The New Iowa

TRIGGER WARNING: This article will discuss suicide and depression.

The Iowa Legislature began their current session on January 9th, 2023. Following the 2022 elections, both chambers are dominated by Republicans, with a 64-36 balance in the House of Representatives and a 34-16 balance in the Senate. The overwhelming Republican majority has paved the way for quick legislation, including two bills signed into law on March 22. These bills, Senate Files 538 and 482, establish strong restrictions on transgender youth in the state of Iowa. 

Senate File 538 bans healthcare providers from administering gender-affirming care to transgender youth in the state of Iowa. The newly-implemented law prohibits the administration of pubertal blockers and testosterone supplements, in addition to barring gender-affirming surgeries. The only exceptions to this law are medically-verified sexual development disorders and life-threatening physical disorders. Senate File 482 requires youth in schools to use the restroom of their biological sex. Schools are now prohibited from allowing transgender students to use the restroom of their identified sex.

Twenty-nine medical associations, including the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), recognize gender-affirming care as a necessity to treat gender dysphoria in youth. The AAP states that “any discrimination based on gender identity or expression, real or perceived, is damaging to the socioemotional health of children, families, and society.” The AMA has issued a similar statement, asserting a lack of care for transgender youth “can result in clinically significant psychological distress, dysfunction, debilitating depression and, for some people without access to appropriate medical care and treatment, suicidality and death.” These associations, representing over 1.3 million American doctors, have repeatedly stated the importance of gender-affirming care for youth.

The introduction of these bills sparked outrage both in Iowa and nationwide, with their passage into law stirring further anger. Ty Rushing, capitol reporter and senior editor at Iowa Starting Line, covered state senator Zach Wahls’ (D) unfiltered response to state senator Jeff Edler (R). Wahls stated, “Senator, kids are going to kill themselves because of this law. Children will die if this becomes law.” While Wahls’ statement may seem grim, his assertion is based in fact. According to The Trevor Project, over half of transgender and non-binary youth have contemplated suicide in the last year, with an estimate of over 1.8 million LGBTQ+ youth considering suicide in 2022. In addition to fury within the Democratic wing of the state legislature, protests were sparked all over the state of Iowa. The Iowa Queer Student Alliance held a rally at the state capitol on March 8th, with people from all demographics showing support. Walkouts were held at hundreds of schools across Iowa, including both Waukee high schools. “It is so easy to forget that being transgender is not an act of political rebellion, nor is it an attack on cultural norms,” said senior Lilly Beth Froelich, who spoke at and organized the March 8th walkout. “It is simply an identity that best reflects an individual and their feelings.” A large group of students showed up in support of their transgender classmates; however, protests had minimal impact on the legislation. 

Other Waukee students have spoken out against the recent bills. “Iowa is currently heading in a backward direction in the area of transgender and other LGBTQ+ rights,” said junior Coria Chaloupecky. “Overall, these bills are horrible and should not have been passed into Iowa law.” Sophomore Cat Bower shared a similar sentiment. “In all honesty, the new laws disgust me,” said Bower. “If you are more concerned about children becoming comfortable in their identities than you are about children being murdered somewhere that is supposed to protect them, your priorities are in the wrong place.” 

After signing the bills into law, Governor Kim Reynolds told KCCI that she “[knows] how difficult this is” and “[doesn’t] like it”, but “[has] to do what [she believes] right now is in the best interest of the kids.” Over the past twelve months, the University of Iowa LGBTQ+ clinic has served 211 transgender children. Kids who have already transitioned or are currently transitioning will be given six months to detransition.