LEARN | Democracy Iowa

ISSUES AND PRIORITIES

The following is a list of concerns for members of Democracy Iowa.

Rule of Law

“No one is above the law so the rule of law is a principle under which all persons, institutions and entities are accountable to the laws that are publicly promulgated and equally enforced. This group will focus on educating others about the rule of law and why it matters.” easy.

Anjie Shutts

homemade protest sign with bright lettering spelling out love is love.jpg

LBGTQ+

In 2025, a Gallup poll estimates that 9.3 percent of U.S. adults identify as LGBTQ+, meaning that there are approximately 31.7 million LGBTQ+ adults in the U.S., according to the New York Times.

Gender identity protections were removed from the Iowa Civil Rights Act (which protects Iowans against discrimination in housing, employment, education and more) July 1, making Iowa the first state in the country to take away civil rights from a group it previously protected in law.

Iowa Safe Schools’ survey finds less than half of LGBTQ youth plan to stay in Iowa after high school.

Chris Irvine

First Amendment Rights - freedom of speech, attacks on the press

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Be wary of public boards that won’t provide documents or hold frequent closed meetings

Request public documents and studies - it's your right!

Sonya Heitshusen