Iowa became the first US state to remove gender identity protections from its civil rights code on Friday when Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law a bill that opponents say will expose transgender people and other Iowans to discrimination in all aspects of daily life.

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

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill that strikes gender identity from Iowa law, making the state the first to remove civil rights from a previously protected class.