Labor News & Commentary March 10 Iowa's rollback of anti-bias protections for trans individuals & more
https://onlabor.org/march-10-2025/
By Holden Hopkins
Holden Hopkins is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News & Commentary, Iowa’s rollback of anti-bias protections for trans individuals tees up a likely court challenge and Homeland Security Secretary moves to gut collective bargaining rights for Transportation Security Administration agents.
On February 28, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law a bill removing gender identity as a protected category under state anti-bias laws. This action comes amid broader federal attacks against trans individuals and their rights in the workplace and beyond. The law also contradicts the 2020 Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, which recognized gender identity discrimination under federal law.
Legal experts predict lawsuits citing violations of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause and conflicts with federal anti-bias laws. Advocates argue that states cannot provide fewer protections than federal law requires. This decision follows Iowa’s previous restrictions on transgender rights, including limits on bathroom access and participation in school sports. Similar legal tensions are emerging in other states like Utah, indicating broader implications for transgender rights across the U.S.
FULL story at link above.