Iowa Removes Gender Identity Protections, Prompting Debate
Des Moines, IA – Governor Kim Reynolds has signed Senate File 418, a measure removing “gender identity” from Iowa’s civil rights code. The move has ignited a firestorm of controversy, placing Iowa at the forefront of a national debate.
Opponents of the bill have been vocal in their condemnation. Anne Discher, executive director of Common Good Iowa, stated the measure “belies Iowa’s open-minded reputation and sends the wrong message to the rest of the nation.”
Supporters of the law, which was the first bill Reynolds signed this year, argue that including gender identity in the civil rights code could threaten existing laws concerning transgender participation in sports and the use of public restrooms. These supporters claim the new legislation clarifies existing “common sense” regulations.
Iowa’s Civil Rights Act was originally passed in 1965. Before Governor Reynolds signed the bill, hundreds of protesters gathered at the Statehouse in Des Moines to voice their opposition. Discher further argued that the decision demonstrated a disconnect between Iowa lawmakers and their constituents.
If the law survives any potential court challenges, it is scheduled to go into effect on July 1.
