Iowa law banning school library books that depict sex acts on hold again after a new federal ruling

Librarian exposes how book bans can happen without us noticing

Last year, the American Library Association (ALA) reported 938 attempts to challenge 4,240 unique titles in schools and libraries across the US. With statistics like that, one might imagine vacant, empty shelves with only a handful of titles available. But in reality, book bans are much more insidious. Just take it from a librarian herself. Hayley DeRoche, known by her Instagram and TikTok followers as Sad Beige, showed just how easy it is for c…

Part of Iowa book ban law on hold again

DES MOINES — Iowa cannot, for now, continue to enforce part of its book ban law, a federal judge said Tuesday, giving major publishers that sued the state the second temporary reprieve they requested.

Judge Blocks Iowa from Banning Explicit Books

A judge blocked an Iowa law banning books containing explicit sexual content from school libraries. U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher argued in the ruling that “Senate File 496 makes no attempt to evaluate a book’s literary, political, artistic, or scientific value before requiring the book’s removal from a school library and thus comes nowhere close to applying the ‘obscenity’ standard that is typically used to determine the constitutionality …

Iowa schools allowed to put banned books back on library shelves

An Iowa school district says it will consult with its lawyers as a federal judge places a hold on a law banning books depicting sex acts from school libraries.

Federal judge again blocks Iowa book ban; expected to rule on 'don't say gay' restrictions soon

A federal judge has again blocked Iowa’s ban on certain books from public school classrooms and libraries.Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher ruled Tuesday that the ban on books depicting sex acts was likely unconstitutional and issued a preliminary injunction preventing its enforcement while the lawsuit against it continues, the Associated Press repo…

Ninth Circuit Declines to Block Idaho's "Biological Sex" Restrictions for Multi-Occupancy School Restrooms, Locker Rooms, and Shower Rooms

An excerpt from the long Roe v. Critchfield, decided last week by Ninth Circuit Judge Morgan Christen, joined by Judges Kim McLane Wardlaw and Mark J. Bennett: Before the summer of 2023, public school districts in Idaho were free to adopt their own policies regarding students' access to [multi-occupancy] restrooms, locker rooms, and shower rooms. Approximately one quarter of Idaho's public schools had policies specifically permitting students to…