Iowa has become the first state to remove civil rights protections for transgender people. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the bill Friday, just a week after it was introduced in the state Legislature. The law takes effect in July and is already facing pushback.

Iowa has became the first U.S. state to remove gender identity protections from its civil rights code. Republican Gov.

The Republican-backed bill passed both legislative chambers by large margins despite warnings from Democrats that the measure could lead to discrimination and harassment.