On Monday night, leftist activists showed up to Des Moines to protest against House Bill 649, which defines sex as “a person’s biological sex either male or female at birth.” The measure has certain exceptions for those diagnosed with a sex development disorder as per the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The protesters came in full force, chanting “We will never go back.” Others carried signs that read “End trans genocide,” “Fight the cistern!” and “Separate but equal, that’s really f*cking evil.”

NOW: LGBTQ activists have taken over the Iowa State Capitol to protest a bill that would classify gender by biology pic.twitter.com/Xn1JVoKytG

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 13, 2024

Gov. Kim Reynolds defended the bill, arguing that it is necessary for protecting women’s spaces, an issue that leftists previously championed but have now abandoned in favor of the trans agenda. “Just like we did with girls' sports, this bill protects women’s spaces and rights afforded to us by Iowa law and the constitution,” the governor asserted in a statement released earlier this month.

Women and men are not identical; they possess unique biological differences. That’s not controversial, it’s common sense. Just like we did with girls' sports, this bill protects women’s spaces and rights afforded to us by Iowa law and the constitution. It’s unfortunate that defining a woman in code has become necessary to protect spaces where women’s health, safety, and privacy are being threatened like domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers. The bill allows the law to recognize biological differences while forbidding unfair discrimination.

The bill also mandates that birth certificates for those who “transition” must list both biological sex and their chosen post-surgery gender.

Opponents like the activists who showed up at the capitol building argue that the bill is a violation of the rights of transgender individuals and institutionalizes discrimination. As is typical of the left, they assert that those who support the measure are motivated by transphobia.

However, what folks on the left seek to ignore is the actual purpose of the bill. Recent years have seen fiery debate over the inclusion of biological males in female spaces. Progressives have insisted that men who believe they are women should be allowed to use women’s locker rooms and bathrooms despite the effect it has on biological women.

Leftists have been pushing to have men compete against female athletes in women’s sports, which has caused quite an uproar and raised concerns about fairness and safety in sporting events. Indeed, the issue has already resulted in physical harm to female athletes.

Bills like this are designed to prevent biological males from disrupting women’s activities and spaces. This is not about discrimination; it is about protecting women.

Iowa is one of several states enacting this type of legislation. West Virginia’s government recently sparked controversy with its Women’s Bill of Rights.

The measure would also establish protections for single-sex areas such as sports, bathrooms, locker rooms, and others. This is an issue that has been hotly debated all across the country. The aim is to protect privacy rights – especially those of women having to deal with biological males seeking to occupy female spaces.

But, as you can imagine, not everyone is gung-ho about this idea.

During a recent hearing at the state’s House chambers, several people spoke out against the measure, arguing that it would promote discrimination against transgender individuals. Others pointed out that it does not address other protections for female West Virginians.

The bill, which will likely pass, is another milestone in the continuing debate on gender identity, privacy, and rights.