Welcome to the First Friday Breakfast Club!

The First Friday Breakfast Club (FFBC) is an educational group for LGBTQ+ persons and their allies. 

We gather monthly in Des Moines for breakfast, fellowship and a speaker. We provide a safe and supportive environment for all members and guests.

As Iowa’s largest breakfast club, we are active, dynamic and engaging. We educate ourselves on LGBTQ+ issues. We work to reduce prejudice and discrimination, advocating for equality and inclusion of all people. Throughout the year, we raise scholarship funds for students who fight homophobia. We offer guidance to those who need help in the coming out process. And we provide opinion leaders and the community with positive images of LGBTQ people.

On this website we have our upcoming speakers and archive of prior speaker recordings as well as newsletters.  
 
You now have the ability to make one-time or recurring donations to support the scholarship program!

Click HERE to donate to the scholarship fund.  

The October 2024 newsletter is now available HERE.

Sixteen outstanding graduating high school seniors were awarded scholarships at an awards ceremony on June 7, 2024.  See more about these outstanding young adults on the Scholars page.

Upcoming Speakers

October 4, 2024:  Coming Out Panel.  FFBC VP, David Cotton, will moderate a panel about Coming Out, in recognition that October 11th is National Coming Out Day. Cotton also hosts a podcast, Out Late With David, sharing stories coming out late in life LGBTQ+. To attend RSVP HERE.
 
November 1, 2024:  John & Teri Hale, The Hale Group, Advocates Working for Better Lives for Iowans.
 
December 6, 2024:  Kennetha Bigham-Tsai, Iowa UMC Conference Bishop.

FFBC members enjoy breakfast and a speaker during the monthly gatherings. Breakfast begins promptly at 7:00 am. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are at the Hoyt Sherman Place.

Hoyt Sherman Place (website) 
1501 Woodland Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309

To view past speakers (and listen to remarks from select speakers), click here or on the PAST SPEAKERS link at the top of the page.

Speaker Recommendations:  If you have a recommendation for a speaker for a future First Friday Breakfast Club meeting please email to info@ffbciowa.org, providing information about the potential speaker, and contact information for them.  Your contact information would be appreciated as well. 

Items of interest

The Last American Gay Bar

The Last American Gay Bar, a six-episode docuseries highlighting the people behind The Blazing Saddle, in Des Moines, premiered on OUTtv July 3, 2024.  See the trailer HERE.
 
The series follows 10 men integral to the iconic gay bar’s survival through a drastically changing political landscape over the last 40 years. Follow as the bar’s founder, Bob “Mongo” Eikleberry, and other LGBTQ+ community members come of age in a predominantly conservative state, serve in Vietnam and survive the AIDS epidemic while living in the closet.
 
 
 
The cast includes the following First Friday Breakfast Club members:
  • John Schmacker, prominent local gay rights advocate
  • Rick Miller, local artist
  • Gary Moore, longtime Blazing Saddle bartender
The independent production was led by Kristian Day Media and a crew of Iowa filmmakers. Day describes The Last American Gay Bar as “if the Harvey Milk story took place in the world of William Friedkin’s cruising.”
 
Weekly episodes will be released beginning July 3 on OUTtv.com, the OUTtv Apple TV Channel, OUTtv on The Roku Channel, and OUTtv on Comcast and Cox. 

Iowa LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce

Connect with Iowa’s LGBTQ+ business community and its allies, and grow your business.  More info at: https://iowalgbtqchamber.org/

The Iowa LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce is a proud affiliate of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the largest advocacy organization dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancements for LGBTQ people, and the exclusive certifying body for LGBT-owned businesses.

LGBTQ Equality – OneIOWA

OneIOWA provides a summary of proposed Iowa legislation HERE.

Prime Timers of Central Iowa

Bringing together mature gay and bisexual men for friendship, activities, support, and personal growth.  For more information see their Facebook group or website.

HRC Declares National State of Emergency – 6 June 2023

Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Declares Nat’l State of Emergency: Historic warning for LGBTQ+ people in US!

Know your rights before you travel anywhere. 

CLICK HERE FOR INFO & RESOURCES