reality of trans survival in quad cities
The Growing Crisis for Transgender People in the Quad Cities and Iowa
As time goes on, being transgender in the Quad Cities and across Iowa is becoming less and less safe. The challenges extend far beyond the question of bathrooms, they include employment, housing, access to services, and the basic right to be accepted as full members of society. What we face is forced segregation and a lack of meaningful support.
Yes, there are allies who stand with us. But the reality is that the majority of people are being bombarded daily with anti-trans propaganda, on radio, YouTube, blogs, and throughout the culture. Misgendering and dehumanizing transgender people remains socially acceptable, and this is profoundly wrong. These stereotypes and acts of dehumanization affect every transperson, myself included.
For example, I applied to more than 50 welding positions in the Quad Cities, including at John Deere. Each time, as soon as employers discovered I was born male, I was laughed out of the room. While I am often able to “pass” and avoid discrimination in some spaces, the trades remain dominated by cisgender white men who refuse to open the door to anyone different, especially a trans woman.
This discrimination extends beyond employment. Many businesses in Iowa now feel emboldened to outright deny services to trans people, and housing has become nearly impossible for our community to secure. Faced with systemic rejection, many transgender individuals turn to adult entertainment platforms such as OnlyFans or escort sites like Skip the Games. This survival strategy, however, further entrenches harmful stereotypes, reducing trans people to fetishes and dehumanizing us even more in the public eye.
Despite these challenges, there are brave people fighting back. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in the Quad Cities have launched campaigns to lessen harm against the trans community. Our group, Us Nefesh, has organized protests and demonstrations in the past. But to truly save trans people from further oppression, we must do more.
We must organize and put pressure on government institutions. We must support organizations like Clockinc, The Project of the Quad Cities, DSA, Us Nefesh, and One Human Family so they can continue their vital work. And most importantly, we must build stronger community bonds and integration. Sometimes, simply being there as a friend to a trans person can literally save their life.
The fight for transgender rights in Iowa and the Quad Cities is not just about policy, it is about humanity. It is about ensuring that every person, regardless of gender identity, is treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.
