Currently, Republican lawmakers in Iowa are aiming to repeal the state’s civil rights protections for trans individuals.
State Rep. Steven Holt (R) has introduced H.F. 2082, which seeks to remove gender identity as a protected class under the Iowa Civil Rights Act. This act has prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in areas like employment, housing, and public accommodations since 2007. Holt’s bill proposes to redefine “disability” to include gender dysphoria “or any condition related to a gender identity disorder.”
Holt stated, “I think there are many other places in federal and state law that would prevent discrimination because I believe we should all be opposed to discrimination based on one’s race, gender identity, or whatever the case may be.”
However, contrary to his belief, national civil rights laws do not explicitly cover gender identity protections. The few national anti-discrimination protections for gender identity that do exist are largely due to the 2020 Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton Co., which established that discrimination based on gender identity is essentially sex-based discrimination.
LGBTQ+ advocates argue that Holt’s bill does not offer any protections but would instead strip them away from transgender individuals who cannot afford healthcare or have not been diagnosed with gender dysphoria.
Keenan Crow of One Iowa told the Des Moines Register, “Now that they don’t have any housing protections, a landlord can literally just say, ‘No, you’re transgender.’ And that person has no recourse. So, this bill is really harmful and dangerous.”
Holt has expressed his desire for a hearing on the bill but is uncertain about its passage.
He commented, “I just want to talk about it. I want to have a committee and hear discussion about it.”
Crow responded that discussing the removal of civil rights without a pressing need can be harmful.
“It’s not a good conversation to be having when someone is willing to discuss removing the rights of an entire class of people,” they said. “Those rights shouldn’t be up for debate. Transgender people should be able to rent apartments, apply for credit cards, get loans, go out to eat, and book hotel rooms just like anyone else.”
Last month, Iowa saw the introduction of several anti-transgender bills, including one that prohibits gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors, bars trans individuals from using appropriate public restrooms, and requires teachers to report trans students to their parents.
