Nate Monson, Iowa Safe Schools executive director, said the LGBT community has seen significant progress on issues like same-sex marriage, bullying legislation and civil rights, since the conference began. He said this year’s conference focuses on issues that still face the LGBT youth including homelessness, bullying and suicide prevention. He said it’s also a chance to meet with well-known people, like Needles...
"For a lot of these kids they’re the only ‘out’ student in their school in a lot of cases and so they can come to Des Moines for one day and not feel different,” Monson said.Ironically, Governor Terry Branstad did not attend the Iowa Governor's Conference on LGBTQ Youth.
Speakers at the event included Olympic speed skater Blake Skjellerup and drag performer Sharon Needles (FKA Aaron Cody, originally of Newton, IA).