DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa can enforce a law that restricts teachers from discussing LGBTQ+ topics with students in kindergarten through sixth grade and bans certain books in schools, an appellate court ruled on Monday.
The decision vacates a temporary injunction issued by a lower court, which had blocked parts of the law. Initially approved by Republican majorities in the Iowa House and Senate along with GOP Governor Kim Reynolds in 2023, the law was presented as a measure to ensure age-appropriate education in schools. Yet, it has prompted legal battles involving the Iowa State Education Association, major publishing houses, bestselling authors, and LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations such as Iowa Safe Schools.
Previously, the law was active during part of the 2024-2025 school year before a federal judge temporarily halted the book ban, which targeted specific descriptions of sexual content in school materials. In a May decision, U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher stated that Iowa could limit mandatory discussions on gender identity and sexual orientation below the sixth grade but could not apply restrictions to broad terms like “program” or “promotion.”
The state sought to overturn earlier rulings, which the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals granted on Monday, allowing the law to stay in effect while lawsuits continue in district court.
“This is a huge win for Iowa parents,” commented Iowa's Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird. “They should be assured that schools are safe learning environments, not places for the indoctrination of children with inappropriate sexual materials and philosophies.”
This legislation falls in line with a broader national trend where Republican lawmakers have introduced similar measures aimed at limiting discussions on LGBTQ+ identities within educational contexts. The law's enforcement raises critical questions regarding educational freedom and First Amendment rights, particularly regarding students' access to relevant literature and information.
Critics, inclusive of teachers' unions and authors, argue that the law is too vague and overly broad, endangering educational content and compromising the essential learning environment of school libraries. Underlining the First Amendment discussions, the court's ruling asserted that the constitutional right does not guarantee students unfettered access to all books at public expense.
The law also establishes requirements for schools to notify parents if students choose to transition socially in school. Lambda Legal attorney Nathan Maxwell characterized the law as unconstitutional and damaging to LGBTQ+ students, vowing to pursue legal actions to protect those affected.
