Iowa lawmakers became the first in the nation to approve legislation removing gender identity protections from the state’s civil rights code Thursday, despite massive protests by opponents who say it could expose transgender people to discrimination in numerous areas of life.

Hundreds of Iowa residents have filled the Iowa Capitol building waving Pride flags to protest an anti-trans bill that seeks to remove gender identity as a protected class in the state’s civil rights act.

Passions ran strong during Thursday's protests against a bill opponents say takes away basic human rights for people in Iowa, especially the transgender and int