The Situation
SF 418 amended the Iowa Civil Rights Acts to remove “gender identity” from its list of protected classes.
It is now legal in Iowa to:
Refuse service to a customer
Fire an employee
Deny a lease to a potential renter
simply because they use a pronoun the store owner, employer, or landlord doesn’t like.
One does not need to compromise any moral or religious beliefs around gender to recognize this kind of discrimination is unacceptable and un-American.
The Legislature and Governor are wielding state power to force some of our neighbors out of public life. Residents of Washington County do not need to simply roll over and let that happen.
What We Can Do
The Iowa Civil Rights Act gives Washington County a powerful tool to fight back:
Iowa law does not “limit a city or local government from enacting any ordinance or other law which prohibits broader or different categories of unfair or discriminatory practices.” (Ch. 216.19.c)
Cities and counties across Iowa have taken advantage of this, passing Civil Rights / Human Rights Ordinances to protect all citizens. Examples include:
Passing such an ordinance in Washington County would provide a certain level of legal protection against discrimination for transgender and non-binary residents. This is not sufficient - but it’s a start. The message sent would be clear: all are welcome to live abundant and free lives in Washington County.
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