One Iowa In the News: Branstad won’t request his title be removed from an anti-bullying conference

from The Des Moines Register.

Gov. Terry Branstad said this morning that he will not ask that his title be removed from the “Iowa Governor’s Conference on LGBTQ Youth.”

“I believe in treating everybody with respect and dignity and certainly we want to make sure that nobody is bullied,” Branstad said, noting that he does not want his name removed from the event.

...The conference is the premier event hosted by Iowa Safe Schools, an organization with a mission to protect children and stop bullying, which can lead to poor school performance, increased drop-out rates and child suicide.

Danny Carroll of the Family Leader, a socially conservative group based in Pleasant Hill, wrote in a legislative report last week that the governor had informed Family Leader staff that he had asked that the word “Governor’s” be removed from the event.

But the event’s organizers said no such request had been made and, instead, the governor’s staff had been working with them on a proclamation against bullying activities.

...Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht declined to comment on the issue last week or confirm whether what was reported by the Family Leader was accurate. The lack of response prompted groups like One Iowa, a civil rights organization, and Sue Dvorsky, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Iowa, to urge Branstad to clarify his position on the event.

Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson asked Branstad for clarity about the issue during a news conference this morning.

Branstad noted that he won’t personally be attending the event because of a scheduling conflict.

Nate Monson, executive director of Iowa Safe Schools, issued a statement thanking Branstad for “sticking up for Iowa’s LGBTQ youth.”

“This governor’s conference is truly a bipartisan event that seeks to eliminate bullying, harassment and suicide risks among these youth,” Monson said. “I’m thrilled the governor understands this need and we hope to keep working with his administration to protect all kids from bullies no matter if they are gay, straight, black, white, Latino or who just look different.”

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