DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has become the first state in the nation to pass legislation that removes gender identity protections from its civil rights code. The bill, which faced vocal opposition, could leave transgender individuals vulnerable to discrimination.
The measure advanced swiftly through the legislative process, passing the state Senate on Thursday and the House of Representatives shortly after. Republicans in the House were joined by all Democrats in opposing the bill. The legislation redefines male and female, aligning gender with biological sex, and explicitly states that gender is not a synonym for gender identity, expression, or role.
This action marks the first time a U.S. state has removed non-discrimination protections based on gender identity, according to Logan Casey, director of policy research at the Movement Advancement Project, an LGBTQ+ rights think tank.
Protesters fill the Iowa state Capitol to denounce a bill that would strip the state civil rights code of protections based on gender identity, Feb. 27, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has previously signed measures restricting transgender students’ participation in sports and access to public bathrooms, will now receive the bill. Her office has not yet commented on whether she intends to sign the bill into law. If signed, the changes will take effect on July 1.
Hundreds of LGBTQ+ advocates gathered at the Iowa State Capitol, carrying signs and chanting slogans. Police presence was heavy, with state troopers stationed throughout the building. Public hearings saw an overwhelming majority of testimonies against the bill. Following the vote, protesters in the House gallery voiced their disapproval.
Supporters of the bill argue that the current law inaccurately represents the concept of gender transition and provides transgender women access to spaces intended for those assigned female at birth. Iowa state Rep. Steven Holt, who managed the bill, argued that these changes protect ‘commonsense’ laws on sports and bathroom access.
Protesters sit in the rotunda at the Iowa state Capitol to denounce a bill that would strip the state civil rights code of protections based on gender identity, Feb. 27, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa’s current civil rights law addresses discrimination based on various factors, but sexual orientation and gender identity were added to the list in 2007. Iowa state Rep. Aime Wichtendahl, a transgender woman, shared her personal story in opposition to the bill, emphasizing the potential harm it could cause.
Approximately half the states in the U.S. currently include gender identity in their civil rights codes. Several states do not have specific protections but extend those protections to gender identity through legal interpretations.
Lawmakers are present to vote on a bill that would strip the state civil rights code of protections based on gender identity, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa’s Supreme Court has previously rejected the argument that discrimination based on sex includes discrimination based on gender identity. Several legislatures, influenced by an executive order from President Donald Trump, are considering laws that define male and female based on biological sex. Trump also signed orders related to transgender individuals in the military and sports.
On social media, Trump expressed support for the Iowa bill, urging the state to remove “Radical Gender Ideology” from its laws.
