HAF Opposes Iowa’s Gender Law Change, Citing Hindu Traditions

India-West News Desk

DES MOINES, IO– The Iowa legislature has passed a bill that would remove gender identity from the state’s civil rights protections, a rollback of a policy that has been in place since 2007. The bill now awaits Governor Kim Reynolds’ signature.

If enacted, the law would eliminate legal safeguards against discrimination based on gender identity in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations. Supporters argue that the measure restores civil rights laws to their original intent by basing protections strictly on biological sex. Opponents warn that it could lead to widespread discrimination and limit legal recourse for affected individuals.

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has voiced concerns about the bill’s potential impact, particularly on religious freedoms. The organization emphasized that Hindu traditions have long recognized individuals outside the male-female gender binary, often referred to as “Third Nature” or “Kinnar” communities. According to HAF, the measure disregards these longstanding traditions and could undermine the rights of Hindus and other religious groups that affirm non-binary identities.

“Removing broad protections against discrimination based on gender identity has implications for all Iowans, not just those who identify as transgender,” HAF stated. “This change opens the door for employers, businesses, and property owners to discriminate based on perceived gender or sex, affecting not only transgender individuals but also others who may not conform to rigid gender norms.”

HAF further highlighted that Third Nature identities have been recognized within Hindu civilization for centuries and remain a legal and administrative reality for nearly two billion people in India and South Asia. The foundation noted that acceptance of LGBTQ individuals, including among Hindu Americans, has grown over the last 30 years, even as debates over gender policies in education, public facilities, and free speech have intensified.

If signed into law, Iowa would join a small group of states that have rolled back gender identity protections after nearly two decades.