A federal judge in Iowa, Stephen Locher, has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of a law set to take effect on January 1, that prohibited certain books in public school libraries.
The law, backed by Republicans and approved by GOP Governor Kim Reynolds, sought to ban books depicting sex acts from school libraries and classrooms, as per The New York Times.
Judge Blocks Iowa Book Ban
Additionally, it prohibited teachers from discussing gender identity and sexual orientation issues with students through the sixth grade. Judge Locher's injunction specifically blocks the enforcement of these two provisions.
The judge expressed concern over the broad scope of the book ban, stating that it has led to the removal of history volumes, classics, award-winning novels, and even books designed to help students avoid sexual assault. Locher suggested that this aspect of the law is unlikely to meet constitutional requirements for free speech. Similarly, he found the provision restricting any discussion of "gender identity" and "sexual orientation" in elementary school to be overly broad.
Governor Reynolds voiced her disappointment with the ruling, emphasizing her belief that instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation has no place in kindergarten through sixth-grade classrooms. She also argued that books containing sexually explicit content, as defined by Iowa law, should not be available in school libraries for children.
Educators have expressed their approval of the decision. Mike Beranek, president of the Iowa State Education Association, has welcomed the move, emphasizing that it will allow professionals to prioritize the well-being of their students without any concerns about facing consequences, according to Associated Press.
Iowa Court Allows Parental Notification for Name Changes
In a recent court ruling, the judge has permitted a requirement for school administrators to notify parents if their child expresses a desire to change pronouns or names. This decision was made on the grounds that the plaintiffs who were challenging this provision did not have standing in the case.
Iowa's legislation, like many others across the country, aligns with a broader pattern of similar laws. These measures are commonly supported by Republican lawmakers. In an attempt to control discussions related to gender and sexual orientation matters, enactments have been introduced that seek to curtail such discussions. Additionally, these laws prohibit specific treatments for transgender minors and impose restrictions on restroom utilization within educational institutions. Several of these laws have been met with legal challenges.
Opponents of Iowa's law filed two lawsuits challenging its constitutionality. One lawsuit, on behalf of Iowa Safe Schools and seven students, argued that the law violates free speech and equal protection rights. The second lawsuit, filed by the Iowa State Education Association, publisher Penguin Random House, and four authors, focused more narrowly on the book bans, contending that the law infringes on the First and 14th Amendments.
During a December 22 hearing, attorneys from the Iowa attorney general's office acknowledged that school officials might have applied the book ban too broadly. They suggested that educators should focus on identifying text or images meeting Iowa's definition of a sex act, rather than dwelling on the concept of a sex act itself, CBS News reported.
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