Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa signed a new education bill into law this week that will restrict teaching about LGBTQ topics and ban books from school libraries that contain any sex acts.
The legislation, signed in a private setting, was an omnibus-bill of education priorities for Iowa Republican lawmakers.
Iowa teachers will be banned from raising gender identity and sexual orientation issues with students through grade six under a bill Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Friday. All books depicting sex acts will also be removed from school libraries. https://t.co/BENZuETRfP
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 26, 2023
From the Des Moines Register:
The law will ban school books with descriptions or depictions of sex acts; prohibit instruction on gender identity or sexual orientation before seventh grade; require schools to notify parents if a student requests to use new pronouns; and enshrine the “constitutionally protected right” for parents to make decisions for their children.
School and library organizations are warning that many books long available on school library shelves could be banned — far beyond the few, controversial titles that have made news in recent years.
The new law enshrines the rights of Iowa parents to make decisions about their minor child’s medical care, moral and religious upbringing, residence, education and extracurricular activities – EXCEPT when it comes to gender-affirming care for trans minors, which is outlawed in Iowa.
In March, Iowa Republicans introduced a House Resolution that would ban same-sex marriage just in case the U.S. Supreme Court were to reverse its Obergefell decision which made marriage equality the law of the land.
Today Gov. Reynolds signed a bill to ban books and marginalize kids just because they’re different.
Censorship and singling out LGBTQ Iowans is wrong for kids, and wrong for our state. https://t.co/wQdXdAxAWv
— Iowa Senate Democrats (@IowaSenate) May 26, 2023