Iowa’s Johnson County board of supervisors chair, Jon Green, announced he would not comply with Governor Kim Reynolds’ order to fly flags at half-staff in honor of the deceased Charlie Kirk. Green stated his refusal was due to Kirk’s actions contradicting the values of the community, citing the Governor’s lack of similar action after other acts of gun violence. While Reynolds criticized Green’s decision, Democratic state senator Zach Wahls disagreed with Green, and Supervisor Mandi Remington supported Green’s decision. Green maintains his actions are within his rights, and the Governor lacks the authority to remove him from office.
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In a controversial move, Johnson County, Iowa, Supervisor Jon Green defied the governor’s order to lower flags in honor of Charlie Kirk. Green stated he would not honor a man who, in his opinion, harmed marginalized groups and degraded the political landscape. Green defended his actions, referencing his oath to protect constituents and stating he would accept any consequences. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds called Green’s decision “disgraceful,” while at least two other supervisors supported Green’s decision.
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Iowa Senate Democrats vehemently opposed the Republican-led passage of Senate File 418, which removes gender identity as a protected characteristic from the state’s civil rights law. Senator Tony Bisignano delivered a scathing rebuke of the bill, denouncing it as a discriminatory attack on transgender Iowans and highlighting the large-scale protests against it. The bill, signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds, eliminates state-level protections for transgender individuals across various sectors, making Iowa the first state to revoke existing civil rights protections for a marginalized group. Bisignano criticized the lack of meaningful debate and accused Republicans of prioritizing political expediency over the well-being of transgender Iowans. He expressed concern that fear, rather than genuine belief, motivated many Republican votes.
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Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill removing gender identity protections from Iowa’s civil rights code, making it the first state to do so. The law, effective July 1, defines male and female based on birth sex, rejecting gender transition. This action follows years of Republican-led efforts to restrict transgender access to facilities and sports. Opponents argue the law will increase discrimination against transgender individuals and other Iowans, and legal challenges are anticipated.
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John Q. Hosedrinker