Source: The Patriot Light | AWK Network | VIEW ORIGINAL POST ==>
Gov. Reynolds signed the law, calling it a step to ’safeguard the rights of women and girls.‘ A transgender lawmaker said the law aims ’to further erase us.’
Iowa on Feb. 28 became the first state in the nation to remove gender identity protections from its civil rights code.
A law signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds eliminates “gender identity” as a protected class and redefines legal terms related to sex and gender in state law.
Reynolds said Senate File 418 is a step to “safeguard the rights of women and girls.”
“It is common sense to acknowledge the obvious biological differences between men and women,” Reynolds said in a statement after signing the law, which takes effect on July 1.
“Before I signed this bill, the Civil Rights Code blurred the biological line between the sexes. It has also forced Iowa taxpayers to pay for gender reassignment surgeries. That is unacceptable to me, and it is unacceptable to most Iowans.”
The bill advanced through the Iowa Legislature in a single week, passing the Senate by a 33–15 vote and clearing the House 60–36. While Republicans largely supported the bill, five GOP representatives joined Democrats in opposing it.
