Kayde Martin, a trans teen, emotionally appealed to Iowa legislators on his 18th birthday against proposed legislation that removes gender identity protections from the state's civil rights law. Signed by Governor Kim Reynolds, the bill, effective July 1, will eliminate anti-discrimination measures for gender identity in employment, housing, and education. It also mandates that birth certificates reflect sex assigned at birth, disallowing updates from trans individuals. Martin and others argued passionately for their rights, with Martin questioning the selective defense of women's rights when harmful to the transgender community.
It deeply troubles me that after 18 years of living here with my family, attending school, working, this is the focus of our state.
I plan on attending the University of Northern Iowa in the fall and hope to live independently and without fear of discrimination simply because of who I am.
Please don't take my rights away. I stand before you fighting for the same basic civil rights that every Iowan deserves.
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