ACLU of Iowa Archives | Little Village

Iowa Supreme Court strikes down state’s ban on Medicaid paying for gender affirmation procedures

Posted on Mar 8, 2019 by Paul Brennan

In a unanimous decision issued on Friday, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled the state’s prohibition on the use of Medicaid funds to pay for sex reassignment procedures deemed medically necessary by doctors violates the Iowa Civil Rights Act. The decision confirms a district court judge’s ruling in June 2018, striking down the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) rule against paying for such procedures. […]

Iowa appeals federal judge’s ruling that its ‘ag gag’ law is unconstitutional

Posted on Feb 22, 2019 by Paul Brennan

Iowa is appealing a federal district judge’s ruling that it’s “ag gag” law is unconstitutional. On Thursday, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller filed a notice of appeal and motion asking the district court to allow the law to remain in effect during the appeal. In his Jan. 9 decision striking down the law for violating […]

Iowa jury sides with transgender worker in landmark discrimination case

Posted on Feb 13, 2019 by Paul Brennan

In a history-making decision, a Polk County jury found on Wednesday that the Iowa Department of Corrections (IDOC) and the Iowa Department of Administrative Services (IDAS) engaged in sex discrimination and gender identity discrimination against Jesse Vroegh, a transgender man and former IDOC employee. The lawsuit, filed in August 2017, was the first discrimination lawsuit […]

Judge strikes down Iowa’s ‘fetal heartbeat’ law

Posted on Jan 23, 2019 by Paul Brennan

A district court judge in Polk County struck down Iowa’s so-called “fetal heartbeat” law on Tuesday. Judge Michael Huppert ruled the law, which banned almost all abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected at six weeks, violates the state’s constitution. “We are grateful the Court blocked Gov. Reynolds’ egregious attempt to ban safe, legal […]

Federal judge strikes down Iowa’s ‘ag gag’ law

Posted on Jan 9, 2019 by Paul Brennan

A federal judge struck down Iowa’s “ag gag” law on Wednesday. Senior Judge James Gritzner of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa ruled the 2012 Iowa law that made it illegal to gain access to an agricultural production facility under false pretenses with “the intent to commit an act not authorized […]

Judge rules Iowa’s prohibition on Medicaid coverage for gender-reassignment procedures is unconstitutional

Posted on Jun 8, 2018 by Paul Brennan

On Wednesday, Polk County Chief District Judge Arthur Gamble ruled a provision in Iowa law prohibiting the use of Medicaid funds for gender-reassignment procedures deemed medically necessary by doctors “violates the ICRA [Iowa Civil Rights Act] and the Iowa Constitution.” Gamble issued his ruling in a lawsuit brought by two transgender Iowans, Carol Ann Beal […]

ACLU of Iowa, Planned Parenthood and the Emma Goldman Clinic sue to overturn Iowa’s new abortion law

Posted on May 15, 2018 by Paul Brennan

Update: On June 1, Polk County District Court Judge Michael Huppert issued a temporary injunction blocking enforcement of the new abortion law at the conclusion of the first hearing on the lawsuit. Attorneys representing the state did not object to the injunction. A court challenge to Iowa’s new law banning most abortions after a fetal […]

Transgender prison nurse sues the state of Iowa for discrimination

Posted on Aug 29, 2017 by Paul Brennan

Jesse Vroegh, a transgender man, is suing two state agencies and a major insurance company for violating Iowa laws prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity […]

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