The Iowa state Senate has approved a bill prohibiting discrimination against gays and lesbians: “Backers of the bill, mostly Democrats, pushed it to passage on a 32-17 vote. They portrayed the legislation as a needed strike against discrimination that would also make the state more economically attractive. The bill, Senate File 427, would add the words ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity”‘ to the Iowa’s Civil Rights Act, which currently bars discrimination based on age, race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion and disability. The act specifically targets discrimination tied to employment, housing, public accommodations, education and credit.” The bill has been sent to the House.