Equality Iowa's Goals
New Directions with A Statement from the President and Founder of Equality Iowa, Sandy Vopalka
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 visit: 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.
Equality Iowa's Goals
From the President and Founder of Equality Iowa, Sandy Vopalka
1) Educate Iowans on LGBT Issues (civil rights, aging, people of color, trans, people w/ disabilities, social & economic (in)justice and LGBT families) [not limited to these issues]
Identify supportive elected & appointed officials, businesses, and business leaders
Educate the LGBTA community about supportive officials, businesses and business leaders
Facilitate educational forums on LGBT issues
2) Identify supportive groups in Iowa
Develop a collaborative strategic plan with other groups working in Iowa
Co-sponsor educational forums around Iowa regarding civil rights, aging, marriage equality, and LGBT families
Build strong educational networks across the state
3) Build a more supportive environment on LGBT civil rights, aging, marriage equality and LGBT families issues
Educate the LGBTQ community and Allies about any supportive & anti-LGBT legislation
Build a LGBTQ coalition of Iowa groups supporting civil rights, aging, marriage equality, and LGBT families
Network with local, state, & national groups and organizations for education, lobby and information days at the Capitol and in local communities
For membership information, you may print our brochure - download the PDF file here.
Equality Iowa has 501(c)3 status as a nonprofit group, as defined by the IRS.