Latest news with #IowaSafeSchools
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Court again blocks key elements of Iowa's school book ban
A federal judge has again temporarily blocked portions of an Iowa law restricting school books with sexual content. (Photo by) A federal judge has again temporarily blocked portions of an Iowa law aimed at restricting schools' recognition of LGBTQ+ people and banning books with sexual or LGBTQ+ content. The law, which was signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds in May 2023, was immediately challenged by Lambda Legal and ACLU of Iowa on behalf of students, teachers and the organization Iowa Safe Schools. As originally written, the law prohibits school districts and educators from providing 'any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender identity or sexual orientation to students in kindergarten through grade six.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The court had previously enjoined the law because the terms 'gender identity' and 'sexual orientation' were defined so broadly as to make it impossible for a reasonable school district, teacher, or student to understand what, exactly, was prohibited. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated the district court's injunction and remanded the case with instructions to the district court to address the legality of a narrower interpretation of the law. Thursday's preliminary injunction reflects the district court's conclusion that there are parts of the law that do pass constitutional muster, but only under such a narrow interpretation. 'The restrictions on 'programs' and 'promotion' relating to gender identity and sexual orientation cannot reasonably be interpreted in a manner consistent with the First Amendment,' U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Locher ruled. 'The words 'program' and 'promotion' are simply too broad to refer only to mandatory classroom curriculum and instead prohibit school districts and educators from, among other things, making extracurricular activities relating to gender identity and sexual orientation available to students in grade 6 or below. These restrictions therefore violate students' First Amendment rights and are facially unconstitutional.' In his ruling, Locher set out what precisely what portions of the law are, and are not, enforceable: — Detailed instruction banned: School districts and educators may not provide mandatory lessons or instruction to students in grade 6 or below that include detailed explanations or normative views on 'gender identity' or 'sexual orientation.' — Neutral references allowed: School districts and teachers may provide mandatory lessons or instruction to students in grade 6 or below that contain neutral references to gender identity or sexual orientation. The lessons and instruction simply cannot focus on those topics. Teachers may make other neutral references to any gender identity and any sexual orientation during classroom instruction — for example, by referring to their partner even if the individual is of the same sex. — Student groups allowed: Students in grades 6 and below must be allowed to join Gender Sexuality Alliances, or GSAs, and other student groups related to gender identity and/or sexual orientation. — Promotion of student groups allowed: School districts and educators must be permitted to advertise GSAs and other student groups that relate to gender identity or sexual orientation to all students, including those in grade six and below, to the same degree as they might promote any other student group. — Parental notification allowed in some cases: State officials and school districts may inform parents when a student asks for an accommodation in the form of a pronoun that's at odds with their gender listed in school records, but they may not do so to any other student requests for an accommodation. 'We're pleased that our clients, Iowa families and students, can look forward to the next school year without facing the harms of this unconstitutional law,' said Nathan Maxwell, senior attorney at Lambda Legal. 'This ruling acknowledges that Iowa students and teachers have experienced real harm from this law. The court agreed with us that the latitude afforded the state to determine school curricula does not empower lawmakers to erase any mention of LGBTQ+ people altogether from schools, nor to put students in harm's way for failing to meet ambiguous and arbitrary standards for gender expression. Lastly, the court here makes it clear, yet again, that banning books with LGBTQ+ content or censoring inclusive messages for LGBTQ+ students is unacceptable.' 'This is an important win for our clients and others harmed by this overreaching law,' said Thomas Story, ACLU of Iowa staff attorney. 'The federal district court has blocked the state from enforcing many of the worst aspects of Senate File 496. Under this order, Iowa teachers no longer can be disciplined simply because their classroom contains a Pride flag or their library contains books with LGBTQ+ characters. Students of all ages are once again free to join GSAs and to promote them to their classmates.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Axios
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Iowa LGBTQ+ youth say new laws hurt mental health
Young LGBTQ+ Iowans polled by a local nonprofit and The Trevor Project said they experienced mental health issues and had considered leaving the state due to politics. The big picture: The majority of respondents in each poll said they'd experienced anxiety, and more than half said they had plans to leave the state because of LGBTQ+-specific politics. Driving the news: Iowa Safe Schools, a youth LGBTQ+ nonprofit, asked about 150 middle and high school students last fall via Google form about their experiences at school after a wide range of legislation targeting LGBTQ+ youth had passed. The Trevor Project, a national crisis intervention organization, surveyed 18,000 young people ages 13-24 nationwide, including in Iowa, between Sept. 13 and Dec. 16, 2023. Flashback: A wide range of LGBTQ+-specific laws have passed in Iowa in recent years, including: What they're saying: Hannah Mitchell, director of youth engagement at Iowa Safe Schools, says the new laws have hurt students and teachers' comfort being openly LGBTQ+. The other side: Gov. Kim Reynolds has said many of the laws are put in place to protect children and their " innocence" and to ensure equality in girls' sports. She also said there needs to be a pause to better understand "emerging therapies" for minors, including puberty blockers and gender-affirming surgeries. By the numbers: More than 80% of surveyed students said they felt the new legislation had negatively affected their sense of safety at school, per Iowa Safe Schools. Over half said they dealt with bullying at school because of their LGBTQ+ identity. The majority had also lost access to LGBTQ+ affirming literature, and a quarter of students said they were told they couldn't discuss queer topics in class. 34% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered suicide in 2023, according to The Trevor Project. While 85% of students surveyed by Iowa Safe Schools said they planned on staying in Iowa to finish high school, only 45% intended to stay in the state for college. After college graduation, they're unlikely to work in the state, 37% said. Just over half of young LGBTQ+ people said they or their families had considered leaving the state because of laws and policies, including 69% of transgender and nonbinary people, per The Trevor Project. The bottom line: "Iowa is really at risk of losing future leaders, future workers and innovators — and they are probably going to other, more welcoming states," Mitchell says. "I think everyone should see that as an issue."
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal judge again blocks Iowa book ban; expected to rule on 'don't say gay' restrictions soon
A federal judge has again blocked Iowa's ban on certain books from public school classrooms and libraries. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher ruled Tuesday that the ban on books depicting sex acts was likely unconstitutional and issued a preliminary injunction preventing its enforcement while the lawsuit against it continues, the Associated Press reports. The book ban is part of a broader 'don't say gay' law passed by Iowa's legislature and signed by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in May 2023. Two suits have been filed to challenge the law. Publishers and authors, including John Green and Jodi Picoult, and the Iowa State Education Association sued over the book ban, saying it went 'far beyond obscenity to prohibit any book with any description of a sex act for any age,' according to the AP. Iowa Safe Schools, a nonprofit supporting LGBTQ+ and allied youth, along with parents and children, challenged the entire law — the book ban, restrictions on instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-6, and a provision forcing the outing of students who wish to change their names or pronouns. They are represented by Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union's Iowa affiliate, and the law firm of Jenner & Block. In December 2023, Locher issued injunctions in both suits, blocking all provisions except the forced outing one. Last August, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit overturned his rulings, lifted the injunctions, and sent the case back to Locher for application of what the appellate court considers the correct standards for reviewing the statute. In his Tuesday ruling, he said the book ban violates the U.S. Constitution 'under both legal standards the Court believes are applicable,' the AP reports. He is expected to rule in the Iowa Safe Schools suit soon. Both are likely to be appealed again. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird vowed to keep on defending the law. 'This common sense law makes certain that the books kids have access to in school classrooms and libraries are age-appropriate,' said a statement from Bird. 'I'm going to keep on fighting to uphold our law that protects schoolchildren and parental rights."
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iowa bill removing gender identity from Civil Rights Act advances
DES MOINES, Iowa — House Republicans on Monday advanced a bill that would remove gender identity as a protected class from the Iowa Civil Rights Act. On Monday morning House Republicans took up HSB 242 in a subcommittee meeting and dozens of LGBTQ advocates attended to voice their opposition to the bill. At some points speakers were forced to pause until protestors in the Capitol stopped chanting. WATCH: Semi fire reported on I-80 near Altoona The subcommittee advanced the bill to the House Judiciary Committee scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday afternoon. Only a couple hours later the Judiciary Committee passed the bill along party lines 13 to 8. HSB 242 is now eligible for debate on the House floor. According to Iowa Safe Schools, if the bill is passed Iowa would be the first state in the country to remove a protected class from a civil rights act. 'Today is a dark day for all Iowans as the Iowa legislature has moved this devastating piece of legislation forward,' Becky Tayler, Executive Director for Iowa Safe Schools, said. 'Make no mistake — HSB 242 will empower individuals to discriminate against their fellow Iowans. It sends a message that Iowans aren't welcome in their own state. We urge the Iowa House to reject this bill.' Iowa News: 'Picture of perseverence': Marshalltown man's legacy lives on 100+ years later in historically African-American school Iowa bill removing gender identity from Civil Rights Act advances WHO 13 Farm Report: Monday, February 24 One injured after officer-involved shooting in Sioux City Hearing for Iowa bill removing gender identity from Civil Rights Act scheduled for Monday Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gender identity would be removed from Iowa's Civil Rights Act under new bill
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa House Republicans introduced a bill on Thursday that would remove gender identity from Iowa's Civil Rights Act. In 2007 the Iowa Civil Rights Act was expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes. The new bill, HSB 242, would completely remove gender identity as a protected class, meaning protections from discrimination in employment, housing, wages, etc. would be removed. Critics against the bill say it would erase transgender Iowans' existence. HSB 242 subverts the constitutional guarantees of equality under the law and seeks to push trans Iowans back into the shadows. This bill sends a message that trans Iowans aren't welcome in their own state. We will not stand by while the Iowa Legislature seeks to erase the students we serve. Executive Director of Iowa Safe Schools Becky Tayler Ames man charged for allegedly shooting Good Boy the dog This is the worst bill we have ever seen come out of the Iowa Legislature, and that is a high bar. This would wreak havoc on the lives of transgender people across the state, upending their ability to do basic things like rent an apartment or get a credit card. More than that, it removes their ability to get government documents that match their gender and legally defines them out of existence. The consequences of this bill will also serve to weaken protections for intersex and cisgender Iowans who fail to meet the rigid gender assumptions contained within. This bill is pointless, unnecessary, and unbelievably cruel. Transgender Iowans are our friends, our neighbors, and our coworkers. We deserve the same fundamental rights, dignity, and respect as anyone else. This legislation will not improve the life of a single Iowan, but it will undoubtedly make the lives of transgender Iowans worse. We call on legislators to reject this proposal and get back to work on policies that make our state better for everyone. One Iowa Executive Director Max Mowitz Iowa Republican Representative Steve Holt, who brought forward the bill, said in a statement on Facebook that the bill doesn't legalize discrimination against transgender Iowans. His statement reads in part: 'Over the past few years, the Iowa Legislature has passed a number of common sense policies at the urging of Iowans, such as protections for girls' sports, locker rooms, and restrooms, and prohibiting gender affirming care for minors. I have reached the conclusion that these policies that are overwhelmingly supported by Iowans are at risk of being struck down in court so long as gender identity remains a protected class in Iowa code.' Governor Kim Reynolds introduced a similar bill in 2024 that would have legally defined the term mother as being only female and would have required transgender Iowans to have their sex at birth and their gender identity listed on birth certificates and drivers or state licenses. That bill failed to advance. HSB 242 has been assigned to a subcommittee, but a meeting date has not been scheduled. Iowa News: WHO 13 Farm Report: Friday, February 21 Gender identity would be removed from Iowa's Civil Rights Act under new bill Ames man charged for allegedly shooting Good Boy the dog DMPD says man who stole dog back from shelter shot at Iowa police who tried to arrest him Springlike weather to follow frigid conditions in central Iowa Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
