Meredith turns page, backs LGBT rights bill

LGBT civil rights protections in Iowa cleared a house subcommittee Monday with a boost from publishing's Meredith Corp., which reversed its earlier position and supported the bill.

"All employees—regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity—deserve to work in an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment," Art Slusark, Meredith vice president of corporate communications and governmental relations, wrote to Iowa legislative leaders.

"Meredith has provided and will continue to provide such a workplace. Passage of this bill would help ensure inclusive policies at all companies," Slusark wrote.

The bill, which adds sexual orientation and gender identity to a list of protected characteristics under Iowa's Civil Rights Act, goes Tuesday to the heavily Democratic state house human resources committee after last week's passage in the state senate.

"It will pass in committee, but I'm hearing that the Republicans on the committee are locked up in caucus on it," the committee chairman, Rep. Mark Smith, a Democrat, told Gay.com on Monday. "If they're locked up on the house floor, we may have some difficulty."

Opposed by some business interests and supported by labor unions, it would ban anti-LGBT bias in employment, public accommodation, training, and education. Though the bill has passed each legislative chamber in different years, 2007 marks its first airing to a Democratic house, senate, and governor.

Slusark told Gay.com that Meredith's original position was taken in error and that the stance was changed "once we had a chance to talk to our leadership."

The Des Moines–based company owns 12 TV stations and a slew of consumer home and decorating magazines including Family Circle, Ladies' Home Journal, and Better Homes and Gardens. Many of its 3,300 employees are already protected under LGBT rights laws in New York, California, Oregon, Massachusetts, and Nevada, among other states.

"I'm pleasantly surprised that they're taking the stance they should have taken all along," said Sandy Vopalka, board president of Equality Iowa.

"Our creative culture thrives on diversity on many levels," Slusark wrote. "It takes a wide variety of perspectives to produce the industry-leading magazines, books, online content, and television programs for which Meredith is known. Expanding the Iowa Civil Rights Act will help our state attract and retain top-notch workers.... More important, we think it is the right thing to do." (Barbara Wilcox, The Advocate)