Iowa Senate rejects gay nominee for state school board

[Roger]

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Lawmakers blocked the nomination of an openly gay lawyer to the state school board Tuesday, ending two days of heated debate in which some Republicans expressed fear that he would promote a gay agenda.

One Democratic senator denounced the vote as "clearly discriminatory."

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Jonathan Wilson was appointed by Democrat Gov. Tom Vilsack to serve on the board. Wilson served on the school board in Des Moines for 12 years but lost re-election in 1995 after publicly announcing earlier in the year that he was gay.

GOP Sen. Nancy Boettger said she received several letters from voters opposing Wilson's appointment. Other Republicans questioned his qualifications and whether he could move Iowa's educational system forward.

There should be laws against such despicable discrimination