Des Moines, Iowa — A bill to remove gender identity protections from the Iowa Civil Rights Act is eligible for debate in the Iowa House Thursday and passed a Senate subcommittee on Tuesday.
Representative Brian Meyer, a Democrat from Des Moines, says Republicans should be addressing other priorities like housing and child care.
All but one Republican on the House Judiciary Committee approved the bill late Monday afternoon. All the Democrats on the panel voted no. Representative Lindsay James is a Democrat from Dubuque.
Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison says having gender identity listed in the Iowa Civil Rights Act elevates the rights of transgender Iowans above others.
Hundreds of people gathered in the Capitol Monday to protest the bill.
They shouted at Republicans who voted for the bill.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider it Wednesday. It’s possible the bill could pass both the House and Senate before the end of the week.
