Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission

We're partnering with Iowa Safe Schools and Civil and Human Rights agencies statewide to offer an informational session on legal protections and resources available to the LGBTQIA+ community on Wednesday, August 7 at 6 p.m. via Zoom. Register here: bit.ly/3A1bNsH

We had a great time at Disability Rights Iowa's 40/34 Equal Access Festival last weekend, celebrating their 40th year of advocacy and providing resources to Iowans with disabilities, and the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act!

If you feel you may have been discriminated against because of a physical or mental disability within the City of Des Moines, or have questions about requesting an accommodation, contact our office at 515-283-4284 or at [email protected]. Language interpretation services are available.

The Des Moines Civil & Human Rights Commission will have a special meeting to discuss Commission goal setting on Thursday, August 1 at 3:00 p.m. at Polk County River Place in conference room 1A (2309 Euclid Avenue in Des Moines). The agenda is available to view here: https://www.dsm.city/des_moines_civil_and_human_rights_commission_meeting_schedule.php

Deadline extended to Wednesday, July 31!
RIAS serves as a bridge between refugee and immigrant communities in Des Moines and the Civil & Human Rights Commission. Members inform residents of their rights, conduct community engagement activities, and work to secure equal access and opportunities for refugees and immigrants within the City. Apply at https://bit.ly/RIAS_2024

Join leaders from statewide Civil and Human Rights Commissions and Iowa Safe Schools for an informational session on legal protections and resources available to the LGBTQIA+ community on Wednesday, August 7 at 6 p.m. via Zoom. Register here: bit.ly/3A1bNsH

Deadline extended to Wednesday, July 31!
RIAS serves as a bridge between refugee and immigrant communities in Des Moines and the Civil & Human Rights Commission. Members inform residents of their rights, conduct community engagement activities, and work to secure equal access and opportunities for refugees and immigrants within the City. Apply at https://bit.ly/RIAS_2024

Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination based on s*x. It includes unwelcome verbal, s*xual, and/or physical advances. It can happen to people and be perpetrated by people of any s*x. There are two main types of s*xual harassment: (1) quid pro quo s*xual harassment; and (2) hostile environment s*xual harassment.

(1) Quid pro quo means “this for that.” It involves expressed or implied demands for s*xual favors in exchange for some benefit or to avoid some detriment.

Examples of quid pro quo s*xual harassment include:
- A maintenance worker refuses to make repairs unless a tenant gives them n**e photos of themselves.
- A property manager evicts a tenant after they refuse to perform s*xual acts.
- A supervisor asks an employee out to dinner and mentioning a potential promotion or pay raise discussion
- A manager telling an employee they should dress provocatively or be “s*xier” if they want to keep their job

(2) Hostile environment harassment occurs when a person is subjected to severe or pervasive unwelcome conduct based on s*x.

Examples of hostile environment harassment include:
- Unwanted physical conduct, such as rubbing, hugging, touching, or groping
- A property manager makes severe or pervasive unwelcome, lewd comments about a tenant’s body.
- A maintenance worker sends a tenant severe or pervasive unwelcome, s*xually suggestive texts and enters their apartment without invitation or permission.
- Slurs, jokes, and comments fueled by s*xual orientation and gender, such as calling female employees the “b” or “c” word

If you feel you may have been discriminated against, contact our office at 515-283-4284 or at [email protected]. Language interpretation services are available.

The Des Moines Civil & Human Rights Commission will be meeting on Thursday, July 25 at 4:30 p.m. at the Municipal Service Center in the Board Room (2nd floor) - 1551 E. MLK Jr. Pwky, Des Moines, IA 50309. The agenda will be available to view at: https://www.dsm.city/des_moines_civil_and_human_rights_commission_meeting_schedule.php?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2_PF367aTZeF6oSjeff17d4cb98hLqDB-gp8h0-c2d4UlZoTTiDvU5lb4_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

Join us tomorrow for a community conversation about housing access for refugees and immigrants at the South Side Library (1111 Porter Ave. in Des Moines) at 11:00 a.m. To request an interpreter or another accommodation, email [email protected] or call 515-283-4284.

Only a couple days left to apply to serve on RIAS! The application deadline is this Saturday, July 20th. Apply at https://bit.ly/RIAS_2024

We're continuing our community pop-ups at North Side Library on Tuesday, July 23 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and at South Side Library (rescheduled) on Tuesday, August 13 from 2:30-5 p.m. We'll be there to answer questions or help you file a discrimination complaint.

Are you a refugee or immigrant living in Des Moines? Join RIAS for a community conversation about housing access on Saturday, July 20 at the South Side Library (1111 Porter Ave. in Des Moines) at 11:00 a.m. To request an interpreter or another accommodation, email [email protected] or call 515-283-4284.

Apply to join RIAS! RIAS is an advocacy group of the Des Moines Civil & Human Rights Commission who advocate for civil and human rights for refugee and immigrant communities. The deadline to apply is July 20, 2024. Apply at bit.ly/RIAS_2024 or click the link in our bio.

For questions, contact Holly at [email protected] or call 515-283-4284.

Des Moines Civil & Human Rights department staff will be at the North Side Library on Thursday, July 11 from 2:30-5 p.m. and Tuesday, July 23 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Stop by and chat with us or file a discrimination complaint.

There's still time to apply to serve on the Des Moines Civil & Human Rights Commission's LGBTQ Advisory Council! Apply at bit.ly/LGBTQAC2024. Application closes on Sunday, July 7.

Our office will be closed tomorrow and will re-open at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, July 5th. Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

We hope you have a safe and enjoyable Independence Day! In observation of the holiday, City of Des Moines administrative offices will be closed Thursday, July 4 and will reopen to the public on Friday, July 5.

For those with Thursday or Friday waste collection days, your garbage, recycling and yard waste will be collected one day late this week. (Thursday on Friday, Friday on Saturday)

Apply to join RIAS! RIAS is an advocacy group of the Des Moines Civil & Human Rights Commission who advocate for civil and human rights for refugee and immigrant communities. The deadline to apply is July 20, 2024. Apply here: bit.ly/RIAS_2024

For questions, contact Holly at [email protected] or call 515-283-4284.

Gender identity discrimination is the unfair or unequal treatment of someone based on their gender identity or gender expression. Gender identity is a person’s self-identified gender, which may or may not correspond with their "s*x assigned at birth." It is how a person experiences and expresses their gender.

Examples of discrimination based on gender identity include:
• A realtor refuses to show houses listed for sale to a potential buyer because the buyer is transgender.
• An employer refuses to hire or fire an employee based on their gender identity, e.g. dismissing someone because they transitioned from male to female.
• Creating a hostile work environment by subjecting an employee to offensive or derogatory remarks related to their gender identity. Intentionally misusing a transgender employee’s name and pronouns can contribute to a hostile environment.
• You have the right to be free from harassment. If the business’s management or housing provider knows of serious harassment by staff, customers, or tenants and fails to remedy it, this may be discrimination.

If you feel you may have experienced discrimination within the City of Des Moines, contact us at [email protected] or call 515-283-4284.

Apply to join RIAS! RIAS is an advocacy group of the Des Moines Civil & Human Rights Commission who advocate for civil and human rights for refugee and immigrant communities. The deadline to apply is July 20, 2024. Apply here: https://bit.ly/RIAS_2024

For questions, contact Holly at [email protected] or call 515-283-4284.

Des Moines Civil & Human Rights department staff will be at South Side Library on Friday, June 28 from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. and at the North Side Library on Thursday, July 11 from 2:30-5 p.m. Stop by and chat with us or file a discrimination complaint.

Applications are now OPEN to apply to serve on the LGBTQ Advisory Council! Being a member of the LGBTQAC is a great way to be more involved in local government and engage with the LGBTQ+ community in Des Moines. Apply at bit.ly/LGBTQAC2024. For questions, contact Holly at [email protected].

The Des Moines Civil & Human Rights Commission will be meeting on Thursday, June 27 at 4:30 p.m. at the Municipal Service Center in the Board Room (2nd floor) - 1551 E. MLK Jr. Pwky, Des Moines, IA 50309. The agenda will be available to view at: https://www.dsm.city/des_moines_civil_and_human_rights_commission_meeting_schedule.php?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2_PF367aTZeF6oSjeff17d4cb98hLqDB-gp8h0-c2d4UlZoTTiDvU5lb4_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

Applications are now OPEN to apply to serve on the LGBTQ Advisory Council! LGBTQAC is committed to enhancing opportunities in housing, employment, city services and public accommodations for members of the LGBTQ+ community in Des Moines. Apply at bit.ly/LGBTQAC2024. For questions, contact Holly at [email protected].

Happy Juneteenth! Our office will be closed tomorrow, June 19 and will re-open on Thursday, June 20 at 8:00 a.m.

In observance of the Juneteenth holiday, most City of Des Moines offices and buildings will be closed on Wednesday, June 19. There will be no delay in collection of garbage, recycling or yard waste.

All Des Moines Public Library branches will be closed on Wednesday, June 19 and resume regular hours on Thursday, June 20. The City of Des Moines began to observe Juneteenth as a holiday for all City staff starting in 2021, prior to the federal holiday designation.

We invite all community members to attend local holiday events, visit DMPL.org/Juneteenth or visit a Des Moines library location to learn more about the history of Juneteenth, a significant date of independence that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

For local ways to celebrate the holiday, read more on our website: https://DSM.city/news_detail_T2_R869.php

Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation
Sexual orientation is about who you’re attracted to and who you feel drawn to romantically, emotionally, and s*xually.
Examples of discrimination based on someone's s*xual orientation include:
• An employer denying someone a job, a promotion, or a service because they are gay, le***an, bis*xual, or heteros*xual.
• An employer giving someone lower rankings, worse reviews, or less pay than others because of their s*xual orientation.
• Harassing, bullying, or insulting someone because of their s*xual orientation.
• A maintenance worker employed by a housing provider subjects a female tenant to pervasive harassment because she is a le***an and the housing provider who fails to take any action to stop the harassment after the tenant reported it.

If you feel you may have experienced discrimination within the City of Des Moines, contact us at [email protected] or call 515-283-4284. Interpretation in multiple languages is available.

Des Moines Civil & Human Rights department staff will be at South Side Library on Thursday, June 13 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. and Friday, June 28 from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Feel free to stop by and chat with us or file a discrimination complaint.