(NIT photo)
DES MOINES Today, Governor Kim Reynolds signed Iowa Senate File 418 into law, clarifying gender identities yet infuriating some who say the bill strips transgender and non-binary Iowans of critical protections against discrimination.
“Today, I am signing into law a bill that safeguards the rights of women and girls.
It is common sense to acknowledge the obvious biological differences between men and women. In fact, it is necessary to secure genuine equal protection for women and girls.
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.
It is also why Iowa has enacted laws protecting girls’ sports for girls and women’s private spaces like bathrooms and locker rooms.
But unfortunately, these commonsense protections were at risk because, 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.
I know this is a sensitive issue for some, many of whom have heard misinformation about what this bill does. The truth is that it simply brings Iowa in line with the federal Civil Rights Code, as well as most states.
We all agree that every Iowan, without exception, deserves respect and dignity. We are all children of God, and no law changes that.
What this bill does accomplish is to strengthen protections for women and girls, and I believe that is the right thing to do.”
https://x.com/IAGovernor/status/1895575346470375479
On the other side of the coin, advocates for trans rights felt differently. According to One Iowa, an organization working to preserve and advance the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) Iowans:
Today, Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law a bill removing gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, officially stripping transgender and non-binary Iowans of critical protections against discrimination in housing, employment, education, public accommodations, credit practices, and more.
With this decision, Iowa became the first state in the nation to rescind civil rights protections from an entire protected class—erasing decades of progress and tarnishing Iowa’s legacy as a leader in civil rights.
Advocates warned that this law would have devastating consequences—not just for transgender Iowans, but for the state’s workforce, economy, and reputation. Civil rights groups, faith leaders, small business owners, and community organizations spoke out against the legislation, emphasizing that it would make Iowa a less competitive, less welcoming place to live and work.
One Iowa Executive Director, Max Mowitz, condemned the Governor’s decision:
“Governor Reynolds has chosen to put Iowa on the wrong side of history. By signing this bill into law, she has made it legal to discriminate against transgender Iowans in nearly every aspect of life—where they live, where they work, and where they go to school. This law sends a devastating message: that transgender Iowans are not worthy of the same rights, dignity, and protections as their neighbors.
No one should have to live in fear of being denied housing, fired from their job, or excluded from public life simply because of who they are. Transgender Iowans are part of every community in this state—our families, our workplaces, our schools, our places of worship. They deserve the same safety, stability, and opportunity as anyone else. This law will cause real harm, making daily life harder and more uncertain for countless Iowans who simply want to live openly and authentically. History will not look kindly on this moment.”
Statement from Bethany Snyder, Board Chair of One Iowa Action:
“Iowa is our home. Our community is here, our work is here, and we want to stay. But my family is scared. With every new law stripping away rights, Iowa feels less like a place where we can safely build our future. Families are making plans to leave because they no longer feel protected. We may have to do the same.
This isn’t just politics—it’s personal. No one should have to leave their home to feel safe, but that is the reality for too many of us. Iowa should be a place where all families, including mine, can thrive without fear.”
We are profoundly grateful to the coalition of organizations, advocates, and everyday Iowans who stood against this injustice. Many spent their time, energy, and resources fighting for fairness, speaking out against this law, and supporting transgender Iowans in a moment of crisis. Their commitment to justice has not gone unnoticed, and it will not be in vain.
One Iowa and One Iowa Action will not give up on this fight. We will continue working to restore civil rights protections for transgender Iowans, and we will not stop until Iowa is a state that upholds fairness, dignity, and equality for all.
Nothing but putting a price tag for murder on their head just because you disagree with they way an individual that hurts no one wants to live their life.
“We all agree that every Iowan, without exception, deserves respect and dignity. We are all children of God, and no law changes that.”
This is the biggest lie of all that she told. Her ALEC buddy, Henry Stone, has a bill that says it is ok for people to bully transgender kids. These bills come directly from ALEC. Neither Reynolds or Stone has the intelligence to write these bills themselves.