“The Bill Is Dead”: Anti-Trans Bill Is Done Already

So much for that.

Nine Republican lawmakers’ attempt to strip gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act has failed just mere hours after being initially introduced.

“As Judiciary Chair, I want to assure you that I will not advance this legislation. The first step in the process would be for the bill to receive a sub-committee. It WILL NOT receive a sub-committee,” wrote State Rep. Steve Holt in an email to an Iowan.

He also tweeted out his decision:

https://twitter.com/stevencholt/status/1222700399288901632?s=20

A screenshot of that email, reportedly passed on by Republican State Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, was quickly shared this evening on social media, as it signaled that this particular piece of legislation would not move forward in any way, at least in the Iowa House.

Activists around the state were quickly mobilized today to email and call legislators to encourage them to not advance the bill. Had such a bill actually been successful, it would likely mean that transgender Iowans would lose their protected status and could be discriminated against in employment, housing and more.

Nine Republican legislators, mostly from very conservative districts, signed on to House File 2164 this morning. None of them, however, were actually on the Judiciary Committee.

by Pat Rynard
Posted 1/29/20