One Iowa in the News: Does Gov. Branstad want his title removed from gay youth/anti-bullying conference?

from The Des Moines Register.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has refused to say whether a report this week that he wants his title stricken from the “Iowa Governor’s Conference on LGBTQ Youth” is accurate.

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

The LGBTQ stands for “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning”

A legislative report published this week by The Family Leader, said that Branstad requested the group drop “Governor’s” from the title. The organization is a socially conservative Pleasant Hill group headed by former candidate for governor Bob Vander Plaats:

The Governor’s office told us last week that they have asked the conference organizers to remove the word “Governor’s” from the event. The Governor’s spokesman also indicated that state government agencies would not be participating in the conference, like they did under Governors Vilsack and Culver.

Danny Carroll of the Family Leader wrote the report and said he got the information from Todd Schulz, an administrative assistant for Branstad.

...Tim Albrecht, a spokesman for Branstad, declined to comment.

The event was started seven years ago under Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack and has been attended by Democrats and Republicans alike, including Branstad’s former Lt. Gov. Joy Corning. Former Gov. Chet Culver will attend this year’s event.

Nate Monson, executive director of the group, said neither the governor nor his staffers have talked with his organization about the issue.

...“It’s kind of weird to say the least for the Family Leader to send that out and the governor’s staff declining to comment,” Monson said. “I just don’t know what’s going on.”

Branstad owes the state an explanation, said Troy Price, the director of One Iowa, the state’s largest civil rights group focused on issues that affect gay and lesbian residents.

“Governor Branstad has made improving the lives of Iowa’s children the focus of his administration and he needs to tell us whether he still supports the Governor’s Conference on LGBTQ Youth and the kids that it helps, or whether he supports Mr. Hurley’s attempt to politicize the safety of our children,” Price said.

The event begins at 9 a.m. March 8 at Drake University’s Olmsted Center, 2507 University Ave. in Des Moines.

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Find out more information about the LGBTQ Governor's Conference here.