GOP Lawmakers May Expand Push For Legal Discrimination Against LGBTQ Iowans In 2022

In recent years, some Republicans in the Iowa Legislature have set their sights on legalizing discrimination against LGBTQ Iowans by removing parts of the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

LGBTQ advocates and Republican officials themselves have hinted these efforts may go even further in the 2022 legislative session.

Nine GOP lawmakers generated national headlines last year by introducing a bill to remove gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, targeting the rights of transgender Iowans. It failed to get a committee hearing. Now, Republicans may expand their push to allow discrimination of all LGBTQ Iowans by backing legislation to eliminate sexual orientation from the civil rights law as well.

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And even if the laws don’t make it through, these conversations could have negative effects on LGBTQ Iowans who hear their leaders debate their rights.

Thompson also pointed out that moves such as this would harm the state’s efforts to attract and retain much-needed workers in Iowa.

...https://iowastartingline.com/2021/12/13/gop-lawmakers-may-expand-push-for-legal-discrimination-against-lgbtq-iowans-in-2022/