Johnson County Democrats
Monday, January 31, 2005
GLBTQ lobby day and news
From: JanelleRettig@aol.com
Update 2005: # 1: Iowa Supreme Court, Lobby Day, and more
Hello all:
It's been a while since I've written, but I now have lots to share:
The Iowa Legislature went back into session this week; Friday,
January 14 the Iowa Supreme Court takes up the Sioux City Civil
Union Dissolution case; Lobby Day Feb. 3, Illinois passes civil
rights, why can't we? When I can I'll pass along information and
ideas during the coming months. Please let me know of any news,
address changes, or people to add to my list.
1) Friday, January 14 the Iowa Supreme Court takes up the Sioux
City Civil Union Dissolution case at 9:00 AM. Extremist
legislators, a member of congress and others, felt the need to
intervene on a private dissolution of a partnership between two
lesbians. Lambda Legal filed a friend-of-the-court brief last June,
signed by the Iowa Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU and the Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Central Iowa, that
urged the court to throw the case out. Camilla Taylor, Lambda Legal
Attorney in the Chicago office, will present oral arguments on
Friday. You are welcome to attend. Please remember the Supreme
Court is a somber place.
2) IOWA EQUALITY DAY (IED) 2005
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2005
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
IOWA STATE CAPITOL
E. 9TH ST. & GRAND AVE., DES MOINES
Sponsored by the LGBT Community Center of Central Iowa and other
Iowa organizations including Equality Iowa; Iowa Pride Network;
Wilson Resource Center.
Your voice is important, please attend for all or part of the day
and let it be heard. Please bring photos of your family to add to
display boards and copies to show legislators.
For more information and/or to sign on as a cosponsor of IED 2005:
LGBT Community Center of Central Iowa 515-277-7884
3) The Iowa Legislature went back in session this past Monday.
With the Senate equally divided and the house nearly so, it is not
likely that a Constitutional Amendment banning Marriage Equality
will pick up much steam. In the same vein it will be difficult for
good things to happen. There are several possibilities for good
things to happen in anti bullying in schools, momentum in civil
rights, and on going public education about marriage discrimination.
Please email your State Senator and State Representative welcoming
them back to session and asking them to support legislation to help
GLBTQ people live and remain in Iowa. Let them know what concerns
you have and ask for their help.
You can find your legislators here:
find-leg/
4) The Illinois Senate and House have passed Civil Rights
legislation to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation. In the definition of sexual orientation they have
included protections for gender identity. The bill is expected to
be signed by the Governor.
Our friendly Iowa Legislators introduce similar legislation every
year, but in most years the gender identity protections have been
left off. Please ask your legislator to include gender identity
protections in the bill being drafted and ask the following leaders
in this area to do the same:
Senator Joe Bolkcom, Senator Matt McCoy, Representative Mary
Mascher, Representative Vicki Lensing:
If we are going to have a bill, let's do it right.
I hope you can make it to Des Moines on Thursday, Feb. 3 for Lobby
Day. It is very important to have a large and diverse crowd from
all over Iowa. Plus, it's a great time and a time to socialize.
Thank you for you time and please keep plugging along. Our day will
come.
Janelle
Janelle Rettig
110 Shrader Rd
Iowa City, IA 52245
319-338-0999 (phone/fax)
janellerettig@aol.com
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- posted by John @ 6:38 PM
