Iowa Becomes First US State to Remove Gender Identity Protections from Civil Rights Code

Image credits: Rachel Mummey/The New York Times/Redux

Iowa has become the first US state to remove gender identity protections from its civil rights code, after Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law on Friday. The new law, which goes into effect on July 1, has been met with widespread criticism from advocacy groups and Democrats, who argue that it will expose transgender people to discrimination in all aspects of daily life. The law also creates explicit legal definitions of female and male based on their reproductive organs at birth, rejecting the idea that a person can transition to another gender.

The bill's passage follows several years of action from Reynolds and Iowa Republicans to restrict transgender students' use of certain spaces, such as bathrooms and locker rooms, and their participation on sports teams. Republicans say that these policies cannot co-exist with a civil rights code that includes gender identity protections. The law's supporters argue that it is necessary to protect the rights of women and girls, while opponents say that it is a thinly veiled attempt to erase the existence of transgender people from public life.

The controversy surrounding the bill has been intense, with hundreds of LGBTQ+ advocates gathering at the Capitol rotunda to protest the bill's passage. Many have expressed concerns that the law will lead to increased discrimination and violence against transgender people, and have vowed to pursue legal action to challenge the law. The Movement Advancement Project, an LGBTQ+ rights think tank, has noted that Iowa is now the first state in the US to remove nondiscrimination protections based on gender identity.

Some of the key points of the bill include: * The removal of gender identity as a protected class in the Iowa Civil Rights Act * The creation of explicit legal definitions of female and male based on reproductive organs at birth * The rejection of the idea that a person can transition to another gender * The protection of women and girls from discrimination in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations * The potential for increased discrimination and violence against transgender people The bill's supporters and opponents have offered different perspectives on the law, with some arguing that it is necessary to protect the rights of women and girls, while others say that it is a step backwards for transgender rights.

The situation in Iowa is being closely watched by advocacy groups and lawmakers across the US, as it sets a precedent for other states to follow. The controversy surrounding the bill is likely to continue, with many expecting a lengthy and contentious legal battle over the law's constitutionality. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen what impact the law will have on the lives of transgender people in Iowa and beyond.