DES MOINES, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds introduced a bill that critics say is an attempt to systematically erase transgender Iowans’ existence.
Dubbed the LGBTQ Erasure Act by critics, HSB 649 would legally define the word mother as only being female and the word father as only being male, would require transgender Iowans to have birth certificates and drivers or state licenses that list their sex assigned at birth and their gender identity, would require state agencies to only recognize Iowans as their sex assigned at birth, and redefines the term equal to not mean ‘same’ or identical’.
One Iowa Action said the legislation attacks transgender Iowans, same-sex parents and their children, and erases non-binary Iowans from state law entirely.
We demand that Governor Reynolds stop her cruel, relentless attacks on the LGBTQ community and start focusing on things that matter: funding our schools, lowering our cancer rates, and cleaning up our water.
Over and over again, the focus at the statehouse seems to be on relegating LGBTQ Iowans to second-class status. We have had enough. We showed up in massive numbers to stop the attack on our trans siblings, and we will show up again if this harmful legislation moves a single step forward.”
One Iowa Action Executive Director Courtney Reyes