The Iowa Safe Schools group went to the Iowa Capitol State Building on Feb. 24, 2025 to protest anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that would affect the LGBTQ+ youth community. A collection of students, educators, staff, parents, and other members of the group traveled from the Quad Cities to talk to the state representatives.
Adults, teenagers, and kids lined up to fill out forms to talk to Iowa representatives, talking or preparing to speak to the representatives. Some of them were happy to come on record about their attendance.
Damian Thompson, Iowa Safe Schools Director of External Affairs, says, “Today is actually Our Day on the Hill. So, we have over 150 LGBTQ students, families, and educators here to talk about the issues that they care about. We had a Senate bill in subcommittee I think going on right now. I wasn’t able to make it inside because there was such a good turnout. That bill that would take gender identity away from the Civil Rights Act of the state of Iowa, so trans and gender non-conforming folks would be able to be discriminated against in public spaces, housing, credit, employment, all sorts of different areas. So, we brought students up here to talk about the issues that they care about, both LGBTQ and really anything that they might be interested in talking with their elected officials. I know we have a group over here that’s trying to talk to legislators from Davenport. We have students from Ankeny. So really, across spectrum, both party and region.”
On their website they say, “The mission of Iowa Safe Schools is to provide safe, supportive, and nurturing learning environments and communities for LGBTQ and allied youth through education, outreach, advocacy, and direct services.”
Thompson expands on their mission. He says, “The personal stories of how this is going to affect our students and families is really important. We had training all morning on how to tell that story. We’re excited to have civil discussions and make headway.”
Viminda Shafer, Quad Cities, is on the Board of Iowa Safe Schools, and says, “I’m out here to support the organization and our young queer youth.”
Mary, also from the Quad Cities, says, “I am here both as one of the many people that can be impacted. As I identify as non-binary, I in general just want things to not be as they are right now. Secondary, I am in school for occupational therapy, and I am I really strive to do advocacy and making sure that things are as equal as possible for individuals, no matter what their ability, race, identity.”
Amber Warak, originally from Nebraska but attending school in Iowa, says, “I’m in my fourth year of St. Ambrose University, and I’m part of the social work program. So like Mary, I’m also one of the people that’s impacted by this. I also identify as non-binary, and I currently live in Iowa, as well as I’m into social work advocacy and policy changes. Part of it is a passion of mine and making change in the community.”
Sarah Eikleberry is a professor at St. Ambrose University and also sits on the Iowa Safe Schools board. She says, “When it comes to some of these bills that are coming out today and that are being proposed at all levels of the government, it’s really scary. I am here today to make sure that our legislators understand that employment and to education and public accommodation should not be limited to people that are cisgender.”
Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is not the only concerning thing happening right now in Iowa. Marginalized groups of all kinds are under attack, from the push of anti-immigration legislature to anti-DEI rhetoric, these issues directly affect all Iowan families.
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