transgender rights Archives

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 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 […]

Steve King successfully pushed to erase protection for LGBTQ Americans in NAFTA revision

Posted on Dec 5, 2018 by Paul Brennan

The revision of NAFTA signed by President Donald Trump, President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada in Buenos Aires on Friday contains a ground-breaking provision regarding LGBTQ rights. But thanks in part to pressure from Rep. Steve King and 39 other rightwing members of Congress, that provision won’t apply […]

‘I sure as hell won’t be erased’: South East Junior High students march for transgender rights on Election Day

Posted on Nov 7, 2018 by Paul Brennan

As people crowded into polling places on the University of Iowa’s campus on Tuesday afternoon, a group of students from Iowa City’s South East Junior High School marched to the campus to show support for transgender rights. Two eighth-graders, Sam and Lucas, mounted the steps of Schaeffer Hall to rally their fellow students, who had […]

As Republicans work to remove trans and nonbinary gender protections, Iowa City will host a ‘Don’t Erase’ rally

Posted on Oct 25, 2018 by Paul Brennan

On Wednesday, the Justice Department filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court that said business owners should be allowed to discriminate against transgender workers. Representing the Trump administration, Solicitor General Noel Francisco discarded the position the Justice Department has previously held, and argued in the brief there is nothing in federal law preventing such discrimination. […]

Trump administration may change the definition of gender to eliminate protection for transgender people

Posted on Oct 22, 2018 by Paul Brennan

On Sunday, the New York Times reported the Trump administration is considering erasing the rights of transgender gender under federal law by “narrowly defining gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth.” […]

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 […]

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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