Ragers for Charity hosted a transgender visibility fundraiser Friday, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., supporting nonprofits Trans Mutual Aid, an organization that gives grants to people looking for gender-affirming medical and personal care, and Lavender Legal, which assists with  LGBTQ+ health care cases, name changes, wills, and education. 

Ragers for Charity is a nonprofit founded by Todd Burzynski, Della Caldwell, Phillip Ricks, and Anne Ventullo in 2025, and this marks their fifth official event.

The event itself was part of Johnson County’s Transgender Visibility Week initiative that spreads awareness on transgender issues in Iowa.

The event brought in over 40 people in its first two hours at Willow Creek Theatre on 327 S. Gilbert St. The nonprofit holds dance fundraisers quarterly and gives 100 percent of the proceeds to two charities. 

Featured DJs included DJ Jack Morgan, DJ Fuego, DJ Whatever the F*** My Name Is, and PhDJ.

Founder Anne Ventullo said she believes events like these are important amid the ongoing mistreatment of LGBTQ+ people, and give opportunities for people to take out their anger while donating to initiatives that help those who are vulnerable.

“A righteous rage is one of the ways to kind of cleanse the system and shake out some of that rage, and gather with people through dance,” she said.

Ventullo believes the anti-transgender rhetoric of the state and federal government has led to events like this happening.

 “The state has tried to tell folks that who they are isn’t okay and they don’t belong in this state. And that’s something that we are absolutely appalled by,” she said. 

Ventullo referenced legislation such as Senate File 418, which Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law in February 2025, and stands as one piece of controversial legislation concerning gender identity in Iowa. The laws outline definitions of what the terms woman and man are and removes gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act. 

Ventullo said it is not only the existence of transgender people that’s under attack, but attacks on allies for protecting them, too. 

“There are attacks on caring. Caring for our neighbors, making sure that people are fed, and making sure that kids are learning accurate historical and scientific information in schools,” she said. “We really want to remind folks that they are welcome.” 

Caldwell said Ragers for Charity wanted to create a safe space for individuals over the age of 18 to dance and be themselves. Yet despite the issues with the government, they have not received pushback for hosting LGBTQ+ advocacy events locally, and their focus now is on strengthening the Iowa City community.

“We live in Iowa City. My kids go to school in Iowa City, you know, and this is a great community, and I love it so much, and we’re just all together,” she said. 

Ragers for Charity has partnered with other local organizations, such as Tequila Cowgirl and Willow Creek Theatre, which have played significant roles in helping them with events.  

Caldwell has transgender people in her life who have impacted her advocacy efforts. She has seen her son’s partner, in particular, face systemic issues with changing their name and cultivating their identity after transitioning

According to the Iowa Courts website, besides divorce cases, to legally change a name, one must file a $195 electronic petition through the Iowa judicial court, unless approved by a judge to not submit electronically.  Senate file 418 also requires the designation of the sex to be listed in birth certificates. This removes the ability to later amend sex markers.

“I’ve never personally experienced discrimination for myself, but I want people to know that there are cis people out here who are supportive of trans people,” she said.

Alex Lovejoy is an in-law of Caldwell and a frequent attendee and volunteer for Ragers for Charity. Lovejoy was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and grew up in Marion, Iowa, where they said are places not as open to transgender people. When they lived in Des Moines, Lovejoy would attend board meetings with their teacher, who identified as gay. 

“I didn’t even know back in the day what any of that was. And so to have someone who was like a light in my life that showed me, this is normal, it was amazing for me. This is something that people should be aware of and be celebrated,” they said.

Lovejoy began transitioning at 14 years old, but due to the unwelcoming and discriminatory sentiments from their family, had to undergo the process on their own. At 18 years olf, they saved up enough money for top surgery and hormone medication. 

They said lawmakers specifically target transgender people in the medical industry. Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill, House File 1049, prohibited Iowa Medicaid from covering gender-affirming surgery and hormone replacement therapy, imposing limits on low-income transgender individuals. This went into effect on July 1, 2025.

Lovejoy said providing resources for transgender people in schools, workplaces, and community centers is key to combatting these setbacks and raising awareness, especially for homeless transgender communities, which will go a long way.

“I’m very proud to be a citizen of Iowa City and see the change that’s coming with Iowa. But I definitely feel like getting that awareness out that being gay, trans, LGBTQ+ is okay. It isn’t a bad thing,” they said.

Another issue Lovejoy mentioned was the importance of maintaining critical funding for the national suicide hotline, known as 988. On July. 17, 2025, the federally funded program ended the Press 3 Option, which specialized in LGBTQ+ youth services, according to a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration statement. 

“I really just want people to know that people who are LGBTQ+ are just like them. It’s not a matter of, I don’t see, what type of gender you are or what you identify as. It’s, we are all just people. Why would you be negative towards your fellow sister and brother?” they said.

Southwest Iowa organizer for Trans Day of Visibility and Johnson County Supervisor, Mandi Remington, was also in attendance. She said she had reached out to Ragers for Charity to do a fundraiser for the Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund last December.

Remington said that due to the anti-transgender legislation, Trans Day of Visibility was started three years ago to protect and advocate for transgender people in Iowa. 

“Two of my kids are trans, and there had previously always been a small protest, a rally of some kind, observation, celebration, something at the Pentecrest. And I wasn’t seeing it on the calendar, and I wasn’t seeing it on the calendar, for LGBTQ+ community events and protests,” she said. 

Remington said the capacity to organize every event dedicated to LGBTQ+ awareness was difficult, so instead she recruited various organizations to hold week-long events. 

“Essentially, it gets folks together who are doing things and makes it more of a bigger impact than it would be individually,” she said. 

She said the Trumpet Blossom concert on March 26 raised $1,084, excluding uncalculated QR code donations. The money from that event will be given to the Trans Mutual Aid fund to give gender affirming care and medical supplies to Iowans.

Remington believes Iowa City is very affirming of transgender realities and said she would expect more hurdles if she had organized in other parts of Iowa. 

“Sometimes the articles online will get some nasty comments, but most of those are from people who don’t even live in our community, so I can just ignore that,” she said. “As the state and now the nation continue to attack the trans community, we need to continue to make sure that we’re providing both practical support for them.”