Legal protections based on a person’s “gender identity” or “gender expression” are expected to end in Iowa after lawmakers in the state House and Senate passed a measure to remove key phrasing from the state’s civil rights code.

Iowa's Republican-controlled legislature passed a bill on Thursday that would remove protections for the transgender community even as dozens of protesters opposed the legislation.

If signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds, the Republican-backed measure would eliminate state civil rights protections for transgender Iowans.