Quad Citians Affirming Diversity (QCAD) brings Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Straight Allies together to build an inclusive community through support, education and advocacy.
About Us
QCAD was founded in 1990 and is the only organization in the greater Iowa-Illinois Quad Cities region that provides education, advocacy and support for Gay, Lesbians, Bi-Sexual, Transgender and Questioning (GLBTQ) persons.
Initially, QCAD focused primarily on creating an affirming community for youths. Later we expanded to provide support, education and advocacy across the ages including programming for youth, young adults, adults, and seniors. What started as a safe place for the GLBTQ community and allied youth to relax and know they are accepted, became the area's leading organization in GLBTQ issues.
QCAD started the new millennium with major social change; the passage of three ordinances extending civil rights protection for sexual orientation in Davenport, Iowa (2000), Moline, Illinois (2002) and Bettendorf, Iowa (2004). Changes achieved locally were extended statewide when Illinois extended civil rights protection to individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity in 2006, Iowa followed in 2007.
QCADs advocacy and education work remains broad in scope and is aimed at creating the public awareness and support needed to create an all inclusive community