Readers Suggest Ideas for New Iowa Motto

#NoMoreIowaProud

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill that removes gender identity as a protected class under the Iowa Civil Rights Act. As of July 1, it will become legal to discriminate against gender-nonconforming Iowans. Substack writer Colonel D wrote “Iowa needs to change State Motto” in response.

Iowa’s current state motto reads, “Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain.”

Colonel D’s proposed motto?

“YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE!”

Well said, Colonel D! Yes, it seems that the liberties of SOME Iowans are prized. The rights of SOME Iowans are maintained. The rest of y’all can get the hell out!

In the spirit of Colonel D’s suggestion, I asked Substack readers to write their own Iowa state mottos. Here are their replies.

Kim submitted three suggestions:

“Prepare to Travel Backwards”

“Cis White Males Only (And Cis TradWives)”

“We’re Watching You!”

David wrote:

“Check the government before you move here”

Then Colonel D topped his own suggestion with a second one:

"YOUR RIGHTS WE WILL DECIDE AND YOUR LIBERTIES WE WILL REVIEW"

There you have the results of my reader poll. Thank you, Colonel D, Kim, and David for your ideas!

Vote for your favorite in the comments section. Or leave other ideas for Iowa’s new state motto below.

I’ll share the best or the most popular suggestion with my state representative and senator. Maybe they’ll introduce a bill to make it official!