about the network > frequenty asked questions

frequenty asked questions

What is Iowa Pride Network (IPN)?
IPN is a statewide non-profit organization that works directly with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight allied (LGBTA) youth to cultivate advocates and leaders who fight homophobia and transphobia and strive for social justice.

What is IPN's vision?
LGBTA Youth lead the transformation of Iowa into a state that embraces LGBT citizens.

What is a Gay-Straight Alliance?
A Gay-Straight Alliance or GSA is a student-run club in a middle school, high school or college that is made up of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and straight students who work to end homophobia and transphobia on their campus and in their communities. 

How is Iowa Pride Network different from Iowa Safe Schools?
Iowa Safe Schools works directly with adults—administrators, faculty and staff; while Iowa Pride Network works directly with LGBT students in their high schools, colleges and communities.

What are some of IPN’s success?
Some of IPN’s major accomplishments are:

• Expanded the number of GSAs from 20 to over 100 in five years
• Provided resources and support to 1,200+ LGBTA students last year alone
• Iowa’s Safe Schools Law: IPN’s “School Climate Survey” which assessed—for the first time ever—the level of homophobia, racism and gender-bias in Iowa schools provided statistics regarding LGBT student harassment; the alarming numbers compelled legislators and the public to act
• Our student advocates were instrumental in helping pass Iowa’s Safe Schools Law and Iowa’s amended Civil Rights Law, which now includes sexual orientation and gender identity
• Received the 2007 “Champion for Children” Award in recognition of our commitment and advocacy on behalf of Iowa’s Children and Youth
• Recognized nationally as a leading state GSA Network, IPN received a three year, $100,000 grant from the Queer Youth Fund to hire a full-time Outreach Coordinator in June, 2007

How is IPN structured?

• Board of Directors

IPN’s staff includes a full-time Director and a full-time Outreach Coordinator.  The Director works on administration and development duties while the Outreach Coordinator focuses on programming.  Our volunteer board of 14 is comprised of individuals whose backgrounds include working with diversity and LGBT issues.  Additionally, the board has youth representation by high school and college students. Our high school representatives are selected by our High School Youth Council.  Our college representatives are selected by our College Coalition Leadership Team.

• High School Youth Council

The High School Youth Council is made up of two students from each of the six regional GSA Coalitions.  This twelve member council represents youth in their region and also conducts the monthly coalition meetings.  Youth Council members also help run IPN’s major events and days of action, such as the annual GSA Conference and “Iowa GSA Day”.

• College Leadership Team

The eleven member College Leadership Team is made up of three students from three various private colleges, three students from three various community colleges, one representative from each of the three major universities and two students who are considered “alumni” or are in a graduate program.  These students also help to run the monthly coalition meetings in addition to hosting four statewide meetings of the College Coalition. Leadership Team members also help run IPN’s major events and days of action, such as the Student Day at the Capitol and “Iowa GSA Day”.

• GSA Coalitions

There are six GSA Coalitions statewide:

• Southwest (Council Bluffs/Omaha)
• Northwest (Sioux City)
• North Central (Mason City)
• Cedar Valley (Cedar Falls/Waterloo)
• Eastern (Iowa City/Cedar Rapids)
• Central (Des Moines/Ames)

The GSA coalitions serve a number of purposes:

• They bring students together to network and reduce isolation—especially for students that don’t have a GSA in their school or live in a rural area and can’t make it to statewide events.
• They allow the Youth Council and Leadership Team members to serve as leaders within their region and help shape the LGBTA social justice movement at the grassroots level.
• The coalition curriculum: “Thinking Queerly” created by the Youth Council, Leadership Team and IPN staff cover topics relevant to LGBTA youth—and help fill the information gap that exists regarding LGBT people, history and events in Iowa’s schools and colleges

Previously, the College Leadership Team and its statewide College Coalition held its monthly meetings on a statewide level.  Due to increasing gas prices and the far distances involved, it was decided that the college students would meet regionally like their high school counterparts.  They still plan to host statewide meetings to strengthen the statewide movement.

The regional monthly GSA Coalition meeting usually will last two hours and will consist of high school and college students who meet at a public library of LGBT center.  The Coalition meetings are supervised by a Coalition Advisor, the Outreach Coordinator, or both.  The Coalition meetings will be led by both High School Youth Council and College Leadership Team members.

How bad is the bullying for LGBT students? What's the impact on LGBT youth?
Violence, bullying and harassment are the rule and not the exception in Iowa's schools. According to IPN’s 2007 Iowa School Climate Survey:

• 4 out of 5 LGBT students hear homophobic remarks often in their schools.
• 80% of LGBT students report being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation or gender expression
• 36% of LGBT students report being physically harassed or assaulted, often with a weapon
• 1 out of 4 LGBT students skipped school in the past month because they were simply too afraid to go.
• LGBT students were 4 times less likely to go to college if frequently verbally harassed
• 16% of LGBT students reported some incident of physical assault (being punched, kicked or injured with a weapon) because of their sexual orientation or gender expression
• LGBT students were 5 times less likely to go to college if frequently physically assaulted

How many LGBT students exist in Iowa’s schools and colleges?
The Iowa Department of Education’s 2006-2007 enrollment projections indicate that the total students enrolled in Iowa’s public high schools in the 9th-12th grades was 155,435 students.  An estimate of high school students that identify as LGBT is upwards of 8,000 students (5% of student population. )  The University of Iowa’s Office of the Registrar’s Iowa Enrollment Report indicates that the total students enrolled in Iowa’s public, private and community colleges and universities in 2006 was 195,598 students.  An estimate of college students that identify as LGBT is upwards of 10,000 students (5% of student population.)  This means that Iowa Pride Network represents approximately 18,000+ LGBT students in Iowa’s high schools and colleges.

What is the average age of coming-out for LGBT youth?
"Coming out," or acknowledging one's identity as lesbian, gay or bisexual, is an on-going developmental process. Thus, academic researchers often find it useful to distinguish between different stages of "coming out." The age when one is first aware of having same-sex attraction is typically lower than the age when one identifies as lesbian, gay or bisexual. Data from recent studies on LGB adolescents suggest that the age of first awareness may range from 8 to 11 years on average, and the age of identifying as LGB may range from 15 to 17 years on average .

Since 2005, IPN has conducted the Iowa School Climate Survey, a biennial survey of self-identified LGBT youth about their experiences in school. In these surveys, the average age of LGBT youth participating has been between 16 and 17 years old and the ages range from 12 to 20. The age at which these students first self-identified as LGBT would most likely be 16 or younger on average.

It is important to note that the average age of "coming out" is a bit elusive. In studies that are done with youth and young adults, the average age of coming out will be younger than if we did a study with a general cross-section of the general LGBT community given that some people do not "come out" until adulthood.

How many Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) are there Iowa?
More than 90 active student clubs, commonly known as gay-straight alliances, are registered with IPN. This number does not serve as an exact number for how many exist. Many student groups work on LGBT issues but are not named GSAs, while other student clubs may exist without having the information to be in touch with IPN or choose not to register with us.

What is the effect of having a Gay-Straight Alliance on LGBT students?
According to the 2007 Iowa School Climate Survey, GSAs decrease absenteeism, name-calling, harassment and assault.

LGBT students in schools WITH GSAs:

• 25% are less likely to be verbally harassed because of their gender
• 23% of LGBT students are less likely to skip class and 15% are less likely to not attend school because of feeling uncomfortable or unsafe
• 23% are less likely to be physically assaulted because of their sexual orientation
• 21% are more likely to report never having been sexually harassed at school
• 12% are less likely to be physically harassed because of their gender expression
• 12% are less likely to be physically assaulted because of their gender expression
• 10% are less likely to be verbally harassed because of their gender expression
• 10% are less likely to be physically harassed because of their sexual orientation
• 10% more likely to report never being cyber-bullied because of their gender
• 8% more likely to report being rarely cyber-bullied because of their sexual orientation or gender expression

What is the effect of inclusive, anti-bullying policy on LGBT students?
Results for the 2007 Iowa School Climate Survey clearly indicate that schools that adopt and enforce policies that include sexual orientation or gender identity/expression have a healthier and more affirming school climate than those that do not:

• 75% of LGBT students in schools without inclusive policies reported feeling unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, compared with 46% of students in schools that had inclusive policies.
• In schools without inclusive policies, twice as many students skipped class or did not attend school within the past month because they felt unsafe compared with those that had an inclusive policy.

In schools WITH inclusive policies:

• Students were 3 times more likely to report never being verbally harassed
• 10% more students report never being physically harassed
• 12% more students report never having their property stolen or deliberately damaged
• 17% more students report never having mean lies or rumors spread about them
• 20% more students report never being sexually harassed
• 20% more students report never being physically assaulted
• 37% more students report never being cyber-bullied

How can I support IPN's vision and work?
There are many ways to support IPN's work. To find out more about supporting our work financially as an individual donor or corporate sponsor visit the development pages at: http://www.iowapridenetwork.org/donate.htm

The violence and harassment LGBT students face is real.  Our mission to help LGBT student leaders create safe schools and communities would certainly fail without the monetary commitment of our statewide supporters.  To continue to provide our opportunities and resources, we need the support of every Iowan who believes that helping LGBT students stand up for safety, equality and social justice—in their most informative years—is crucial to their futures.  Please join us in helping Iowa’s LGBT youth, please give today!

 

Iowa Pride Network
777 Third Street, Suite 312
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Executive Director: 515-471-8062
Outreach Coordinator: 515-471-8063