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Equality Iowa is a statewide grassroots non-partisan organization and as such we are working to educate all Iowans about civil rights, aging, marriage equality and families of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Iowans. |
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Equality Iowa is a statewide grassroots non-partisan organization and as such we are working to educate all Iowans about civil rights, aging, marriage equality and families of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Iowans. |
Back in the spring of 2002 as I started calling Iowa legislators, I had a dream there would come a day when the Iowa Civil Rights Code would include Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity as protected classes. That day has come. As of July 1, 2007, Iowa will join the growing number of states where the law protects GLBT citizens. Iowa is the nineteenth state to add Sexual Orientation and the twelve to add Gender Identity, accounting the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
This law was not passed overnight. Many organizational changes have come over the past five years in the movement to change Iowa’s Civil Rights Code. The first group to emerge was called FAIR and stood for For All Iowan’s = Rights. This name and group was never filed with the state or IRS. During the 2002 election, a national Right Wing group used the name FAIR and targeted the immigrant community with newspaper and television ads. It was very clear that FAIR was not going to be a good name for the statewide LGBT group.
After the election, I had the chance to talk with people who were working for equality on a national level. It was through these talks that the idea to start an Iowa based group with a name similar to others across the country arose; thus, Equality Iowa (EQIA) was born. I resolved that this time, things were going to be done the right way and EQIA was going become a 501c3, non-profit organization.
Over the years, as EQIA worked across Iowa, we have had the opportunity to meet and educate some of Iowa’s finest. Equality Iowa has built networks comprised of hundreds of groups and thousands of people. Today EQIA’s database has over 5,000 names with at least one person in ALL of Iowa’s 99 counties. We have built a strong grass-roots base.
With the passage of the Civil Rights Bill earlier this year, it is time for the GLBT movement in Iowa to move to the next level, and I, as the founder and Board President of EQIA am not the person to do that. So it is with great excitement that I am announcing that EQIA has decided to join forces with One Iowa to share resources, and strengthen the grass-roots based statewide LGBT organization with strong leadership skills.
One Iowa was started in November of 2006; its main focus was on Marriage Equality. Since that time, One Iowa has gotten a new Executive Director, established a board of directors, and is ready to truly become Iowa’s leading LGBT political statewide organization. Its focus is on Civil Rights, Civil Marriage, LGBT Families and LGBT Aging.
I am proud to announce that not only are EQIA and One Iowa joining forces to become one strong statewide organization, but also that I have also joined One Iowa’s staff as become their newest Director. I am the LGBT Aging Network Director. One Iowa is the first LGBT organization in the country to hire an Aging director.
For more information about One Iowa and all of the programs and ways for you to be involved go to our web site: www.one-iowa.org.
And remember: we are not the first to pick up this fight. Others have come before us, and many of them are not with us today. There are other legislative issues to be dealt with and still so much education to be done.
Written by: Sandy Vopalka
Equality Iowa has 501(c)3 status as a nonprofit group, as defined by the IRS.
Legislative Challenge: If the Iowa legislature takes up the codification of relationships, Equality Iowa will be involved in an educational campaign about the issues being raised.
Litigation/Education Challenge: If a legal challenge regarding same-sex marriage is filed, Equality Iowa will be involved in an educational campaign around the case and decision
For membership information, you may print our brochure.
Educate Iowans on LGBT civil rights, marriage equality, and lesbian and gay families
Identify supportive elected & appointed officials, businesses and business leaders
Educate the LGBTA community about supportive officials, businesses and business leaders
Facilitate educational forums about civil rights, marriage equality, and lesbian and gay families
Identify supportive groups in Iowa Develop a collaborative strategic plan with other groups working in Iowa
Co-sponsor educational forums around Iowa regarding marriage equality and lesbian and gay families
Build strong educational networks across the state
Build a more supportive environment for LGBT civil rights, marriage equality and lesbian and gay families
Educate the LGBT community and Allies about any anti-lgbt legislation
Build a LGBTA coalition of Iowa groups supporting civil rights, marriage equality and lesbian and gay families
Network with local & state groups and organizations for education and information days at the Capitol and in local communities
In the 80’s to mid 90’s Michael Current did a lot of political education on behalf of the LGBT community. He could be found each day at the Capitol working to increase the understanding of legislators regarding LGBT issues. He gave the gay community a face and voice.
From 1995 to 2000, The Iowa Coalition for Human Right (ICHR) created a strong LGBT 501(c)4/PAC organization. They held successful Lobby Days with more then 100 people lobbying at the Capitol for LGBT issues each year.
In 2003, PFLAG Iowa started Iowa Equality Day and had two successful Lobby Days.
In 2003, many anti-lgbt pieces of legislation were introduced in the Iowa legislation. None of those bills left committee. Then “Gay Marriage” became a big issue in the US and in Iowa.
In 2004, the real need for a statewide Iowa LGBT group became clear when SJR 2002 & 2005 and HJR 2002 & 2003 were introduced. These Resolutions sought to amend the Constitutions of Iowa and of the United States to discriminate against gay and lesbian citizens.
On the evening of March 23rd 2004, tireless work of many volunteers paid off. SJR 2002 was defeated 24-25 in the Iowa Senate.
In 2005, the Resolutions returned as HJR 1 and SJR 2, both were to amend the Constitution of Iowa. Both were sent to committees. On Thursday March 10 th, the House Judiciary committee voted HJR 1 out of committee and to the House floor. On Tuesday March 15th, the House debated and voted on HJR 1, which passed the House on a 54-44-2 vote. HJR 1 is now awaiting action by a sub-committee of the Senate’s State Government committee.
In 2006, Lobby Days will be Feb. 1st. Here are the resolutions we are proposing:
