The Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s director of public policy is Laura Hessburg. This criticism is a slightly modified version of remarks she made on February 12 at the House File 2389 public hearing.
House File 2389, a bill that would allow and permit discrimination against trans people, should be rejected, according to the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV). For a number of reasons, we think this act is dangerous, superfluous, and abhorrent. Our comments discuss the negative effects it will have on providing emergency housing and support services to all criminally charged individuals.
In Iowa, ICADV supports 22 native victim service provider organizations, including eight domestic violence shelters, which offer support to those who have committed violent crimes, such as domestic abuse, sexual assault, children, human trafficking, and homicide. Federal grants are the main source of funding for this project. According to non-discrimination rules in federal law under the Violence Against Women Act, the Fair Housing Act and the HUD equitable access rules, companies must guarantee equal access to accommodations and services in order to receive federal funding. For some victims, this bill creates yet another obstacle to receiving assistance services because it directly contradicts federal grant obligations and state law.
Tents are shared living areas. In the past, shelters turned aside mothers fleeing with young children out of an unfounded concern for security, leaving the victims with the children in greater risk and without support. Similarly, they rejected men due to the same misplaced health concerns, which caused the majority of men to refuse to seek assistance.
Since then, discrimination—a major contributor to violence—has been addressed by state and federal non-discrimination laws and policies. Nobody should be surprised by the fact that crime is overwhelmingly experienced by people and communities who experience discrimination. Particularly trans people in Iowa experience incredible rates of prejudice, violence, and homelessness.
Men, women, children, and transgender/nonbinary individuals are then served by Iowa’s domestic violence and sexual abuse tents and crisis facilities. In accordance with federal law and regulation in place for more than ten years, service providers have been working diligently to employ practices and protocols to ensure equitable access to all while securely serving these victims.
Prey service providers are seasoned professionals who place a high priority on meeting the needs of the client seeking services and ensuring everyone’s protection. Their commitment to acting as a source of safety and assistance for crime victims is undermined by this bill, which is unnecessary. The misconception that ensuring transgender Iowans’ access to services or common services that match their gender identity puts the safety or privacy of others in danger is perpetuated by this act. Experience has taught us that this is absurd and risky.
No one is safer or more protected from violence when trans people are discriminated against. It has no effect on lowering the risk of child abuse, rape, domestic violence, people trafficking, or sexual abuse. No one gains more power over their system or security if trans people are discriminated against. In every state, it is illegal to assault another person in a room or shelter. This cost only puts trans people in danger, erects barriers to seeking support and security, and expresses our sincere concern for ensuring the safety of all offense victims.
Violence is a main cause of inequality. Discrimination affects how people react to and meet the needs of survivors as well as how people experience crime. Priority must be given to plans that promote equity and stop discrimination if we want to stop and prevent murder. We implore Iowan lawmakers to oppose this hazardous legislation.
Editor’s note from Laura Belin: Transgender and linear individuals are not included in the renumbered version of Governor Kim Reynolds’ act that defines man, woman, and other conditions. These, Bleeding Heartland went into more detail about this policy.
