By Shane Goodman shane@dmcityview.com

Des Moines to show its colors

Des Moines, as well as much of the rest of our state, has been criticized for being conservative, unaccepting and closed. Much of this bitching comes from those who have only lived in Des Moines and don’t know what life is like elsewhere. The situation here is not so bleak, as reporter Andrew Brink shares in our cover story this week.

Many strides have been made in our city and state to accept those with differing views, opinions and lifestyles. And there are few examples that display this more than the local celebrations of Gay Pride weekend.

We hope to educate you on the progressive laws in Iowa and how they compare to those of other states. You will learn that Iowa has a long history of commitments to equality. Yes, there have been bumps in the road, and there will be more, but no one said that progress comes easily. Organizers of Gay Pride want to show that Des Moines is “a classy city and that the gay community is a good host to everyone.” And with an expected crowd of 8,000 people, this will be a great opportunity to show just that.

We encourage you to set your politics aside and take a look at what has become an increasingly popular event in our city that attempts to help us all understand and respect each other better.

Wedding guide

There’s no easy segue here, but I must also point out that this issue includes our new and improved wedding guide, which provides 12 pages of news and information for those who are preparing for their big day. We added additional information and photos to this guide in a fresh design.

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