No LGBTQ+ Folks Welcome at Proposed Farmers' Market in Pella

and be sure to dress modestly

Pella Books

Pella, Iowa, has attracted considerable controversy regarding LGBTQ+ issues over the past couple of years, including the allegation that a teenage female transitioning to male walked topless through the boy's locker room at the pool in 2021 (not true according to friends who were there--he was wearing chest binders), and controversy regarding the book “Gender Queer” at the library. I was at several Pella City Council meetings regarding the controversy in the library, where one opponent of the book wanted to inspect every book in the library and to have the police monitor local parks because gay people were using them.

Over 450 laws have been introduced in state legislatures this year, and as of May 1, 45 have passed, a record. These include laws banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth, laws requiring or allowing misgendering of transgender students, and laws targeting drag performances.

Perhaps empowered by this legislation and growing efforts by Republicans to further marginalize and restrict the rights of our LGBTQ+ community, a new controversy is coming to Pella. A proposal is coming before the Pella City Council on June 20 requesting approval for a farmers market at Pella Books that will require the following:

1. all vendors to dress “in the attire appropriate for the gender of their natural birth.”

2. no immodest clothing will be allowed (to be determined by the manager).

3. “No material promoting non-Biblical positions on issues such as evolution, abortion, homosexuality, transgenderism, or presenting occultist beliefs may be displayed by the vendors,” including merchandise and personal attire.

Below is a screenshot of the group’s statement of beliefs, and here is the full vendor agreement. If it weren’t a screenshot, I would put the word “Christian” in quotes.

I have reached out to numerous state agencies and organizations and have been unable to get comments on the legality of the request this afternoon. I have asked for an opinion from AG Brenna Bird’s office, and I presume it will be forthcoming.

I spoke with an attorney friend who thinks they can legally do it. Here is what he says:

“My opinion only. Yes, they can do this—Chapter 216. Iowa Civil Rights is not applicable to bona fide religious groups. Nor any group with less than 4 employees. If they are a legit religious non-profit. I think they can make their rules consistent with their religious beliefs.”

Despite the conservative nature of the general Pella community, there are a great many members of the LGBTQ+ community in Pella, and they have strong allies. I suspect the council meeting will be an interesting one.

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