The Iowa Senate approved Senate File 427 on March 26. A subcommittee in the Iowa House approved i... Firms support bill shieldi

The Iowa Senate approved Senate File 427 on March 26. A subcommittee in the Iowa House approved it Monday, but the bill will die if it's not approved by a full committee in the House by this Friday's funnel deadline.

"As employers, we believe all Iowans should be able to live and work without fear based on their race, gender, religion, ability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic," wrote Marvin Pomerantz of Mid-America Group, whose businesses have already adopted policies protecting their employees.

Proposed state legislation would give Iowans who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender protection from discrimination in employment, housing, credit, public accommodations and education.

In the last few weeks, lawmakers have received letters of support from Allied Insurance, Bankers Trust, Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Business Publications Corp., Principal Financial Group, Aviva, Meredith Corp., and others.

"There are businesses that already have their own policies," said Rep. Pat Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, who voted against it. "I think we should leave it up to individual businesses."

Wessel-Kroeschell noted that similar nondiscrimination bills passed either the House or the Senate in the 1980s and 1990s but never gained approval by both in the same year or the signature of the governor to become law.

W. Kim Austen, president of Allied Insurance, wrote to lawmakers: "As we continue to grow our operations in Iowa, we are focused on keeping and attracting workers to our state. The proposed changes in the civil rights code will assist in attracting workers to come to and stay in Iowa."

The bill also has support from some in the religious community, said Connie Ryan Terrell, executive director of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa.

The Iowa Civil Rights Code already protects Iowans from discrimination based on age, race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion or disability.

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