Governor Chet Culver took a progressive step in helping to make Iowa a more welcoming place for all Iowans. The Press-Citizen reports "gays and lesbians in Iowa will get new protections from discrimination in housing, education and a host of other areas under legislation Gov. Chet Culver signed into law today."
``The civil rights struggle has defined our country for generations,'' said Culver. ``This has been a nearly 20-year fight up at the Legislature. We are here to celebrate one more victory.''
The measure Culver signed adds sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of traits included in Iowa's civil rights law, which already banned discrimination based on such factors as race and ethnicity.
Culver signed the measure at the downtown offices of Principal Financial Group, a powerhouse business that supported the new rules. Principal has banned discrimination of gays and lesbians since 1991.
``It's a good day for Iowa,'' said Ralph Rosenberg, head of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, which also had supported the legislation. ``I feel good being an Iowan today.''
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