http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040413/ap_on_re_us/gay_nominee_1
Tue Apr 13, 5:19 PM ET
By AMY LORENTZEN, Associated Press Writer
DES MOINES, Iowa - 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."
"We have the most qualified candidate that we have ever had," said Sen. Matt McCoy. "Yet he is being taken apart by rumor, innuendo, hatred and bigotry and a sense that he's not good enough to serve Iowa because he has a different sexual orientation."