June 17: This Week: Pride Success and Deace's Warning

Submitted by jeremy on Thu, 2009-06-18 13:02

June 17, 2009       www.oneiowa.org

Breaking: Obama to offer benefits to gay partners of federal employees

Capital City Pride Success!

Thanks to the many One Iowa volunteers who made Capital City Pride weekend a tremendous success! With your help, we gathered thousands of signatures to support marriage equality and made our presence known with our bright orange volunteer shirts!

One Iowa volunteers begin the parade There are still opportunities to help out! June 20th Iowa City Corridor Pride Festival Sign up to volunteer! June 20th for the Omaha Pridefest Sign up to volunteer June 27th in the Quad Cities Sign up to volunteer! Pride Month Phone Banks! On June 28, 29, and 30, One Iowa will be hosting special Pride Month phone banks to identify voters who support equality! Phone banks will take place in our Des Moines office at 500 E. Locust St. and will feature a training and pizza and drinks for volunteers! June 28, 2009 4:00-7:00 PM June 29, 2009 5:30-8:30 PM June 30, 2009 5:30-8:30 PM Sign up for a shift now!

Upcoming Events

June 19, 4:30 pm-10:00 pm Iowa Cubs Night with One Iowa Planned Parenthood Young Leaders, and the 21st Century Forum Click for details and to RSVP June 19, 6 PM PRIDE Patio Party at the Sheraton Hotel 210 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City June 20, 2009 Omaha Pridefest Lewis & Clark Landing 515 N. Riverfront Dr, Omaha, NE Volunteer with One Iowa June 20, 2009 Iowa City/Cedar Rapids Corridor Pride Upper City Park, Shelter 3 200 W Park Rd, Iowa City Volunteer with One Iowa June 21, 2009 2:00-4:00 PM Interfaith & Affirming Churches Picnic LeClaire Park, Beiderbeck Dr, Davenport, IA June 21, 2009 4:00 PM Colors Across the River for Equality (CARE) Centennial Bridge over Mississippi River Join 500 LGBT and ally Quad Citians as they hold 1000 PRIDE flags across the bridge. Participation in the event is free and you can keep your rainbow PRIDE flag for just $5. Contact Rich Hendricks with questions at richdhendricks@msn.com June 27, 2009 Quad Cities Pride LeClaire Park Beiderbeck Dr., Davenport Volunteer with One Iowa

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

One Iowa, Planned Parenthood Young Leaders, and 21st Century Forum invite you out for tailgating and baseball! Join us June 19th for a 4:30 tailgate and 7:05 game to cheer on our very own I-Cubs as they battle the Memphis Red Birds. Cost: Suggested Donation of $15.00 provides beer, ticket, BBQ, snacks and refreshments.

Please RSVP so we can get your tickets reserved today!!

ONE IOWA IS HIRING!

We're adding to our team of dedicated employees. Do you have the skills and passion we're looking for? One Iowa is now hiring for the following positions. To apply, please follow the instructions on the job posting(s) of your choice. No calls please. Field Director Regional Field Organizer Communications/New Media Organizer Development Associate

MARRIAGE MATTERS: FAMILIES IN FOCUS

Jack and Bob from Pleasant Hill

Jack and Bob in the 2009 Capital City Pride Parade MARY CHIND/REGISTER PHOTOS

 This fall, Jack and Bob from Pleasant Hill will celebrate 25 years together. The two met on Halloween in Chicago at a Theater Convention and have been together ever since.
Both are grandparents and were married on June 6, 2009 after some 24 years of commitment. Bob describes being "shocked and elated" after hearing the unanimous Iowa Supreme Court ruling recognizing the freedom to marry in Iowa. "What a surprise and a blessing for this to happen in Iowa," said Jack.

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A NOD OF SUPPORT FROM VERMONT

Among the attendees to the recent Howard Dean reception was a visiting legislator from Dean's home state of Vermont. State Representative Thomas Stevens sent a thank you note to One Iowa for the work we have done towards marriage equality in the Heartland. He says the Iowa decision gave fair-minded legislators in Vermont momentum as they joined Iowa as the fourth state to recognize the freedom to marry. An excerpt from his letter: "It was a wonderful event and a real treat to feel the same blush of emotion regarding this issue as I do in Vermont. Iowa's actions leading up to and including the court decision were courageous and inspiring. When the decision was announced and received in Vermont during a Democratic caucus meeting, the room burst into tears and applause -- it gave us all a rush of strength and a confirmation that we too were doing the right thing at the right time."

Rep. Thomas Stevens (VT)

EXTREME RIGHT WATCH: THEY'LL STOP AT NOTHING

Blast from the Past: Deace Warns County Recorders

There isn't a more vocal opponent of marriage equality than WHO Radio extremist Steve Deace. On April 27, while committed gay and lesbian couples were applying for marriage licenses, Deace took to YouTube to joke about the H1N1 virus and send a warning to County Recorders across Iowa who dared to uphold marriage laws.

Watch it Now!

GET INVOLVED: MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Volunteer for One Iowa at Pride events around the state! Click on the Pride at which you wish to volunteer to sign up: June 20: Omaha Pridefest June 20: Iowa City/Cedar Rapids Corridor Pride June 27: Quad Cities Pride Phone for Equality! Join One Iowa for one of our nightly phone banks Sunday through Thursday. Never phoned before? No problem - our staff will give you all the tools you need to succeed and spread our message of equality! Sign up for a shift now!

In the News

June 15 Des Moines Register: Gay Pride event in Des Moines draws biggest turnout Sunday's PrideFest festival in Des Moines had its biggest turnout in its 30 years following the April ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court that allowed same-sex marriage. June 17 Omaha World Herald Midland Voices: New marriage equality law means adjustment for gays
Along the Missouri River, the border between Iowa and Nebraska, lie two cities ? Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Omaha, Neb. They are both part of the same metropolitan area, and yet both have distinct differences in the way they treat their gay and lesbian citizens.
June 14 Chicago Tribune: 3 days in Iowa, for gays and progressives alike Gay marriage took effect on April 27, but there are no quickie marriages here: Iowa law mandates a three-day waiting period between applying for a license and walking down the aisle. The good news is that there are tons of ways to make those three days fabulous. June 13 Des Moines Register Guest column: Is gay marriage part of appealing to young people? When Iowa lifted the ban on same-sex marriage, joining the ranks of liberal Massachusetts and Vermont, most people were taken aback. How could Iowa beat California and New York in permitting gay marriage? *We want to know what you're reading! If you see an Iowa-related LGBT news item in your local newspaper, please forward it to justin@one-iowa.org.
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