Special Announcement from the First Friday Breakfast Club President
UPDATE: Read about Deb Madison-Levi, FFBC’s first female member on the Board of Directors in the January 2023 newsletter.
Historic Change! The FFBC board voted at 2 consecutive board meetings to unanimously add “allies” to our bylaws defining who can be a member. Gay, straight, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, and allies welcome as long as they support our mission to reduce prejudice and homophobia. Spread the word and join us at Hoyt Sherman or via Zoom on the 1st Friday of each month!
Byron Huff, FFBC President
Welcome to the First Friday Breakfast Club!
The First Friday Breakfast Club (FFBC) is an educational group for gay, bisexual, transgender men, 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. 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.
Click HERE to donate to the scholarship fund.
The February 2023 newsletter is now available HERE.
Twelve outstanding graduating high school seniors were awarded scholarships at an awards ceremony on June 3, 2022. See more about these outstanding young adults on the Scholars page.
2023 Scholarship Applications Due March 15, 2023
See the Scholarship page to download the applications and letter to Iowa High School Guidance Counselors.
Upcoming Speakers
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
Des Moines Pride Center Glow 2023
Join the Des Moines Pride Center on Saturday, January 28, 2023, 6 – 8 PM, for an evening celebrating community! The dessert reception will highlight the work being done by the Des Moines Pride Center and honor the contributions of volunteers, organizations and community members. Tickets are $25 each – Call 515-274-5518 for reservations. See info on Facebook.
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.
The Rainbow Revival
Past FFBC Speaker (June 2021), Reverend Jim Conrad, published a memoir, The Rainbow Revival: a pastor and church on the journey towards inclusion. Reverend Conrad tells about the journey of his congregation’s acceptance of a same sex couple and his church’s expulsion from the Southern Baptist Convention. You may listen to Rev Conrad’s FFBC presentation HERE or view on YouTube.