Iowa enacts law removing 'gender identity' as protected class (Religion Clause)

The State of Iowa has enacted legislation on sex and gender that equates gender with biological sex and removes “gender identity” as a protected class under state law.

“It is common sense to acknowledge the obvious biological differences between men and women,” said Gov. Kim Reynolds. In fact, it is necessary to secure genuine equal protection for women and girls.”

“Unfortunately, these commonsense protections were at risk because, before I signed this bill, the Civil Rights Code blurred the biological line between the sexes,” she added. “It has also forced Iowa taxpayers to pay for gender reassignment surgeries. That is unacceptable to me, and it is unacceptable to most Iowans.”