• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Monday, July 4, 2022
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home Education

Iowa Senate Bill Requiring Parental Consent for Gender Identity Instruction Advances

A bill prohibiting gender identity instruction in Iowa's elementary schools without parental or guardian consent advanced out of an Iowa Senate subcommittee.

Shane Vander HartbyShane Vander Hart
February 16, 2021
in Education, State Government
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Iowa Senate Bill Requiring Parental Consent for Gender Identity Instruction Advances

From Left: State Senators Claire Celsi, D-West Des Moines, Jim Carlin, R-Sioux City, and Ken Rozenboom, R-Oskaloosa

RELATED POSTS

Reynolds to ask Iowa Courts to reconsider recent abortion rulings

Post Roe, state elected officials pledge abortion debate in Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court rules there is no right to abortion in state constitution

DES MOINES, Iowa – A bill, SF 167, prohibiting gender identity instruction in Iowa’s public and accredited non-public elementary schools without prior written parental or guardian consent advanced out of subcommittee on Tuesday. 

The bill addressed controversial curriculum used in elementary schools that teach a person’s gender identity can be different from their assigned sex at birth.

The subcommittee made up of State Senators Jim Carlin, R-Sioux City, Claire Celsi, D-West Des Moines, and Ken Rozenboom, R-Oskaloosa, advanced the bill 2 to 1, with the Republicans signing on to approve the legislation. 

The bill prohibits gender identity instruction for kindergarteners. The prohibition on gender identity instruction does not apply to students in first through sixth grades if prior written consent from parents and guardians is sought by the school. Children without written consent are allowed to opt-out of the lesson. 

Republicans on the committee said the bill’s goal is to protect young children from unsuitable, age-inappropriate content, especially when parents and guardians have not been notified.

“There are few things more beautiful than the innocence of a child. Recently, it has been taught to children as young as four years of age that their gender at birth may not be their gender identity. To sexualize the identity of a small child in their early formative years is unconscionable,” Carlin, who chaired the subcommittee, told The Iowa Torch. “Parents, in these instances, are often depicted as adversaries rather than lovingly concerned. When this happens, I regard it as an attack on that family.”

“Parents have every right to know when their children are taught any curriculum involving gender identity. SF 167 requires notice and consent of parents so that does not happen without their knowledge and opportunity to opt their children out,” he added.

Rozenboom said that opposing parental notification and consent is suspect. 

“The fact that the gender theory activists feel the need to hide this ‘instruction’ from parents is all I need to know,” Rozenboom told The Iowa Torch. “The family is the most basic social institution, and I’m appalled that these people believe they need to insert themselves between parents and children. I’m sad that we even have to have legislation to stop this horrible intrusion into Iowa’s families.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The Iowa Torch reached out to Celsi, who opposed the bill, for comment, but she did not reply before publication.

SF 167 is sponsored by State Senators Carlin, Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig, Jeff Taylor, R-Sioux Center, Craig Johnson, R-Independence, Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville, Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, Rozenboom, and Tom Shipley, R-Nodaway. 

The Iowa Senate Education Committee can now consider the bill.  

This bill follows a subcommittee hearing last week on another bill, SF 224, also sponsored and chaired by Carlin. That bill would prohibit people from using restrooms or locker rooms in public and accredited non-public schools inconsistent with their biological sex.

Read the bill below:

SF167
Continue Reading
Tags: 2021 Iowa Legislative Session89th General Assemblyelementary educationgender identityIowa Senateparental rights
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Wills Introduces Legislation as Iowa’s Check on Presidential Executive Power

Next Post

Iowa House Panels Advance Resolutions Calling for Constitutional Convention

Shane Vander Hart

Shane Vander Hart

Shane Vander Hart is the editor of The Iowa Torch.

Related Posts

State Government

Post Roe, state elected officials pledge abortion debate in Iowa

June 25, 2022
Hendrickson: Fiscal Conservatism Works
Opinion

Hendrickson: A pro-taxpayer budget

June 8, 2022
Group Pushes for Tax Cuts with Iowa’s Projected Revenue Growth
State Government

The Iowa Legislature adjourns for the 2022 session.

May 25, 2022
State Government

Iowa House will not vote on school choice bill this year

May 24, 2022
Hendrickson & Williams: Governor Reynolds’ Tax Reform Ideas are Pro-Growth
Education

Reynolds signs bill requiring parental consent for school health screenings

May 3, 2022
city landmark building capital
Opinion

Hendrickson: Iowa is a pro-growth tax leader

April 28, 2022
Next Post

Iowa House Panels Advance Resolutions Calling for Constitutional Convention

Iowa House Passes Bill Requiring Schools Administer Pledge of Allegiance

Iowa House Passes Bill Requiring Schools Administer Pledge of Allegiance

Sign-Up For Our Daily Updates

Get The Iowa Torch right in your inbox!

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Recommended Articles

Iowa Legislature Repeals Inactive Missouri River Preservation and Land Use Authority

Iowa Legislature Repeals Inactive Missouri River Preservation and Land Use Authority

April 15, 2021
Experts Suggest Improvements for Iowa’s Upcoming Sales Tax Holiday

Experts Suggest Improvements for Iowa’s Upcoming Sales Tax Holiday

August 5, 2021
Ernst: Freedom Rings On This Independence Day

Ernst: Freedom Rings On This Independence Day

July 3, 2021

Popular Stories

  • Schultz: Governor Highlights Successes in Western Iowa

    Reynolds to ask Iowa Courts to reconsider recent abortion rulings

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Iowa employers say attracting a quality workforce is a top priority

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Axne attacks Nunn in first campaign ad

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Iowa Senate passes bill to launch a support program for pregnant women

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Several Republican incumbent lawmakers lose primaries

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans

Categories

  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government
  • Uncategorized
  • Uncategorized

Newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.