On February 28, Iowa became the first state to remove gender identity as a protected class from antidiscrimination practices after Governor Kim Reynolds signed a house bill removing it from the Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965. House bill 242 went into effect on July 1, meaning transgender and nonbinary citizens of Iowa no longer receive protection from housing, economic support, public, retail, and education discrimination. Reynolds stated, “It is why we have men and women’s bathrooms, but not men and women’s conference rooms; girls’ and boys’ sports, but not girls’ math and boys’ math; separate men and women’s prisons, but not different laws for men and women. It is about the biological differences, and that is all.”
Yes, there is a biological difference between the male and female sex, but being transgender or nonbinary is an identity. It is about how someone feels comfortable in their own skin and does not cause harm to anyone. But with this being passed, many students and kids around the state who already face enough challenges as it is will be affected. When you go after a minority of people and dehumanize them by taking protection, away it becomes more of an issue than it needs to be.
It will take forever to get these rights back for transgender and nonbinary citizens of Iowa and will increase issues with the rights they already have. Iowa added gender identity to the Civil Rights Code in 2007, and the LGBTQ community has fought for 18 years to keep it going so they could be just as equal to other citizens of Iowa, but yet have it stripped away due to “blurred lines” seen by the Iowa legislature. “But unfortunately, these commonsense protections were at risk because… the Civil Rights Code blurred the biological line between the sexes. It has also forced Iowa taxpayers to pay for gender reassignment surgeries,” Reynolds said in a statement posted on social media platforms.
The Iowa Civil Rights Code was made to make sure that every citizen in Iowa is equal under law for all minorities not to just blur lines. The reason why we pay taxes in the state is for everyone to have a better life, fixing communities, equality for all, helping each other out so we can support ourselves and our neighbors. Removing protection for LGBTQ students in education is an example of how dangerous it can be making that step, as the LGBTQ community already faces bullying and discrimination, even with protection. Removing it, students in the community that have faced bullying can face issues like self-harm, drug usage, or even suicide. With 60 percent of transgender or nonbinary students facing harassment within their campus according to Glensen.org. Removing protection could increase harassment or other discriminatory practices against LGBTQ students. It is also unlawful to do any discriminatory practices according to chapter 216 of the Civil Rights code section 216.9 1: “It is unfair… for any educational institution.” It shouldn’t be unfair to discriminate on one group who wants the same opportunity of education as other minorities. Students who are also employed or trying to get employed to help support themselves and their families while still going to school are having support stripped away, adding to the issue, removing fair rights that other workers have, like financial support, or income. Removing education protections and financial protections is more than just removing antidiscrimination practices, its removing stability, mental and physical health, and their right as a minority and a human being.
People have many different beliefs and opinions on transgender and nonbinary minorities, but an opinion that someone has should not control another person’s life when there are many other issues to be worried about. Iowa has been facing problems such as nonprofit organizations at risk due to federal funding cuts, lack of financial support for farmers, housing, and refugee support, according to Iowanonprofitalliance.org. Removing protection for a group of Iowans is a huge step in the wrong direction for the Civil Rights Code, dehumanizing advocacy, and rights the LGBTQ community has fought for. We should deal with other problems instead of discrimination, against one particular group.