Meeting Public Comments

Kerrigan Thornton

I am speaking out against the transphobic implications made very real and possible by HF 80. I think the ideas of HF 80 would allow school staff to discriminate and humiliate children though the act of deadnaming against basic respect deserved by all humans.

Pam Vogel [Iowa ASCd]

This is a terrible bill and will lead to more bullying and harassment of students. This is a perfect example of legislators taking a stance on something they should stay out of. With all of the important issues funding for our schools, the budget issues in our state overall, you need to spend time on this?

Grey Fisher

I want to voice my opposition to HF80 and how it will negatively affect our youth. This bill would allow these children to be discriminated against in school. I also want to note that not everyone who uses a different name than their legal name is trans, and this could affect students who are not trans as well. Using a different name and pronouns also is a simple way to affirm our trans youth. Allowing schools to discriminate against these students is not okay and is harmful.

Jessica Chrystal

I write in opposition of this bill. This is ridiculous that grown men(and women) in elected office within the Republican caucus want to waste time legalizing bullying of trans kids like mine. I would expect this kind of garbage on Jerry Springer not out of the Iowa House. When I took my Oath of office I NEVER considered using my position and power to target and harass kids and families in this state.How does this help improve the quality of life for families in this state? It doesn't!!It's beyond pale and disgusting. Not every child goes home to love and school is the only place some find support,love and acceptance. It makes me sick to my stomach that my bonus child I care for,along with their grandparents,whose abused at hone for their gender and dead named ,would have to face more of the same in the classroom. No Iowan who voted for any of you asked for this bill! Not a soul campaigned on it. And you all wonder why Iowans are leaving this state in droves and choosing not to raise a family here. It's not the economy stupid. It's the ridiculous culture wars the Republicans keep waging each session. If you want to prosecute margnalized communities and legalize it in code, I NEVER want to hear any of you cite our state moto or preach about individual liberties and freedom again during debate on the floor. If you want to make Iowa more like Russia and police absolutely everything from Desmoines, you can always resign and go serve in the Duma.

Kathy Graeve

Vote NO on HF80. This bill is redundant Parents already must sign what they want their children to be called in classrooms. Many schools already spend time and money making sure that parents fill out paperwork on what their child should be called.This bill will allow further bullying of vulnerable Iowa students. This bill is a waste of time and taxpayer dollars. If in fact parent rights are so important, then why is this law needed? Stop targeting a very small group of students and parents in Iowa and do something positive for our state.

Kayla Cleland

I am speaking out in strong opposition to HF 80. This bill needlessly targets a minority group of children, opening them up to bullying and harassment from their peers and faculty. We've allowed children to choose nicknames for as long as I can remember why on earth are we focused so hard on this issue and not the very real ones confronting our community? Protect our children and vote no on HF 80.

Chelsea Adams

I strongly oppose HF 80. This could put children at risk by limiting important protections they need. Its crucial that we create a safe and supportive environment for all kids, inclusive of all backgrounds.Instead of passing laws that could harm our most vulnerable, lets focus on ways to ensure every child has the chance to thrive. I believe our state should be a place where all families feel secure and protected.Please consider the wellbeing of our children and vote against HF 80.

Jesse Hershberger

I want to voice my opposition to HF80. This will negatively affect youth in Iowa. As a person of faith, I stand with the youth, of all gender identities, who will be actively harmed by this action from the state legislature. Allowing schools to discriminate against their students creates unsafe learning spaces for everyone.

Rev. Tamara Siburg

I am reaching out to urge you to oppose HF 80. As a Pastor I can not condone such a bill that will lead to legally allowing people to deny God's divine and diverse image in anyone, let alone to deny the young ones in our live to be able to live fully as the person who God created them to be. Who only they, and God know exactly who that is. If HF 80 passes, it could easily lead to a higher rate of suicide among our LGBTQIA+ youth, especially the trans and nonbinary population, and for this state being predominantly run by the party that espouses prolife, I urge you to see how by supporting all our youth to be who they are, is prolife! For those who may question how a Christian pastor could be affirming of trans and nonbinary persons (let alone all of the LGBTQIA+ community), I will share my response to a facebook comment that I got asking just that about how does the Christian take what has been found out through science about the complexities of sexuality and gender (that are more than just XX or XY or what's between a person's legs that make up what gender or sex a person is, but that there is so many variations) with the verse in Genesis 1:27 ("God created humans in his image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them" nrsv). This is my response to that question: "First, I believe that God gifted us things like the bible, science, and art as ways in which we humans can better come to understand the expansive and beautiful creation that God created, and thus, helps us to better understand God. In regard to the verse from Genesis that was referenced, I believe that that was a way in which the early writers/retellers of Genesis could best understand the difference that there is more than one kind of human and to help express the fact that all humans are made in God's divine image. And I'd like to point out that earlier in the creation account of Genesis 1, we hear of how God created all things out of the chaos by separating the day and night, and separating the land and sea and so on. And this simplified way of thinking of creation can lead to a rigid black and white way of thinking but we know that there is space between all of those separations that God created. And often those in between places are some of the most beautiful in all of creation. Like where the land meets the sea, on beaches you can see some of the most amazing sunrises and sunsets. Sunrises and sunsets being another in between time of night and day. And if God is as amazing of a creator as we confess, why can't God create just as beautiful humans who happen to fall in between or even beyond that of male and female. Because if both males and females are created in God's image, than clearly God's image is so much more diverse and expansive than anything our human brains can fully understand, and perhaps that's where our fellow children of God who happen to be trans, nonbinary, and intersex are here to help us just barely understand the expansiveness of God just a bit better."So please, please, please oppose HF 80 for the sake of recognizing the dignity in every person, especially children and youth for being exactly who they are and that they are beloved Children of God helping us to understand this wonderfully diverse world just a bit better!

Lauren Mcshane

I am writing in strong opposition to HF 80. Non binary and trans kids deserve to feel safe and loved the same as cis children. With all the problems facing this state, and the Republicans decide that THIS is what they need to focus on? Leave our children ALONE and stop being bullies.

Lora Coffman

Our legislature should not be getting into school district discipline. Regardless of your thoughts on gender pronouns, do not start taking on staff employee discipline. Please vote against this bill.

Jacob Thomae

I am writing this in strong opposition to HF80. Attacking a person's way of defining themselves, especially at a critical point in their lives will only serve to undermine and discredit the trust the growing public has in their government. You are busy deciding for students what they can and cannot be addressed as, instead of making sure they feel safe and secure in a place they are legally required to attend.

Diane Jones

Please vote no on HF 80. The last things are kids need is a state license for bullying and hate. Show some empathy. It is not a sin.

Lukas Thoren

I am writing in strong opposition to HF 80. I cannot imagine how those who support this can view it as representing the best qualities and values of Iowans. It is not backed by evidence, and is actually in opposition to it and the warnings of mental health professionals. It does not support our neighbors, who even in this string of comments are begging you not to do this to their children. All I ask if for our elected officials to look inward and ask themselves, Who am I doing this for? Is it something the heroes and role models I had growing up say? And, will these children, or my children, look back on my decision and be proud of me?

Rev Brigit Stevens

Vote NO on HF 80. As the parent of a gender fluid teenager who has been bullied with their legal name, please protect them from intentionally hurtful actions. It is easy to learn new names (like when a friend gets married and changes their last name). And pronouns are also easy to learn with practice. Our teachers are smart enough and professional enough to handle this level of basic respect for others. This bill is infantilizing to our professional educators. Districts are not reprimanding mistakes, slips of language, or true lack of knowledge. It is a very basic expectation to hold that adults working with children in a public setting would be curious to know and use the childrens selfpreferred names and pronouns. If they are intentionally misgendering or misnaming a child, thats harassment and unacceptable and should be corrected. This bill would prohibit that intervention. Please vote NO to care for ALL of Iowas kids.

Terri Hale

Please vote no! These youngsters are struggling so much as it is! Please do not make it worse! Begire you vote in any measure impacting trans people, make a commitment to be one friends with actrabs personal so you can better understand that this is not a choice! Abd its not bad. It is a reality! Trans people are human beings and deserve the same rights as you and me! Have the courage to vote no!

Amanda Caraballo

I am writing to you as a resident of Iowa. I strongly oppose HF 80. This bill effectively legalizes bullying by allowing students and staff to deadname trans and nonbinary youth with no consequences. This disrespects their identity and puts their safety in jeopardy. According to NEAs(National Education Association) guide, addressing a person by the name/pronouns that are consistent with their gender identity is critical for the health and well being of that person. HF 80 would allow students, teachers, and staff to misgender transgender students. This will be very harmful to them and it will negatively impact their education. Once again, I strongly oppose this bill. Stop attacking transgender Iowans with legislation like this.https://www.nea.org/neatoday/allnewsarticles/whypronounsmatter#::text=Pronouns%20affirm%20gender%20identities%20and,is%20not%20seen%20as%20important.

Kerri Schwemm

NO to HF 80. When a parent informs the school of the name by which to refer to their child, school staff should honor that parents choice, whether it is a legal name, nickname, or other preferred name. As a parent I choose HF80 takes away my parental choice.

Deborah Adams

Im strongly against HF80. Bullying is already a problem in our schools and this will make it worse.