Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has defended a law that bans books containing “descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act” in school libraries following a lawsuit filed by a group of families to block the new law.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Iowa, Lambda Legal, and Jenner & Block LLP filed a lawsuit on behalf of Iowa Safe Schools, seven Iowa students ranging from fourth to 12th grade, and their families.
“As a result of the ban, LGBTQ+ students are denied the comfort of narratives that include LGBTQ+ characters and the solace that they are not alone,” Lambda Legal stated in a Nov. 28 press release.
Several Iowa school districts have pulled hundreds of titles from their shelves due to the state law, it stated. Many of the banned books contain content of particular relevance to LGBT students, including characters, historical figures, or themes, the lawsuit states.
ACLU attorney Thomas Story said the law is “a clear violation of public school students’ First Amendment right to speak, read, and learn freely.”
“The First Amendment does not allow our state or our schools to remove books or issue blanket bans on discussion and materials simply because a group of politicians or parents find them offensive,” Mr. Story stated.
‘Protecting Children From Pornography’
Ms. Reynolds, who signed the measure into law on May 26, has defended the state law and argued that “protecting children from pornography and sexually explicit content” shouldn’t be a “controversial” subject.“The real controversy is that it exists in elementary schools. Books with graphic depictions of sex acts have absolutely no place in our schools. If these books were movies, they'd be rated R. The media cannot even air or print excerpts from these books because the content is offensive and inappropriate, yet they promote the narrative that they’re good for kids,” the governor stated on Nov. 28.
Under the law, educators are forbidden from raising gender identity and sexual orientation issues with students through grade six, and school administrators are required to notify parents if students ask to change their pronouns or names.
The law’s section that bans books depicting sex acts from school libraries includes an exception for religious texts like the Bible.
Penalties for violating the law will go into effect Jan. 1 and place administrators, teachers, librarians, and other school staff at risk of disciplinary action, including termination and loss of their state professional education license.
Nathan Maxwell, Lambda Legal senior attorney, called it an “unconstitutional law” that could “put students at risk of bullying, violence, and even suicide.”
“Schools should be safe havens that protect all students—including LGBTQ+ students—so they can learn and thrive in an affirming environment,” he stated.
“It sends the message that LGBTQ+ kids are too shameful to be acknowledged and endangers not only their mental health, but also their physical safety and well-being.”
Republicans have largely backed such laws in Iowa and other states in recent years that prohibit teachers from discussing transgender and sexual orientation issues, require students to use bathrooms that correspond to their biological sex, and prohibit the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones by minors. Many are facing challenges in court.
