The American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal are asking a federal judge to block an Iowa law that bans some books and discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in schools.”I am a good teacher who happens to be gay,” said Daniel Gutman, a fourth grade teacher in Des Moines and one of the new plaintiffs in the filing. “In 2023, after Senate File 496 became law, I was told by my administrator that I was prohibited from mentioning my husband in the presence of students. This was the hammer coming down on me.””All LGBTQ+ educators feared that we would be forced to choose between leaving our calling or returning to the closet,” Gutman added.Gutman says his administrator eventually told him he misunderstood the law.He believes the law is dangerously vague and confusing for schools, teachers and kids. This is why he is part of the renewed effort to ask for an injunction.The ACLU and Lambda Legal were successful in getting the law blocked in December, which allowed some books to return to school shelves. However, the state appealed, and a federal judge lifted the injunction.The law bans books that contain descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act in schools and also bans discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in classrooms K-6.The ACLU argues that the law is unethical and unconstitutional. It is hopeful this injunction will be granted because it has provided new information about how the law is affecting schools.It is also referencing a Texas Supreme Court case that it says aligns with its request.Gov. Reynolds signed the bill into law in May 2023.In November, LGBTQIA groups and major publishers sued to overturn the law. A federal judge blocked the state from enforcing the law in December.Just before this school year started, a judge overturned that federal judge’s ruling, allowing the law to go into effect.» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayGet the latest headlines from KCCI
The American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal are asking a federal judge to block an Iowa law that bans some books and discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in schools.
“I am a good teacher who happens to be gay,” said Daniel Gutman, a fourth grade teacher in Des Moines and one of the new plaintiffs in the filing. “In 2023, after Senate File 496 became law, I was told by my administrator that I was prohibited from mentioning my husband in the presence of students. This was the hammer coming down on me.”
Advertisement
“All LGBTQ+ educators feared that we would be forced to choose between leaving our calling or returning to the closet,” Gutman added.
Gutman says his administrator eventually told him he misunderstood the law.
He believes the law is dangerously vague and confusing for schools, teachers and kids. This is why he is part of the renewed effort to ask for an injunction.
The ACLU and Lambda Legal were successful in getting the law blocked in December, which allowed some books to return to school shelves. However, the state appealed, and a federal judge lifted the injunction.
The law bans books that contain descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act in schools and also bans discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in classrooms K-6.
The ACLU argues that the law is unethical and unconstitutional. It is hopeful this injunction will be granted because it has provided new information about how the law is affecting schools.
It is also referencing a Texas Supreme Court case that it says aligns with its request.
Gov. Reynolds signed the bill into law in May 2023.
In November, LGBTQIA groups and major publishers sued to overturn the law. A federal judge blocked the state from enforcing the law in December.
Just before this school year started, a judge overturned that federal judge’s ruling, allowing the law to go into effect.
» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
This post was originally published on here
