Attorney General Tom Miller says Iowa should extend civil rights protections to gays — partly as a means of growing Iowa’s population.Critics of gay rights say it’s wrong to grant special privileges to people based on a chosen behavior. Miller, who’s a democrat, says he’s protected from discrimination because he chooses to be Catholic, and discrimination based on religion is banned. Miller says it’s not a question of privilege, it’s a question of discrimination.Miller says enacting a state law, which would bar on-the-job discrimination against someone because of their sexual orientation, would send a welcoming message about Iowa.Miller made his comments during taping of the Iowa Public T-V program, “Iowa Press.”