Protesters Challenge Iowa Bill to Remove Gender Identity Rights

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Protesters flooded the Iowa state Capitol on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, voicing their opposition to a bill that aims to remove gender identity protections from the state’s civil rights code. The legislation, pushed by Republican lawmakers, has ignited significant backlash as critics argue it threatens the rights and dignity of transgender individuals.

Shouting slogans such as “trans rights are human rights,” several hundred demonstrators gathered in the Capitol rotunda, carrying rainbow flags and signs denouncing House Study Bill 242. The bill recently passed through two legislative hurdles with Republican support in the House Judiciary Committee, while unanimous opposition came from Democrats along with one Republican.

Mandi Remington, a county supervisor and activist, expressed her concerns during the subcommittee meeting, stating, “It tells an entire group of Iowans — our neighbors, students, coworkers, and family members — that they’re not worthy of the same rights and protections as everyone else.” Iowa’s civil rights law currently protects against discrimination based on factors including gender identity, sex, and sexual orientation.

Despite earlier attempts to introduce similar legislation in past years, this year’s effort marks a pivotal moment for discussions surrounding gender identity rights within the state. Critics argue that removing such protections would open doors to discrimination against transgender Iowans in areas such as employment, housing, and public accommodations.

The bill’s supporters contend that it corrects an error made in 2007, when gender identity was added to Iowa’s Civil Rights Act, claiming it wrongly allowed transgender women access to spaces dedicated to those assigned female at birth. House Speaker Pat Grassley stated that recent court decisions linking gender identity protections to Medicaid-funded transition surgeries have sparked renewed calls for legislative action.

Amber Williams, a lobbyist for the advocacy group Inspired Life, voiced her support for the bill, suggesting that it protects women’s rights to privacy and safety in women’s spaces. “The bill provides clarity in law, ensuring that sex-based protections cannot be overridden by fluid or subjective definitions of gender,” she stated.

If approved, the legislation would explicitly define “female” and “male,” consider “gender” synonymous with “sex,” and eliminate gender identity as a protected characteristic. A range of civil rights advocates, however, argue that these changes could have detrimental effects on the LGBTQ+ community.

The Movement Advancement Project reports that approximately half of U.S. states currently include gender identity in their civil rights codes to protect against discrimination. In Iowa, if passed, House Study Bill 242 could make it the first state to remove existing protections for gender identity.

Supporters of the bill assert that it will clarify laws governing gender in public spaces. However, opponents, including advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, warn that this would exacerbate discrimination and challenge the fundamental rights of vulnerable populations.

The next step for the bill is a vote in the full House, where it must pass through the state Senate and receive approval from Republican Governor Kim Reynolds before becoming law. In contributing to this report, Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, provided additional context.