One Iowa in the News: Conservative group blasts Branstad for 'very radical' agenda on bullying event

from Des Moines Register.

An Iowa Christian conservative organization has accused Iowa’s governor of a “a very radical and dangerous left-wing agenda” for supporting a conference on safe schools and anti-bullying.

Governors are traditionally invited to the “Iowa Governors Conference on LGBTQ Youth,” a nonprofit group’s annual event that aims to prevent bullying of lesbian, gay and transgender students, as well as those “questioning” their sexuality.

Republican Gov. Terry Branstad can’t attend the March 8 event because of a scheduling conflict.

Certain evangelical conservative leaders would like him to demand that the reference to the governor be removed from the event’s name, but Branstad said last week he won’t do that.

“I believe in treating everybody with respect and dignity and certainly we want to make sure that nobody is bullied,” Branstad told reporters on Jan. 30.

Branstad went a step further and sent a letter of support, extending his “very best wishes for a successful conference this year and in future years.”

This morning, the Family Leader, a religious conservative group based in Pleasant Hill, voiced its objections, saying “this is an obvious change in his position.”

...“Governor Branstad needs to be held accountable for his support of this conference and the promotion of a very radical and dangerous left-wing agenda,” Vander Plaats said.

Asked about the matter at this morning’s news conference, Branstad chuckled and disputed Vander Plaats’ comments.

...Vander Plaats said that a spokesman for the governor told the Family Leader on Jan. 18 that the administration was planning to contact event coordinators and request the exclusion of the word “governor’s” from the conference’s title.

...[One Iowa Executive Director Troy] Price responded: “I find it ironic that Bob Vander Plaats is trying to bully the governor over a conference designed to prevent bullying. The fact of the matter is that Bob Vander Plaats and the Family Leader are trying to tell kids who are so often bullied and harassed in school that their state doesn’t support them. This is a mean-spirited attempt to score cheap political points, and they should be ashamed at playing politics with the safety of our children.

"I’m glad that Governor Branstad stood up to them, and continued to support this conference.”

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