Iowa Lawmakers Vote to Repeal Transgender Civil Rights Protections

Image credits: Charlie Neibergall/AP

Iowa lawmakers have made history by becoming the first in the nation to approve legislation removing gender identity protections from the state's civil rights code. The measure, which was introduced last week, raced through the legislative process and was approved by the state Senate and House on Thursday, despite massive protests from opponents who argue that it could expose transgender people to discrimination in numerous areas of life. The bill would remove gender identity as a protected class from the state's civil rights law and explicitly define female and male, as well as gender, which would be considered a synonym for sex and "shall not be considered a synonym or shorthand expression for gender identity, experienced gender, gender expression, or gender role."

The measure would be the first legislative action in the US to remove nondiscrimination protections based on gender identity, according to Logan Casey, director of policy research at the Movement Advancement Project, an LGBTQ+ rights think tank. The bill now goes to Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has signed earlier policies banning sports participation and public bathroom access for transgender students. A spokesperson for Reynolds declined to comment on whether she would sign the bill, which would go into effect on July 1 if approved. Hundreds of LGBTQ+ advocates protested the bill at the Capitol rotunda, waving signs reading "Trans rights are human rights" and chanting slogans including "No hate in our state!"

Supporters of the change argue that the current law incorrectly codified the idea that people can transition to another gender and granted transgender women access to spaces such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and sports teams that should be protected for people who were assigned female at birth. However, opponents argue that the bill would further erase transgender people from public life and stigmatize their existence. Iowa state Rep. Aime Wichtendahl, a transgender woman, spoke out against the bill, saying: "The purpose of this bill and the purpose of every anti-trans bill is to further erase us from public life and to stigmatize our existence."

About half of US states include gender identity in their civil rights code to protect against discrimination in housing and public places, such as stores or restaurants, according to the Movement Advancement Project. Several Republican-led legislatures are pushing to enact more laws this year creating legal definitions of male and female based on the reproductive organs at birth, following an executive order from President Donald Trump. The issue has sparked a national debate, with many arguing that such laws would be discriminatory and harmful to transgender people. Here are some key points to consider: * The bill would remove gender identity as a protected class from Iowa's civil rights law * The measure would explicitly define female and male, as well as gender * The bill would go into effect on July 1 if approved by Gov. Reynolds * Hundreds of LGBTQ+ advocates protested the bill at the Capitol rotunda * The issue has sparked a national debate, with many arguing that such laws would be discriminatory and harmful to transgender people

The Iowa lawmakers' actions have been widely criticized by LGBTQ+ advocates and human rights organizations, who argue that the bill would be a major setback for transgender rights. The issue is likely to continue to be debated in the coming months, with many expecting the bill to be challenged in court if it is signed into law. As the debate continues, it is clear that the issue of transgender rights remains a highly contentious and complex one, with many different perspectives and opinions. Ultimately, the outcome of this debate will have a significant impact on the lives of transgender people in Iowa and across the US.