Reynolds’ action is turning lives upside down

I know firsthand how devastating the news was when Gov. Kim Reynolds signed HF 766 into law. It includes language that excluding transition-related medical services for transgender and intersex Iowans from certain public insurance policies, including Medicaid.

I am the mother of a transgender woman. My daughter heard a couple of months ago that she was to receive her gender reassignment surgery this fall. Her smile was the size of Texas, when she told me. Then, with the swipe of a pen, her world was turned upside down. How could I to respond to her when she called, sobbing 'I can't believe it. Why are they doing this to us?” Honey, it will be all right? No. It is not all right, it is not right at all. Being transgender is not a choice any more than being straight, gay or lesbian.

Now she is locked in a deep, dark place that I can't get to. I look at her and I have nothing to say to make her feel better. She has promised to let me know if she starts thinking of taking her life. That is how serious this is. This new law could be the straw that finally breaks the proverbial camel's back. It could be my daughter's death sentence.

Jo Dixon

Cedar Rapids