DES MOINES, Iowa — Chants of "We will never go back" rang throughout the Iowa Capitol as 107 people prepared to share their perspective on Gov. Kim Reynolds' bill requiring state entities to recognize Iowans by sex defined at birth.
"Being an Iowan is just as important to me as being trans. This is my state too," said Max Mowitz. "Every time I come to this capitol, I am reminded of how much I love a state that does not love me back."
HF 2389 would strictly define gender terms such as "man" and "woman", and stipulates that the term "equal" does not mean "same" or "identical".
The bill would also require those who have medically transitioned genders to identify their biological sex on their birth certificate. A previous version of the bill would have also required this identification on driver's licenses.
"There are not facts in opposition to this because what we are being asked to do is to deny the most basic fact of human biology, the first fact that was stated about every single person in this room," said Steve Deace.
The bill was quickly passed out of the House Subcommittee and House Education Committee in one day, making it eligible for a vote on the House floor.
On Monday, advocates continued to show up and share the direct impacts of this legislation.
"It will place people in the line of fire. . . this bill is literally playing with lives, and understand that you all aren't making laws for yourself, you are making laws for generations to come," said Alexandra Becker.
"Regretfully, none of the gender transition surgeries helped my mental health. In fact, I was soon diagnosed as having even more PTSD from living in the delusion that I could change my biological sex," said Laura Becker. "I share my story because in Iowa, we have the opportunity to prevent trauma like I went through by admitting that biological sex is real."
The hour-long hearing heard from those both for and against the legislation, each getting two minutes to speak. However, Rep. Skyler Wheeler, R-Orange City, paused the meeting each time the chants outside the subcommittee room got too loud to hear the speakers.
The bill is now up for debate on the House floor, but House Republicans told Local 5 it will not be debated until the first funnel period is over on Friday, Feb. 16.