Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed the Health and Human Services budget on Friday. The budget became controversial because it took federal funds away from abortion providers who also teach sex education and said Iowa taxpayers cannot be forced to pay for sex reassignment surgeries.
One Iowa Action, an LGBTQ advocacy group, posted about Reynolds signing the law:
“We are deeply disappointed that Gov. Reynolds has ignored medical experts, Iowa business leaders, cost analysis data, and the many transgender Iowans and allies who shared their stories with her to sign this bill into law. She could have line-item vetoed the cruel and outdated language that enshrines discrimination in Iowa law without disrupting HHS services, but chose not to. In doing so, she’s tarnished Iowa’s reputation as a state that stands for fairness and equality.
By signing this cruel legislation into law, Gov. Reynolds has told every transgender Iowan that they are second-hand citizens and unwelcome in our state. Make no mistake, this law threatens people’s lives. Today is a shameful day to be an Iowan.”
In a poll on The Iowa Standard’s Facebook page, 411 people voted. Only six people voted to say Medicaid should cover sex reassignment surgeries.