Class Action for Transgender Citizens filed against State of Iowa

by Sondra Wilson. Posted 8/8/2024.  Updated 9/18/2024.

A quick, important message:

     At first reading the below content may seem overwhelming. There is a lot of information, especially if you are unfamiliar with legal terms or courtroom proceedings. I have done my best to to make things as simple as possible:

  • The various sections of my petition are broken into separate articles.
  • Legal terms and sections of the Iowa Code referenced throughout contain links so you can read the legal definition or read that section of the Code directly. 

     If anything below seems too technical, I recommend just keep reading and try to make your way through the article.

This historic suit is a very important for:

All key filings to date:

    I filed suit on February 8, 2024. There are other filings I could post here, however only the most important filings are listed here. You can read all filings here.

July 23 – I filed this Amended Petition. This is a much more in-depth petition than the original one filed on Feb. 8. 

July 26 – The State filed a this motion to dismiss.

Aug. 5 – I filed this resistance to State’s motion.

Aug. 21 – Judge Huppert filed this order, dismissing my suit with prejudice. Judge Huppert wrote three false statements in this order thereby misrepresenting my position and omitting my most crucial arguments.

Sept 7 – I filed this motion to reconsider, adding numerous case rulings and arguments which ought to have led to Judge Huppert changing his ruling.

Sept 9 – Judge Huppert issued this one-sentence ruling dismissing my case. He did not address any of my arguments or case rulings. Soon I will file a complaint against him for violating Iowa Code of Judicial Conduct rules 51:1.1, 51:1.2, as well as suspected violation of 51:2.9 based on what he wrote in his Aug. 21 order, and his lack of response to line 10 within my motion to reconsider.

The Appeals Process:

      Oct. 11 is the deadline for filing my appeal. Because I challenged various sections of the Iowa Tort Claims Act and the state’s defense of sovereign immunity as unconstitutional, I suspect this will go in front of the Iowa Supreme Court. If the state denies redress and justice is nowhere to be found, my only option then will be to file against the state in federal court. I will provide an update as soon as the appeal is filed!

More about the suit – breakdowns:

 

A 4-part lawsuit and an adjacent suit:

1. 2006-2009: Story Cty. and Ames City officials caused me to remain homeless for 8 years – there are three parts to this story. I have not updated these in awhile. The third part is described, with links to legal term definitions that should help you quickly comprehend what the case is about.

 

2. 2018-2023: When I returned to Iowa, State officials defamed and enacted rights violations against transgender people – the State passed HF766 which included a last-minute provision added by Republicans in order to cut of access to medically-necessary procedures for transgender Iowans. Governor Reynolds performed multiple acts of defamation against transgender people, in both her official and unofficial capacity, throughout the duration the State fought to continue depriving transgender people from accessing healthcare. I have requested this part of the lawsuit to be certified as a class action on behalf of transgender Iowans. It includes allegations against Kim Reynolds’ campaign committee, “KIM REYNOLDS FOR IOWA“, due to defamation against transgender people used to promise Iowans, “I’m the candidate who will go after transgender people!” I allege unjust enrichment by Reynolds’ campaign  for earning more than $2.5 million dollars while using defamation and promises of rights violations against transgender Iowans in order to gain the wealth in a manner which harmed a vulnerable population who is explicitly protected by the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

 

3. 2021-2024: I sued two Ames, Iowa businesses for discrimination and fraud – This is a separate lawsuit which gave rise to several of the my claims against the state. After filing a discrimination complaint against the businesses within the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, respondents retaliated against me via submitting numerous false accusations against me alongside a falsified document in order to convince the Commission not to investigate, and to punish me for coming forward.

 

4. 2022-2024: The State’s response to my civil rights complaint led to Wilson v STATE OF IOWA – I showed the Iowa Civil Rights Commission hard evidence respondents had lied to them, however still the Commission chose not to investigate. The Commission’s website, under “outline of a complaint process page“, says, “if there is a reasonable possibility of probable cause determination, the complaint will be ‘screened in’“, however in practice this does not appear to be remotely true – read their Google reviews and the Des Moines Register articles “Iowa should stop tilting the scales in civil rights cases” and “60% of Iowa workers’ civil rights complaints aren’t investigated“. After the Commission closed my case and chose not to investigate, the Ames Police Department and Story County Atty’s Office refused to allow me to file a complaint against the respondents for violation of Iowa Code §714.8(4), “[A]ny person who makes any entry in… any public records… knowing the same to be false,” is guilty of fraud. (Records generated by the Iowa Civil Rights Commission are “public records” according to § 22.1.) I filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman to review the Iowa Civil Rights Commission’s determination, and they sent me Iowa Supreme Court 1979 ruling Estabrook v. Iowa Civil Rights Commission, which held that the Commission is under no obligation to screen in a case for investigation even when there is prima facie evidence of discrimination. My suit alleges fraudulent misrepresentation by the Iowa Civil Rights Commission: if they are under no obligation to screen in cases, write that on the website. Do not mislead Iowa’s taxpayers and victims of discrimination who come to you for help via stating that “if there is a reasonable possibility of probable cause” you “will” investigate. There are other parts to this section of the suit with regard to the State’s response which amounts to “aiding and abetting businesses who discriminate”; click the above title to read the unabridged version.

 

5. My suit seeks to halt State’s Plan to close the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, and instead improve its process – approximately 2 months after I filed suit, alleging fraudulent misrepresentation by the Commission and requesting 5 reforms to make the manner they process complaints effective, the State eliminated the Commission altogether, turning it into a mere “advisory panel”. Where will people of color and people with disabilities, women who experience sex-based discrimination, and LGBT+ go when they experience discrimination?? My suit alleges violations of 18 USC § 241 Conspiracy against rights and Iowa’s Ongoing Criminal Conduct Act (racketeering) by the State of Iowa, and requests a cease and desist order from the State to prevent the State from attempting to undermine, eliminate and/or make ineffective the current civil rights laws that are in place.

 

Latest Updates:

July 9: Following numerous filings, Judge Gronewald steps down – Judge Gronewald is on record for donating to Republican candidates for years prior to being appointed by Governor Reynolds. Following 4 court filings and two complaints to the Iowa Judicial Qualifications Commission (who didn’t do their job), Judge Gronewald stepped down. I threatened to sue the state for more if she didn’t recuse, in violation of my “right to a fair trial”.

Aug. 5: I challenged sections of Iowa Code as unconstitutional; awaiting the courts ruling – within my resistance, I challenged Iowa Code §669.14 as unconstitutional. The section denies redress to Citizens harmed by government officials or agencies in the following manner:

    • violating rights via enforcing invalid (e.g. unconstitutional, abusive) statutes or regulations; abuse of discretion; assault; battery; false imprisonment; false arrest; malicious prosecution; abuse of process; libel; slander; misrepresentation; deceit; interference with contract rights; detention of any goods or merchandise; any claim filed by an inmate.

Aug. 5: I challenged the State of Iowa’s legal defense of “sovereign immunity” as unconstitutional; awaiting ruling – originally implemented by King Edward I, the malicious defense of sovereign immunity was based on the premise that “a king can do no wrong”. I quoted John Locke, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Alexander Hamilton in my filing, statements wherein they personally lambasted this unconstitutional, non-American abuse of state power. I also pointed out that the 11th Amendment has nothing written in it about sovereign immunity even though it is often cited on the internet as providing immunity from lawsuits to states.


 

 

“I hope I’m helping to interrupt the other terrible agenda from that alternate timeline some people have been trying to make happen! In fact I hope that other timeline just doesn’t exist at all anymore. Screw that timeline! All Iowans need this lawsuit whether they realize it or not! United We Stand!” – Sondra, with related GIF I totally feel:

Special thanks to TheLostSmiles, Marvel, Benedict Cumberpatch, and anyone who was part of this project for the amazing relevant GIF I am utilizing for First Amendment purposes in accordance with in accordance with the U.S. Copyright Office’s Fair Use policy.

 

To Donate:

     There is still a long road ahead, not only with regard to legal filings and preparing for trial, but also in continuing to develop this webpage and related articles, and performing outreach to hopefully find more (accurate) media coverage. If you would like to donate toward my continued efforts, it would be greatly appreciated. This is an overtime job with no pay, but it is obviously very important and bigger than myself.

Venmo = @Sondra-Wilson-777

Paypal = [email protected]

 

Sondra standing by Robin Hood statue outside Nottingham Castle on February 23, 2024 during DMACC’s London Abroad program: *

DISCLAIMER: Neither Des Moines Area Community College (“DMACC”) nor DMACC’s London Abroad program are in any way affiliated with Wild Willpower PAC or Sondra Wilson for Iowa Governor. Sondra graduated from DMACC with Honors in spring 2024, and transferred to ISU to earn her bachelor’s in entrepreneurship in fall 2024.