Iowa becomes first state to remove gender identity protections from civil rights code

Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday signed a bill into law that removes certain protections for transgender people from the state's civil rights code, which opponents claim will put transgender people at risk of discrimination. 

The bill makes Iowa the first state to remove certain protections based on gender identity, but comes after Iowa Republicans passed legislation that bans transgender people from using bathrooms, or from playing on sport teams that do not match their biological sex, per the Associated Press. Republicans claimed that the move is to protect biological women.

“It’s common sense to acknowledge the obvious biological differences between men and women," Reynolds said in a statement. "In fact, it’s necessary to secure genuine equal protection for women and girls.” 

"I know this is a sensitive issue for some, many of whom have heard misinformation about what this bill does," she continued. "The truth is that it simply brings Iowa in line with the federal Civil Rights Code, as well as most states. We all agree that every Iowan, without exception, deserves respect and dignity. We are all children of God, and no law changes that." 

The move comes after the Trump administration issued new guidance that states the federal government only recognizes two genders, male and female. 

The guidance defines female as a "person of the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing eggs (ova)," and male as a "person of the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing sperm."

The guidance additionally noted that transgender surgeries or the use of hormones does not change a person's sex.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.