Iowa’s Republican-led legislature has passed a bill removing gender identity from the state’s anti-discrimination laws, a move that critics say legalises discrimination against transgender and nonbinary people.
The measure, which passed along party lines in both the Senate (33-15) and the House (60-35) on February 27, is now expected to be signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds (R)—who has already signed multiple anti-trans laws since taking office in 2017.
The legislation eliminates gender identity as a protected class in areas such as employment, wages, public accommodations, housing, education, and credit practices. It also legally redefines gender as a fixed, binary concept assigned at birth and prevents it from being used as a substitute for sex. If enacted, Iowa would become the first U.S. state to repeal existing civil rights protections for marginalised groups.
Mass Protests and Public Outrage
The bill’s passage sparked large-scale protests at the Des Moines Capitol, with thousands of demonstrators gathering to oppose the measure. Following the Senate vote, protestors in the gallery erupted into chants of “Who’s next?”, while those in the House chamber loudly booed lawmakers.
Rep. Aime Wichtendahl (D), Iowa’s first and only openly trans legislator, delivered an emotional speech condemning the bill’s impact on transgender Iowans:
“The purpose of this bill is to erase us from public life and to stigmatize our existence—to make our existence illegal, to force us back into the closet. The authors of these bills wish us every harm.”
“It pains me to see how the rights of an entire group of people can be so quickly and easily discarded,” Wichtendahl continued. “It pains me to hear the slander and the fear leveled at the trans community—my community—my friends, and my family, people who just want to live their lives, to be themselves, and to live free of fear. This is a fear that I have known.”
Republicans Claim the Bill ‘Protects Women’
Supporters of the bill argue that it is necessary to “protect women’s rights” by preventing trans women from accessing women’s spaces and sports teams.
Rep. Steven Holt (R), who introduced the bill, accused Democrats of prioritizing gender identity over women’s rights, stating:
“Democrats do not want to talk about the reality of the erasing of women as a result of gender identity based on feelings being elevated to a protected class status in the Iowa code.”
However, Democratic lawmakers challenged this claim, arguing that stripping trans Iowans of protections does nothing to “protect” anyone.
State Sen. Matt Blake (D) pointed out: “If this bill was actually meant to protect someone, we would have narrowed its scope just now.”
When asked about the well-documented discrimination that trans people face in housing, employment, and public spaces, Sen. Jason Schultz (R), the bill’s primary sponsor, dismissed the concern: “I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it.”
A Dark Precedent in Civil Rights History
Iowa is poised to become the first state in the U.S. to reverse existing civil rights protections for any group.
State Sen. Bill Dotzler (D) directly called out Republicans for their role in this historic rollback: “This state is going to become the first state in the nation to back up on civil rights. You get to carry that honor with you as long as you live because you’re going to take the votes to do it. When I go to my grave, I will not have to face that.”
While Gov. Reynolds has yet to sign the bill into law formally, her history of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation suggests she will approve it. During her tenure, she has already signed bans on trans participation in sports, gender-affirming medical care, and classroom discussions of LGBTQ+ issues.
Potential Legal Challenges Ahead
If signed into law, the bill could face immediate legal challenges, as it may violate the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause, which requires states to treat individuals equally under the law.
LGBTQ+ rights groups and civil liberties organizations are expected to challenge the law in court, arguing that it institutionalizes discrimination against transgender Iowans.
However, even if Reynolds vetoed the bill, Republicans have the numbers to override her decision, making the law’s passage almost inevitable.
This legislation is part of a nationwide push by conservative lawmakers to restrict trans rights, fueled by rhetoric from figures like Donald Trump, who has called for:
- The elimination of trans legal recognition,
- The ban of gender-affirming care, and
- The portrayal of trans people as deceitful or mentally unstable.
The fight over trans rights in Iowa reflects a larger battle playing out across the United States, as conservative lawmakers continue efforts to roll back LGBTQ+ protections and redefine gender through policy.
