(Radio Iowa) – Republicans on a House Committee have approved Governor Kim Reynolds’ bill that would put definitions of man, woman, mother and father in Iowa law and require changes in how the state issues new birth certificates to transgender residents. House Education Committee chairman Skyler Wheeler of Hull says he asked to have the bill assigned to his committee. “The bill is simple. We’re just defining what a woman is because under today’s society I think 95% of Iowans know what it is, but we have some people that try to disorient the issue and we’re just going to get back to the basics,”

Wheeler says “…It’s just definitions. It’s thinks that everybody knows, but we feel like we have to put it into law because of some of the crazier things that are happening out there.” Democrats on the committee voted against the bill. Representative Sue Cahill of Marshalltown says the bill puts transgender Iowans in danger. “To me it seems we are not protecting our transgendered,” Cahill says. “We are not protecting those who view themselves differently.” Representative Sharon Steckman of Marshalltown says the bill feeds on fear.

“I’m appalled that the governor would put this discriminatory piece of legislation forward targeting 0.29% of our population in Iowa,” Steckman said. “Shouldn’t we be working on something more important in education?” A large crowd of opponents rallied and chanted outside the room where a subcommittee hearing on the bill was held at noon yesterday (Tuesday). After the committee vote last (Monday) night, a couple of dozen people booed lawmakers after the bill passed the committee.

Protesters lined a statehouse hallway to boo lawmakers after tonight’s committee vote. (RI photo)

The committee did remove part of the bill that would have required transgender Iowans list their sex at birth on their driver’s license or government-issued I-D.