School employees in Iowa would be protected from discipline if they use a student or staffer's incorrect personal pronouns or name, a bill under consideration by state lawmakers says.
The legislation, House File 2139, prevents any disciplinary action — ranging from written or verbal reprimands to termination — for incorrect use of pronouns or "legal names," a proposal that will most directly impact transgender students and staff. It would apply to "employees, contractors or students."
Advocates of the bill expressed concern that they could be fired for "making an honest mistake" and that school policies on pronouns and preferred names would steer away "teachers of faith." Opponents argued that the legislation was intended to protect intentional use of incorrect pronouns or names, and it directly contradicts a law passed by the Republican-led Legislature last year.
Religious advocacy groups such as The Family Leader and the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition are backing the bill, touting it as key to retaining religious staff in schools.
"It just makes sense," said Ryan Benn, policy director for The Family Leader. "It protects teachers of the faith."
But those testifying against the bill, which included multiple transgender students, said it effectively allowed bullying and harassment against trans and nonbinary members of school districts.
Matthew McIver, the father of a transgender middle-schooler from Des Moines, said the language of the bill laid out a "hostile work environment in basically any other context," and "strips parents of their rights."
And a lobbyist for the Iowa State Education Association called it "a solution in search of a problem."
"We are not aware of any school district that is currently punishing an education professional or a student for using the wrong pronouns," said Melissa Peterson, the union's legislative and policy director.
The legislation, House File 2139, prevents any disciplinary action — ranging from written or verbal reprimands to termination — for incorrect use of pronouns or "legal names," a proposal that will most directly impact transgender students and staff. It would apply to "employees, contractors or students."
Advocates of the bill expressed concern that they could be fired for "making an honest mistake" and that school policies on pronouns and preferred names would steer away "teachers of faith." Opponents argued that the legislation was intended to protect intentional use of incorrect pronouns or names, and it directly contradicts a law passed by the Republican-led Legislature last year.
Religious advocacy groups such as The Family Leader and the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition are backing the bill, touting it as key to retaining religious staff in schools.
"It just makes sense," said Ryan Benn, policy director for The Family Leader. "It protects teachers of the faith."
But those testifying against the bill, which included multiple transgender students, said it effectively allowed bullying and harassment against trans and nonbinary members of school districts.
Matthew McIver, the father of a transgender middle-schooler from Des Moines, said the language of the bill laid out a "hostile work environment in basically any other context," and "strips parents of their rights."
And a lobbyist for the Iowa State Education Association called it "a solution in search of a problem."
"We are not aware of any school district that is currently punishing an education professional or a student for using the wrong pronouns," said Melissa Peterson, the union's legislative and policy director.
Iowa bill would forbid discipline for school staff for using incorrect pronouns, names
Iowa school employees would be protected from discipline if they use a person's incorrect personal pronouns or name, a bill says.
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