US District Court Judge Stephen Loche temporarily blocked two parts of Senate File 496. One section reads, “A school district shall not provide any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender identity or sexual orientation to students in kindergarten through grade six.”
Iowa lawmakers seemingly intended to “protect children” from learning about LGBTQ+ identities. But the judge ruled that the law’s “staggeringly broad” language prevents teachers from mentioning anyone’s gender or sexuality. Opponents of SF 496 call it a “don’t say gay or trans” law. Judge Loche called this an inaccurate description.
“It is actually a ‘don’t say anything’ bill,” he wrote in his decision. “On its face, it prohibits school districts and teachers from providing any program, promotion, and instruction that relates to gender identity (cisgender or transgender) or sexual orientation (gay, straight, or otherwise) in any way.”
Judge Loche also wrote, “Every school district and elementary school teacher in the State has likely been violating [this law] since the day the school year started.”
Iowa lawmakers seemingly meant the phrase “gender identity or sexual orientation” to imply only LGBTQ+ identities. But the judge’s ruling reminds us that these are not exclusively LGBTQ+ terms.
We all—all of us—have a gender identity and sexual orientation. Even straight and cisgender people. We share these traits because all of us are humans. Remember this before judging someone who loves or shows up differently than you.
A lesson our elected representatives in Des Moines need to learn.