DES MOINES – Iowa Pride Network (IPN), the organization that represents lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs), will merge its student organizing and GSA efforts with One Iowa Education Fund, the state’s leading LGBT organization working toward full equality for LGBT Iowans through grassroots efforts and education.
Since its founding in 2003, IPN has helped students bring GSAs and LGBT groups to 20 percent of public high schools and 80 percent of colleges, impacting thousands of students each year. GSAs are student-led groups and clubs that focus on educating classmates to combat homophobia, transphobia and bullying. IPN’s student advocates have played a key role in changing laws and policies that impact young people at the local and state levels, including helping to pass Iowa’s historic Safe Schools Law and amended Civil Rights Law in 2007.
“Under the leadership of One Iowa, Iowa Pride Network’s student organizing and GSA efforts will continue to grow and expand its work to every corner of the state,” said Donna Red Wing, Executive Director for One Iowa. “For the past several months, One Iowa and IPN leadership have had some remarkable conversations about the potential these two organizations might have working together. IPN has been a leader working with Gay Straight Alliances in Iowa, and we are delighted and honored to bring this organization into our One Iowa family.”
“Our students will become our future equality leaders, and we must ensure that they feel safe and protected no matter where they are–but especially at school, where LGBT students can often feel most vulnerable,” Red Wing added. “We honor and recognize IPN’s historic work over the past decade and we look forward to providing its students with the support and resources they need to lead the transformation of our state into one that embraces equality for all Iowans, including our LGBT youth.”
“The union between Iowa Pride Network and One Iowa will allow us to amplify the voice of young people,” said Ryan Roemerman, co-founder and departing Executive Director of IPN. “This collaboration will mean a great deal for Iowa’s LGBT youth, and we are excited to make this historic step forward with One Iowa.”
IPN’s Honors Benefit will mark the merger of One Iowa and IPN’s student organizing and GSA efforts. on Thursday, May 22, where One Iowa will be honored with a “Partner in Progress” award and an outstanding high school GSA and college LGBT group will each be honored with the “Best GSA” Award. The event will be hosted by The Principal Group in downtown Des Moines, 650 8th Street (the Northwest Entrance) at 6:00 pm.
