Meeting Public Comments

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SF 8

A bill for an act prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names, the use of student names as listed in school registration forms or records, or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties.

Agenda

Subcommittee members: Green-CH, Donahue, Pike

Date: Thursday, January 30, 2025

Time: 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Location: Room 315

Comments Submitted:

The purpose of comments is to provide information to members of the subcommittee.

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

01-28-2025

Rick Phillips [PELLA PAC]

We will register our support for SF8. When there are only two biological genders it is nearly impossible misgender male and female. Each have obvious features that reveal what they are and have basically remained this way unchanged since time immemorial. What has led the way to increased cases of mental illnesses is inventing imaginary genders and believing there are special rights that go along with those imaginations. This violates Article 1, Section 6, laws uniform of our Iowa Constitution. If we want to step back from this insanity it would require telling children, the truth and allowing them to work through it discovering the truth of their identity. The wrong thing to do is promote a delusion with a child especially something so serious as lying to them about something that will alter their perception of reality for life. How can so many people support doing that? Lets teach our little girls to grow up and become good wives and mothers. Lets teach our little boys to grow up and become good husbands and fathers. Lets pass SF8 and not punish teachers or students for doing the right thing by not going along with the insanity. Before this age of insanity made its debut, male teachers were addressed as Mr. and female teachers were addressed as Miss or Mrs. Students were addressed according to their biological sex, their first name or using Mr. or Miss accordingly. Its time to wreck this crazy train of pronouns, gender identity and madeup words like misgender. How does a lie make children feel safe? The legislature, school board and adults set the standards not a bunch of misguided students.

01-28-2025

Evelyn Nikkel [PELLA PAC]

Thank you so much for protecting people from the insanity of lawsuits and other discriminatory actions when delusionists determine to force their imaginary "discrimination" on everyone. Thank you for already having laws that protect ALL Iowans from discrimination period. That doesn't mean all will abide by those laws, but they are already on the books. Unfortunately, you now have to protect your citizens from people who get a bee in their bonnet because someone didn't buy into someone's made up "gender pronouns" so they will retaliate to this "oppression" and sue, fire, suspend or defame anyone. Pay attention, people of Iowa, our federal government just declared there are ONLY TWO genders male and female. Period. Pronouns you want to force on 95% of our citizens are made up "descriptors" concocted out of someone's demented imagination. So, THANK YOU Iowa legislators for protecting us from these rabid leftists who would destroy people without a second thought. So much for not discriminating in the land of free speech!!

01-28-2025

Katie Peterson

I stand against this bill. Students are entitled to be called their preferred names and pronouns in school. Childhood and adolescence is a time for children and teens to explore their identity and a part of the process can include changing preferred names and pronouns. These explorations should be encouraged so that students can develop and grow into the person that they want to be.It's not hard for educators to respect their students' preferred name and pronouns. Imagine being a student and preferring to go by a nickname or your middle name and your teachers repeatedly call you something different. It's a grating process to constantly correct a teacher and have your simple request shut down. It should be allowable for schools to impose consequences for teachers who refuse to use a student's preferred name and pronouns, causing that student undue distress.

01-28-2025

Kelly Danilson

I strongly oppose SF8 just as I also oppose HF80. A bill was already passed that stated parents had to inform schools of their childs preferred name and pronouns. That bill NEVER should have made it to a committee table for many reasons. It was and still is a hurtful hoop for kids and their families to jump through. Well, we jumped your hoop and did what you say law requires. Parents signed forms that state preferred names, nicknames, and pronouns for their children. Now, you want to pass a bill to protect people who would AND will misgender our children and loved ones??? No thank you. When will you start protecting our children and loved ones from cruelty??? It is a mighty privilege to never have to face such bills yourself and the worries that come from them. You speak so highly of parent choice. You are not respecting parent choice from the prior bill where forms were filled out to tell you this is what they want for their child when you fathom a new bill such as this. Which then makes it seem some parents get to have choice for their children, but not all parents. Please, use your common sense. Is this bill going to help support children or hurt them? Is this bill going to help or hurt our loved ones in their place of employment or will it lead to more toxic work environments? If you are leading with a true Christian heart, the answer is staring you right in the face. This is an obvious one. If you are not helping, you are hurting. Use your time for more helpful causes that would unite communities vs marginalize. You are missing an amazing opportunity to know and learn from amazing humans who are equally deserving of love and who are very much deserving of bills that protect their rights vs bills that would attempt to strip these rights away. I pray that your hearts and minds are able to see outside of your ignorance and that you lead with love.

01-29-2025

Emma Denney

Vote NO on SF 8. I urge you to vote no on this bill. it is, on a fundamental level, dehumanizing and demeaning to trans kids. all kids deserve to be safe and welcome at school, and to be treated with basic dignity, but SF 8 denies that to trans kids. no one would jump to the defense of cruel bullies in any other case, but this legislature has already decided that trans kids are somehow below their respect or care, so their lives and their safety can be sacrificed.this legislature has already taken away kids access to their healthcare, sports, and the ability to choose their own name in school. now it wants to empower bullies and make their lives in school harder. its clear that the purpose of this bill is to use fear to force students back into the closet, out of schools entirely, or worse. Vote NO

01-29-2025

Tara Abbott

I oppose this bill. It is discriminatory and harmful to trans children who are already at greater risk for suicide and depression. This bill encourages bullying and harassment of students which will lead to adverse mental health effects as well as negatively impact student attendance and academic success. This bill also creates a dangerous situation in which students could be outed as transgender to anyone at school any time which may violate FERPA.

01-29-2025

Katharine Bartlett

I want to register my absolute opposition to HF 80. Allowing staff and other students to misgender and deadname trans students is UnChristian and cruel. In addition, it goes around parents stated preferences for how to address their child. Either you are supporting parents rights to make their own decision for their child or you are not.For the safety of these vulnerable children, I urge you to kill this bill.

01-29-2025

Amanda Staker

I am vehemently opposed to this bill. Allowing students and teachers to use the incorrect name for students is harmful. This bill basically condones bullying trans kids in school. School is supposed to be a safe place so that children can focus on learning. It is a persons right to request to be called by their name and there is no good reason to call them by any other name. This bill will lead to the belittling of an already marginalized community. It will do only harm. Please do not support this bill! Remember that your constituents are looking to you to protect the rights of all Iowa citizens.

01-29-2025

Erica Knupp

I stand against SF 8. This bill is harmful to students who may not identify with the name or gender they were given at birth. If they would prefer to be called something else, then that is their right. It affects no one but that child, so why should it matter what their preferred pronouns are. We cannot force children to fit into a box. Childhood is a time meant for exploring who you are. It's imperative that we create a welcoming and inclusive space in our public schools so that every child feels seen.

01-29-2025

Stephanie Pawletzki

Students should have access to a safe and supportive learning environment free from distress. They should be referred to by their preferred names and pronouns within the school setting. Educators can readily accommodate these preferences. Some individuals may prefer their middle names, and others may use pronouns that differ from their biological sex. Educators should refrain from disclosing a students birth name or birth pronouns, as this can lead to bullying and make childhood and adolescence more challenging. Consequences should be imposed on charter schools and educators who refuse to use a students preferred name and pronouns, particularly when such actions result in harm to the students physical and mental wellbeing.

01-29-2025

Elizabeth Klaus

I oppose this and any other bill that targets the trans community. I'm not sure why so many elected officials in this state seem obsessed with bullying a bunch of children, but I'd like to see it stop and for our representatives to spend their time that address actual issues in this state. As you can see from this public comments section, no rational Iowans support this.

01-29-2025

Alissa Philipp

I am dismayed to see that there is yet another bill being brought forward that would harm transgender and nonbinary students in Iowa. I cannot support a bill that would allow others to intentionally inflict harm on any student, least of all a student struggling with their gender identity. Using a person's preferred name and pronouns is not only giving them basic respect and dignity, but it can truly be lifesaving. Please vote no on this outrageous bill.

01-29-2025

MJ Van Ostrand

I strongly oppose this harmful and hateful bill. Children must be afforded the right to explore and learn freely. Above all, they deserve the basic human dignity of being called as they are. This bill would only create an environment where our children feel unsafe and invalid.

01-29-2025

Lisa Peterson-Burch

I strongly oppose this proposed bill. You are all about parents' choice. This takes away parents' choice. We've also seen many times what bullying in schools can lead to. Kids should be able to go to school to learn and not have to worry about being bullied by a teacher. Vote no.

01-29-2025

Ashley Ayres

I am strongly against this. You are hyper focused on such a hateful, inhumane, bullying bill meanwhile the crime is increasing, the homeless are multiplying, bridges are deteriorating, drugs are everywhere, mental health is at an all time low and theres no help, schools and hospitals are short on help, but okay, lets focus on this. Take away parents rights. I dont know how you can sleep at night. You are whats wrong in this world. I hope karma gets you.

01-29-2025

Meghan Oneal

I would like to register my strong opposition to this bill.For a state that prides itself in parental choice, this bill flies directly in the face of just that. This bill would allow teachers and staff to misgender students without any consequences regardless of parental choice. It seems like a huge step back for supporting students and their right to feel safe and respected at school. When schools are supposed to be places where everyone is encouraged to express themselves, laws like this can undermine that sense of safety, especially for trans and nonbinary students who already face so much unnecessary hardship.

01-29-2025

Mark Bjorklund

Please do not support this bill. Our society needs to grow and accept people for who they are. The same people who support this kind of thing wouldve voted to keep schools racially segregated in an earlier age in American history. It wouldve been considered outrageous, unnatural, and insane to allow desegregation. But we know that the arc of history is long. There is nothing wrong or harmful about accepting and being considerate of transgender people. Lets just all be Americans and all come together to focus on real problems and stop the culture wars that distract us and make us a weaker nation.

01-29-2025

Mark Bjorklund

01-29-2025

Jill Bjorklund

I am OPPOSED and beg you to vote NO on SF8 and kill this bill. As the parent of a trans kid and as an educator, I am all too well aware the harm this bill would do to an already vulnerable population. SF 496 already enshrined parents rights when it comes to decisions about their child's education. Where are my rights now? As an educator, I am held to a code of ethics and the Iowa teaching standards, both of which demand teachers create a safe learning environment, meet the needs of all their students, and specifically prohibit the discrimination of any students based on their gender identity. If you legalize bullying and blatant discrimination of Iowa students, and also mandate their attendance, you are forcing extremely vulnerable students into hostile environments 8 hours a day. Public schools should not be a source of danger! Vote no!

01-30-2025

Kristen Snavely

Please vote no on this bill, it is disrespectful and antithetical to the values of Iowans. We want our schools to be welcoming places where students are safe and encouraged to focus on learning. This bill is a waste of our resources and serves to target and harm young students in our state.

01-30-2025

Jonah Childs

I urge anyone with the capacity of empathy to vote NO and strike down this bill. I was a transgender child, and am now a transgender adult. I would not be as well adjusted of an individual if I did not receive support at school for my transition at the age of 16. As our state rank in education continues to decline, please ask yourselves how a bill like this one is meant to help Iowan children succeed. Instead of spending time, money and resources on ridiculous bill proposals as this one, our energy must be directed in more effective ways of helping children excel in school, not inhibiting their growth and erasing their identities.

01-30-2025

Alek Kiebuzinski

This bill allows public school employees to misgender students, as well as use names that their students do not identify with. Teachers and school employees have a responsibility to support, protect, and be compassionate towards their students, regardless of if they understand or agree with the issue at hand. Using preferred names and pronouns is something that costs employees nothing, but gives confidence and support to students. On the other hand, deliberately misgendering and deadnaming students causes harm, emotional turmoil, and decreases students sense of selfworth. Given the fact that failing to use preferred names and pronouns can be detrimental to students, while the opposite is not harmful to either party, and rather helps students, I oppose this bill, and believe employees and teachers should be held accountable for intentionally hurting their students.

01-30-2025

Rev Brigit Stevens

I am the Rev. Brigit Stevens. My pronouns are she/her. And I am the proud parent of two beautiful and amazing teenagers. One of whom is gender fluid and their pronouns are they/them.A teacher starts the year with a list of names of the children in their care. And because of previous laws, I have filled out paperwork telling them the correct name and pronouns to use for MY child. And this bills says the quiet part out loud. If the teachers DONT WANT TO DO THEIR JOBS, THEY DONT HAVE TO.This bill says THEY DONT HAVE TO HONOR MY PARENTAL RIGHTS TO CALL MY CHILD BY THEIR CHOSEN NAME.I dont care if my childs teachers, or anyone else, dislikes my childs name and pronouns. I dont care if they disagree with OUR parenting choice to support OUR child. I care that they keep those thoughts inside their heads and keep my child SAFE while they are at school, by using their CHOSEN NAME AND PRONOUNS.Parenting and loving my gender fluid child has been one of the biggest gifts of my life. Its so easy to love them! Why is it so far a stretch to demand that others NOT HURT THEM ON PURPOSE?Our CHILDREN are telling you their pain of being bullied and harassed even with their own legal names used as weapons, and with this bill you show that you either dont believe them or you dont care. And both positions have the same impact. More hurting kids crying out for the grownups in the room to assume the role of adult and protect them.Iowas children need you. Stop this bill here.

01-30-2025

Jennfier Gardner

I am strongly opposed to this bill. Allowing students and teachers to use the incorrect name for students is harmful. This bill basically condones bullying trans kids in school. School is supposed to be a safe place so that children can focus on learning. It is a person's right to request to be called by their name, and there is no good reason to call them by any other name. Please do not support this bill! The LGBTQ community already suffers from greater suicide risk. This will only make things worse for them. God calls us to love everyone. Bullying and hate have no place in our schools!Remember that your constituents are looking to you to protect the rights of all Iowa citizens.

01-30-2025

Taylor Davis

I strongly oppose SF 8 & urge others to see it would create an antagonistic relationship between educators and students. Learning happens in environments where children (all children!) feel relaxed and safe. Subjecting any young student to an adult educator who feels it necessary to inflict upon a child some sort of outing of their identity with impunity speaks to the intent behind this bill, and it is not a kind one. Children should be protected by adults; teachers should foster environments conducive to learning and growth! This is not what this bill proposes: adults being protected from the consequences of harming children. What a cowardly and smallhearted attempt to hide behind some legislation as a green light to subject CHILDREN to any one teachers incomplete humanity.