Today Progress Iowa issued the following statement recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility, recognized today, March 31st, joining more than one hundred and eighty community organizations, faith leaders, businesses, labor unions, and elected officials across Iowa:
“Today we speak with one voice, to recognize transgender Iowans. We recognize their accomplishments and contributions to our state. Most importantly we recognize their humanity and how much joy they create as our friends, family members, and neighbors.
“Transgender Day of Visibility comes at a critical moment for our state. This year transgender Iowans have faced unprecedented attacks. Discriminatory policies have been signed into law. Their freedom to get medical care has been taken away. There is an attempt to erase their very existence, by making it easier to ban books, curriculum, and other programs that mention transgender people. And every discriminatory statement and piece of legislation contributes to a culture where LGBTQ youth already have a higher risk for depression, anxiety and thoughts of suicide.
“The transgender community is resilient. But no one should have to be resilient to preserve their basic human rights and dignity. As Iowans we speak with one voice in support of our transgender friends, neighbors, and family members. We see you, we value you, and you are a valued part of our community.”
The above statement was agreed upon by the following organizations, faith leaders, businesses, labor unions, and leaders from all across the state of Iowa:
One Iowa
Iowa Safe Schools
Interfaith Alliance of Iowa
Progress Iowa
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa
Iowa State Education Association
AFSCME Council 61
Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
Bishop Betsey Monnot
Capitol Hill Lutheran Church
Rev. Katie Z. Dawson
Rev. Candice K. Brown
Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, Iowa House Democratic Leader
Sen. Zach Wahls, Iowa Senate Democratic Leader
Rev. Cn. Meg Wagner, Canon to the Ordinary, Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
Rev. Anna Blaedel
Rev. M Jade Kaiser
Waterloo Human Rights Commission
Jubilee United Methodist Church
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Grinnell, Iowa
The Rev. John Doherty
Wesley Center, Iowa City
Rev. Gary Sneller, retired pastor Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Jan Schnell
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Sophie Mathonnet-VanderWell
Rev. Robyn Bles Senior Minister of Wakonda Christian Church
New Beginnings Christian Church
Rev. Jane Stewart
Unity Church of Ames
One Human Family QCA
QC Pride Inc
Metro Community Church QC
Pastor David Borger Germann
Andrew Dunn, Iowa City Councilor
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Cedar County Democrats
Indivisible Linn County Metro
Michelle Bechen, LMSW
Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Catherine Schroeder, Episcopal Deacon, Boone
Rep. Art Staed
Crossroads United Church of Christ, Indianola
Rep. Mary Mascher (retired)
Chris Rohret
Mary Cohen, Associate Professor of Music Education
Full Circle Catholic Community
Bonnie Murphy
Rep. Megan Srinivas, Physician
Mx. Jonny Meyer
Rep. Tracy Ehlert
Common Good Iowa
Sheri Carnahan
Tom Carnahan
Agudas Achim Congregation
Rita Carter, United Methodist/United Women in Faith
Rev. Dr. Dorothy Whiston (retired)
Sally Pederson, former Iowa Lt. Governor
Full Circle Faith Community
Marlea O’Brien
Indivisible Iowa
Gary Zmolek, educator
Shelly Servadio Elias, Founder Climate Caucus IDP. Acting VC Veterans Caucus, Climate Caucus
Rep. Marti Anderson (retired)
Rev. Jeanie Smith
Sen. Molly Donahue
Charlotte Fairlie
Rev. Kyle Carswell, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, West Des Moines
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Coralville, IA
Rev. Coqui Conkey
Urbandale United Church of Christ
Sen. Janice Weiner
Heartland Presbyterian Church
Sen. Nate Boulton
Tara Shukla Jones
Iowa Citizen Action Network
Joan Steinmetz
National Association of Social Workers, Iowa Chapter
Rev. John Chaplin, Pastor in the United Church of Christ
Sen. Liz Bennett
Christ Church
Rev. Patricia Goldberg
Rep. Monica Kurth
LCS, local business
Bridget Carberry Montgomery, Urbandale City Councilmember
Iowa Queer Student Alliance
Enfleshed
Rev. Lee Schott, Valley United Methodist Church Equity & Justice Team, West Des Moines
Scott County Democratic Party
Rev. Lee Roorda Schott
Downtown Disciples
IowaWTF
Sen. Pam Jochum
Rep. Lindsay James
Dubuque County Democratic Party
Jason Menke, Urbandale School Board Member
Snyder Strategies, LLC
Fort Dodge Pride Festival
Central Iowa Rainbow Families
Crypt with Whit
Corridor Community Action Network
Mandi Remington
Renee Stewart
Micah Kiel
Fayette County Iowa Democrats
Rev. Jill Cameron Michel
Kenna Wolbers
Tracy Murphy, IDP Progressive Caucus Vice Chair, VC Madison County Democrats
Hinton Consulting
Beloved Community Initiative
Rev. Nora Boerner
Glenn Hurst, Minden City Councilperson
Holly Herbert
Iowa Progressive Caucus
Judy Knoblock
Noce
Trinity Las Americas UMC
IDP Stonewall Caucus
Edward Agran, Professor Emeritus
Linn County Democrats
Family Folk Machine
Sioux County Democrats
Linn County Democrats
Ashley Anderson, Urbandale School Board Member
Jennifer Winn
Joel Sanford, LCS Payroll Accountant
Dan Gutmann, Urbandale School Board
Rev. Deb Hill-Davis
Faith United Church of Christ – Iowa City
Rev. Ryan Downing
The Disability Caucus of the Iowa Democratic Party
Penny Vossler
Iowans for Public Education
Clock, Inc LGBT+ Community Center
Niki Conrad, County Supervisor
Iowa Faith Leadership Network
Mason City Voices for Inclusion
Mason City, IA LGBTQ+ Pride
Unitarian Universalist Society, Coralville, Iowa
Webster County Democrats
Plymouth Congregational Church
Scott County Democrats
Iowa Democratic Party Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chairs
Adams County Democratic Party
At-Large Fort Dodge City Council Representative
Megan Secor, City Councilperson, Fort Dodge
Indivisible Iowa
Linda Santi
Room for All
Sandi Bass
Amy Croll, Urbandale City Councilmember
Sen. Mike Gronstal (retired)
Penny Rosfjord, IDP District Chair
PFLAG Cedar Rapids
Nikki Arthur, LMFT, PC
APEP – Ankeny Parents and Educators for Progress
Ann Brown Legal, PC
Curtis Boyer
J. Kirby
Slick Designs
Jubilee United Methodist Church
Advocates for Social Justice
Veterans National Recovery Center
Dungeon’s Gate
Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Sparkling Home Services
Teresa Dehming, Decorah
Gary Collins, CEO, Crescent Community Health Center
Ruth Henderson
Higher Education Licensure Pros LLC
Denise O’Brien, Vice chair IDP Rural Caucus
Des Moines Strong
Casey Kelley
Johnson County Democrats
Ed Cranston
Rev. Judith Youngman
Johnna Joy Designs
Cass-Atlantic Pride
Siouxland Pride Alliance
Central Iowa Music Therapy, LLC
Pottawattamie County Democratic Party
Marion Alliance for Racial Equity (MARE)
Sue Deibner, Spanish teacher
Doug Hanson Pottery
