Iowa Removes Gender Identity From Civil Rights Code

Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill that removes gender identity as a protected class, in a stated effort to align with the federal Civil Rights Code. 

The Details: Reynolds said the law led to taxpayer-funded gender transition surgeries and a general lack of clarity around sex and gender. Over 2,500 people entered the capitol to protest the bill on the day it passed. This is the first ever occurrence of a state removing the rights of a previously protected class, though it’s unclear how exactly it will be enforced. 

Key Quotes: “We all agree that every Iowan, without exception, deserves respect and dignity,” Reynolds said. “What this bill does accomplish is to strengthen protections for women and girls, and I believe that it is the right thing to do.” Iowa state Rep. Aime Wichtendahl (D), the first-ever trans member of the state’s General Assembly, said the bill “revokes protections to our homes and our ability to access credit. In other words, it deprives us of our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.”

For Context: Under the Trump administration, there has been a focus on removing “gender ideology,” including executive orders such as restrictions on transgender people in the military. Critics say this will enable more discrimination against trans individuals.

How The Media Covered It: The Hill (Center bias) included quotes from both Republicans and Democrats explaining their stance on the bill. The report included a statistic that “82 percent of transgender people had experienced discrimination at work.” Fox News (Right) highlighted that the bill is following new federal civil rights codes under the Trump administration to remove gender identity as a protected class. Fox also highlighted Reynolds’ quote about women and girls. NBC News (Lean Left) emphasized the Trump administration's focus on transgender people, and how other state laws could be struck down if the civil rights codes include protections for transgender individuals.