Iowa LGBTQ+ group slams Republican bill that would “erase existence” of transgender persons

DES MOINES – The Iowa House Judiciary Committee released the Iowa Civil Rights Removal Act, HSB 242, a bill that would remove transgender Iowans completely from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, remove their ability to change the gender marker on the birth certificate, and would erase them under the law.

One Iowa Executive Director, Max Mowitz, condemned the proposal in a statement:

“This is the worst bill we have ever seen come out of the Iowa Legislature, and that is a high bar. This would wreak havoc on the lives of transgender people across the state, upending their ability to do basic things like rent an apartment or get a credit card.

More than that, it removes their ability to get government documents that match their gender and legally defines them out of existence. The consequences of this bill will also serve to weaken protections for intersex and cisgender Iowans who fail to meet the rigid gender assumptions contained within.

This bill is pointless, unnecessary, and unbelievably cruel. Transgender Iowans are our friends, our neighbors, and our coworkers. We deserve the same fundamental rights, dignity, and respect as anyone else. This legislation will not improve the life of a single Iowan, but it will undoubtedly make the lives of transgender Iowans worse. We call on legislators to reject this proposal and get back to work on policies that make our state better for everyone.”

One Iowa Action is a 501(c)(4) organization working to preserve and advance the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) Iowans through grassroots efforts, voter education and advocacy.

Nationally, President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement have targeted trans rights for deletion, and aim to rollback progress in the LGBTQ+ lifestyle in American society.