Iowa removes protections for trans people from the Civil Rights Code

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law that removes protections for transgender people in the state's Civil Rights Code. The bill also defines male and female based on a person's reproductive organs at birth.

Iowa is the first state to remove gender identity protections from its state civil rights code. The law is set to go into effect on July 1.

"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," Reynolds said in a statement released by her office.

In that regard, the governor explained that this is why there are bathrooms for men and women, but not conference rooms for men and women; sports for girls and boys, but not math for girls and math for boys; separate jails for men and women, but not different laws for men and women.

"It is about the biological differences, and that is all," she said.

Similarly, she explained that "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."

The law follows President Donald Trump's executive orders recognizing only two sexes, restricting sex-change operations, and limiting transgender people’s participation in the military. It also includes provisions to protect women in spaces such as sports.