House committee approves bill to remove gender identity protections from Iowa Civil Rights Act

DES MOINES — Hundreds of protesters gathered at the statehouse on Monday as a bill to remove gender identity protections from the Iowa Civil Rights Act cleared the House Judiciary Committee on Monday afternoon on a 13-to-8 vote. All but one Republican on the committee approved the bill while all the Democrats on the panel voted no.

Republicans on the committee say having gender identity listed in the Iowa Civil Rights Act elevates the rights of transgender Iowans above others, while Democrats say Republicans should be addressing more important issues.

The bill will be considered by a Senate subcommittee later today.

It’s possible that both the House and the Senate could vote on the measure by the end of the week.