Lavender Legal Center

10/15/2026

Everyone deserves to see themselves in the story.

This week’s Lavender Legend is Barbara Gittings, a pioneering le***an activist who fought for visibility, understanding, and equality long before Stonewall.

As editor of "The Ladder", she gave le***an voices a national platform. She marched for gay rights, championed LGBTQ+ books in libraries, and helped challenge the classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder.

Gittings understood that the stories people read—and the messages institutions send—can shape how they see themselves and one another. She worked to replace stigma with knowledge and pride.

This LGBT History Month, Lavender Legal honors her determination to make our lives visible and our voices heard.

Support Lavender Legal’s work: a generous donor is matching gifts up to $2,000. Donate today to help advance LGBTQ+ equality and double your impact.

10/13/2026

🏳️‍🌈 Considering a move abroad for your family?

With political pressures facing LGBTQ+ families, many are exploring what life abroad could look like. COLAGE is offering an introductory workshop with Asha Leong (COLAGE) and Piper Lovemore (Mothering Justice) to help q***r families think through the practical questions.

Topics include budgeting, building support networks, accessing medical care, visa considerations, and more with plenty of time for Q&A.

📅 Session 1: November 4 at 5 p.m. CT
📅 Session 2: November 8 at 3 p.m. CT

Whether you’re just exploring or actively considering a move, learn more and register through COLAGE using the links below. 💜

10/09/2026

Visibility can change history.

This week’s Lavender Legend is Harvey Milk, whose 1977 election to San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors made him one of America’s first openly gay elected officials.

Milk championed protections against discrimination and helped defeat a California initiative that would have barred gay teachers from public schools. He understood that living openly could challenge prejudice and give others hope.

His life was cut short in 1978, but his legacy continues wherever LGBTQ+ people speak up, seek office, and advocate for their communities.

This LGBT History Month, Lavender Legal honors his courage and the work still ahead.

Support Lavender Legal’s work: a generous donor is matching gifts up to $2,000. Donate today to help advance LGBTQ+ equality and double your impact.

10/01/2026

Our history deserves to be known. Our pioneers deserve to be remembered. 💜

This October, Lavender Legal is celebrating LGBT History Month with **Lavender Legends**, a weekly spotlight on the people who challenged discrimination, built community, and helped move equality forward.

Join us every Thursday as we explore their lives, their courage, and the legacies they left for all of us.

First up: Frank Kameny—a man whose fight against workplace discrimination became a lifetime of advocacy.

Support Lavender Legal’s work: a generous donor will match every gift up to $2,000, helping us continue to preserve LGBTQ+ history and advance equality. Donate today to double your impact.

09/18/2026

Ames Pridefest, here we come! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Lavender Legal Center will have a booth at Ames Pridefest on Saturday, October 10, 2026.

Stop by to meet our team, learn about our free and affirming legal services, pick up resources and connect with us. We cannot wait to celebrate LGBTQ+ community, joy and pride with Ames!

📅 Saturday, October 10, 2026
📍 Ames Pridefest
💜 Find the Lavender Legal Center booth

***riowa

09/17/2026

Lavender Legal Center T-shirts are here! 💜

Wear your support for affirming legal care and LGBTQ+ communities across Iowa. Grab your shirt while supplies last and help more people learn about Lavender Legal’s work.

Shop here!

White Ink on a Heather Purple (65% Preshrunk Combed Cotton/ 35% Polyester) T-Shirt. Screen printed by Union Labor at RAYGUN. See Size Chart here.

09/15/2026

Your Iowa name change was approved. Now it is time to update the records you use every day.

This carousel covers common next steps, including:

• Obtaining certified copies of your court order
• Correcting your Social Security record
• Updating your Iowa driver’s license or ID
• Checking your birth record
• Updating government, financial, employment and health-care records

The process can feel overwhelming, so take it one document at a time. Keep notes about what you submitted, when you submitted it and any confirmation numbers you received.

Save this post or share it with someone navigating a name change. Lavender Legal Center provides knowledgeable, affirming legal support for LGBTQ+ Iowans. Learn more at lavenderlegalcenter.org.

Disclaimer: This post provides general legal information and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Procedures and document requirements can change and may vary based on individual circumstances. Check directly with the appropriate court or agency for current requirements.

09/11/2026

Legal support is only one part of building a community where LGBTQ+ Iowans can thrive. Connection, belonging, movement, and joyful gathering matter too.

That’s why we’re featuring Pride Sports League of Central Iowa and its upcoming Pancake Brunch—an opportunity to meet new people, reconnect with friends, and discover more ways to get involved locally.

Join Pride Sports League on Saturday, September 12, from 11 AM–2 PM for pancakes, bags, games, and good company!

🔗 Visit Pride Sports League of Central Iowa’s profile to find registration information through the link in their bio.

09/09/2026

Meet Kendra Weston, founder of Lavender Legal Center.

Kendra helped create Lavender Legal after recognizing a profound gap: LGBTQ+ Iowans needed legal services built with their lives, families, and experiences in mind.

Today, Lavender Legal helps people navigate matters including identity documents, family formation, discrimination, healthcare, education, and other legal challenges.

As Kendra explains, “We are here to fight for the entire community, not pieces of the community.”

Help someone find the support they need: save this post, share it, and visit lavenderlegalcenter.org.

***riowa

07/09/2026

Seeking an Administrative & Legal Assistant. We're a fun team doing important work. Apply today!

https://www.lavenderlegalcenter.org/join-our-team