Mike Pence rails in Iowa against 'radical gender ideology' as caucuses start to simmer

CEDAR RAPIDS — Former Vice President Mike Pence railed against “radical gender ideology” in public schools, calling for conservatives to double down and take on “a left-wing culture war.”

“It's invaded our schools, our colleges and our workplaces,” Pence told a small crowd at a Cedar Rapids Pizza Ranch Wednesday. “Every day we are told not only that we have to tolerate the left's increasingly bizarre obsessions with race and sex and gender, but that we have to enthusiastically participate or face severe consequences.”

It was part of Pence’s push to highlight a “parents’ rights” agenda that coincided with a court’s consideration of a controversial gender identity policy stemming from Iowa’s Linn-Mar Community School District.

Pence spoke Wednesday as a panel of Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals judges in Minnesota was expected to hear oral arguments in the case.

“It wasn't our choice to start the left's culture war,” Pence said. “But now we have no choice but to win it. And we will win.”

A conservative group called Parents Defending Education filed a lawsuit against the Linn-Mar Community School District last August seeking to block enforcement of a school district policy that affirms and facilitates students’ gender-identity transitions without parental involvement.  

Under the school’s policy, students in the seventh grade or above could request a “gender support plan” that calls for their teachers and peers to address the student by a new name and with new pronouns. It would also allow the student to do things like use the locker rooms and enroll in physical education activities that correspond to their gender identity.

The policy leaves it up to the students whether to notify or involve their parents.  

First District U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, who was on hand to introduce Pence, campaigned on the issue throughout the midterms.

“My boys' school district, the Linn-Mar School District, has been more focused on woke policy and passing that agenda than focusing on educating our kids on the basics: reading, writing and arithmetic,” she told the crowd. “So they're prioritizing this woke nonsense, which to me sounds a lot more like D.C. craziness than Iowa common sense.”

The issue has become salient with conservatives in Iowa and across the country.

Iowa’s Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds has made “school choice” a centerpiece of her 2023 legislative agenda with a focus on giving parents more control over everything from what nicknames their children use at school to which books they can check out from the library.

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Protesters were on hand ahead of Pence’s speech to rally for LGBTQ rights. A bitter wind rippled through pride flags, Iowa flags, American flags as well as transgender and bisexual pride flags as they marched in front of the building.

“I'm here because our government needs to focus on other things and stop beating up on trans people,” said Aime Wichtendahl, who serves on the Hiawatha City Council and is thought to be the first openly trans woman elected to public office in Iowa. She was on hand Wednesday to join the protests.

Wichtendahl said young people may not feel comfortable coming out to parents who share Pence’s views, which can lead to mental health concerns and abuse.

“At the end of the day, this kind of self-reinforced bigotry costs lives, and those are the lives we're trying to protect,” she said.

Pence was in Iowa Wednesday as he weighs a 2024 presidential run. Nikki Haley, who served as U.N. Ambassador under the Trump-Pence administration, formally launched her campaign the same day in Charleston, South Carolina. She is scheduled to travel to Iowa Feb. 20 and 21 for events in Urbandale and Marion.

Following his speech, Pence told reporters he wishes her well.

“Nikki Haley did a great job in our administration,” he said. “She may have more company soon in the race for president, and I promise folks here in Iowa and all of you I'll keep you posted.”

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.