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Legislators advancing bill that would make mis-treatment of transgender people a hate crime

Iowa capitol
Iowa capitol
DES MOINES — The Iowa Senate passed a bill adding gender identity and gender expression to the state’s hate crimes law Tuesday.

The bill passed the Senate with a 27-21 vote. It includes additional, alternative elements defining the various offenses labeled as hate crimes.

Adding gender identity and gender expression to the law would provide transgender Iowans with legal protection from hate crimes.

“The Iowa Senate again came down on the right side of history.” One Iowa (an advocacy group) Executive Director Donna Red Wing said. “For almost a year, we have spoken to Iowans about the need for the addition of gender identity and gender expression to the hate crimes law. Almost 1500 Iowans signed our petition and today the Iowa Senate showed real leadership and a commitment to equality”.

If a person commits an offense classified as a hate crime under the bill against a person or person’s property because of the person’s gender identity or gender expression or because of the person’s association with a person of a certain gender identity or gender expression, the person commits one of the following criminal offenses: assault in violation of individual rights under Code section 708.2C; violations of individual rights under Code section 712.9; criminal mischief in violation of individual rights under Code section 716.6A; or trespass in violation of individual rights under Code section 716.8(3) and (4).

The penalty for a person who commits a hate crime classified as an assault in violation of individual rights under Code section 708.2C ranges from a serious misdemeanor to a class “D” felony depending on the circumstances of the offense.

The bill will now make its way to the Iowa House of Representatives, controlled by Republicans.

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