The ACLU of Iowa, supported by Lambda Legal, has filed a lawsuit against the state over a recent parental rights legislation enacted earlier this year. The bill, championed by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, has introduced significant changes in the state’s education system, particularly concerning discussions on gender identity and sexual orientation in classrooms up to the sixth grade. Additionally, the legislation includes a ban on all books in school libraries that depict sexual acts, exempting religious texts.
Governor Reynolds described the legislation as a groundbreaking reform in education, empowering parents to have a greater say in their children’s education. A key provision of the law mandates that school administrators inform parents when students choose to use different pronouns or names.
However, the ACLU and Lambda Legal are challenging this law, asserting that it inflicts continuous and irremediable harm on LGBTQ+ students. They argue that the Iowa Board of Education’s proposed guidelines for implementing the law are insufficient and fail to address its alleged unconstitutionality.
The lawsuit seeks to halt the law’s enforcement during the litigation process, citing its adverse impact on LGBTQ+ students. The ACLU highlights that numerous books with LGBTQ+ themes or characters, crucial for the representation and support of these students, have been removed from school libraries.
Thomas Story, a staff attorney at ACLU of Iowa, has condemned the law as an infringement on students’ First Amendment rights, arguing that it unjustly censors speech and learning materials based on subjective offense. He pointed out the law’s ambiguity, which has left schools struggling to adhere to its terms, even with legal advice.
In addition to the content restrictions, the law requires schools to publish a list of library books online and outlines a procedure for parents to review and potentially request the removal of certain books and instructional materials. The law also stipulates that schools must obtain parental consent before conducting student surveys on a range of topics, including mental health, sexual content, and political affiliations.
Governor Reynolds defended the legislation, emphasizing the importance of protecting children from pornography and sexually explicit content in schools. She argued that materials with graphic sexual content are inappropriate for school settings, likening them to R-rated movies, and criticized the media for promoting narratives that endorse such content for children.
This contentious book ban issue echoes similar actions in other states, including Texas, Florida, Missouri, Utah, and South Carolina, where local school boards have addressed it.