DES MOINES, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds introduced a bill that critics say is an attempt to systematically erase transgender Iowans’ existence.
Dubbed the LGBTQ Erasure Act by critics, HSB 649 would legally define the word mother as only being female and the word father as only being male, would require transgender Iowans to have birth certificates and drivers or state licenses that list their sex assigned at birth and their gender identity, and redefines the term equal to not mean ‘same’ or identical’.
One Iowa Action said the legislation attacks transgender Iowans, same-sex parents and their children, and erases non-binary Iowans from state law entirely.
We demand that Governor Reynolds stop her cruel, relentless attacks on the LGBTQ community and start focusing on things that matter: funding our schools, lowering our cancer rates, and cleaning up our water.
Over and over again, the focus at the statehouse seems to be on relegating LGBTQ Iowans to second-class status. We have had enough. We showed up in massive numbers to stop the attack on our trans siblings, and we will show up again if this harmful legislation moves a single step forward.”
One Iowa Action Executive Director Courtney Reyes
Iowa Safe Schools also criticized the bill, saying it segregates transgender Iowans in state owned, operated, or funded facilities.
This bill is an affront to everything we’re about as Iowans. Governor Reynolds has made it crystal clear that transgender Iowans are not welcome in their own state. Our organization would strongly suggest that the Governor retake elementary civics class – ‘separate but equal’ is inherently unconstitutional. Our organization will fight tirelessly to ensure our students are afforded equal treatment under the law
Executive Director of Iowa Safe Schools Becky Tayler
Gov. Reynolds in a statement defended her new bill and said it protects women’s spaces.
Women and men are not identical, they possess unique biological differences. That’s not controversial, it’s common sense. Just like we did with girls’ sports, this bill protects women’s spaces and rights afforded to us by Iowa law and the constitution. It’s unfortunate that defining a woman in code has become necessary to protect spaces where women’s health, safety, and privacy are being threatened like domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers. The bill allows the law to recognize biological differences while forbidding unfair discrimination.
Gov. Kim Reynolds