Iowa transgender erasure act is about fear, not protecting women

Republican lawmakers determined to bulldoze transgender Iowans and bury their rights will tell us repeatedly this is all about protecting the rights of women and girls.

Harmful legislation dressed up to be a noble cause. A Capitol classic.

But if this is all about women and girls, as they claim, why did the same Republicans yank away women’s rights to access legal abortion and force women and girls to face the health risks of pregnancy? Protect them but take away their basic right of bodily autonomy. Got it.

If it’s all about women and girls, why isn’t much more being done to provide prenatal care in rural areas? Why is there no paid family leave? Why aren’t Republicans spending more than a measly $1 million to tackle the cancers taking the lives of women.? If it’s all about the safety of girls, why did Republicans tell schools they’re no longer required to provide information about HPV vaccine, which can prevent cancer in women?

If it’s all about women and girls, why do we still have a wage gap? Why is there still not enough child care? Why turn down millions of dollars in federal summer food aid for kids that could have helped mothers struggling to feed their kids?

If it’s all about protecting women and girls, why support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, which enforces Title IX, prohibiting discrimination against girls and women in educational settings and sports?

If it’s all about women and girls, why did Republicans nominate Donald Trump, who was found liable for sexual abuse and has been accused of sexual assault and misconduct by multiple women? He’s the misogynist in chief.

Because it’s not really about women and girls.

What this is really about is fear. These so-called alpha male, rock-ribbed conservatives with God on their side are frightened of so many things.

They’re scared of strong women who control their own lives. Immigrants frighten them. They’re scared of library books, racism, factual American history and college professors. They’re scared a kid might go to college and learn about the world without the right-wing blinders lawmakers want.

Rainbow flags are like their kryptonite. Don’t even mention DEI, or they’’ll hyperventilate. And, of course, they’re deathly afraid of transgender people.

They’re a huge, scary threat — lurking in bathrooms and destroying women’s sports. There is no evidence any of this is happening in Iowa beyond cherry picked anecdotes. The worst thing these folks have done is to defy the white Christian straight ideal these lawmakers hold dear. So, they gotta go.

Republican lawmakers are going to erase civil rights protection for transgender Iowans that’s been on the books for 18 years. They’re going to alter Iowa law so, from a legal standpoint, transgender people can’t exist. No state document or record can reflect their preferred gender.

It sounds like a lot. But what choice do these Republicans have? There are an estimated 7,100 transgender people in Iowa, a state with 3.2 million people, and something must be done.

It’s like the population of a town smaller than Denison is threatening the whole state. Gives you chills, huh?

One guy from Denison, Rep. Steve Holt, sponsor of the bill, is far more dangerous.

His legislation is on a fast track. It could be law by this time next week. Republicans are scared more people will come to the Capitol and yell at them if they don’t pass it fast.

Why are they so loud?

It’s just their civil rights and existence at stake.

They’re feeling the pain of being powerless in the face of cruel legislation they can’t stop. No one pushing this will listen to how miserable this will make their lives. It’s a bill causing great harm to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.

Iowa’s proud history of leading the nation on civil rights has been tossed on the discount rack. Our new brand is hate and fear. It’s selling like hot cakes.

(319) 298-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com