LGBTQ
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Yes, Iowa still has queer community. And this month, we’re spotlighting it
Iowa news organizations often have bad news for us in the queer community these days. But we’re trying something new this month at Iowa Starting Line: Finding queer community.
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10 queer-friendly spaces to feel safer in Iowa
Iowa isn’t the most progressive state, but it does have many queer-friendly places. Check out these examples where LGBTQ+ folks can feel free and safe.
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Iowa bill preventing cities from protecting trans Iowans on governor’s desk
An Iowa bill that prevents cities or counties from protecting transgender Iowans is now awaiting Gov. Kim Reynolds’ signature to be signed into law.
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OPINION: Why Iowa deserves a queer library
In a world that demands more of our time and attention be spent online, it can be easy to forget how much we need in-person community and connection too. The Des Moines Pride Center exists because LGBTQ+ people have always needed places to gather, learn, and simply be ourselves together. The Des Moines Pride Center…
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LGBTQ Iowans are fleeing the state: ‘It progressively got worse’
As lawmakers restrict the rights of LGBTQ Iowans, more and more are leaving in favor of states with friendlier laws, with over half saying they’ve at least considered it.
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Iowa becomes first state to cut transgender civil rights protections
A new Iowa law removing the civil rights of transgender Iowans goes into effect today. Hear from some of the Iowans targeted by the bill. Iowa made history today as the first state to actively remove a previously protected class from its civil rights law, targeting transgender residents through a combination of legislative actions that…
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Iowa Republicans advance bill to strip trans civil rights
Iowa House Republicans advanced a bill to remove gender identity from the list of protected classes under the Iowa Civil Rights Act. This has wide-ranging impacts on protections from discrimination in housing, education and more. The bill became the subject of the largest Iowa Capitol protest all session. Since passing in 2007, transgender Iowans have…
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Iowa House Republicans renew effort to strip transgender protections from Iowa civil rights law
House Republicans want to remove Iowa’s discrimination protections for transgender Iowans. The bill is a long list touching on bathrooms, birth certificates and introduces a new phrase “gender theory” into Iowa law. Just like all other Iowans, transgender residents of the state are protected under the Iowa Civil Rights Act, meaning they cannot be discriminated…
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Iowa Republicans advance law that could expose drag performances to obscenity lawsuits
Republicans are pushing to open obscenity laws in hopes of making it easier to sue drag performers.
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Students: ISU LGBTQ Center turned into ‘generic study lab’ by IA Republicans’ DEI law
Iowa Republicans’ decision to restrict DEI programs means the loss of one university’s LGBTQ+ center, where students have found friendship and safety to be themselves for decades. When Madison O. visited the suite of offices that make up the Center for LGBTQIA+ Student Success at Iowa State University’s Memorial Union, she felt free. “I always…
