Reynolds can’t stop kicking trans Iowans

Gov. Kim Reynolds may have introduced the perfect Republican legislative bill.

It yanks away more local control, which Republicans love to do, and further marginalizes a small group of Iowans who lack the political power to fight back. It’s just the right mix of vindictive callousness without a hint of empathy.

For Republican lawmakers, it’s like Christmas Morning.

You may remember last year the Legislature made American history by becoming the first state to remove a protected class — gender identity — from its Civil Rights Act. It was the capstone of Reynolds’ ceaseless drive to make transgender people vanish.

It turns out that was not enough.

Reynolds is floating a bill this year that would prohibit cities or counties from including gender identity in local civil rights protections. So, if you live in a city where leaders and residents feel strongly about protecting trans Iowans from discrimination, tough luck. You must conform to the demands of your red state overlords.

Communities would be barred from creating any civil rights protections beyond what’s covered by state law. It also strikes a provision in Iowa law allowing communities to offer civil rights protections beyond what state law protects.

Or here’s an idea, leave trans Iowans alone.

God forbid a community would want to remain welcoming as it tries to attract people to move in or stay put, as well as recruiting companies bearing investments and jobs. Pulling in the welcome mat during a labor shortage is dumb.

But our state GOP leaders have repeatedly shown they want an Iowa populated only by white, straight, Christian conservatives. Diversity has become a dirty word. along with equity and inclusion. It’s replaced by homogeneity, discrimination and exclusion.

According to numbers compiled by the Des Moines Register in December, 18 communities classify gender identity as a protected class. Cedar Rapids. Marion, Iowa City, Coralville and Johnson County are on the list. So are Council Bluffs, Fort Dodge, Bettendorf, Davenport and Decorah.

So, it’s not just three lefty college towns. They’re all over Iowa.

But somewhere along the line, Reynolds decided the existence of transgender people is among Iowa’s biggest problems. She would personally put an end to it.

It started with prohibiting trans girls from playing in girls’ sports, which is politically popular. But that was just a gateway drug for the governor, who went on to lead the charge for an array of draconian bills that rained shame down on our fellow Iowans to protect us from manufactured fears she stoked. Reynolds is especially interested in making the lives of trans kids miserable.

Do you remember in 2023, before the governor signed a bill denying gender-affirming care to minors even with parental permission, when Reynolds said she met with the families of trans kids? She said, “My heart goes out to them. I’m a parent, I’m a grandmother, I know how difficult this is.”

Reynolds must have misspoken. She meant that her foot went out to them. She’s been kicking around trans Iowans ever since.

But now that I think about it, this is not the perfect Republican legislative bill.

There’s nothing in there about making our water dirtier, cutting rich guys’ income taxes, underfunding public schools, punishing poor people or pledging undying allegiance to President Donald Trump.

Then it would be perfect. But don’t give them any ideas.

(319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com