Polk County jury rules that Iowa agency discriminated against nurse because he's transgender
- TGID
- Feb 14, 2019
- 1 min read

Updated: 6:43 PM CST Feb 13, 2019Play Video SHOW TRANSCRIPTDES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI)
A Polk County jury has ruled that the state discriminated against a former Iowa Department of Corrections nurse because he is transgender.
The lawsuit was filed in 2017 after Jesse Vroegh claimed that the agency denied him use of the men’s restrooms and locker rooms at work. He also claimed that the Iowa Department of Corrections denied him health care coverage for “medically necessary surgery.”
Vroegh began working at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville as a nurse in 2009. In 2014, Vreogh informed his boss that he would be transitioning from female to male.
The warden denied his requests to begin using men's facilities and instead designated two gender-neutral restrooms for Vreogh.
Jurors on Wednesday awarded Vroegh $120,000 in damages.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa said Wednesday that the ruling is a “historic win for transgender rights in Iowa” because it’s the first transgender rights lawsuit to be filed in the state since the Iowa Civil Rights Act was amended in 2007 to include gender identity and sexual orientation.
Vroegh said in a news release that, though the lawsuit process has been “difficult and emotionally very trying,” he’s happy that the jury that he should be treated “fairly and equally.”
ACLU lawyer Melissa Hasso said the verdict marks "an historic day for transgender Iowans, their friends and families."
A spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Corrections said the agency is reviewing the case with the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, and they’re “considering our options.”
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