Trans activists storm Iowa Capitol trying to stop gender bill

A mob of trans activists stormed the Iowa Capitol Thursday, trying to stop lawmakers from approving a bill that would remove gender identity protections.

The colorfully clad group sang, chanted and shouted, sometimes profanely, in hopes of dissuading legislators from removing gender identity as a protected class under the state’s Civil Rights Act.

“We are trans bi queer together, and we are singing for our lives,” they said, also chanting, “trans rights are human rights” and “f— you, fascists.” 

Police closed access to the hallway where a hearing was taking place Thursday, blocking the mob from advancing further into the building. Police could be seen holding orange signs saying “The Hallway is CLOSED” in video posted by the Associated Press. 

Republicans, who control the Legislature and the governorship, say the change is necessary to uphold existing laws that ban gender-altering treatments for minors and boys from competing in girls’ sports, the Des Moines Register reported. 

“The Legislature in recent years has passed bills that garnered strong support protecting women and children in girls’ sports, in restrooms in schools and also to protect the taxpayers from having to pay for elective sex change operations under Medicaid,” said Sen. Jason Schultz, a Republican who chairs the Judiciary Committee. “We find ourselves in the peculiar position of being the only state in the country in which we have the words gender identity in the civil rights code and also protections for women, children and taxpayers. They are at odds.” 

But Democrats say the measure, Senate File 418, opens trans people up to discrimination in everything from housing to employment. 

Schultz, however, said those fears are unfounded, according to the Register. 

“The rhetorical excess that we hear is insulting to the people of Iowa, to your constituents,” he said, addressing objections raised by Sen. Matt Blake, a Democrat. “It is the most unrealistic cartoon and caricature of reality that you could imagine.” 

Republicans are fast-tracking the legislation, which could reach Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk Thursday night, the Register reported. Reynolds signed the previously mentioned laws about restricting trans surgeries and bathroom and sports teams’ access. 

The state’s Supreme Court has also ruled against the argument that gender identity is included in sex discrimination, AP reported. 

Iowa added gender identity to its Civil Rights law in 2007, when Democrats controlled the Legislature. If removed, it would be the first state to explicitly remove those protections, according to a pro-LGBT group referenced by the AP. 

The Georgia Legislature this week backed away from a plan to remove gender protections from the state’s hate crimes law, the AP also reported.