A state law signed Feb. 28, 2025, removes gender identity as a protected status from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, leaving transgender people vulnerable to discrimination. The rights of transgender people ' those who present gender characteristics that differ from what has historically been expected of someone based on their biological sex traits ' are under political attack across the United States. There are now hundreds of anti-trans bills at various points in the legislative process. Reasons given usually center on protecting children, protecting cisgender women's rights in bathrooms and sports competitions, and on removing funding for gender-affirming care. Some efforts appear to stem from fear-driven motives that are not supported by evidence. Bias against trans people may not always feel like bias. For someone who believes it to be true, saying there can only be biological men who identify as men and biological women who identify as women may feel like a statement of fact. But...
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