Puck Carlson, a high school senior in Iowa City, is one of seven LGBTQ students and their families from across Iowa who filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn Senate File 496. The ACLU and Iowa Safe Schools are also plaintiffs in the case. It argues the law violates the plaintiffs’ right to free speech, among others.
“I’m not shameful,” Carlson said at a news conference Tuesday.
Sorry, Puck, but Republican state lawmakers disagree.
The shame is the point.
Republicans passed SF 496, which removes books from school libraries and curriculum, many by LGBTQ authors, banishes all mention of the existence of LGBTQ people in K-6 classrooms and forcibly outs students who use a new name and pronouns to their parents, regardless of what danger they may face.
“SF 496’s don’t say gay or trans, all-ages, book ban, and forced outing provisions, which target LGBTQ+ students on the basis of the content and viewpoint of their speech, coupled with the law’s draconian enforcement measures, communicate to these young people that they are unworthy of recognition or respect and too shameful even to be acknowledged.,” the lawsuit argues.
Republicans keep banging the drum, chanting “pornography,” pointing to a stack of books they’ve targeted to gin up outrage and votes. The books were written for transgender and nonbinary teenagers, not for a bunch of middle-aged legislators.
“Protecting children from pornography and sexually explicit content shouldn’t be controversial,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said reacting to the lawsuit.
But the real objective of this law is to erase LGBTQ kids and their identity from public schools. It’s already achieving its objective.
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Schools, according to the lawsuit, have taken down “safe place” signs in hallways and have banished rainbows. Clubs for LGTQ have been put under new restrictions. The law, the lawsuit argues, has “interfered” with schools’ efforts to protect LGBTQ students from bullying and harassment.
One of the plaintiffs, a student referred to as T.S., does not mentioning her sexual orientation for fear of her teachers’ reaction. She has faced bullying and worries that it will now become worse.
Other plaintiffs told of similar experiences.
“SF 496 causes Plaintiff B.F. to feel unwanted, shameful, and unwelcome in school,” the lawsuit argues.
“SF 496 unconstitutionally denies LGBTQ+ students access to information and ideas and silences them at a pivotal moment in their lives, when these students — like all people their age — develop their own sense of self. Should SF 496 continue in effect, a generation of LGBTQ+ Iowans will grow up isolated and afraid,” the lawsuit contends.
The law’s vague prohibition on books containing “descriptions” of sex acts has led several districts to consider taking hundreds of books off the shelves. You can’t be too careful when the righteous crusaders are on the march.
So, it’s mission accomplished, Republicans. You’ve forced LGBTQ kids back into the shadows, struck fear into the hearts students, teachers and administrators and sent the message that non-conservative viewpoints will not be tolerated in Iowa.
And, yet they feel no shame.
(319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com
www.thegazette.com
“I’m not shameful,” Carlson said at a news conference Tuesday.
Sorry, Puck, but Republican state lawmakers disagree.
The shame is the point.
Republicans passed SF 496, which removes books from school libraries and curriculum, many by LGBTQ authors, banishes all mention of the existence of LGBTQ people in K-6 classrooms and forcibly outs students who use a new name and pronouns to their parents, regardless of what danger they may face.
“SF 496’s don’t say gay or trans, all-ages, book ban, and forced outing provisions, which target LGBTQ+ students on the basis of the content and viewpoint of their speech, coupled with the law’s draconian enforcement measures, communicate to these young people that they are unworthy of recognition or respect and too shameful even to be acknowledged.,” the lawsuit argues.
Republicans keep banging the drum, chanting “pornography,” pointing to a stack of books they’ve targeted to gin up outrage and votes. The books were written for transgender and nonbinary teenagers, not for a bunch of middle-aged legislators.
“Protecting children from pornography and sexually explicit content shouldn’t be controversial,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said reacting to the lawsuit.
But the real objective of this law is to erase LGBTQ kids and their identity from public schools. It’s already achieving its objective.
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Schools, according to the lawsuit, have taken down “safe place” signs in hallways and have banished rainbows. Clubs for LGTQ have been put under new restrictions. The law, the lawsuit argues, has “interfered” with schools’ efforts to protect LGBTQ students from bullying and harassment.
One of the plaintiffs, a student referred to as T.S., does not mentioning her sexual orientation for fear of her teachers’ reaction. She has faced bullying and worries that it will now become worse.
Other plaintiffs told of similar experiences.
“SF 496 causes Plaintiff B.F. to feel unwanted, shameful, and unwelcome in school,” the lawsuit argues.
“SF 496 unconstitutionally denies LGBTQ+ students access to information and ideas and silences them at a pivotal moment in their lives, when these students — like all people their age — develop their own sense of self. Should SF 496 continue in effect, a generation of LGBTQ+ Iowans will grow up isolated and afraid,” the lawsuit contends.
The law’s vague prohibition on books containing “descriptions” of sex acts has led several districts to consider taking hundreds of books off the shelves. You can’t be too careful when the righteous crusaders are on the march.
So, it’s mission accomplished, Republicans. You’ve forced LGBTQ kids back into the shadows, struck fear into the hearts students, teachers and administrators and sent the message that non-conservative viewpoints will not be tolerated in Iowa.
And, yet they feel no shame.
(319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com
A shameful law is headed to court in Iowa
Richard, Puck, and Ulrike Carlson. Photo contributed by ACLU of Iowa. Puck Carlson, a high school senior in Iowa City, …
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