Des Moines to bar bias based on gender identity

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Des Moines City Council has voted to bar discrimination based on gender identity, the ninth Iowa city to do so.

The council voted 6-1 on Monday to add the protection to city code. The provision mirrors that found in state law.

The state law, which was passed in 2007, bars discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity related to matters of employment, housing, education, public accommodation and credit practices.

In 2001, “sexual orientation” was added to a Des Moines human rights ordinance that bans discrimination based on race, creed and religion.

Under the newly revised ordinance, gender identity means “gender-related identity of a person, regardless of the person’s assigned sex at birth.”