Thank you for this wonderful piece. It's truly so painful and challenging to get through every day as a queer and trans person in Iowa. My own family members don't love me enough to let that affect their votes, and I think that is one of the inherent differences between Democrats and Republicans; Republicans are completely incapable of extending empathy to people in a meaningful way unless they are personally affected (and sometimes not even then). It's all about money and bigotry for them. And a strong refusal to listen and learn from the people harmed by their votes. It's exhausting to have to fight every day all the time. This reporting is so, so important, Lyz. Thank you.
The mayor finally understanding that he works for everyone, not just those select few who look, act, and believe like he does. That's what the rest of them need to do. If not, we vote them out of office (if they don't completely dismantle the voting system first).
I am grateful I lived in Decorah from 2016-2021. The activism and decency of my neighbors, community, and congregation gave me hope. Now I grieve for Decorah, Winneshiek County, and the State of Iowa. There's more to the story, Lyz. You could be an embedded journalist in Decorah for a good long time.
Lyz, this is so well done. Thank you. I grew up on two farms just south of Decorah, and I really appreciate this reporting. The part where you asked if it's a blue bubble and they laughed.... So true. It's still rural Iowa. But there is some hope and lightness in Decorah.... which my farming hunting gun-loving cynical dad despises. When I bought my Outback he rolled his eyes and said "yup, just like all the hippies at the co-op" referring to Oneota Food Co-op in Decorah.
Also the part about Midwest nice is so on point - both political persuasions exist in Decorah, but it's not really co-existence because no one's talking about it. At least they weren't before these bills. My aforementioned dad also rejects political conversation because he can't handle conflict. It's really hard for me to keep quiet but it is so awkward and difficult to share anything meaningful. In fact, our entire relationship is on the surface. I bet that's not all too rare for rural Iowa kids.
Great choice for your title—Can you look her in the eyes?—from the teen’s mom. Interesting look at Decorah. The photo of the bulletin board, showing lots of cool things going on in the community, made me smile.
my two settings these days in regard to current life in iowa are mad and sad. honestly, everyone, i feel so discouraged on so many levels that some days it's hard to keep going. thankfully, lyz, you and the commenters here help me stay sane.
Thank you for this article. I've been so depressed the last couple of weeks, especially this week, with where Iowa is heading. It's nice to see that there are still people trying to have conversations.
I was born in Iowa, lived my first 10 years there, returned as an adult for a few work years, and my employment took me away. I am heart broken at where the state has been going. Thank you for all that you do!
I just had a student at my school ask for books about Christianity being positively supportive of transgendered folks. The young are still hoping to find pathways! I wonder if they had relatives using religion as a weapon, sigh.....
My heart aches for the trans community, but especially for the children and teens, who live in states where their legislators refuse to see them and lack any empathy. My son has a 2 yr old daughter. Sadly, I will have to talk to him about how important it will be to her health and wellbeing as she grows to choose where they live.
I’m a former midwesterner and my DC circle includes lots midwesterners. Like went to one of Luther’s rivals, but know more Luther alums than you would think in DC. And I think you captured the WTF feeling lots of people have. Like apparently we weren’t actually supposed to take anything thing they taught us about welcoming, community, and justice seriously. If I wasn’t supposed to believe it maybe you should not have has us participate in the Bread for the World offering of letters when I could barely write a letter!
While I completely support the right of trans-gender men and women to use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity, I also think Gavy's school has done something that, if universally applied, would solve the problem completely: Make all public bathrooms unisex. Not just some, but all. Even in Iran, where social proscriptions are (if possible) even more severe than in Red America, they have unisex bathrooms. Everyone uses a closed stall. No urinals. And I really appreciate this piece that helps me better understand the struggles of transgender people. It's a pretty new issue in the mass consciousness of this country, one that people weren't as much aware of in the past. In one sense - dare I say it? - the Republican "culture wars" are doing LGBTQ people and the rest of us a service, by making the lives and struggles of these people visible to the rest of us, allowing us to become educated. And the majority of Americans are supportive, even if, like me, we are sometimes clumsy in our expression of that love and support. I am blessed to have a large number of LGBTQ friends and associates in my many circles, almost all of them greatly enriching the quality of my life. Have faith and stay courageous, brothers and sisters. This too shall pass.
Thank you for this wonderful piece. It's truly so painful and challenging to get through every day as a queer and trans person in Iowa. My own family members don't love me enough to let that affect their votes, and I think that is one of the inherent differences between Democrats and Republicans; Republicans are completely incapable of extending empathy to people in a meaningful way unless they are personally affected (and sometimes not even then). It's all about money and bigotry for them. And a strong refusal to listen and learn from the people harmed by their votes. It's exhausting to have to fight every day all the time. This reporting is so, so important, Lyz. Thank you.
The mayor finally understanding that he works for everyone, not just those select few who look, act, and believe like he does. That's what the rest of them need to do. If not, we vote them out of office (if they don't completely dismantle the voting system first).
I am grateful I lived in Decorah from 2016-2021. The activism and decency of my neighbors, community, and congregation gave me hope. Now I grieve for Decorah, Winneshiek County, and the State of Iowa. There's more to the story, Lyz. You could be an embedded journalist in Decorah for a good long time.
Lyz, this is so well done. Thank you. I grew up on two farms just south of Decorah, and I really appreciate this reporting. The part where you asked if it's a blue bubble and they laughed.... So true. It's still rural Iowa. But there is some hope and lightness in Decorah.... which my farming hunting gun-loving cynical dad despises. When I bought my Outback he rolled his eyes and said "yup, just like all the hippies at the co-op" referring to Oneota Food Co-op in Decorah.
Also the part about Midwest nice is so on point - both political persuasions exist in Decorah, but it's not really co-existence because no one's talking about it. At least they weren't before these bills. My aforementioned dad also rejects political conversation because he can't handle conflict. It's really hard for me to keep quiet but it is so awkward and difficult to share anything meaningful. In fact, our entire relationship is on the surface. I bet that's not all too rare for rural Iowa kids.
Great choice for your title—Can you look her in the eyes?—from the teen’s mom. Interesting look at Decorah. The photo of the bulletin board, showing lots of cool things going on in the community, made me smile.
my two settings these days in regard to current life in iowa are mad and sad. honestly, everyone, i feel so discouraged on so many levels that some days it's hard to keep going. thankfully, lyz, you and the commenters here help me stay sane.
Thank you for this article. I've been so depressed the last couple of weeks, especially this week, with where Iowa is heading. It's nice to see that there are still people trying to have conversations.
I was born in Iowa, lived my first 10 years there, returned as an adult for a few work years, and my employment took me away. I am heart broken at where the state has been going. Thank you for all that you do!
I just had a student at my school ask for books about Christianity being positively supportive of transgendered folks. The young are still hoping to find pathways! I wonder if they had relatives using religion as a weapon, sigh.....
I grieve for Iowa's children...even more than Governor Reynolds did when they signed laws that compromise everything about their existence.
This sounds so much like what’s happening in my state, North Dakota. Thank you for doing this work.
My heart aches for the trans community, but especially for the children and teens, who live in states where their legislators refuse to see them and lack any empathy. My son has a 2 yr old daughter. Sadly, I will have to talk to him about how important it will be to her health and wellbeing as she grows to choose where they live.
I’m a former midwesterner and my DC circle includes lots midwesterners. Like went to one of Luther’s rivals, but know more Luther alums than you would think in DC. And I think you captured the WTF feeling lots of people have. Like apparently we weren’t actually supposed to take anything thing they taught us about welcoming, community, and justice seriously. If I wasn’t supposed to believe it maybe you should not have has us participate in the Bread for the World offering of letters when I could barely write a letter!
While I completely support the right of trans-gender men and women to use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity, I also think Gavy's school has done something that, if universally applied, would solve the problem completely: Make all public bathrooms unisex. Not just some, but all. Even in Iran, where social proscriptions are (if possible) even more severe than in Red America, they have unisex bathrooms. Everyone uses a closed stall. No urinals. And I really appreciate this piece that helps me better understand the struggles of transgender people. It's a pretty new issue in the mass consciousness of this country, one that people weren't as much aware of in the past. In one sense - dare I say it? - the Republican "culture wars" are doing LGBTQ people and the rest of us a service, by making the lives and struggles of these people visible to the rest of us, allowing us to become educated. And the majority of Americans are supportive, even if, like me, we are sometimes clumsy in our expression of that love and support. I am blessed to have a large number of LGBTQ friends and associates in my many circles, almost all of them greatly enriching the quality of my life. Have faith and stay courageous, brothers and sisters. This too shall pass.