One Iowa

{{Short description|LGBTQ organization in Iowa, United States}} {{Infobox organization | name = One Iowa | image = File:One Iowa logo.png | caption = | map = Map of USA IA.svg | map_size = 225px | map_caption = U.S. State of Iowa | region_served = Iowa | abbreviation = | formation = November 2006  | purpose = LGBT rights | location = Des Moines, Iowa (USA)<ref name="contact">{{cite web |url=http://oneiowa.org/contact/ |title=Contact Us |publisher= One Iowa }}</ref> | key_people = Courtney Reyes, executive director<ref name="contact" /> | website = {{URL|http://oneiowa.org}} }} '''One Iowa''' is a statewide LGBTQ equality organization. The organization works to preserve and advance equality for LGBTQ individuals in Iowa through advocacy, grassroots efforts, and education.

==Background== The organization was founded in November 2006 following the 2005 suit filed by Lambda Legal that led to the ''Varnum v. Brien'' suit.<ref name="salon">{{cite web |url=http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/04/15/iowa/ |first=Jodi |last=Mardesich |title=Gay marriage in the Heartland|work=Salon |date=2009-04-15 }}</ref> At first, the emphasis of the group was marriage equality, but soon after formation, a board of directors was established and efforts were increased to include civil rights, civil marriage, LGBTQ families and aging.

The organization is a member of the Equality Federation.<ref name="eqfed-members">{{cite web |url=http://equalityfederation.org/members | title=Member Organizations | work=Equality Federation | access-date=January 14, 2014}}</ref>

==Efforts== The organization has used the Internet and other grassroots methods to spread its message. It established a Facebook page, a Twitter page, and has a website at www.oneiowa.org. During ''Varnum'', the group contacted residents and urged them to contact their local officials. They also held forums in towns throughout Iowa that included LGBT community members, individuals from the religious establishment and legal scholars, where they emphasized the need for marriage equality.<ref name="salon"/>

Following ''Varnum'', the group was lauded for its grassroots efforts by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.glaad.org/Page.aspx?pid=513 |first=Richard |last=Ferraro |title=GLAAD Applauds Iowa Supreme Court Ruling on Marriage |publisher=GLAAD |date=2009-04-03 |access-date=2009-06-22 |archive-date=2010-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713095234/http://www.glaad.org/page.aspx?pid=513 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, the group's efforts also faced criticism. Congressman Steve King (R-IA) remarked that the state would become "a gay-marriage mecca" following the court's decision. But a One Iowa spokesman maintained that the group's efforts concerned "Iowa couples" and that it was not his intention to turn the state into a "sideshow."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2009-04-22/news/iowa-or-bust-dozen-st-louis-gay-couples-soon-head-to-hawkeye-state-get-hitched-sort-of/ |first=Keegan |last=Hamilton |title=Iowa or Bust: Fourteen gay couples from St. Louis will soon head to the Hawkeye State to get hitched. Well, sort of. |publisher=St. Louis News |date=2009-04-21 |access-date=2009-06-22 |archive-date=2010-01-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100121110031/http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2009-04-22/news/iowa-or-bust-dozen-st-louis-gay-couples-soon-head-to-hawkeye-state-get-hitched-sort-of |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The organization has since worked to educate court recorders on how to "make sure gays and lesbian couples feel welcomed" when applying for a marriage license, and have allowed for participants to choose from "bride," "groom" or "spouse" on the document.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.washblade.com/2009/4-24/news/national/14429.cfm |first=Chris |last=Johnson |title=Iowa's same-sex couples prepare to get married |publisher=Washington Blade |date=2009-04-24 |access-date=2009-06-22 |archive-date=2009-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426040756/http://www.washblade.com/2009/4-24/news/national/14429.cfm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In coalition with its ally groups, One Iowa's achievements following ''Varnum'' also include defeating anti-marriage policies, modernizing Iowa's HIV transmission law,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/tonymerevick/iowa-legislature-passes-bill-reforming-draconian-hiv-transmi |first=Tyler |last=Merevick |title=Iowa Legislature Passes Bill Reforming "Draconian" HIV Transmission Law |publisher=BuzzFeed |date=2014-05-01 }}</ref> urging Iowa Senators to stop blocking judicial nominees at the federal level, civil rights advocacy to protect the LGBT community against employment and housing discrimination.

One Iowa's work also includes educating Iowans about why marriage matters to gay and lesbian couples, reaching out to communities of faith,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bruinius |first1=Harry |last2=Mendoza |first2=Jessica |date=May 6, 2019 |title=Faith comes to fore in Democratic 2020 field. Why now? |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2019/0506/Faith-comes-to-fore-in-Democratic-2020-field.-Why-now |work=The Christian Science Monitor |access-date=December 9, 2019 }}</ref> addressing concerns about Iowa's aging and elder LGBT populations,<ref>{{cite news |last=Ta |first=Linh |date=August 1, 2015 |title=Concerns rise for LGBT elderly housing |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2015/08/01/gay-gray-summit-seniors-housing-one-iowa-donna-redwing-matt-mccoy/31000761/ |work=Des Moines Register |access-date=December 9, 2019 }}</ref> and improving access to resources for transgender Iowans.<ref>{{cite news |last=Metzger |first=Logan |date=April 30, 2019 |title=Iowa Senate bill excludes transition-related services from public-funded insurance coverage |url=https://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/iowa-senate-bill-excludes-transition-related-services-from-public-funded-insurance-coverage/article_62d05bf2-6b73-11e9-bf9a-ffdbabaea81a.html |work=Iowa State Daily |location=Ames, Iowa |access-date=December 9, 2019 |archive-date=December 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209202548/https://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/iowa-senate-bill-excludes-transition-related-services-from-public-funded-insurance-coverage/article_62d05bf2-6b73-11e9-bf9a-ffdbabaea81a.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also== {{Portal|LGBTQ|Iowa}} * LGBT rights in Iowa * Same-sex marriage in Iowa * List of LGBT rights organizations

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==External links== * {{official website|http://www.oneiowa.org}}

Category:LGBTQ political advocacy groups in Iowa Category:Organizations based in Des Moines, Iowa Category:Non-profit organizations based in Iowa Category:2006 establishments in Iowa Category:Equality Federation Category:American organizations established in 2006