DES MOINES, Iowa — Just last week, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds introduced a bill that would define “man” and “woman” into state law. Five days later, the bill is already eligible to be debated on the Iowa House floor.
On Tuesday at the statehouse, HSB 649 passed through the education subcommittee and, hours later, advanced through the full committee. Protests occurred during the first meeting at noon, with trans rights activists chanting “we won’t go quiet” as Republicans moved the policy rapidly.
“The governor’s bill would force us to out ourselves and open ourselves up to more violence any time we have to show an ID,” said Emma Denney, a speaker at the subcommittee against the bill.
The ID portion of the bill was taken out by an amendment during the full education committee. The bill would still require birth certificates to have a person’s sex at birth, even if the individual is transgender or not. It defines man and woman by their respective reproductive systems.
“Defining sex strictly as male and female, father or mother, holds significant effects on my family and all of Iowa’s LGBTQ+ community,” said Kent Zimmerman, from Perry, who is a single, gay father.