Iowa lawmakers push to restrict minors' access to LGBTQ+ content, events

📚 Book bans in public libraries: Republican lawmakers are considering repealing an Iowa code that exempts schools and libraries from obscenity laws, Iowa Capital Dispatch reports.

• Iowa was one of the top states last year in the number of books it banned from schools, and that could now extend to public libraries. These bans often affect books centering on race, gender and sexual identity.
• Iowa code defines obscene materials as anything depicting genitals and sexual activity, which "taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, scientific, political or artistic value."
• Republican lawmakers say the bill is not a "book ban" and focuses on ensuring kids get age-appropriate materials. Democrats say parents can already control what books their kids check out from libraries, ICD reports.

💃 Drag show felony: This bill would make it a felony to take a minor to a drag show, ICD reports.

• Those found in violation of the law could face fines of up to $10,000.

🚫 Further classroom restrictions: This bill would extend the ban on teaching gender identity and sexual orientation to all K-12 students, Iowa Public Radio reports.

• The Legislature passed a law in 2023 banning this instruction for K-sixth grade students that is being challenged in court.