DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa church is dropping its lawsuit against the state and the city of Des Moines over an anti-discrimination law that church officials believed could force them to abide by transgender bathroom rules.
The Fort Des Moines Church of Christ filed a voluntarily dismissal Oct. 26.
The church sought an injunction to keep the city and state from applying the anti-discrimination law to churches, saying it violated free exercise of religious rights.
The law prohibits discrimination in use of public facilities based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
U.S. District Judge Stephanie Rose denied the injunction Oct. 14 saying it’s uncertain whether the law would be applied to the church.
The Iowa Civil Rights Commission says it’s never enforced the law against churches and made it clear churches are generally exempt.
