Hardly a month goes by without news about Des Moines scoring a top-ten national ranking on some economic or livability metric. Here’s something I didn’t expect, though: the new “Vocativ Queer Index” rates the Des Moines metro fourth among the top 35 queer-friendly cities in the U.S.
Vocativ examined the 100 largest metro areas on sixteen factors related to the quality of life for the LGBT community. Click through to read the full list and how Des Moines scored in each category. In particular, the website hailed the Iowa capital’s “inclusive attitude toward adoption and marriage equality, not to mention its high-profile out politicians” like State Senator Matt McCoy and State Representative Daniel Lundby (whom they mistook for a member of Congress).
Happy Pride Month to everyone in the Bleeding Heartland community. After the jump I’ve posted recent news about how Iowa Safe Schools, a Des Moines-based advocacy group, is working to improve the environment for LGBTQ students in public schools all around the state.
Iowa Safe Schools news release, May 13:
Iowa Safe Schools announces expanded efforts to provide safer environment for LGBTQ youth
In response to the failure of Governor Branstad and the Legislature to agree on a comprehensive anti-bullying bill, Iowa Safe Schools announced plans today to increase its efforts to organize and support Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs in Iowa’s public schools.
“While we are disappointed, we recognize the problems don’t go away just because state leaders did not pass a comprehensive anti-bullying bill during the 2014 legislative session,” said Nate Monson, Executive Director of Iowa Safe Schools. “That’s why we are stepping up our efforts to provide a safety net for students who are suffering, struggling, and are otherwise victimized because of their gender identity or expression.”
Student clubs that address issues of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression provide a safe space for LGBTQ students to meet and socialize, and can also contribute to safer and more inclusive schools in general.
Iowa Safe Schools, an organization based in Des Moines which works to create safe and supportive learning environments and communities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth through outreach, education, and advocacy announced their enhanced curriculum and focus on organizing GSA’s throughout the state. According to a national study conducted by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) in 2011:
LGBT students who attended schools with a GSA:
• Heard homophobic and negative remarks about gender expression less frequently than LGBT students in schools without a GSA;
• Were less likely to feel unsafe because of their sexual orientation (54.9% vs. 70.6% of students without a GSA);
• Experienced less severe victimization related to their sexual orientation or gender expression. For example, 4 in 10 students (38.5%) in schools without GSAs experienced higher severities of victimization based on sexual orientation, compared to 2 in 10 students (23.0%) in schools with a GSA.“Organizing a Gay Straight Alliance Club on campus is one of the 10 best practices a school can commit toward providing a safe environment for all students,” Monson said. “We won’t rest until all students feel included and safe. Five in 10 LGBT students were physically harassed (pushed or shoved) based on their sexual orientation and 63% of LGBT students experienced cyberbullying. These figures are unacceptable. Until we can move a comprehensive anti-bullying package through the legislature, we will continue to work on other angles to ensure a safer environment for Iowa’s LGBTQ youth.”
Iowa Safe Schools has been a leader in promoting GSAs in schools, and is the statewide contact for educators looking for assistance. The organization offers an online course for GSA advisors to gain ideas on how to support the role of the student; is hosting a leadership conference for GSA student leaders at Iowa State University in early fall; and has organized a first-ever series of Google Hangouts with national and international speakers. Google Hangouts are a new way for students from around the state to video chat, collaborate and share conversations on any mobile device.