Put ‘nice’ back in ‘Iowa Nice’

We like to say we’re “Iowa Nice” because of our Midwestern hospitality, down-to-earth values, and sense of community. I first heard “Iowa Nice” after the derecho of 2020, a mega windstorm that destroyed homes, uprooted thousands of trees, and left Iowans without power for days. Neighbors helped neighbors clear debris. We held community barbecues to keep meat from spoiling. We pitched in, got to work, and felt proud of ourselves. We’re “Iowa Nice” because we look out for each other.

Two laws passed during Iowa’s last legislative session force us to rethink our “Iowa Nice” philosophy. One law bans gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The other bars trans students from school bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond to their gender identities. Iowa has joined a shameful club of states that allows discrimination against its own citizens.

Other legislation, like Iowa’s version of “Don’t Say Gay,” targets the wider LGBTQ+ community. Regardless of lawmakers’ intentions, Iowa is now seen worldwide as hostile and unwelcoming to LGBTQ+ people. Now all Iowans must bear this stigma, whether we agree or not. Can we still say we’re “Iowa Nice?”

What can we do to be truly “Iowa Nice?” Educate yourself! Then educate others! Get involved civically! Stand up for LGBTQ+ people! Write your elected officials! Vote for candidates who support LGBTQ+ rights! Let’s put the “nice” back in “Iowa Nice.”

Gordie Felger

Hiawatha