Latest news with #GSAs
CTV News
08-08-2025
- General
- CTV News
Annual Run for Rocky supports local youth
The 9th annual Run for Rocky fundraising event will take place during Windsor-Essex Pride Fest 2025 weekend. The public is welcome to run five kilometres or walk three kilometres with the kickoff on Saturday at 9:45 a.m. for the opening ceremony. The run and walk start are at 10 a.m. The route begins at Dieppe Gardens and heads west through Windsor's waterfront and ends at the Ambassador Bridge. Since the inception, the event has raised over $400,000 in support of gay-straight alliance clubs (GSAs) in local schools. This financial support includes grants, scholarships, and other educational programs for students, parents, and educators. The effort of all involved ensures that the 2SLGBTQI+ community and their families are supported by services in the area. Children 12 and under accompanied by a parent or guardian are welcome to attend the event at no charge and do not have to register.
San Francisco Chronicle
16-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Judge OKs Iowa limits on K-6 gender identity, sexual orientation teaching but not elective programs
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa can continue to restrict instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in schools up through the sixth grade, a federal judge said, but has to allow nonmandatory programs related to the topics. U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher offered a split decision late Thursday, siding in part with a LGBTQ advocacy organization, teachers and students who sued the state. In a separate ruling in March, Locher again temporarily blocked another disputed component of the law, which would prohibit school libraries from carrying books that depict sex acts. Iowa has asked the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn that decision. Republican majorities in the Iowa House and Senate passed the law in 2023, intending to reinforce what they consider to be age-appropriate education in kindergarten through 12th grades. It's been a back-and-forth battle in the courts in the two years since. The provisions of the law that are being challenged were temporarily blocked by Locher in December 2023, just before they became enforceable. That decision was overturned in August by the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, meaning the law has been enforceable for most of the current school year. The appellate court told the lower court that it failed to apply the correct analysis in determining whether to temporarily block the law. An attorney for the LGBTQ students, teachers and advocacy organization told Locher in February that the law is overly broad because it prohibits 'any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender identity or sexual orientation' in kindergarten through sixth grade. Opponents argued the law is vague enough to limit any information accessed or activity engaged in within the school. Locher agreed in his decision that any 'program' or 'promotion' is broad enough to violate students' First Amendment rights and those provisions are therefore on hold. But restrictions on curriculum, tests, surveys, questionnaires or instruction can be interpreted in the way the state argues, as applying only to the mandatory school functions. Locher laid out specifically what that means: 'Students in grades six and below must be allowed to join Gender Sexuality Alliances ('GSAs') and other student groups relating to gender identity and/or sexual orientation.' And the district, teachers and students 'must be permitted to advertise' those groups. On the other hand, teachers are not allowed to provide mandatory instruction that include 'detailed explanations or normative views' on the issues, Locher said. "It does not matter whether the lessons or instruction revolve around cisgender or transgender identities or straight or gay sexual orientations. All are forbidden." The state education agency's rules on the law say they will not take a neutral statement on gender identity and sexual orientation to be a violation of the law. During a February hearing, Locher posed questions to the state's attorney asking, for example, how a teacher should decide whether a book featuring a same-sex couple is a neutral portrayal allowed under the law, or whether it is a positive or affirming portrayal. The state often said the answers depend on context. Opponents of the law said that means the measure is too vague. Locher's decision dictated that neutral references where sexual orientation or gender identity aren't the focus is allowed. That means books with characters of varying gender identities or sexual orientations are permitted, so long as those 'are not the focus of the book or lesson.'
16-05-2025
- Politics
Judge OKs Iowa limits on K-6 gender identity, sexual orientation teaching but not elective programs
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Iowa can continue to restrict instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in schools up through the sixth grade, a federal judge said, but has to allow nonmandatory programs related to the topics. U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher offered a split decision late Thursday, siding in part with a LGBTQ advocacy organization, teachers and students who sued the state. In a separate ruling in March, Locher again temporarily blocked another disputed component of the law, which would prohibit school libraries from carrying books that depict sex acts. Iowa has asked the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn that decision. Republican majorities in the Iowa House and Senate passed the law in 2023, intending to reinforce what they consider to be age-appropriate education in kindergarten through 12th grades. It's been a back-and-forth battle in the courts in the two years since. The provisions of the law that are being challenged were temporarily blocked by Locher in December 2023, just before they became enforceable. That decision was overturned in August by the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, meaning the law has been enforceable for most of the current school year. The appellate court told the lower court that it failed to apply the correct analysis in determining whether to temporarily block the law. An attorney for the LGBTQ students, teachers and advocacy organization told Locher in February that the law is overly broad because it prohibits 'any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender identity or sexual orientation' in kindergarten through sixth grade. Opponents argued the law is vague enough to limit any information accessed or activity engaged in within the school. Locher agreed in his decision that any 'program' or 'promotion' is broad enough to violate students' First Amendment rights and those provisions are therefore on hold. But restrictions on curriculum, tests, surveys, questionnaires or instruction can be interpreted in the way the state argues, as applying only to the mandatory school functions. Locher laid out specifically what that means: 'Students in grades six and below must be allowed to join Gender Sexuality Alliances ('GSAs') and other student groups relating to gender identity and/or sexual orientation.' And the district, teachers and students 'must be permitted to advertise' those groups. On the other hand, teachers are not allowed to provide mandatory instruction that include 'detailed explanations or normative views' on the issues, Locher said. "It does not matter whether the lessons or instruction revolve around cisgender or transgender identities or straight or gay sexual orientations. All are forbidden." The state education agency's rules on the law say they will not take a neutral statement on gender identity and sexual orientation to be a violation of the law. During a February hearing, Locher posed questions to the state's attorney asking, for example, how a teacher should decide whether a book featuring a same-sex couple is a neutral portrayal allowed under the law, or whether it is a positive or affirming portrayal. The state often said the answers depend on context. Opponents of the law said that means the measure is too vague. Locher's decision dictated that neutral references where sexual orientation or gender identity aren't the focus is allowed. That means books with characters of varying gender identities or sexual orientations are permitted, so long as those 'are not the focus of the book or lesson.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge OKs Iowa limits on K-6 gender identity, sexual orientation teaching but not elective programs
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa can continue to restrict instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in schools up through the sixth grade, a federal judge said, but has to allow nonmandatory programs related to the topics. U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher offered a split decision late Thursday, siding in part with a LGBTQ advocacy organization, teachers and students who sued the state. In a separate ruling in March, Locher again temporarily blocked another disputed component of the law, which would prohibit school libraries from carrying books that depict sex acts. Iowa has asked the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn that decision. Republican majorities in the Iowa House and Senate passed the law in 2023, intending to reinforce what they consider to be age-appropriate education in kindergarten through 12th grades. It's been a back-and-forth battle in the courts in the two years since. The provisions of the law that are being challenged were temporarily blocked by Locher in December 2023, just before they became enforceable. That decision was overturned in August by the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, meaning the law has been enforceable for most of the current school year. The appellate court told the lower court that it failed to apply the correct analysis in determining whether to temporarily block the law. An attorney for the LGBTQ students, teachers and advocacy organization told Locher in February that the law is overly broad because it prohibits 'any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender identity or sexual orientation' in kindergarten through sixth grade. Opponents argued the law is vague enough to limit any information accessed or activity engaged in within the school. Locher agreed in his decision that any 'program' or 'promotion' is broad enough to violate students' First Amendment rights and those provisions are therefore on hold. But restrictions on curriculum, tests, surveys, questionnaires or instruction can be interpreted in the way the state argues, as applying only to the mandatory school functions. Locher laid out specifically what that means: 'Students in grades six and below must be allowed to join Gender Sexuality Alliances ('GSAs') and other student groups relating to gender identity and/or sexual orientation.' And the district, teachers and students 'must be permitted to advertise' those groups. On the other hand, teachers are not allowed to provide mandatory instruction that include 'detailed explanations or normative views' on the issues, Locher said. "It does not matter whether the lessons or instruction revolve around cisgender or transgender identities or straight or gay sexual orientations. All are forbidden." The state education agency's rules on the law say they will not take a neutral statement on gender identity and sexual orientation to be a violation of the law. During a February hearing, Locher posed questions to the state's attorney asking, for example, how a teacher should decide whether a book featuring a same-sex couple is a neutral portrayal allowed under the law, or whether it is a positive or affirming portrayal. The state often said the answers depend on context. Opponents of the law said that means the measure is too vague. Locher's decision dictated that neutral references where sexual orientation or gender identity aren't the focus is allowed. That means books with characters of varying gender identities or sexual orientations are permitted, so long as those 'are not the focus of the book or lesson.' Locher also said a teacher can refer to their partner, even if that partner is the same sex.
Boston Globe
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Judge OKs Iowa limits on K-6 gender identity, sexual orientation teaching but not elective programs
Republican majorities in the Iowa House and Senate passed the law in 2023, intending to reinforce what they consider to be age-appropriate education in kindergarten through 12th grades. It's been a back-and-forth battle in the courts in the two years since. The provisions of the law that are being challenged were temporarily blocked by Locher in December 2023, just before they became enforceable. That decision was overturned in August by the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, meaning the law has been enforceable for most of the current school year. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The appellate court told the lower court that it failed to apply the correct analysis in determining whether to temporarily block the law. Advertisement An attorney for the LGBTQ students, teachers and advocacy organization told Locher in February that the law is overly broad because it prohibits 'any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender identity or sexual orientation' in kindergarten through sixth grade. Opponents argued the law is vague enough to limit any information accessed or activity engaged in within the school. Advertisement Locher agreed in his decision that any 'program' or 'promotion' is broad enough to violate students' First Amendment rights and those provisions are therefore on hold. But restrictions on curriculum, tests, surveys, questionnaires or instruction can be interpreted in the way the state argues, as applying only to the mandatory school functions. Locher laid out specifically what that means: 'Students in grades six and below must be allowed to join Gender Sexuality Alliances ('GSAs') and other student groups relating to gender identity and/or sexual orientation.' And the district, teachers and students 'must be permitted to advertise' those groups. On the other hand, teachers are not allowed to provide mandatory instruction that include 'detailed explanations or normative views' on the issues, Locher said. 'It does not matter whether the lessons or instruction revolve around cisgender or transgender identities or straight or gay sexual orientations. All are forbidden.' The state education agency's rules on the law say they will not take a neutral statement on gender identity and sexual orientation to be a violation of the law. During a February hearing, Locher posed questions to the state's attorney asking, for example, how a teacher should decide whether a book featuring a same-sex couple is a neutral portrayal allowed under the law, or whether it is a positive or affirming portrayal. The state often said the answers depend on context. Opponents of the law said that means the measure is too vague. Locher's decision dictated that neutral references where sexual orientation or gender identity aren't the focus is allowed. That means books with characters of varying gender identities or sexual orientations are permitted, so long as those 'are not the focus of the book or lesson.' Advertisement Locher also said a teacher can refer to their partner, even if that partner is the same sex.
