Iowa has made history by becoming the first state in the U.S. to remove gender identity protections from its civil rights code, an action taken after Republican Governor Kim Reynolds signed the legislation into law on Friday.

The new law, which comes into effect on July 1, has incited strong backlash from LGBTQ+ advocates who argue that it will expose transgender individuals to discrimination across various aspects of life. The bill eliminates gender identity as a protected class under Iowa’s Civil Rights Act, a measure first introduced last week that sped through the legislative process amidst widespread protests.

The Iowa legislature passed the bill with the Senate voting 33-15 and the House following suit with a 60-36 vote, largely along party lines. Reynolds defended her decision in a video statement, claiming, “It is common sense to acknowledge the obvious biological differences between men and women,” suggesting that prior laws blurred the biological distinctions between sexes. The legislation also establishes legal definitions of male and female based on reproductive organs at birth.

In a pointed reaction, Iowa state Representative Aime Wichtendahl, the first openly transgender legislator in Iowa, said, “I transitioned to save my life,” emphasizing that the bill's primary aim is to “erase us from public life and to stigmatize our existence.” Her sentiments were echoed by the hundreds of protestors gathered at the Capitol, waving signs advocating for transgender rights.

The rapid passage of the bill was met with opposition from multiple quarters, including a coalition of Democrats and some Republicans who criticized it as unnecessary and harmful. Among them, five House Republicans voted against the measure, highlighting divisions within the party regarding transgender issues.

The national implications of Iowa's legislation resonate with broader Republican initiatives under the Trump administration, which have sought to restrict transgender rights across the board. Trump's administration notably released an executive order defining two sexes, male and female, which has spurred similar legislative actions in other states.

The Iowa Supreme Court has previously established that discrimination based on sex does not inherently cover discrimination based on gender identity. Following the signing of the bill, LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, including One Iowa, have vowed to pursue legal channels to challenge the new law, citing its vague language as a significant concern.

As of the new legislation's effective date, Iowa's civil rights law will still protect against discrimination based on race, color, creed, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, and disability status, but notably excludes gender identity. This transition marks a significant shift in civil rights protections and has the potential to lead to heightened legal battles involving transgender individuals in the state.

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