1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

I AM WRITING TO YOU TODAY TO ASK YOU TO REJECT HSB242, A BILL THAT WOULD REMOVE BASIC PROTECTIONS FOR TRANSGENDER IOWANS AND CREATE COMPLICATIONS FOR OTHER IOWANS WHO DO NOT FALL NEATLY INTO THE BILL'S NARROW DEFINITIONS. ALL HARDWORKING PEOPLE-INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE TRANSGENDER-SHOULD BE TREATED FAIRLY AND EQUALLY BY THE LAWS OF OUR STATE, AND SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN A LIVING AND PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. IF SOMEONE CAN'T RENT AN APARTMENT OR GET A CREDIT CARD SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE, WE CAN'T EXPECT THEM TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WITH THEIR PEERS. THESE BASIC ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF ANY MERIT-BASED SYSTEM, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY ARE OR HOW THEY ARE PERCEIVED. FURTHER, THE BILL JEOPARDIZES SEX STEREOTYPING PROTECTIONS FOR NON-TRANSGENDER WOMEN THAT AREN'T INCLUDED IN IOWA'S SEX DISCRIMINATION STATUTE. TRANSGENDER PEOPLE ARE OUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, FAMILY AND COWORKERS. WHEN IT COMES TO BEING ABLE TO EARN A LIVING, HAVING A PLACE TO LIVE, OR BEING SERVED BY A BUSINESS OR GOVERNMENT OFFICE, THEY SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE ANYONE ELSE AND NOT BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. PLEASE VOTE AGAINST HSB242.