BY: Sierra Kennedy
Published 2 weeks ago
A group of transgender teens in Iowa took legal action after they were barred from using restrooms that matched their gender identity at the Iowa Capitol. What began as a student advocacy day turned into a years-long fight for recognition. The case has now reached a settlement — one that highlights both progress and setbacks.
Gender identity politics
In March 2020, around 150 students attended “Student Day at the Capitol” organized by Iowa Safe Schools. Security officers stopped trans students from using restrooms that matched their gender identity. They were directed to a gender-neutral bathroom or told to leave. Plaintiffs claim this was sex-based discrimination, harassment, and retaliation for their LGBTQ+ identity.
They argued that the experience singled them out and silenced their civic participation. As such, they were banned from the Capitol and could face arrest if they returned, which made the harm even worse.
A sizeable settlement
After several years in court, an agreement has been reached. Per the Des Moines Register, Iowa agreed in 2025 to an $85,000 settlement approved by the State Appeal Board. The deal resolved the lawsuit without the state admitting any wrongdoing.
A major factor in the case was Iowa’s Civil Rights Act, which once explicitly protected gender identity. That law allowed the teens to sue. But in March 2025, lawmakers removed those protections with Senate File (SF) 418, making Iowa the first U.S. state to erase gender identity from its civil rights code. Similar lawsuits may no longer be possible under state law.
Moving forward
The $85,000 payout cannot undo the trauma of being excluded from a public building. But it still matters. The settlement shows that discrimination can carry financial and legal consequences, even when laws shift. It’s also a warning to public officials that targeting trans students could spark legal challenges.
Still, the removal of gender identity protections casts a shadow. Without that safeguard, fighting discrimination in Iowa courts will be far harder. For trans teens, this settlement may be one of the last victories under a law that no longer protects them.
This Iowa lawsuit isn’t happening in a vacuum — it’s part of a larger anti-LBGTQIA+ push at the federal level. Under President Trump, executive orders like “Protect Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation” threaten gender-affirming care for minors, and other directives could strip federal funding from institutions that support transgender youth.
When state civil rights protections are removed, as in Iowa, these federal moves hit individuals even harder. The fight in Iowa shows what’s at stake across the country.
What do you think about Iowa’s settlement with the trans teens? Is justice served, or is there more work to be done? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
