Urbandale proclaims Transgender Day of Visibility as mother recounts son’s struggles

Mayor Robert Andeweg proclaimed March 31, 2026, as Transgender Day of Visibility in Urbandale and invited Ashley Campbell to accept the proclamation on behalf of the community.

Ashley Campbell told the council she was dedicating the proclamation to her son, Miles Phipps, and described years of targeted bullying after he came out as transgender. "My name is Ashley Campbell, and I would like to dedicate this proclamation recognizing transgender day of visibility in honor of my son, Miles Phipps," she said. Campbell described being outed by a teacher and escalating harassment in middle and high school, and said that the family ultimately lost Miles to suicide. "I lost my son, a 15 year old child, because he never felt accepted outside of his home," she said.

The mayor framed the proclamation as a statement that Urbandale aims to be an inclusive community. The proclamation reads in part: "Now, therefore, I, Robert Andeweg, mayor of the City of Urbandale, do hereby proclaim 03/31/2026 as Transgender Day of Visibility in Urbandale." The mayor asked the council and attendees to sustain "kindness and empathy" so that "no one should live in fear for being who they are."

Why it matters: Campbell’s remarks and the council’s proclamation put a local spotlight on the personal consequences of transphobia and the council’s public commitment to inclusion. The presentation was accompanied by an appeal for community members and institutions to reduce bullying and support vulnerable young people.

The council moved on to other agenda business after the presentation; no formal policy or funding action was taken during the proclamation.