A subcommittee of Iowa House lawmakers advanced a bill Wednesday prohibiting all nonprivate schools from providing any curriculum, reading, or programs related to gender theory or sexual orientation.
House File 2121 states schools must provide “age-appropriate” and “research-based” instruction regarding sexuality, stress management, or interpersonal relationships for seventh through 12th grade students.
During the meeting, the bill received opposition from religious leaders, parents, and students and was supported by lobbyists from conservative, faith-based organizations.
Annie Craven, an Iowa House Representative for Dallas County hopeful, told the subcommittee of lawmakers that she grew up not fully understanding her identity.
The Dallas County resident was homeschooled by a traditional Catholic family and wasn’t taught about LGBTQ+ and gender identity as a child.
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“I didn’t know bisexual people existed when I was a kid,” the now openly bisexual woman said. “That didn’t make me any less queer. It did make me feel very alone and isolated and different.”
Audrey Henning, a student at Valley High School in West Des Moines, said she was against the bill and advocated on behalf of the Young Feminist Club at her high school. She said not discussing these topics in school can harm the mental health of individuals in the LGBTQ+ community.
“Banning these topics might make a student feel less than or improper over something they simply cannot control,” Henning said.
She also said many students confide in teachers and staff members at school and the bill would prevent students from having trusted people to talk to.
“Students may not feel safe asking their parents or guardians about certain topics in their lives,” Henning said. “The only times these questions might be answered are when communicating with a trusted teacher. Without answers, these children will go around confused and feeling ashamed of themselves and their bodies.”
Jeff Anderson, lobbyist from the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, said the organization opposes the bill. He said young people look for answers in talking about uncomfortable topics, including gender identity and sexual orientation.
“Comprehensive, medically accurate, and age-appropriate instruction and information, including information relating to gender and sexual orientation, makes students better informed, healthier and safer,” he said. “That content instruction can be based on science rather than political and ideological agendas.”
Rep. Elinor Levin, D-Iowa City, was the only lawmaker in the subcommittee to oppose the bill. She said being a queer woman is an important part of her identity and these topics should be discussed in schools.
“To pretend that queer people do not exist is neither workable nor wise in thinking about how we care for our kids,” she said.
Republicans, faith-based organizations voice support for the bill
Nathan Arnold, a lobbyist from the Professional Educators of Iowa, voiced the organization’s support of the bill. He said teachers don’t want to have to teach students about sexual orientation and gender identity and should not feel obligated to.
“Conversations about sexuality just are not appropriate for the school,” Arnold said. “They can take place between students in the hallways all the time, but the teachers I know usually try to steer clear of that kind of [conversation].”
Ryan Benn, a lobbyist from The Family Leader, a religious and conservative nonprofit in Iowa, echoed this support for the bill and said these topics aren’t something that should be taught in the classroom.
“This bill isn’t about what our schools can teach, promote, and ask students about,” he said. “It doesn’t limit anyone’s freedom of speech or topic students can discuss. It’s not a license to bully or abuse.”
Catherine Bogart, a lobbyist from Protect My Innocence in Pella,Iowa, a conservative advocacy group, said she was in strong support of the bill and said it gives her confidence schools will stay focused on educational content.
“Supporting this bill is about preserving family values, respecting parental authority, and ensuring minors are allowed to grow up without unnecessary pressure related to sexual orientation and gender identity,” she said.
Rep. Helena Hayes, R-Mahaska, and Rep. Wendy Larson, R-Sac, voted in favor of the bill.
Hayes said while the bill needs revisions, its goal is to make sure students are being educated and said topics including gender identity and sexual orientation are not educational.
“I don’t think we all know that statutory law can set standards and we can mandate content,” she said. “We can impose limits. We all know that that is what the legislature can and does do. It’s within our prerogative.”