WASHINGTON, March 1 – Iowa has become the first U.S. state to eliminate gender identity protections from its civil rights law. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds signed the bill, which removes safeguards for transgender people, the day after the Republican-controlled legislature approved it. Despite protests and prolonged debate, the measure is set to take effect on July 1.
In a social media video, Reynolds stated the new law “safeguards the rights of women and girls.” She added, “Before I signed this bill, the Civil Rights Code blurred the biological line between the sexes.”
This move marks the latest setback for transgender Americans since President Donald Trump’s return to power. During his initial days in office, Trump declared the federal government would only recognize two genders: male and female. He has since taken actions that have negatively impacted transgender people.
Reynolds upheld Republican arguments on this issue, claiming the law aligns Iowa with the federal civil rights code. Trump expressed support for the bill on Truth Social before it was signed, posting, “Thank you Iowa!” and referencing his efforts to counter what he termed “Radical Gender Ideology.”
Previously, Reynolds authorized measures restricting transgender students’ participation in sports and access to bathrooms. Critics have condemned the bill as “barbaric.”
Mark Stringer, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), stated on Thursday, “Today is a difficult day for all Iowans who rely on the rule of law to protect their basic human rights.” He further called it “unacceptable” that the state would be “the first to specifically single out transgender people for removal of their legal rights as enshrined in state antidiscrimination law.”
Transgender rights have gained considerable attention in the United States, even though transgender people represent a small minority of the population. U.S. media reported that hundreds of protesters gathered at the state capitol prior to the vote on Thursday, carrying rainbow flags and chanting, “No hate in our state.”
The measure defines gender as a person’s sex at birth and clarifies that gender “shall not be considered a synonym or shorthand expression for gender identity, experienced gender, gender expression, or gender role.” It also removes gender identity from the protected characteristics list in the state’s anti-discrimination law, which includes ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, and others. — AFP
