Over the last seven weeks of the Iowa legislative session, numerous anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced. Bills restricting teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity as well as acknowledgement of gender identity without a parent’s permission are finding their way through our legislative processes. Legislation is also being considered to restrict gender-affirming medical care for transgender teens.
As people of faith, we stand with all LGBTQ+ Iowans, and we stand against any laws that limit a person’s full human expression and dignity. We claim again that all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, are loved by God.
Study after study reminds us that LGBTQ+ children and youth are more likely to consider or attempt suicide and more likely to struggle with anxiety and depression when they are not in supportive environments. The state of Iowa is becoming less safe and less supportive for LGBTQ+ youth as a result of these legislative efforts.
And it is not only young people who are being impacted. Almost 14 years ago Iowa took a then uncommon step to legalize same-gender marriage. In the years since, many LGBTQ+ people have confidently made their homes in Iowa feeling safe and protected. And yet with each anti-LGBTQ+ piece of legislation that is introduced, people become more fearful of the rights they could lose—rights to housing, employment, marriage, parenting, healthcare, and safety.
We encourage people of faith to contact your legislators, speak openly about your support for all LGBTQ+ Iowans, and continue to stand up for rights for all.
— Signed by more than 100 pastors and faith leaders across the state, including local pastors Rev. Marsha Acord and Rev. Lorene Wunder.
Full list of pastors —
Rev. Tammy Buseman, Rev. Anna Blaedel,Deanna Long, Rev. Jill Cameron Michel, Joel Gilbertson, Interfaith Chaplain, Rev. Gary Sneller, Malinda Thomas, Carrie Hendricks, Rev. Anita Johnson, Rev. Laura Hudson Kittrell, Vanessa Renaud, Pastor Adey Wassink, Cathy Fuller, John O. Barr, Charlie Eastham, Rev. Dr. Jan Rippentrop Schnell, Suzanne Krogh, Susan McCracken, Evalee Mickey, Brenda Mayer, Pastor Ryan Downing, Pastor David Borger Germann, Cecilia Norris MD, Rev. Mary Kay Kusner, David Fitzgerald, Christine Grothe, Donita Hermsen, Rev. Dr. Dorothy Whiston, Geri Pettitt, Jan Ricklefs, Rev. Mark W. Martin, Bonnie Murphy, John Powell, Katie Imborek,Mark Pries, Dan Daly, Jane John, Laura Locher, Rabbi Esther Hugenholtz, The Rev. Jane Stewart, Wendy Levy, Rachael Hills, Robert & Diane DeWitt, Jennifer Lee, Alexandra Geraets, Dr. Janis Swenson Taylor, Gay Mikelson, Patricia Benson, Rev. Marsha Acord, April Gimenez, The Rev. Dr. Bruce W. Fischer, Roland Peterman, Donna Williams, Susan Nix, Helene Hembreiker, Marge Reid, Sarah Varner, Marsha A. Lowe, Michael Neville, Bob Bogs Jr, Lisa LaRosa, Pastor Marian Hart, Rev. Kara Seaton, John McKinstry, Lorene E. Wunder, PC(USA) Pastor, Rev. Diana Smith, Valerie Wetlaufer, Corvin Greene, Dr. Wendy Schuchart, Chuck Hauck, Evelia Hauck, Pastor Nathan Willard, Adria Jones, Anne Wilmoth, Rev. Cn. Meg Wagner, Melinda Padley-Jones, Lillian Talley, Carol Ttx, Jon Trouten, Carole Frazee, Janelle Hansen, Danica Baker, Marlene Neville, julie overkamp, Ariel Levin, Sue Weinberg, Mary Beth Versgrove, Ashley Sowerby, Lisa Carstensen, Erin Casey, Tim Clark, Rev. Janice Kemp, Rev. Douglas Kollasch, ULC, Rev. Dr. Sarah Rohret, St Marks UMC, Tracy Koivisto, Jay Thomas, Krista Kronstein, Pam Ries, Lora Morgan Dunham, Tara Clark, Jane Dohrmann, Rev. Dr. Jared S. Trullinger, Vernon K. Duba, Sara Riggs, Cathy Willoughby, Carol Mertens, Paul Bly, Suzanne Krogh, Tim Fees, Mary Schwartz, Lynn Calvert, Nancy Ream, Rev. Emily Steeples, Traci Massman, Rev. Linda Hunsaker, Matthew Healy, Rachel Bogs, Rev. Karen Martens Zimmerly, Finnegan R. Meadows, Linda Kinkade, Maggie Keyser, Deacon Pamela Larabee-Zierath, Jeffrey Allen Mead, Donald D. Anderson, PhD, Terry Dahms, Lisa Schumacher, Beth Smith, Sara Klosterboer, Rev. Brian Brandsmeier, Isaac Hooley, June Hershberger, Jill Meadows, MD, Catherine Goedken, Glenda Sickles, Malinda Thomas, David Sickles, Patricia Miller, Julie Fitzpatrick, Joy Ward, Rev. Ruth Johnston, Lindsey Schluckebier, Jon Feaver, LeAnn Farley, Mary C Curtis, Mary Hendrickson, Rhonda Miller, Ann Satterly, John Moetken, Sharon Sass, Kenneth Gingerich, Jerry Lippert, Marcia Lippert, Shirley Green, Tim Krabill, Stephen Dunham, Karen Stenson, Stanley Stenson, Carol J Miller, Virginia Ibrahim-Olin, Gloria Hartley, Craig Jones, Robert K. Clark, Lois Yoder, Margalea Warner, James F Lang, Beverly E. Mead, Laurie Dahms, Laurie Aude, Douglas W. Jones, Kathryn Kinsella, Katelyn Joyal, Susan Groff-VanArendonk, Erin Barnes, Kathleen Jacobs, Beverly Boyers, Rachelle Tsachor, Matthew Yoder, LMSW, Ann Grosscup, Teresa Weiner, Linda K Kerber, Libby Conley, Melanie Nollsch, Rev. Jonathan Heifner, Beth Pelton, Kathryn Hogg, Brigid Martin, Sally Strah, Debra Bailey-Murray, Christine Wagner-Hecht