03/03/2025
🚨 Iowa Erased Gender Identity from Civil Rights Protections—But the Fight Isn’t Over. 🚨
At Shared Existence LLC, we believe that policy is personal. The recent decision in Iowa to remove gender identity from the state’s civil rights protections is not just legislation—it is a direct assault on human dignity, safety, and the fundamental right to exist without fear.
Lived experience tells us that when legal protections are stripped away, harm increases. Trans and nonbinary people—especially youth—will face greater discrimination in housing, employment, education, and public life. This is not just an Iowa issue. This is a warning of what can happen anywhere when marginalized voices are ignored.
💜 But let’s be clear—there is resistance. There is love. There is community. 💜
On Thursday, over 2,500 people filled the Iowa Capitol in the largest protest the state has ever seen to oppose this bill. That kind of solidarity matters. It is a reminder that trans Iowans are not alone. Across the country, people are standing up and speaking out. You are seen. You are valued. You are loved.
What can we do?
✅ Center trans voices. Listen, share, and amplify their lived experiences.
✅ Challenge discrimination. In workplaces, schools, and public spaces, make it clear that transphobia is unacceptable.
✅ Support local organizations fighting for trans rights and protections.
✅ Vote and advocate. Laws like this remind us why leadership matters—use your voice, your vote, and your power to push for change.
We cannot build a just and inclusive society if we allow people’s rights to be stripped away. True shared existence means standing together, protecting each other, and ensuring that all identities are recognized, respected, and safe.
