On Friday, Iowa made history by becoming the first state in the United States to eliminate gender identity protections from its civil rights code. Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law that critics argue will leave transgender individuals and other Iowans vulnerable to discrimination in various aspects of daily life.
The new law, effective July 1, is a culmination of efforts by Reynolds and Iowa Republicans to limit transgender students' access to facilities like bathrooms and locker rooms, as well as their participation in sports teams. The rationale behind these actions is to safeguard individuals assigned female at birth. Republicans contend that these policies are incompatible with a civil rights code that includes gender identity protections.
