Jan 28, 2025 [Des Moines, Iowa]— We are deeply disturbed by the series of executive orders issued by the Trump administration over the past week. They not only target the LGBTQ+ community but pose a threat to other marginalized groups. We stand in solidarity with everyone impacted by these threats.
At One Iowa and One Iowa Action, our mission as state-wide organizations is to build power in Iowa, but we also recognize that federal actions can have a profound impact on our state. These executive orders are part of a broader, coordinated effort to undermine the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans in every area of life.
The recent orders have the potential power to strip families of the right to access life-saving gender-affirming care for their children, bar transgender Americans from serving in the military, and attempt to oversimplify human identity by declaring that only two genders exist.
These executive orders send a harmful message: that transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals are not worthy of basic dignity, bodily autonomy, or safety. We strongly condemn this dehumanization of our community.
Perhaps most troubling, these orders are designed to create confusion, divide our attention, and fuel panic. Please remember that executive orders are often quite broad, and they cannot change laws overnight. With this in mind, we recommend that community members connect with trusted sources of information and reach out for resources. We must wait for the facts to unfold and approach the situation with clarity and resilience as we see the legal action inevitably unfold in the coming weeks.
While we may not comment on every executive order issued by this administration, please know behind the scenes that we are working closely with our national partners to provide the resources and support needed to assist LGBTQ+ Iowans through these unprecedented times.
To our community: You are not alone. We’ll continue to show up and take care of each other.
One Iowa Action is a 501(c)(4) organization working to preserve and advance the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) Iowans through grassroots efforts, voter education and advocacy. Find out more at oneiowaaction.org.
One Iowa is a 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to improve the lives of LGBTQ Iowans by protecting and advancing equality and inclusiveness through education, improving workplace culture, and increasing access to quality healthcare across our state. Find out more at oneiowa.org.
