Iowa lawmakers stripped gender identity from the state’s civil rights code, exposing transgender residents to unchecked bias and prompting a surge in formal complaints.
At a Glance
- Senate File 418 takes effect on July 1, 2025.
- The law removes gender identity as a protected class under the Iowa Civil Rights Act.
- More than 108 discrimination complaints were filed in the last two years.
- The measure prohibits changing the sex designation on birth certificates.
- Gender-affirming care is excluded from Medicaid coverage.
Shock Legislation
On July 1, 2025, Iowa became the first U.S. state to eliminate gender identity protections when Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 418 into law, as reported by AP News. This legislation redefines “male” and “female” solely by birth-assigned anatomy and removes nondiscrimination safeguards for transgender and nonbinary Iowans in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations.
Critics warned that barring updates to gender markers on birth certificates will leave many residents without valid identification, increasing confrontations with law enforcement and service providers. Opponents called the week-long legislative debate a “legislative ambush” and decried the rollback of protections first enacted in 2007.
Cascade of Complaints
Transgender advocates point to a dramatic increase in grievances filed with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission. Between July 2023 and June 2025, the commission logged 108 complaints citing gender identity discrimination—nearly double the previous two-year period. Complainants report wrongful job terminations, housing denials, and refusals of access to public restrooms, illustrating the law’s immediate human cost.
The Movement Advancement Project’s state equality index confirms that Iowa now stands alone in rescinding gender identity protections, whereas 25 other states explicitly safeguard gender identity under their civil rights statutes. Legal experts advise that, in the absence of state-level remedies, transgender Iowans must rely on federal rulings such as the Supreme Court’s Bostock v. Clayton County decision, which covers employment discrimination but leaves gaps in housing and public accommodations law.
Authorities Defend Move
Supporters argue Senate File 418 restores “common-sense” definitions of sex and protects women’s rights in single-sex spaces. Gov. Reynolds stated the revision secures “genuine equal protection for women and girls” and aligns Iowa law with biological reality. Proponents note that the Iowa Civil Rights Commission will continue enforcing federal nondiscrimination statutes and that affected individuals can seek relief through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The full text and legislative history of Senate File 418 are available in the Iowa Legislature’s archives. As national and local advocacy groups mobilize emergency legal challenges and support networks, the state braces for a prolonged battle over transgender rights in the heartland.
