On Friday, Iowa made history by becoming the first state in the United States to eliminate gender identity protections from its civil rights code. Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law that critics argue will leave transgender individuals and other Iowans vulnerable to discrimination in various aspects of daily life.
The new law, effective July 1, is a culmination of efforts by Reynolds and Iowa Republicans to limit transgender students' access to facilities like bathrooms and locker rooms, as well as their participation in sports teams. The rationale behind these actions is to safeguard individuals assigned female at birth. Republicans contend that these policies are incompatible with a civil rights code that includes gender identity protections.
The legislation, swiftly passed after its recent introduction, establishes clear legal definitions of female and male based on reproductive organs at birth, rejecting the notion of gender transition. Reynolds, who had previously proposed a similar bill, emphasized the importance of recognizing biological distinctions between men and women to ensure genuine equal protection for females.
President Donald Trump's executive order early in his term to define the sexes at the federal level spurred several Republican-led states to advocate for laws delineating male and female. Trump expressed support for the Iowa bill on his Truth Social platform following its final approval by the state's House and Senate.
While the bill received bipartisan support, five House Republicans joined Democrats in opposing it. Emotional testimonies were shared, including that of a transgender lawmaker who highlighted the bill's potential impact on the LGBTQ+ community.
Advocates for LGBTQ+ rights gathered at the Capitol to protest the bill, emphasizing the importance of recognizing transgender rights as human rights. Despite the bill's passage, advocacy groups remain committed to defending transgender rights, potentially through legal avenues.
As of July 1, Iowa's civil rights law will prohibit discrimination based on race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, or disability status. The state's Supreme Court has previously ruled against considering discrimination based on gender identity as discrimination based on sex.
Organizations like One Iowa are evaluating the bill's implications and are prepared to explore legal recourse to protect transgender rights in the state.
