Iowa became the first state to remove gender identity from its civil rights code under a law that took effect Tuesday, meaning transgender and nonbinary residents are no longer protected from discrimination in their job, housing and other aspects of life.

On Tuesday, a law took effect that removes gender identity from the civil rights code of Iowa. This leaves transgender, intersex, and nonbinary Iowans more vulnerable. Many people protested the law in Iowa’s state Capitol.

Iowa is now the first state to strip gender identity protections from its civil rights code. The move means transgender and nonbinary residents are no longer considered part of a protected class, opening the door to potential discrimination in housing,