn Shaw

This bill is harmful and dangerous. Student need safe schools to attend where they know teachers have their best interests in mind. If a students home is going to be unsupportive of their gender identity then sharing about it, especially before the student is ready to share, can be not only harmful for their mental health but also possibly put them into physical danger. Teachers need to be a safe place for a student to go not the ones who are putting them into danger. This will ruin that safety that these students deserve to feel in our school buildings.

01-31-2023

Kristin Fairholm [EyesOpenIowa]

HF9 is harmful to Iowa's kids and will put the lives and well being of students in jeopardy. LGBTQ+ kids are already at higher risk of mental health struggles, suicidde, bullying, homelessness and safety. HF9 will increase these effects and, therefore, we cannot support this policy.This legisture claims to be pro life but this policy is contrary to that belief. There is a mountain of data to support how harmful these situations would be for young people. Teachers are not trained mental health counselors and this bill would force them to be in a position to directly harm a student. This bill would also directly violate student's Title IX rights per the United States Dept. of Education policy. We beg you to not pass this bill and keep Iowa kids safe at school and at home. Thank you for your time.

01-31-2023

Kevin Hook

I worked with middle school students professionally for the past decade. This is a stage in life where kids try on different personalities, different activities, and different friend groups constantly. It would be absolutely ridiculous to ask administration to disclose to parents every time a student decides they want to try out different pronouns or be called by a different name. 95% of the time when this happens, it is very shortlived. Not to mention, it is critical for students to build an identity apart from their parents/home environment during this time. I STRONGLY oppose this bill.

01-31-2023

Ashley Kirvin

Gender identity and exploration of gender identity is a normal part of human growth and development. Affirming a childs gender identity is CRUCIAL to the overall wellbeing, autonomy, and health and wellbeing of youth. Affirming their gender identity and expression is harm reduction. Its a basic human right. Its also much better than having yet another youth commit or attempt suicide. Additionally, affirming their gender identity can have long term benefits. I am ashamed that this is even legislation in Iowa this bill is harmful to youth and will inevitably harm children, their relationships with their parents, and their relationships with their school systems.

01-31-2023

Lacey Gulling

Why does it seem like the bills are specifically targeting to out students to their parents? What happened to privacy laws? What happened to protections of information? It is not a teacher's duty to inform parents of a student's potential sexuality. School should be focused on EDUCATION of the students, not airing out a student's very personal and private information!

01-31-2023

Jordon Monahan

As a parent, I understand wanting to create safe schools and protecting our children. This proposal does not ensure that the students will be any more safe or protected than they are currently. If anything, this can put children at higher risks of abuse from unsupportive families. "3.Willfully withholding information from, or knowingly giving false or misleading information to,the parent or guardian of a student regarding the students gender identity or intention to transition to a gender that is different than the sex listed on a students official birth certificate or certificate issued upon adoption if the certificate was issued at or near the time of the students birth." Not only does this legislation put the child at risk, it puts the educator in the uncomfortable position of having to tell the parents. The way this legislation is worded, there doesn't appear to be any protection for the educators. In fact, it makes seem like it's the educators fault for corrupting the youth. "4.Encouraging, pressuring, or coercing a student to undergo any medical procedure, treatment, or intervention that is designed to affirm the students gender identity if that gender identity is different than the sex listed on a students official birth certificate or certificate issued upon adoption if the certificate was issued at or near the time of the students birth.5. Encouraging, pressuring, or coercing a students parent or guardian to allow the student to undergo any medical procedure, treatment, or intervention that is designed to affirm the students gender identity if that gender identity is different than the sex listed on the students official birth certificate or certificate issued upon adoption if the certificate was issued at or near the time of the students birth."Before voting on this bill, put yourself in various perspectives: what if it is your child whose struggling with their gender identity? Imagine how you'd truly react to learning that information. Would you rather that conversation being started by your child or by a school employee or your child confided because they are scared to tell you themselves? Would you disown your child for having a different gender identity or would you love them unconditionally and support them in every way possible? Imagine your the educator that a student trusts to come out to because they are afraid to tell their families. Imagine that the student has a valid reason to be afraid to come out to their family for being openly transphobic. Imagine that family comes after you (the educator) for "encouraging or coercing" when all you did was listen. Think through some of the consequences that result by applying the law to some of the situations above. Act through some of them on the house floor. Are the outcomes truly have the impact you want them to?

01-31-2023

Daniel Bradley

This bill is not only harmful and hateful, it is dangerous. Outing young people who do not feel safe enough to be out at home will only lead to violence. As queer Iowans, we will not allow this kind of BIGOTED HATE to be signed into law in our state. Iowa GOP, who only have their own bigoted hateful interests in mind, cannot be allowed to HARM IOWAN CHILDREN. Period.

01-31-2023

Scott Johnson

I think instead of this bill you should require priests and ministers and mental health counselors document the names of every man who has discussed or admitted every sexual encounter or thought he has spoken or engaged in, document all the details and then share them with all parents and children and all blood and adopted siblings and children of the same, as well as sny and every female who he has or intends to date and/or marry and the parents/siblings/children of said women. These documents must be attached to and cross referenced to each of his drivers licenses, passport, lease application, property ownership, bank and broker account, insurance application, employment application, every document with his name in each and every corporate document filed with the Secretary of State, and obituary.

01-31-2023

Olivia Krecklow

I truly dont understand why this bill is even a thing there is absolutely no reason why teachers (whos job is it to TEACH students) should be required to give personal information to parents. The student themselves can choose on their own whether or not, and when, to share that part of themselves. Besides the fact that its a complete invasion of privacy, there is no policial positive that I see to this bill being passed. Like what is this for?? Why do you think adding this to a teachers responsibilities is productive?? Its not! Maybe instead focus on funding public schools and paying teachers a livable and reasonable salary so they stay. Something to think about

01-31-2023

Jaylee Hurst [UFCW Local 222]

Good Afternoon,As someone who grew up surrounded by religious prioritization in Utah, I was able to see how dangerous sharing information about sexual orientation information can be. Doing this can and will, place childrens lives in danger from their families and their communities. Imposing laws like this will force children to be kicked out of their homes, and onto the streets; simply because of how much Christians have begun to hate their LGBTQ brothers and sisters. Its clear to see there is an attack on my LGBTQ friends and family here in our country, and in Iowa. In the Mormon religion homosexuality is viewed as an extreme sin. I had friends that when they chose to be honest and share their sexual orientation with their families; they were disowned. Never again allowed to see their parents or siblings. Ripped away from life long relationships and thrown out on the streets. I had friends whose parents wished their child had died, instead of telling them that they were gay. I want you to truly imagine that for a moment. Having your parents tell you that they would rather bury you in the ground, then watch them love another man. How cruel does Iowa have to get? How much are you going to force Iowa children to suffer under these Christian extremist groups? Christians who would rather see a child DIE, instead of marry and live a life of happiness; with someone who happens to have similar anatomy. There is something wrong when hate filled groups get to make laws to hurt other citizens, and its supported by our state government. Its embarrassing that Iowa was once so proud to represent its citizens fairly, treating them like actual humans beings. I watched Utah spend millions of tax dollars and pushing discrimination within the state, so when I moved to LeMars over 10 years ago it was like a breathe of fresh air. Now to see that Iowa has fallen so far into hate and bigotry that we are debating this subject today. Its truly disappointing, these children deserve so much better than what our state government is currently giving. I hope you will take these comments genuinely into consideration and find it I your hearts to stop this madness. This is not how we protect Iowas children. I pray that Iowas State government will see the damage they are trying to commit. If you are successful pushing this legislation through, I hope the first child that is killed by a parent haunts you for the rest of your life. If this is pushed through there WILL be children killed and beaten by their parents for their sin. Utah has already experienced this. Weve already done this science experiment. I hope Iowa chooses to learn from others and support ALL of its citizens. Not just white the Christians. Thank you, Jaylee Hurst, Secretary Treasurer UFCW Local 222

01-31-2023

Ashley Ferguson

Please vote in favor of this bill. The school system and government is yet again trying to overstep on the family unit and further push the children from their parents. The schooling system is meant to be a learning tool to help succeed in adulthood not a means to have a double life for a CHILD.

01-31-2023

Kassidi Stumpf

Some childrens parents will not be okay with their children being lgbtq+ and could go as far as harming them because of it. I believe that it should be the decision of the individual to come out when they are ready. The discussion of this topic should stay out of schools!

01-31-2023

Lauren Grover

As a public school educator, I can say with confidence that this bill will RUIN any safe relationship LGBTQ students have with adults. Students will feel unsafe which is the complete opposite of what public school teachers strive to give their students. Safety. If you care about the WHOLE CHILD and the future of their wellbeing, you will not let this bill pass.

01-31-2023

Bobbie Kirby

Forcing teachers to out students to their parents is a dangerous and possibly deadly for many lgbtq+ individuals. Teachers are there to support students and be their advocate. To destroy that trust is a line that shouldn't be crossed

01-31-2023

Sarah Schwartz

I strongly oppose any bill that requires K12 teachers and staff to "out" any LGBTQIA+ students in our state. Students deserve the right to let whom they trust know about their gender and sexual identification. Our educational system and staff need to be more focused on teaching and preparing our youth for the workforce. Passing this bill will open the potential for bullying, harrassment, and violence against our LGBTQIA+ youth. This is not what Iowa should be standing for. I believe we should be providing a safe space for students in our K12 educational systems.

01-31-2023

Sarah Chang

Please join me in STRONGLY OPPOSING HF9. It would in no way benefit any students and would either recklessly or deliberately put transgender students with unaccepting families in harms way, unnecessarily subjecting them to abuse that could be avoided if theyre allowed a place (like school) to safely explore their identities before making their own careful decisions about who is safe to come out to. This bills blatant disregard for the safety of Iowas most vulnerable students is unconscionable and inexcusable. Please kill it as swiftly as possible.

01-31-2023

Sydney Merz

Children need the freedom to discover who they are on their own terms. That includes who is aware of any changes and who isnt. If a straight kid started going by a nickname we dont run to the parents and tell them. So why is it any different if a child wants to be called a different name for any other reason. Certain parts about life are confusing for children. Let them figure it out and dont force them out to anyone. Its ridiculous I even have to explain this. A parent should be involved enough in their own childs life to know far before a teacher if their child identifies a certain way. So if they dont know theres probably a reason. We know many LGBTQ kids get rejected or abused by their parents so why are we allowing that door of abuse to be opened? Its not our place and never will be.

01-31-2023

Apeksha Adhikari

Gender identity is not something a child decides to chose. Its like race and ethnicity, unchangsble. In fact, the first identity development a child has is gender. Due to societal norm, a childs gender shapes who they are. Children should be able to enroll as the gender they believe they are and not be discriminated because of this. Its unfair that someones identity is the reason they are kicked out or expelled from school. Seems a lot like the segregation period betwee Blacks and White

01-31-2023

Courtney Somma

Stop. Just stop. You are interfering with the safety and development of children who don't even know who they are yet! Let them be without judgement. Let them find themselves. It is in no way the business of our educators nor should the onus fall on them to contact parents bc they think their kid, gasp, might be LGBTQ or simple nonbinary. This isn't what Iowans want. Forcing teachers to out students for potentially being gay sounds an awful lot like a return to McCarthyism and the "Red Scare". How about instead you could, I don't know, FIX OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES?!

01-31-2023

Diane Wolbers

Against this bill!! Most parents already know before the child knows in my experience. I do not feel like this is something that needs to be addressed from a teacher. Kids get bullied really bad for being different I feel being this up would only intensify the bulling. I believe bulling needs to be addressed before this does.

01-31-2023

Megan Franks

Please ask the experts if they agree on this bill. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the teachers association, therapists and social workers Associations. If they support it then by all means base it off of that. But 100% this bill is dangerous and out of governments lane. Kids could literally die from this being outed to their parents. Mentally and physically abused or ostracized Or worse death by suicide. Religions make up all kind of silly bigoted rules. Please keep church and state separated. This is a very dangerous area you are choosing to spend time on when our state has real issues to solve. Iowans do not want this. And we will remember the names of all those that vote for these dangerous bills!

01-31-2023

Sauser Jes

Please stop this heinous act. You have no idea of the repercussions you will cause with this. Some of the kids live in real fear from their closed minded family/ community members. Please work on feeding/ housing our children and families instead.

01-31-2023

Steve Lutz

This is an exceptionally hateful and harmful bill. It goes in the face of everything that iowa stands for. It makes me ashamed to be from the state. We wont release police camera information on minors, but we will report this? Absolutely insane.

01-31-2023

Elizabeth Lutz

As a mother I would want my child to feel safe at home to come to me about their gender but I also want them to feel safe at school. The place Im legally forced to send them to. They have no choice to be there but should feel safe while there and if that means being able to confide in their teachers and not me, then let it be so. Teachers have so much they have on their plates that they do not need a law forcing them to tattle on their students. Didnt you learn about tattling?

01-31-2023

Emma B

Just like republicans to create a law that endangers children instead of protecting them. How about instead of focusing on telling children's secrets we focus on adults who hurt and abuse children. But no you won't do that because the actual safety of children is not an important matter to you.

01-31-2023

John Olsen

Rep. Wheeler just stated that the people who are opposed to this bill are saying that parents are evil. Most parents are not evil. But, what do you call those parents who kick their children out of their houses because their child has decide that they are transgender or nonbinary? You certainly cannot call them loving and supportive.My wife and I have a transdaughter. She has been homeschooled her entire life. There was never any grooming. There was very little exposure to the LGTBQ community. This announcement came as a great suprise to us. I am very grateful that she trusted us enough to come out to both of us. I personally felt that I only had one choice in how I reacted to her anouncement. It was vital for me to show loving support and care. To react otherwise would be to greatly harm the trust between us and risk her mental health and life.There are many children who hide their true self from their parents because they know to reveal themselves as transgender or nonbinary is risking a place to live and/or emotional and physical well being. I would strongly encourage all those in support of this bill to first listen to the parents of students in the LGBTQ community and, even more so, the students themselves. They have lived experience and likely know students who have not come out to their parents. They know directly the impact this bill will have. I would also listen to teachers, counselors, and administrators that this bill will directly affect. You will be requiring them to violate the trust of their students. Students need to be able to trust the adults in their lives.

01-31-2023

Malaika Kigen

We do not need more stress on children than there already is for those that come from homes that do not accept them! We also do not need to be putting more stress on schools and teachers! The child should be the one to tell their story and should not feel like they will be forced to out themselves to their families!

01-31-2023

Johanna Stover

I am not normally one to speak up, but you guys have gone too far. This bill is heinous! Why do you feel the need to harass LGBTQ+ children?? When they tell their story, and who they tell it to is no ones business but their own! Find more useful ways to spend your time.

01-31-2023

Katy Dane

Born and raised in Iowa City, attended Luther College and I am a 20 year educator. It is not the place of a teacher to step in and break trust and a positive adult relationship with the student, and out a student to their parent/guardians. Situations like that can lead to and ignite depression, anxiety, neglect, abuse, and in some cases, loss of food, shelter, basic human needs. Why require or ask a teacher to put a student at risk of harm? Our job is to nurture, support, and be a positive and trusted adult in a childs life.

01-31-2023

Emily Sladek

Teachers shouldnt be mandated to out students. Teachers responsiblity is to teach not be involved in the sex lives of their students. Gross! Ppls sexuality can change over the course of their lives. Only the student has the right to bring it up to whoever they feel safe with

01-31-2023

Renee Hruska

I am an Iowa voter from Ankeny. I am a parent of children in public school, and I am asking you today to vote no on SF83, the Don't Say Gay bill. This bill is meanspirited, harmful to LGBTQ children and could lead to serious harm to LGBTQ children and their families. The chilling effect of this bill would shame any child who might try to talk about their LGBTQ loved ones and parents. It would make the sciencebased teaching of sexual health topics nearly impossible. It would make our schools less safe for LGBTQ children, staff and families. It is wrong. Please do not advance this from your subcommittee.

01-31-2023

Avery Bissell

In many homes, it is unsafe for transgender people under the age of 18 to come out to their families. A lot of the time, the only place a transgender youth feel safe, loved, and accepted for who they are is at school or in a educational environment. By passing this bill, many children across the state of Iowa will be put in unsafe situations, and their mental health will decline. Suicide rates among transgender youth are already high, and passing this bill could make those rates even higher. No matter what you believe, there is no reason to put any child at risk. The government is supposed to protect their people. Not pass laws, acts of bills that will put their people in harms way.

01-31-2023

Gaby Snyder

LEAVE LGBT+ PEOPLE ALONE. The LGBT+ community is NOT an issue, it is shameful that so much time and effort goes into trying to police them and stop them from simply living their lives. Focus on making people lives better, not ruining them.

01-31-2023

Amy Bingaman [Deidre for Iowa]

I am opposed to HF9. This bill would cause direct harm to our youth. Our LGBTQ population is already at risk for bullying, depression and anxiety and this bill would potentially take away a safe space for many. Students often trust their teachers and counselors and may have more support in this setting than at home. This bill would directly undermine that trust.I am an obstetrician gynecologist and I am honored to care for many LGBTQ in our community. We NEED more safe zones for our marginalized patients and this bill would create a climate of discrimination. I am also a mother of four children and I encourage my children to establish strong relationships with their educators.I would be more than happy to discuss further. My email and cell phone attached.Thank you for your time and consideration.

01-31-2023

Keira Coady

kids should be allowed to identify however they want, whether its in regard to gender or sexuality. they should not have to live in fear of being outed by their teachers or by anyone. especially as for some kids that could put in them in more danger due to not have accepting families. it is incredibly bigoted and disgusting that republicans think this sort of legislation is helpful by any means. the continued harassment of the LGBTQ+ community needs to end, our legislators have no business in controlling who people want to love and how people want to identify, especially since it causes no harm to others. legislators are supposed to create legislation that helps the people of Iowa progress and grow. however, it seems as though the republican party is incredibly content with harming their constituents and making their lives unsafe. if this type of legislation were to be passed, i will truly have lost any sort of faith i had left in the iowa legislature.

01-31-2023

Jen Jaeger

01-31-2023

“Zeke” Zoe Perry

Why would we put kids when we are trying to protect them?! Especially students, school is a safe haven for many students in Iowa lets not take there safe places. Or our kids. Like come on, do we have nothing better to do then terrorize already scared and screwed kids?

01-31-2023

Jayden Roling [None]

I do not believe that students should be outed by teachers or any other bill that supports interacting in a persons PERSONAL decisions on how to live life. Focus on fentanyl not transgender students. Theres bigger problems in the world and Iowa.

01-31-2023

chloe ketcham

I have many years of mental health struggles. One thing i can promise is that if during those trying times of mental health struggles, had i been outed to my parents from a teacher, i would have killed myself. What you want to do will kill people. Everyone has a right to privacy even kids. Don't make this country more hateful than it already is.

01-31-2023

Jennifer Crumley [Parent]

Is every Republican homophobic? You all should be ashamed, seriously. Mind your own business. It is not anyones place to share personal information about another. We arent allowed to share that as healthcare providers, does HIPPA ring a bell. This is wrong and puts an unfair burden on teachers. Their job is hard enough. You are wasting my tax dollars. First you take money out of public schools now you want to place a child in possible harms way by making it mandatory for teachers to report sexual identify to parents. That is NOT their lane. Have you considered physical, emotional, or psychological repercussions if a parent loses their mind because they dont agree. Get your shit together and do something that matters. Fix the tax code, bring more jobs to IA, oh your teachers and public workers more. Lets not forget about the health care workers you keep underpaying. You are hurting Iowans which is the exact opposite of your responsibility. You are hateful. Everyone of you who votes yes on this is evil. You spread hate. Go spread your hate someplace else. This is not Iowa nice.

01-31-2023

Mackenna Beamer

The passing of this bull will do nothing but harm and kill queer youth. The fact that theres even a question of whether or not to pass this bill is the reason our state experiences such brain drain. Anyone who differs from a cishet christian ideal cannot sustainably live here, thus were all moving wherever the hell we can while we still can. I want to be a proud Iowan again but I cant do that if the state is willing to put children who share my identity in harms way.

01-31-2023

Alexandra Seibert

Protect LGBTQ+ kids! Why are we going after human rights?! Protect our youth from further bullying, mental health crises, and suicide! Let the children figure out who they are without worrying that their teachers are going to get involved with sexuality and identity.

01-31-2023

Breanna Stainbrook

As a public school teacher I am appalled that this bill is being discussed. The time and energy put into building relationships and trust with students would be IMMEDIATELY violated if I were required to disclose a students gender identity or sexual orientation. These two crucial and private pieces of identity have NO IMPACT on a students opportunity academic success. Which is why mandating an educator to disclose such private information would only traumatize the child, break established relationships and trust with educators. There is no positive benefit for children, parents, or educators if this bill even continues to be considered.

01-31-2023

Natalie Lourens

Hello, I am saddened to hear of this new bill being introduced, threatening the well being of young LGBTQ+ children in our communities. I believe this bill to be ethically and morally wrong. Kids should feel safe to explore who they are freely and without judgment from their schools or government. I feel as if our world is becoming increasingly unsafe by the day for anyone who is different. I hope that you all can look within and think of your own sons or daughters who might be struggling within themselves on this very issue, afraid to tell you because of judgement within their own home please dont do it the other children in our schools every child, regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation, deserve to feel safe in schools.

01-31-2023

none of your buisness

There is no reason whatsoever that staff in schools should have the ability to give out any sort of lgbtq+ information to parents without the student's consent. as a trans youth who went through school horrified if someone found out id get jumped, kids who have schools and classmates who are kind and loving enough to give trans youth a safe space to be themselves at school is essential unless you want a whole lot of trans teenagers dead via suicide. if they cannot be out at home, and they cannot be out at school, they get to sit with it all bottled up inside and take misgenderings like punches to the gut. suidical thoughts and attempt rates have finally began going down for trans youth because they're allowed at least one place, at school, to be out and happy and themselves. we cannot afford passing a bill that threatens that. 82% of trans individuals have considered suicide and 40% have attempted. passing a bill like this is passing a bill saying youd rather have dead trans kids than happy alive trans kids. this bill will not suddenly make kids not trans, but it WILL put thousands of them in danger from unsafe/dangerous retaliation from family. there is not a SINGLE reason why staff should be able to out a child to their parents. there is no safety concern for a child using a different name and pronouns at school. not a single reason. and yet there are a plethora of reasons to keep trans kids safe and respect their privacy at school, where for some it is the only place they are allowed to be themselves.

01-31-2023

Erin Lamb

For the party that claims to hate overreach, republicans are doing a ton of dangerous overreach. Stay out of our lives and our bodies. Get a clue, get a life, and do something that actually helps people. This will hurt people.

01-31-2023

Zowie Beeth

The classroom & school is meant to be a safe or brave space for students to learn. By passing this bill, we are taking away that space for nongender conforming students. Creating another space for them where they dont feel welcomed, students dont learn where they dont feel welcomed. This also negatively effects studentteacher relationships, in which a positive relationship fosters learning like no other. The student can not confide in their teacher and therefore the teacher cannot provide the culturally responsive teaching the student needs to respond. Culturally responsive teaching is how our students learn & yes that includes gender.

01-31-2023

Vanessa Penick

How low can you stoop? You are now bullying lgbtq children! Yes children! How about this law instead: If you are caught cheating on your spouse you get "outted" to your family. Adultery is also a sin according to your completely fictional god. How many of you would be outted?

01-31-2023

Jarod Cheng

The Iowa Legislatute is knowingly putting Transgender and Gender NonConforming students into danger by even considering this bill become law. While children under 18 are legally beholden to their parents, they are not property whose condition must be reported on to the owners when there is a change. Bullying this vulnerable population of students into silence not only increases their chances of declining mental health, but it also puts students in possible danger in their home lives if they would rather receive help than not be themselves. The Iowa Legislature is aware of the beliefs of its constituents, including their political and religious beliefs that are not tolerant of the LGBTQ+ community, and yet still presses on to create an unsafe home environment for the applicable students. These students who will be forced to "come out" to their families are at risk for physical or verbal abuse, suicidal ideation, or possibly even abandonment/disowningthings that no child should ever have to experience. If the legislature does indeed pass this bill, then they should be prepared for these students to take action once they are of age after experiencing how this will radically change their lives.

01-31-2023

Mandy Mahr

I do not support this bill in any way. Our kids need to be able to be themselves and be protected. As a former educator, I know that parents and guardians often come around, but in the mean time, allowing a kid to be themselves at school, in a safe space, provides more access to learning and even finding ways to be able communicate with their parents and guardians.

01-31-2023

Hailey Franzen

Access to safe and trustworthy adults is essential for the wellbeing of youth who possess marginalized identities. Sometimes, immediate families are unable to provide emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, or physically safe environments for their young people. Youth in these circumstances are often able to find refuge in schools. Having adults to process troubling feelings with is important. Studies have shown time and time again that one positive adult connection holds the possibility to alter the course of life for a young person in prosocial capacities. Finally, as a youth services worker, and formally young LGBT+ person who found refuge in schools myself, this bill will harm our students, and harm school employees. I urge my representatives to vote no on this proposal.

01-31-2023

Sarah Hoehns

All kids deserve a safe, supportive, nurturing environment at school where they can focus on learning. This law would entirely disrupt that for LGBTQIA+ students by promoting an unsafe environment where teachers are required to out LGBTQIA+ children to their parents. For some children, school is their only safe place. Children deserve to feel safe, accepted, and respected. LGBTQIA+ children are NO different than any other student. Safety, acceptance, and respect to a child should not be negated simply because they identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. The Iowa legislature should be focused on improving education and learning for of ALL its citizens, not promoting environments that do the opposite.

01-31-2023

Micaiah Phipps

Many LGBTQ+ students do not feel safe to be themselves at home, due to fear of being sent to conversion therapy, being kicked out, or not feeling loved by the people that are supposed to care about them most. Schools should be a safe place for ALL children, and outing children to their potentially nonsupportive families is putting more lives on the line. This bill prioritizes outing LGBTQ+ youth before they decide to come out to their parents. It removes school as a safe space for many who need it. Please drop it, and make bills that would help your citizens rather than hurt them. This bill is transphobic.

01-31-2023

Caiti Courtier

This is an extremely hurtful and hateful bill, it will cause a lot of harm for students who identify as LGBTQ+. Tackle actual issues that cause harm to students and teachers like gun violence and gun reform rather than fostering a spirit of hate.

01-31-2023

Andi Anderson

As a mother of LGBTQ children, this bill is dangerous. Imagine being a child who is already struggling with their identity, and feeling safe enough to talk with someone at school and then that trust being betrayed and suffering the consequences at home. Our number one priority should be to keep Iowas children safe. Why would you want to hurt them?

01-31-2023

Emelia Edwards

Its hard to wrap my head around the fact that this is even a real bill. Do better Iowa GOP. It is horrible bills like this that threaten the livelihood and safety of the children in our state, and if passed will only incentivize me homeschooling my children as it feels like the only way to protect them these days. And yes, I mean protect them from the GOP and their outlandish agenda; NOT the fear of my future children not conforming to the societal norms the GOP wants to pretend is the right way or normal.

01-31-2023

Molly Foley

This bill will put many students in harms way. Not only is it a violation of their privacy, but parents who do not support their childs decision could fight back with violence. There are children that are forced out of their homes or abused for their identities. Do not pass this bill.

01-31-2023

Kristin Vogel

As both a parent and a middle school teacher, I believe it is critical for children of all ages to receive supportive, open, and ageappropriate education about the lives and existence of LGBTQ people. Learning about gender and gender identity is important for all children. Gender is not a construct limited to just the discussion of trans and nonbinary individuals, it is an identity that is important to each of us. Children should be allowed to freely discuss gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation and teachers and school administrators should be allowed to help with that education.As an educator, I should be trusted to do the job I was hired for, which is to create a supportive environment for all of my students to feel safe and seen in order to learn. Limiting that safety and visibility to only my cisgender straight students is harmful to everyone. AntiLGBTQ sentiments have been linked with increased stigma, discrimination, and adverse mental and physical health outcomes for LGBTQ youth. With a state already in a mental health crisis, this is not a direction we can afford to take.

01-31-2023

Dawn Krause

I do not feel that this bill considers nor endorses the safety of all LGTBQ students. I have a now adult bisexual child. He was safe telling me and his father on his own time, but I know that not every LGTBQ child has that luxury. I shudder to think how this bill is supposed to benefit children in abusive homes.

01-31-2023

Hannah Nelsen

This bill could quite literally mean the difference between life and death for LGBTQIA+ children. Im not sure how this is a legislative priority or how it helps anyone. It only serves to out children who will suffer ridicule and harm for choices they do not make. No one benefits from this bill, especially not the children.

01-31-2023

Dana Lovig

Do not pass this bill, it will only harm trans kids by denying them yet another safe space where they can figure out who they are. If a trans child feels safe at home they're parents will already know they are trans. This bill is mothing more than an attempt to erase further limit the expansion of trans rights, which I feel the need to remind you are human rights.

01-31-2023

Molly Sexton [The Mind Co.]

As a licensed psychotherapist in Iowa, I have had the honor of working with LGBTQIA youth. This bill is devastating to so many. I hope our representatives can representative us well, by destroying this bigoted proposal. Such a disappointment.

01-31-2023

Molly Sexton [The Mind Co.]

01-31-2023

sarah b

i am a trans student in public high school. i am only able to be fully out at school. i know you thickskulled disgusting oppressors dont give a shit, but i give a shit. the people care. my friends, my siblings, my teachers, my classmates, we care because this affects us. my identity is more than my gender, i just want to peacefully be myself. i already deal with enough restrictions on myself, this would be the last straw. shit like this causes higher suicide rates among children. you are ruining lives. i want to be an orchestra teacher when im older, and this kinda shit makes me want to leave the state and pursue that elsewhere. we already have a teaching shortage, we can barely find substitutes. i know you want us dead. i know you dont care and i know ill always be whatever i was assigned at birth. but im just trying to live my life and be happy. i was never groomed. i know people who HAVE been groomed. that doesnt make them any less or any more queer. youre just trying to fear monger because we dont fit your perfect white picket fence idea of a family. fuck you and fuck your stupid ass bill.

01-31-2023

Sara S

Children of the LGBT community should be able to talk to their parents about their sexuality when they are ready not because theyre teacher is forced to tell their parents. This can harm the child and his/her relationships with their parents and teacher. Why are lawmakers making sexuality a part of education? Iowa has bigger issues they need to be focusing on, like our failing mental health system.

01-31-2023

Emma Baker

I am a STRAIGHT biological female college student at Hawkeye Community College. I do not have to be accepting of others, whether they are young or old, but I have made it a point that if they are not affecting me, I will not be hateful. Whomever is introducing this bill is hateful and is targeting children, that are currently figuring out who they are and who they want to be. This will be hard for children who are labeled different because they are not straight or cisgender! DISGUSTING! I cannot AFFORD to purchase a new car, a home, Im working 32 hours a week while a fulltime student just to afford to pay my student loans and our government cares more about children and their identities than the state of their economy. There have been mass shootings nearly daily since 2023 began, due to how miserable American citizens are by the state of our country. Notice how when our economy went bad, killing became more consistent? It goes hand in hand. Our mental health is worsening as working class citizens because we cannot afford gasoline at the pumps, while corporate executives and government officials are making the most money they have in years. These people that are committing crimes do not care right now because their lives are in shambles and NO ONE cares for them, so why care for anyone else! DO BETTER!

01-31-2023

Danyelle Freeman

In 2007 I graduated from St. Ansgar High School in Mitchell County and played softball for St. Ansgar High School in Mitchell County my name on the roster was always Dan Freeman. And now ever had an issue or a complaint about seeing my name as Dan not Danyelle.Josh Brynes from Osage and the former Iowa Rep was my coach and can verify this information.

01-31-2023

Taresa David

Children who feel safe come out to their parents. Those who dont feel safe, keep it a secret. It is immoral to create a bill to force teachers to out children who already feel unsafe in their home. What do you expect the end result to be? Will you be happy when those families kick the kids out? Beat or humiliate the gay out of them? As a parent of a child in the LGBTQ community who came out at the tender age of 13 and an educator, I am absolutely disgusted by this bill. This bill is NOT what the majority of Iowans want. This is a narrow minded bill set to hurt an already marginalized community.

01-31-2023

Meredith Nunnikhoven

I have thoroughly read this bill and it does not accommodate for the choice of a student to freely feel and emit their own personhood while giving parents the right to parent their own child and or children in privacy if they so choose as a family unit.This bill puts the State of Iowa between the child and its parent in a private matter. If we want to give parents the right to choose what school their child attends, we are sending a hypocritical and conflicting message by taking away the right through this bill for parents to parent their children. Forcing children to define who they are prior to smoking or drinking age, the age of legal maturity, forces them to be adults. If children are not ready to smoke and drink until a certain age because they are not of maturity, why are we forcing them to define a mature state of being to an institution that is public, reports publicly and is funded by public dollars? In most situations, this evolving state of being is for parents and children to work through privately. The other conflict of interest is that a schools responsibility IS to protect the innocence of children through education, not defining the sex of the child in order to receive education for that child. This bill would put teachers and administrators in a place of immense vulnerability to potentially damage the innocence of a child by exposing their comfortable state of current being in a very adult way. This could lead to long term, mental health issues. In addition, parents may or may not be supportive of the innocent choices of this child, thus putting the child in a place of potential domestic violence in the home. In turn this could jeopardize the learning potential of this child and developmental growth into a mature, contributing community citizen.Im very concerned that my hard earned tax dollars made through my business and through me personally will be spent in the courts over lawsuits associated with this bill. The training alone that will have to be adopted while using tax payer dollars to train and enforce is also a huge waste in relation to what schools actually need, like teaching staff, updated learning materials, infrastructure improvements and early childhood education programs. I want my hard earned dollars to be spent buying computers, desks and other learning materials so students can be their best in their own personal educational journey. I want all my tax contributions to support the innocent minds of all children in their journey of dreaming through supportive, inclusive, protective and a nurturing environment of our public and charter state schools.Sincerely, Meredith Nunnikhoven .

01-31-2023

Amanda Hoffmann

This isnt George Orwells 1984. Public school does not need to become big brother where activity is being reported on. Being LGBTQ+ is not illegal and you should be ashamed youre even discussing a bill that could put already atrisk children in a dangerous home situation. Additionally, if this passes, where is the line drawn? Will teachers have to eventually report on who students are seen talking to, walking with, sitting with at lunch? For a state that once prided itself on education, I dont understand where this sudden distrust of public schools/teachers and this hate for children came from. Its disgusting and disturbing.

01-31-2023

Kaylin Hamilton-Bailey

Please don't do this. This is so dangerous for so many kids just trying to live and be themselves. If school is a safe place for them we should not take that away. I've seen how bad it can be for my friends and peers when they aren't accepted and the mental burden you put on lgbtq to further keep themselves in the closet when they just want support and love. Why are we focusing on kids sexuality anyway? Shouldn't we be focusing on a good education and better learning support and funding? Please don't pass this bill, or be prepared for suicide rates, and self harm to go up

01-31-2023

Kai Leigh Purcell

As someone who was born and raised in Iowa its really concerning to me. That the state is more concerned with attacking our children, because they are deemed different. Lets worry about other problems we can go over. Like the multiply homeless people on the streets, or how some childrens are more worried about how much money is in their lunch account, than their next class. Has our state really come so low to attack CHILDREN. If Iowa is all for making our children in fear of expressing and being who they are. We have failed as a state, and as I expect many of you are parents you should be ashamed to force fear into literal kids. School is supposed to be a safe place not a place to fear.

01-31-2023

Britney Rivera-pogyo

Passing this law could very much be harmful for future students. Due to religious reason or strict family household. Some families and cultural cant even accept depression to be a real thing and yall want kids to be outed to their families. Suicidal rate could go out of control in teenagers. Youd be causing more problems then less.

01-31-2023

Michael Allen

When you are gay , transgender, bisexual, or anything that people. Makes you stand out you will have young kids/ people killing them selves.Coming from someone that came out at 60 years old.You have to look at what is best.Remember God made us this way .There is a reason for all of this..

01-31-2023

Jody Blowers

Why do Republicans feel the need to intrude on the rights of other's? THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND DANGEROUS. Everyone deserves privacy and also to be an individual. Stay out of people's personal business and try to do something that will help people in Iowa like maybe feed and house human bodies and/or help students to afford college. I say get a life!

01-31-2023

Phoebe Smith

HF9 will make students actively less safe at schools and at home. Our queer Iowan youth need support and affirmation, not legislation that will threaten their right to exist authentically. For some students school environments are the only place they can live authentically as themselves and legislation like this limits our youths freedom of expression and individually. Laws like this will raise the already high suicide rates of queer teens and youth. Consider the implications of your idea politics. Vote no on this bill

01-31-2023

Meghan Morrisey

Please dont pass this bill. LGBTQ students face enough hardships as it is we dont need this added onto what they already face. Some students feel more comfortable with their teachers than anyone in their family and this would just ruin all relationships like this. Youre only helping a small population of people by passing this and honestly the people youre targeting probably wouldnt even be affected by this bill to be completely honest. Marijuana is still illegal in Iowa yet I used to be addicted to smoking weed. The teachers who truly care about their students wont out them to their parents and your bill will do nothing to change that. So whats the point in passing it in the first place? Just a symbol for how much you want to strip LGBTQ youth of their rights? Kim if you care at all about getting reelected you wont pass this bill because the more people you pin against you the less likely you will be sitting in the same spot as right now in four years. Although our state is mostly red you are angering the population of democrats in the state some of which might not have voted and some might be uninformed but im telling you a smart person who cares about the wellbeing of people and her career wouldnt pass this bill. Who does this bill benefit?

02-01-2023

Evan Tiesman

I find the idea that Iowa schools have some responsibility to inform parents of their students actions, outside of academic or disciplinary issues, to be troubling and am opposed to the bill on the grounds of privacy. I think bills like this open the door to more intrusive obligations to report for public officials. In addition, I think that, given what we know to be true about nonstandard gender identity in adolescents, this bill would have the more or less exclusive function of raising already high suicide rates among trans youth. I think the bill is illconsidered.

02-01-2023

D'Anna Claire

let LGBTQ+ kids exist and feel safe at school. This should not even be up for debate. adults who say these measures are to protect other children are simply using that as an excuse to force their own beliefs into spaces where they are not needed and are certainly harmful to vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth who need our support. It is tiresome watching our elected representatives waste time and energy, not to mention taxpayer dollars, to promote a hateful agenda that accomplishes absolutely nothing.

02-01-2023

Kaylee Wolfe

Outing a student to their parents isn't going to change anything besides the comfortabibility of that student in school. It it the students life and students choice whether to tell or not to tell and when and how to do so to the parents if they choose to do so. This is sickening.

02-01-2023

Brandy Cross

Children deserve the right to live and figure out who they are! The harm that can be done outing a child to parents who are not yet accepting is extremely dangerous. School is their space, its the place to learn and grow and explore. Its is the place where their friends are and where everyone is supposed to care about their well being. Our children are a gift, and our responsibility to guide but they are not ours to own. They are autonomous humans who know themselves or are figuring it out. Let them do that.

02-01-2023

Mary Peterson

I strongly oppose this bill. I work as a school counselor and the vast majority of the time (95%) parents know about the students choice. For the students whose parents would disown them for their gender identity, they need advocates.

02-01-2023

Elizabeth Bonillo

This bill is very harmful to youth. It will cause many psychological harm and precipitate many to suffer depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia, and attempt or complete suicide. If the iowa government cares about its youth at all you will not pass this bill

02-01-2023

Helena Mica

Requiring parental/guardian consent for gender identity of students is dangerous on many levels. It is dangerous for the minors who are living in homes where they could be harmed by their legal guardians. It is dangerous for them at school where they are threatened by peers, as well as harmed by staff for not recognizing who they are as individuals. It is dangerous for our society because it does not recognize or respect a portion of the population. Working in higher education, I have to explain to people who should have already had exposure to basic education about gender identity and they do not. This law will not serve anyone other than causing harm.

02-01-2023

Cora Twedt

As a future educator I cannot believe that the person I will have to be by law. I will have to exploit the trust that my students have shown me by outing them to their maybe not so accepting parents. I say FOCUS ON PROTECTING STUDENTS LIVES, school shootings should be your focus. JUST THE OTHER DAY there was one in your OWN CITY. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER. I

02-01-2023

Rachael Goldenstein

Do not take away a childs right to come out to their parents when and how they would like. They should be able to feel comfortable and in control. If they trust a teacher enough to confide in them, do not force that teacher to put them to their parents. That does not create a safe learning environment.

02-01-2023

Cody Lenz

I was born and raised in Iowa and to hear bills being brought up like this makes me ashamed to say I am from Iowa and I hope this does not go any further. I am a gay male and left the state of Iowa as soon as I could because of homophobic measures like this. I was outed to one of my parents in school and I was abandoned by my father due to it and have not spoken to him, that was 15 years ago. This measure is more harmful than good and would ruin Iowas reputation for being at the forefront of every social justice movement. Iowa was one of the first states to legalize gay marriage, do not make the decision to take a step backwards as a state.