In Iowa, the ACLU and Lambda Legal are challenging a state law that critics say seeks to silence LGBTQ+ students and bans books with sexual or LGBTQ+ content.
Catching up with PW's Andrew Albanese
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In Iowa, the ACLU and Lambda Legal, an LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, together with a group of named plaintiffs, are challenging a sweeping new state law that critics say seeks to silence LGBTQ+ students and bans books with sexual or LGBTQ+ content.
In May, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 496, placing a ban on books with depictions of sex, written or visual, from school libraries, and prohibiting instruction and materials involving “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” for students through sixth grade.
“We’ve seen numerous media reports that various Iowa school districts have already reportedly pulled hundreds of titles from their shelves, including books that contain LGBTQ+ characters, historical figures, or themes,” reports Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly executive editor.
The lawsuit seeks to have the law declared unconstitutional and permanently blocked. The plaintiffs also seek a preliminary injunction blocking the law’s implementation while the litigation proceeds.
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