Experimental browser for the Atmosphere
GOOD NEWS: Yesterday, a federal district court once again temporarily blocked portions of SF 496, the sweeping Iowa law aimed at silencing LGBTQ+ students, erasing any recognition of LGBTQ+ people from public schools, and banning books with Our full statement: lambdalegal.org/newsroom/iow...
May 16, 2025, 5:02 PM
{ "uri": "at://did:plc:6yedvymehprtsaiuinqclvvu/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpcizzcplk2x", "cid": "bafyreiewmujcdp45oolqcxgxhbjybmqakwpym2gzpyvbnmisdqwbhu3kgi", "value": { "text": "GOOD NEWS: Yesterday, a federal district court once again temporarily blocked portions of SF 496, the sweeping Iowa law aimed at silencing LGBTQ+ students, erasing any recognition of LGBTQ+ people from public schools, and banning books with \n\nOur full statement: lambdalegal.org/newsroom/iow...", "$type": "app.bsky.feed.post", "embed": { "$type": "app.bsky.embed.images", "images": [ { "alt": "Graphic with headline that reads, “BREAKING NEWS” followed by “Iowa Court Temporarily Blocks Banned Books and ‘Don’t Say LGBTQ’ Law.” The text is in black and purple on a white speech bubble background, set against a bright blue backdrop.", "image": { "$type": "blob", "ref": { "$link": "bafkreifej3nvsvu7getyek7i2yrnjindb5343ombnnixpeaitrmgjedgci" }, "mimeType": "image/jpeg", "size": 282325 }, "aspectRatio": { "width": 1080, "height": 1350 } }, { "alt": "Quote graphic with a large quotation mark and a statement from Nathan Maxwell, Lambda Legal Senior Attorney, on a blue background. The quote reads: We’re pleased that our clients, Iowa families and students, can look forward to the next school year without facing the harms of this unconstitutional law. This ruling acknowledges that Iowa students and teachers have experienced real harm from this law. The court agreed with us that the latitude afforded the State to determine school curricula does not empower lawmakers to erase any mention of LGBTQ+ people altogether from schools, nor to put students in harm’s way for failing to meet ambiguous and arbitrary standards for gender expression. Lastly, the court here makes it clear, yet again, that banning books with LGBTQ+ content or censoring inclusive messages for LGBTQ+ students is unacceptable. ", "image": { "$type": "blob", "ref": { "$link": "bafkreia3irrr5yzevmwvqimp7afefc7n5f54vsncmizzitscpfliv2q57e" }, "mimeType": "image/jpeg", "size": 976050 }, "aspectRatio": { "width": 1080, "height": 1350 } }, { "alt": "Quote graphic with a large quotation mark and a statement from Thomas Story, ACLU of Iowa Staff Attorney, on a blue background. The quote reads: This is an important win for our clients and others harmed by this overreaching law. The federal district court has blocked the state from enforcing many of the worst aspects of SF 496. Under this order, Iowa teachers no longer can be disciplined simply because their classroom contains a Pride flag or their library contains books with LGBTQ+ characters. Students of all ages are once again free to join GSAs and to promote them to their classmates. This law, with certain narrow exceptions, should no longer stand in the way of school districts supporting efforts to include and support their LGBTQ+ students. The Constitution will not tolerate state censorship, and thanks to Iowa Safe Schools and our student and teacher plaintiffs, that guarantee is reaffirmed today. ", "image": { "$type": "blob", "ref": { "$link": "bafkreic5i2dhuxe3q2nqhm6sxgmsjuijkgbfqsg45d3lgd5fibcakdek4y" }, "mimeType": "image/jpeg", "size": 355214 }, "aspectRatio": { "width": 1080, "height": 1350 } }, { "alt": "Quote from Damian J. Thompson, Interim executive director of Iowa Safe Schools, that reads: Yesterday, the court affirmed what we’ve always known - that the most harmful sections of SF 496 are unconstitutional. With this decision, parents, educators, and students have finally been granted the desperately needed clarity they've sought for nearly two years. Iowa Safe Schools is optimistic that next school year will be less constrained by state censorship and legislative overreach. Our organization is proud to continue standing with LGBTQ students, educators, and parents to ensure their constitutional rights remain protected into the future.", "image": { "$type": "blob", "ref": { "$link": "bafkreiflhnj52posigxiyls6v4xhtkpucog3tqevjznn2g73funw73capu" }, "mimeType": "image/jpeg", "size": 874901 }, "aspectRatio": { "width": 1080, "height": 1350 } } ] }, "langs": [ "en" ], "facets": [ { "index": { "byteEnd": 295, "byteStart": 264 }, "features": [ { "uri": "https://lambdalegal.org/newsroom/iowa-safe-schools_ia_20250516_court-temp-blocks-banned-books-dont-say-lgbtq-law/", "$type": "app.bsky.richtext.facet#link" } ] } ], "createdAt": "2025-05-16T17:02:39.797Z" } }