Public comment at the Waterloo City Council meeting featured sharply different perspectives on LGBTQ issues and community events.

Marcela Groover told the council she opposed a "pride test" and argued that the federal Equality Act would "destroy our children" and undermine religious liberties. She asked that the city remove the pride event from next year’s calendar and read prepared remarks claiming broad societal impacts if the Equality Act is enacted.

By contrast, Nick Hedrick, identified himself as a Main Street Waterloo board member and a PrideFest board member, described PrideFest logistics and downtown events and asked for continued support. Hedrick said PrideFest runs two days beginning at 5 p.m. Friday through midnight Saturday and highlighted related downtown programming, including a library blood drive and a downtown cash mob.

Megan Butler, who identified as queer and nonbinary, described neighborhood volunteer projects including a tiny free library and sunflower circle and raised neighborhood flooding concerns separately. John Hayes, a former Cedar Valley Pride Fest founding board member, thanked the council for past support of street closures for festivals.

Council members did not propose any policy changes in response to the comments during the meeting; they proceeded with the published agenda.