LGBTQ+ Equality

Join other UUs, and others that share our values, in taking action.

Current issues:

LGBTQ+ Sunday Services

Links to LGBTQ+ Sunday services from Iowa congregations:

March 27, 2022 UUS Sunday Service: Trans Day of Visibility (UUS, Coralville)

UU Iowans LGBTQ Shared Sermon Project (Cedar Valley UU)

Links to LGBTQ+ Sunday services from other congregations:

UU’s: Standing on the Side of Love with the LGBTQ Community (UU Fellowship of Bay County, FL)

Courage and LGBTQ (UU Congregation of Cleveland)

PRIDE: Then and Now - June 13th, 2021 (First UU Church, Columbus, OH)

Building an LGBT Community in Our UU World (Cedar Lane UU Church, Bethesda, MD

Queer Your Faith

Queer Your Faith, Iowa

IUUWAN is working with OneIowa to promote a monthly service for both our UU congregations and outreach and support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Queer Your Faith, Iowa’s story

Queer Your Faith came out of Arizona’s UU State Action Network, UUJAZ, which had a grant proposal to hire a minister to give monthly services. The decision to tweak this – having our Iowa and neighboring states UU congregations supply the service seemed a better choice. Hiring a minister to give monthly services could easily cost thousands per year. When Iowa UUs host the service, an interested viewer can come and see a UU service in person. This also will encourage our Iowa UU congregations to produce regular, interesting services for the queer community. Services are the second Sunday of the month starting between 10 AM and 11 AM, depending on the congregation’s schedule.

How to see the services

All services are shown on Facebook Live. The Facebook Live event is monitored so questions can be relayed to the speaker. Unfortunately, we don't give out Zoom links as Zoom bombing is still a thing.

Go to our Queer Your Faith facebook page here.

LGBTQ+ Legislation and Issues in Iowa

One Iowa Action – a nonprofit working to preserve and advance the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) Iowans – conducts policy and advocacy work on LGBTQ issues facing Iowans, and tracks and provides other information about the Anti LGBTQ legislation considered, being considered, or that has passed in Iowa.

One Iowa will host a legislative session recap on May 11th at 6pm. Click here to register for this 2023 Legislative Session Webinar.

Trans Festival

Saturday, March 29, 2025, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, 1800 Bell Ave, Des Moines, IA 50315
In honor of the International Transgender Day of Visibility, this fifth annual all-ages festival showcases the creative work of transgender, genderqueer, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming adults and youth from around Iowa. Work includes visual art and crafts for sale, food trucks and booths, live music, poetry, literature, dance, drag, and comedy performances. Local nonprofit and community organizations providing support and resources to the trans community will also be on hand.

Moral Mondays at the Capitol–fighting for Human Rights for All

Moral Mondays IOWA

12:00 – 12:45 pm

Online only via Zoom or Moral Mondays IOWA Facebook page

MARCH 18: Dead or alive?
MARCH 11: Fighting a union busting bill — again
MARCH 4: Iowa’s LGBTQ community will not be erased
FEBRUARY 26: Iowa Legislature’s impact on our public schools

Looking for Engagement with Iowa UUs–Volunteer Opportunities

We have spots on the board and on each of our task forces: Environmental Justice, LGBTQiA Justice and Racial Justice. Commitments vary–some as little as an hour or two every three months.

We are Unitarian Universalists!

We are Unitarian Universalists, people of many backgrounds who have different beliefs, but shared values. Together, we offer a guided path towards a better you and a better world. Get to know us in this short animated video.

Iowa Pride Events

June is Pride month for many communities. Whether you identify as LGBTQ+ or an ally, show up and celebrate Pride to send a loud and proud message to our fellow Iowans and politicians that we respect the inherent worth and dignity of EVERY person! Read more to find an event near you.