A wave of protests erupted at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines on Monday as hundreds gathered to oppose a controversial bill that would strip gender identity protections from the state’s Civil Rights Act.
House Study Bill 242 seeks to eliminate gender identity as a protected class in the Iowa Civil Rights Act, reversing protections that have been in place since 2007. If passed, the bill would allow individuals to be fired from jobs, denied housing, or discriminated against based on their gender identity, real or perceived. It also mandates that birth certificates reflect a person’s “sex at birth” and recognise only two sexes: male and female.
Protesters Demand Action
The protest, which drew more than 500 demonstrators, was led by groups such as One Iowa, the state’s largest LGBTQ+ rights organisation, and Iowa We’re The Future, a youth advocacy group.
Chants of “Trans rights are human rights” and “We’re here, we’re queer, we will not disappear” echoed through the Capitol halls as demonstrators demanded the bill’s rejection. Protesters also held signs condemning the proposed legislation.
Police intervened when lawmakers struggled to hear pro-bill testimony over the chants, leading to two arrests.
Lawmakers Speak Out
Several Democratic lawmakers have publicly opposed the bill, including Iowa Rep. Aime Wichtendahl (D), the first openly trans lawmaker in the state legislature.
Rep. Ross Wilburn (D), who has a trans son, also voiced his concerns, warning of the dangerous precedent this bill sets.
“I came to the legislature to create opportunity, not to take away civil rights from any group of people,” Wilburn stated. “Don’t open this door. Leave the civil rights code intact.”
Despite public outcry, the subcommittee voted 2-1 to advance the bill on Monday morning. By the afternoon, the House Judiciary Committee passed it in a 13-8 vote, moving it closer to becoming law.
Former legislative assistant Greg Hauenstein criticised the swift progression of the bill, noting that the late scheduling of a public hearing on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. would limit community input.
If enacted, this would mark the first time in Iowa’s history that a protected class is removed from civil rights protections.
