The Iowa Legislature on Thursday rejected a bill that would have: remove gender identity From state civil rights laws.
All 3 members On Wednesday, half of the subcommittee voted not to advance the bill. the bill has been referred It was submitted to the Iowa House Judiciary Committee last week.
This is what the bill would look like: removed gender identity As a protected class under the Iowa Civil Rights Act. But it would also add to the law “a diagnosis of any condition related to gender dysphoria or gender identity disorder to the definition of ‘disability.'”
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a pro-LGBTQ advocacy group, celebrated the bill’s failure Thursday in a post on Platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Victory: Iowa House Subcommittee Announces It Will Not Advance Bill to Remove Gender Identity from Iowa Civil Rights Law!” HRC mentioned in that post. “This will ensure that LGBTQ+ Iowans remain protected citizens. The movement for equality is strong.”
This failure to advance also comes amid intense political debate and legal scrutiny focused on LGBTQ rights. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) reported last month that state legislatures have introduced more than 275 bills aimed at LGBTQ rights for consideration during the 2024 session. The bill centers on issues such as gender-affirming care and restrictions on LGBTQ speech.
“Transgender people across the country are being fueled by extremist politics aimed at erasing us from public life and attempting to control our bodies and lives,” ACLU attorney Harper Seldin said in a statement. “We are enduring a historic and dangerous undertaking.”
“Taken together, these proposals are a blatant effort to deny transgender people the freedom to be themselves in schools and workplaces, as well as the medical support many of them need to survive.” said. “We at the ACLU and our national affiliate network stand ready to defend our freedoms and families from this baseless attack.”
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
