Lawmakers on Wednesday heard arguments from parents and educators who spoke in opposition to a bill that would bar discussion of gender or sexual orientation in grades K through 12. The bill seeks to expand a law signed by Republican governor Kim Reynolds in 2023 that restricted such topics from being discussed in grades K through 6. The law is currently being challenged, but a judge has allowed it to stay in place during litigation. Republican state Senator Sandy Salmon voted to advance the bill, saying:
“I think just as not all parents want others to teach their children about sex education … so not all parents want others to teach children about sexual orientation and gender identity, because it, too, involves family religious beliefs about sexuality and sexual ethics.”
Democratic state Senator Molly Donahue voted against advancing the bill, saying:
“Iowans are definitely tired of this type of legislation, and we’re seeing that with the voting records, not just in Iowa but across the United States. We are focusing on the wrong things when we bring bills like this.”
