(Des Moines, IA) -- Proposed legislation that would strike the term "gender identity" as well as define other terms in the Iowa Civil Rights Act is beginning its journey through the legislative process. A subcommittee hearing on House Study Bill 242 was held Monday, but met with protests. It came to a point where Republican Subcommittee Chair Steven Holt (R-Denison) put a pause on public comment.
"Pro or con, both sides need to be heard," Holt says. "Free speech is great but you don't get to stop the free speech of others so we're going to wait a minute."
Chants included "trans rights are human rights" and "we're here, we're queer and we won't disappear." When the hearing resumed, legislators continued to hear comments on the proposed changes. Supporters say the bill is based on truth. Oliver Bardwell is one of them.
"Truth is not hatred," Bardwell says. "Truth is not bigotry. Truth is compassion. And the truth is biological reality matters."
Opponents argue the bill will do more harm than good. Chris Morse spoke against the bill and was removed from the hearing by an Iowa State Patrol trooper after going over the allotted time and continuing to speak.
"Removing these protection is itself a violation of our civil rights," Morse says.
The legislation was sent back to the full House Judiciary Committee, which also held a meeting on Monday. Some opponents in that meeting argued the bill focuses on the wrong things. State Rep. Lindsay James (D-Dubuque) was one of them.
"The people of Iowa have asked us to come to this state capitol to figure out affordable housing, affordable child care, education that will give our kids their best chance at life," James says. "Health care. The cost of health care...these are the kinds of things that the legislature is supposed to be working on. Instead, we have culture war, political, punch down bills."
Supporters say the bill is not about creating discrimination, but rather stopping discrimination they say is already happening. They also say there are other protections in place.
"The problem with protected classes in this particular case is the fact that it elevates rights above other citizens," Holt says. "The removal of gender identity as a protected class means that transgender rights are not elevated above women and other citizens. Transgender rights will continue to be protected...as a result of the US Supreme Court Bostock decision transgender individuals are protected from housing and employment discrimination."
The bill passed through the House Judiciary Committee Monday and its next step is a public hearing on Thursday morning. It could be on the House floor after the hearing.