DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has made history by becoming the first state in the United States to eliminate gender identity protections from its civil rights framework. This significant change occurred on Friday when Governor Kim Reynolds ratified legislation that critics argue will increase discrimination against transgender individuals and other residents of Iowa in everyday situations.

Set to take effect on July 1, this new law emerges after several years of efforts by Reynolds and Iowa Republicans aimed at limiting transgender students’ access to facilities such as bathrooms and locker rooms, as well as their participation in sports. The Republican leadership contends that these measures cannot coexist with a civil rights code that protects gender identity.

The law moved swiftly through the legislative process, having been introduced just last week. It also establishes clear legal definitions of male and female based on biological characteristics at birth, dismissing the concept that individuals can transition to a different gender. Although Reynolds proposed a similar bill in the previous year, it did not pass a full vote in either the House or Senate.

In a video shared on social media, Reynolds explained her decision to sign the bill and recognized its sensitivity for many individuals.

“It’s essential to acknowledge the fundamental biological distinctions between men and women. This recognition is crucial for ensuring true equality for women and girls,” she stated, mentioning that the prior civil rights code “blurred the clear biological lines between the sexes.”

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump enacted an executive order that established a federal definition of the two sexes, prompting several Republican-led states to push for similar laws. Trump endorsed the Iowa legislation via a post on Truth Social after it received final approval from the Iowa legislature.

While five House Republicans joined all Democratic representatives in opposing the bill, Democrat Aime Wichtendahl expressed her emotions as a transgender woman, stating, “I transitioned to save my life.” She elaborated, “The goal of this bill, like all anti-trans legislation, is to erase us from public life and demean our existence.”

Crowds of LGBTQ+ advocates gathered in the Capitol rotunda, brandishing signs that read “Trans rights are human rights” and chanting slogans like, “No hate in our state!” A significant police presence was deployed, as tensions remained high among those opposing the bill.

Although not all states include gender identity protections in their civil rights codes, Iowa is now the first in the nation to rescind these protections, according to Logan Casey, director of policy research at the Movement Advancement Project, an organization focused on LGBTQ+ rights.

Initially, the Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965 did not encompass sexual orientation or gender identity; these protections were added in 2007, supported by both Democratic and some Republican lawmakers.

Rep. Steven Holt, the House Republican who sponsored the bill, indicated that just as protections can be added, they can also be removed. Starting July 1, Iowa’s civil rights legislation will continue to shield individuals from discrimination based on race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, or disability status.

The Iowa Supreme Court has previously stated that discrimination based on sex does not extend to gender identity. Advocacy groups are poised to defend the rights of transgender individuals and may engage in legal proceedings.

Keenan Crow, director of policy and advocacy at One Iowa, noted that they are currently reviewing the bill’s language and that its ambiguities make it challenging to predict enforcement. “We will explore all available legal avenues,” Crow assured.