Iowa passes bill removing transgender civil rights protections, awaits Governor's approval

Iowa lawmakers have passed a controversial bill removing gender identity protections from the state's civil rights law, making Iowa the first state in the U.S. to take such action. The legislation, which passed through the GOP-controlled Senate and House on party lines, has sparked significant protests, with hundreds of LGBTQ+ advocates demonstrating at the Capitol. If signed by Governor Kim Reynolds, who has previously supported anti-transgender measures, the law would redefine 'sex' to only include male and female as determined at birth and strip protections that have been in place for 18 years. Opponents, including Iowa's first openly transgender legislator, Amie Wichtendahl, argue that the bill will expose transgender individuals to discrimination in employment and housing. Trump's recent endorsement of the measure aligns with his broader agenda against LGBTQ+ protections, emphasizing a binary view of gender. The bill now awaits Governor Reynolds' signature to become law.