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WEBVTT INDUCTED INTO THE IOWA WOMEN'SHALL OF FAME TODAY.rtMAX: KCCI'S TOMMIE CLARK WASTHERE AS THE LEADERS TALKEDABOUT THEIR ROLE IN BRIDGING THEGENDER GAP IN IOWA.TOMMIE:rt HERE AT THE VALLEY HIGHSCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER,SEVERAL WOMEN WERE RECOGNIZEDFOR THEIR IMPACT ON THE STATE OFIOWA. THE FOUR WOMEN INDUCTED, THELATE TEACHER AND SOCIAL WORKER,rtJANE BOYD.SENATOR JONI ERNST HIGHLIGHTINGTHE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN INPOLITICS.>> THERE ARE ALWAYS WOMENINVOLVED IN THAT BI-PARTISANrtWORK, AND I THINK THAT'SEXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER,THAT WE REALLY DO MAKE ADIFFERENCE.WE CAN COLLABORATE. TOMMIE: LONG-TIME DES MOINESCOUNrtCILWOMAN CHRISTINE HENSLEYAND GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS.>> IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY ANDIT IS MY CHALLENGE TO DO MY BESTTO GIVE THE HISTORIANS ANOPPORTUNITY TO WRITE MUCH MORErtTHAN, "SHE WAS IOWA'S FIRSTFEMALE GOVERNOR."TOMMIE:rt AND THE HONOREE, WITH ASTANDING OVATION, WASN'T ANINDUCTEE, BUT RATHER AN AWARDWINNER.CIVIL RIGHTS TRAIL-BLAZER ALICIAPARROTT CLAYPOOL, WHO RECEIVEDTHE MEDAL FOR EQUALITY ANDJUSTICE.>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO TREAT ALLrtPERSONS, REGARDLESS OF THEIRSEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDERIDENTITY, RELIGION, SEX,rtETHNICITY, DISABILITY, AND AGE,WITH THE RESPECT AND HUMANITYTHEY EACH DESERVE. TOMMIE: STATE SENATOR JANETrtPETERSEN WAS AMONG THE CROWD,CALLING CLAYPOOL HER HERO.>> SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ACHAMPION FOR DOING WHAT'S RIGHTAND DOING WHAT'S JUST. >> IOWA HAS A PROUD HISTORY rtOFBEING IN THE FOREFRONT OF THEFIGHT TO ADVANCE EQUALITY ANDJUSTICE.RECENT YEARS HAVE FAILED TO KEEPIT THAT WAY,rt BUT TOGETHER WE CAN

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Several women were recognized Saturday morning for their positive impact on the state as they were inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame in a ceremony at the Valley High School Performing Arts Center. Sen. Joni Ernst, who was the first woman elected to Congress from Iowa, highlighted the importance of women in politics. “There are always women involved in that bipartisan work, and I think that’s extremely important to remember,” Ernst said. “We really do make a difference. We can collaborate.” Other inductees include late teacher and social worker Jane Boyd, longtime Des Moines Councilwoman Christine Hensley and Gov. Kim Reynolds. “It is my responsibility and it is my challenge to do my best to give the historians an opportunity to write much more than, ‘She was Iowa’s first female governor,’” Reynolds said. Civil rights trailblazer Alicia Parrott Claypool received a standing ovation when she was named the recipient of the 2017 Cristine Wilson Medal for Equality and Justice. “It’s important to treat all persons regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, sex, ethnicity, disability and age with the respect and humanity they each deserve,” Claypool said. State Sen. Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Polk County, called Claypool her hero. “(Claypool) has always been a champion for doing what’s right and doing what’s just,” Petersen said. “No matter where she is, she’s going to stand up strong for the values that she cares about.” Claypool told young women to use their voices now more than ever. “Iowa has a proud history of being in the forefront of the fight to advance equality and justice,” she said. “Recent years have failed to keep it that way, but together, we can change that and help bend the long arc of the universe toward justice.” Demonstrators gathered outside the building to protest the induction of Ernst and Reynolds, saying the Republican politicians push Iowa women backward and that their values don’t align with the purpose of the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women. “They only show their support for women and girls when it serves them,” said Jamie Burch Elliott, of Planned Parenthood Voters of Iowa. These issues, like access to reproductive health care and equal pay for women, are issues that they continue to back away from or, quite frankly, don’t support.” The protesters said they were there to support Claypool, who has advocated for women and the LGBT community in Iowa.