DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers made history on Thursday by approving a bill to eliminate gender identity protections from the state’s civil rights code. This move, which faced significant opposition, could potentially expose transgender individuals to discrimination in various areas of life.
The legislation rapidly advanced through the legislative process, introduced just a week prior. The state Senate approved the bill along party lines on Thursday. The House followed suit soon after, with five Republican representatives joining all Democrats in voting against it.
The bill removes gender identity as a protected class from the civil rights law. It also defines “female” and “male,” and states that “gender” is synonymous with “sex.” Furthermore, gender identity, experienced gender, gender expression, or gender role would not be considered synonyms for sex. Logan Casey from the Movement Advancement Project highlighted that this would be the first U.S. legislative action to remove protections based on gender identity.
The bill now goes to Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who previously signed policies restricting transgender students’ participation in sports and access to public bathrooms. A spokesperson for Reynolds has declined to comment on whether she will sign the bill. If enacted, the law will take effect on July 1.
Protests erupted in the state capitol on Thursday. Hundreds of LGBTQ+ advocates waved signs and chanted slogans while a heavy police presence was stationed throughout the Capitol rotunda. Of those who testified at a public hearing, most opposed the bill.
Supporters of the change argue that the current law incorrectly validates the concept of transitioning genders and grants transgender women access to spaces that should be reserved for those assigned female at birth. Rep. Steven Holt stated that the inclusion of gender identity in the civil rights code threatens existing laws, further defending the law’s position. “The legislature of Iowa.. has a vested interest and solemn responsibility to stand up for immutable truth,” Holt said.
The Iowa action comes as the Georgia House chose not to remove gender protections from its hate crimes law. Iowa’s current civil rights law protects against discrimination based on race, color, creed, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, or disability status. In 2007, sexual orientation and gender identity were added to Iowa’s Civil Rights Act of 1965. Rep. Aime Wichtendahl, a transgender woman, offered her personal story in opposition to the bill. “I transitioned to save my life,” she said. “…The sum total of every anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ bill is to make our existence illegal.”
According to the Movement Advancement Project, approximately half of U.S. states include gender identity protections in their civil rights codes. Iowa’s Supreme Court has previously ruled that discrimination based on sex does not encompass the same as discrimination based on gender identity. Several Republican-led legislatures are also pushing to enact laws establishing legal definitions of male and female based on reproductive organs at birth.
On his Truth Social site, Donald Trump wrote, “Iowa, a beautiful State that I have won BIG every time, has a Bill to remove Radical Gender Ideology from their Laws. Iowa should follow the lead of my Executive Order, saying there are only two genders, and pass this Bill – AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. Thank you Iowa!”
