Rev. Anna Blaedel is a chaplain, public theologian, writer and a graduate of the University of Iowa’s Religious Studies program. They earned a Masters in Divinity at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, and have been chaplaining students on the UI campus since 2014. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church (UMC) for 109 […]
LGBTQ
Posted inCommunity/News
Project Rainbow of Iowa has a simple mission with a visible impact
It’s not surprising Project Rainbow of Iowa is getting the attention of local TV news outlets. After all, what the Des Moines-based nonprofit does is literally eye-catching. Project Rainbow delivers Progress Pride flags for people to fly in their yards throughout the month of June, as a statement of support for the LGBTQ community during […]
Posted inCentral Iowa
‘Visibility is education’: Pride Corner becomes part of Des Moines’ East Village
Pride Corner was unveiled in Des Moines’ East Village on Tuesday. All four corners of the intersection of East Grand Avenue and East Fifth Street are painted with curving images of the Progress Pride flag to celebrate the history and the presence of the city’s LGBTQ community. “We hope people will enjoy the beautiful art […]
Posted inEastern Iowa Community/News
Photos: The Southeast Iowa Trans Day of Visibility Rally at College Green Park
Photos from the SE Iowa Trans Day of Visibility Rally at College Green Park in Iowa City on Sunday, March 31. The celebration featured speakers, community organizations, and a performance by the Quire.
Posted inCommunity/News
Gov. Reynolds’ bill undermining transgender rights with new definitions of ‘man’ and ‘woman’ in state law will not pass this year
Gov. Kim Reynolds’ bill that would change how state laws and regulations are made in ways that would undermine the rights of transgender people will not pass during this legislative session. HF 2389 would have needed to be passed by a committee in the Iowa Senate this week, in order to remain viable. But the […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Jury acquits Tara McGovern on all charges related to the Oct. 16 protest outside the Iowa Memorial Union
It took a Johnson County jury just a few hours on Thursday to decide Tara McGovern was not guilty of both charges for which they had been arrested last November. The charges against McGovern, who was referred to as Tara Dutcher, their married name, throughout the proceedings, were related to an Oct. 16 protest at the Iowa Memorial Union and attracted much local attention and were even covered by the Washington Post.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘Our joy is resistance’: Des Moines church to host fourth Trans Lives Festival on March 30
Within the first weeks of 2024 and the current Iowa legislative session, dozens of bills were introduced posing threats to the safety, healthcare access and legal recognition of transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming children and adults. As the fight against these bills continues to rage inside the State Capitol, the First Unitarian Church of Des […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Poll shows opposition to Gov. Reynolds’ proposal to change transgender Iowans’ birth certificates
A plurality of Iowans oppose Gov. Kim Reynolds’ effort to change how the state issues birth certificates in order to identify transgender people, according to a new Iowa Poll. In the survey of 804 adults conducted by Selzer & Co. for the Des Moines Register and Mediacom, 49 percent opposed the proposed change, while 44 […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Making noise: Three Iowa musicians and trans activists discuss arrests, protest art and keeping the faith during a dire legislative session
Sarahann Kolder is an Iowa City-based artist working primarily with writing, music and video. She works at Prairie Lights. m (emma) denney is a sound artist, electronic musician, writer, and sometimes lies about being a composer. She makes noise, drone music, and long-form experimental art. Harry Manaligod (she/her) is a rapper, producer, painter, local fool, […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Hundreds declare ‘we will not go silently’ as supporters of Gov. Reynolds’ HF 2389 complain trans people ‘need to go’; bill advances
It’s funnel week at the Iowa Capitol, so by Friday a bill needs to be approved by a committee in either the House or Senate to be considered for passage this legislative session. It’s supposedly a fixed deadline, but it’s really just an observed custom, because there are existing exceptions for certain bills — such […]
Posted inCommunity/News
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have entertained, aided and provoked for 45 years. Their habits began in Iowa.
In 2014, while the marriage equality movement worked to prove just how normal and nuclear LGBTQ families could be, Des Moines-born musician Perfume Genius released “Queen,” its lyrics glamorizing age-old stereotypes of queer men: “cracked, peeling,” “wrapped in golden leaves,” “riddled with disease” and, triumphantly, “No family is safe when I sashay.” The song quickly […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Sue Gilbert — Saint Suzie to queer nuns everywhere — recalls all the drag, drama and action of Iowa City’s gay scene in the ’70s
It’s time for Sue Gilbert to come clean. At least, that’s what she told me in an email leading up to this interview. Gilbert played a supporting role in the growth of Iowa City’s drag and Gay Pride scene in the ’70s — and, thanks to a bizarre and surely predestined string of circumstances, planted […]
