Iowa Republicans are moving forward with a bill that would remove gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, potentially eliminating protections for transgender individuals in the state.
On Monday, lawmakers fast-tracked the bill through the committee process, significantly speeding up what usually takes days or weeks.
Public Response
During the hearing, both supporters and opponents had the chance to speak.
“It’s fundamentally against the principles of Iowa and even our state motto to take rights away from people,” said Debra Salowitz, who opposes the bill.
Amber Williams, who supports it, stated, “Biological differences impact safety, fairness, and competition. Policies that blur these distinctions threaten the protections women have fought hard to secure.”
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the packed hearing room, with some confronting law enforcement. A few were arrested following altercations with state troopers.
Lawmakers Weigh In
The bill’s author, Rep. Steve Holt (R-Denison), defended the measure, arguing that gender identity protections conflict with laws restricting transgender minors from receiving medical procedures, participating in female sports, or using restrooms that align with their gender identity.
“Liberal Democrats who once championed women’s rights, who helped forge women’s sports and Title IX, are now perfectly okay with erasing women,” Holt said.
Rep. Lindsay James (D-Dubuque) opposed the bill, stating, “This bill is legalizing hate against our own Iowans. Christian scriptures are clear: we do not get to pick and choose who our neighbors are, but we are commanded to love them.”
The House Judiciary Committee approved the bill in a 13-8 vote, making it eligible for debate in the full House as early as Thursday.
Broader Implications
Currently, Iowa law protects transgender individuals from discrimination in employment, housing, and credit. If the bill passes, those protections would be removed, raising concerns among advocacy groups.
Keenan Crow of LGBTQ advocacy group One Iowa warned, “If this is removed, people can discriminate against transgender individuals. They can deny them a credit card or an apartment rental simply based on their gender identity.”
Holt defended the measure by pointing out that 27 other states and the federal government do not include gender identity as a protected class in civil rights laws.
Additionally, the bill would redefine sex and gender in Iowa law as being strictly male or female, based on birth assignment. It would also prevent transgender individuals from updating their birth certificates to reflect their gender identity.
Republican Dissent
Not all Republicans support the bill. Rep. Austin Harris (R-Moulton), Iowa’s only openly gay Republican legislator, publicly opposed it, stating, “I will oppose stripping Iowans of their civil rights protections with every fiber of my being.”
Rep. Brian Lohse (R-Bondurant) also voiced concerns, particularly about potential unintended consequences for employment discrimination laws and civil rights protections in other areas.
“I cannot, in good conscience, vote to take away existing statutory rights from Iowans currently holding them, especially when it means the prospect of being denied basic human needs,” Lohse said.
What’s Next?
Democrats have called for a public hearing before the full House debate. That hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Iowa Statehouse. Meanwhile, the Senate will begin considering its version of the bill on Tuesday, with a subcommittee meeting scheduled for noon.
