Jun 18
Iowa Removes Gender Identity Protections as U.S. LGBTQ+ Rights Face New Restrictions
READ TIME: 3 MIN.
On June 14, 2025, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law a bill that removes gender identity from the state’s list of classes protected from discrimination. This means that, effective immediately, transgender and gender non-conforming individuals in Iowa no longer have explicit legal recourse if they face discrimination in employment, housing, education, or public accommodations based on their gender identity. The law reverses protections that had been in place since 2007, making Iowa the first state in over a decade to strip away such rights for transgender people.
Broader Legislative and Political Trends
The move in Iowa is part of a larger national trend in 2025, with hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in U.S. state legislatures. These legislative efforts target a range of issues, including bans on gender-affirming healthcare, restrictions on changing gender markers on official documents, and limitations on participation in school activities based on gender identity. The American Civil Liberties Union is currently tracking nearly 600 such bills across the country, reflecting a sustained push to roll back LGBTQ+ rights, especially for transgender individuals.
At the federal level, the rollback of LGBTQ+ protections has accelerated. In January 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order rescinding federal recognition of transgender identity and removing all related protections. This order mandates that only male and female genders, as assigned at birth, are recognized by the federal government, affecting the ability of transgender individuals to update identity documents such as passports. The order also reinstated a ban on transgender people serving in the military and ended federal funding for gender-affirming healthcare for minors under 19 years old.
Implications for LGBTQ+ Communities
Advocates and civil rights organizations have expressed deep concern over Iowa’s new law and the broader rollback of protections at both state and federal levels. The erasure of gender identity from anti-discrimination statutes leaves transgender Iowans—and others in states considering similar measures—vulnerable to discrimination without legal remedy. The Human Rights Campaign and other advocacy groups warn that such actions contribute to increased marginalization and danger for transgender people, who already face disproportionately high rates of unemployment, housing instability, and violence.
The federal executive order has also had a chilling effect, with government agencies instructed to remove references to transgender people from official websites and documents. In some cases, information about the broader LGBTQ+ community has also been eliminated, further reducing visibility and access to resources.
International and Legal Context
These legislative and executive rollbacks in the United States are being closely watched by human rights organizations worldwide, as they signal a broader trend of democratic backsliding and increased hostility toward LGBTQ+ communities in some countries. Legal scholars note that such restrictions often coincide with challenges to democratic norms and rising populist rhetoric. The U.S. Supreme Court has also indicated a willingness to review landmark decisions that underpin marriage equality and the decriminalization of same-sex relationships, further raising concerns among LGBTQ+ advocates.
LGBTQ+ Voices and the Path Forward
Transgender Iowans and their allies have organized rallies, spoken out in local media, and called for renewed advocacy to restore and expand protections. National organizations are mobilizing legal challenges and public campaigns to highlight the impact of these changes and push for inclusive policies at both state and federal levels. The outcome of these efforts will likely shape the trajectory of LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S. for years to come.
As legislative sessions continue across the country, and as court cases make their way through the system, the fight for LGBTQ+ equality remains at a critical juncture—one that will determine whether recent gains are preserved or further eroded.
