The Iowa House advanced legislation on Monday that would remove “gender identity” as a protected class in state discrimination laws.

Its passage would mark the first time a U.S. state has removed a class of Americans from anti-discrimination protections.

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The measure passed two legislative hurdles on Monday with the support of all Republicans on the state House Judiciary Committee. All Democrats and one Republican voted against advancing the bill to a vote of the full House.

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Several hundred demonstrators filled the Iowa Capitol’s rotunda to protest the bill, as witnesses testified during a subcommittee meeting that the unprecedented change would leave trans Iowans prey to overt discrimination, the AP reports.

“It tells an entire group of Iowans — our neighbors, students, coworkers and family members — that they’re not worthy of the same rights and protections as everyone else,” Mandi Remington, an Iowa county supervisor and activist told the committee.

Iowa’s civil rights law currently protects against discrimination in employment, wages, public accommodations, housing, education and credit practices based on a person’s race, color, creed, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or disability status.

“Gender identity” and “sexual orientation” were added to the list in 2007 with bipartisan support.

The current bill’s supporters say including “gender identity” was a mistake.

Amber Williams, a lobbyist for Inspired Life, which advocates for a so-called “Christ-centered culture,” said the new bill would protect women’s “access spaces designated to protect their dignity, privacy and safety.”

“The bill provides clarity in law, ensuring that sex-based protections cannot be overridden by fluid or subjective definitions of gender,” Williams said.

The measure would also redefine the terms “female” and “male” and reclassify “gender” as a synonym for “sex.” “Sex … shall not be considered a synonym or shorthand expression for gender identity, experienced gender, gender expression, or gender role,” according to the bill’s definition.

A 2022 Iowa Supreme Court ruling decided in favor of a trans state prison employee who was denied use of men’s restrooms and locker rooms, in the first and only case to come before the court citing “gender identity” as the source of discrimination. The ruling was a significant victory for the trans community.

The bill’s passage would deny other trans people the same redress in discrimination cases based on their gender identity.

Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley cited the Iowa court’s ruling as in conflict with recently enacted “common sense” policies banning trans people from women’s bathrooms and other spaces. A dozen other states have enacted similar bans.

The bill aligns with President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders erasing trans identity by barring gender marker changes on passports; banning transgender people from military service; ending healthcare for trans minors; and keeping trans student-athletes out of school sports.

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