DES MOINES, Iowa — Election Day is less than two weeks away and in Des Moines, residents will be voting for a new mayor.
But before they do, community members want to make sure people know where those candidates stand on issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community.
That's why a group of citizens held a forum Wednesday night to see how each candidate plans to protect LGBTQ+ residents.
"We wanted to make sure that when the residents of Des Moines are making the decision to vote for a new mayor, they know where these candidates stand when it comes to issues that affect the LGBTQ community,” said Sonia Reyes, one of the forum's organizers.
Wednesday night's forum is a chance for candidates to introduce themselves and for people in Des Moines to ask any questions on their minds.
"Civic engagement is so important, and yes, the presidential races are very important,” Reyes said. “But what happens at a local level affects us right away, so it's very important to stay informed and make those informed decisions when we're going to vote."
Reyes said it's important for those outside the LGBTQ+ community to attend the forum as well.
"We want and need our allies by our side," Reyes said. "Just like any other underserved community, we cannot do it alone, so everyone is welcome: allies, our families and community members."
The LGBTQ mayoral forum kicked off Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Blazing Saddle in the East Village.
Members and allies of the LGBTQ community were invited to attend.
Three mayoral candidates, Connie Boesen, Josh Mandelbaum and Denver Foote, met to discuss issues important to the local LGBTQ+ community.
Those included legislation in Iowa preventing gender-affirming care as well as the candidates' plans to continue standing up for the LGBTQ+ community.
"When I heard those bills going on, all I could think about was this young person," Boesen said. "Because I could only imagine what their life was going through because I saw them doing transition, and then when I called to say 'Can you work this year?' They've moved."
Mandelbaum also said he understands how this impacts the transgender community, adding that appropriate healthcare is something that should be available to everyone.
"Why would you interfere with anything between a doctor and their patient? Why would you interfere with someone being their authentic self and being whole? And so gender affirming care is very much necessary," Mandelbaum said.
Foote emphasized the importance of consulting the impacted groups about what they need.
"We need to make sure that our communities, our underserved communities, are being reached out to personally to see where they want their money to go," Foote said.
Des Moines' fourth mayoral candidate, Christopher Von Arx, was not present for tonight's forum.
Election Day is Nov. 7, but early voting is already underway.