FFBC Annual Scholarship Awards Breakfast

State Senator Zach Wahls will be the speaker for the June 2 meeting when the FFBC annual scholarship awards will be presented to the 2022-2023 recipients

To attend this meeting and RSVP click HERE.

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, 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.

Please visit our website www.ffbciowa.org where 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 June 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.

Upcoming Speakers

June 2, 2023:  Senator Zach Wahls will be the speaker for the June 2 meeting when the FFBC annual scholarship awards will be presented to the 2022-2023 recipients When Senator Wahls was a high school graduate in 2011 he received a FFBC scholarship. He became famous when he addressed the Iowa House Judiciary Committee in a public forum regarding civil unions; the speech garnering more than 3 million views on YouTube. He was also a guest on the Ellen show talking about his life and the famous speech.  He was elected to his first term in the Iowa Senate in 2018 and elected Iowa Senate Democratic Leader in November 2020.  Senator Wahls represents Senate District 37, which includes Coralville, western Iowa City and Solon in Johnson County; all of Cedar County; and the City of Wilton in Muscatine County.  To attend this meeting and RSVP click HERE.

 
July 15, 2023:  will be the annual donor recognition and member party at John Schmacker’s home.
 
August 4, 2023:  Kendra Weston, Executive Director Lavender Legal Center, providing legal representation for LGBTQ people. 
 
September 1, 2023:  C.J. Petersen, Executive Assistant to State Auditor Rob Sand.  He has a background of working in politics including chair of the Iowa Democratic Party’s Stonewall Caucus, communications director for U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken and the Bernie Sanders Presidential campaign.

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

Capital City Pride Volunteer

To volunteer for Capital City Pride, June 9 – 11, 2023, click HERE.  Per Capital City Pride, this is one of the simplest ways to help out our cause. We believe the best way for our initiatives to be successful is for the community to actively get involved. This is an easy and efficient way of contributing to the great work we do at Capital City Pride and we have opportunities for people of various abilities.

LGBTQ Equality – OneIOWA

OneIOWA provides a summary of proposed Iowa legislation HERE.


OneIOWA 2023 Gala – June 30, 2023

MARK YOUR CALENDAR.  One Iowa, the nonprofit that advocates for LGBTQ rights, will host its 14th annual gala on June 30, 2023, to honor community leaders, raise funds and round out Pride Month. After a short program, guests will be treated to plenty of appetizers, dancing and a silent auction. Tickets are on sale now at this LINK.


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.