Businesses spoke out on Iowa’s prior LGBTQ bills. Why aren’t they now?

• Businesses reluctant to get involved on bills that don’t apply to the workplace
• Employers that weighed in on past LGBTQ legislation aren’t opposing bills this year
• Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ example shows consequences of Disney speaking out
• Dozens of Iowa’s small businesses speak out against anti-LGBTQ bills

Kum & Go’s message was concise and pointed.

“Protect trans kids. Period,” the company wrote on Twitter Thursday.

In a brief series of tweets, the convenience-store chain stated its opposition to several bills moving rapidly through the Iowa Legislature that would affect LGBTQ Iowans, especially transgender kids. The company highlighted data that shows LGBTQ youth, particularly transgender youth, are at a higher risk of suicide.