Two bills are continuing to make progress through the Iowa Legislature that deal with gender identity.

House File 8 would not allow public schools in grades kindergarten through third to have curriculum about gender identity or sexual orientation. House District 47 Representative Carter Nordman thinks the bill should go up to eighth grade and doesn’t believe gender identity or sexual orientation should be taught in schools.

“It is my viewpoint, let’s get back to the basics. Let’s get back to teaching reading, writing, math, science, and continuing to educate our kids. All this other stuff that should be taught in the home, I know for some students it’s not. But I just don’t see a place for it in our schools, especially to young children.”      

House File 9 would require a school to contact a parent or guardian before addressing a student with a pronoun other than what gender is identified on the child’s birth certificate. Representative Nordman believes everyone deserves respect, regardless of someone’s lifestyle choice. However, he shares his opinion when it comes to children making these choices while in school.

“We need to understand that these students are not the school’s children, they are not the government’s children, they are the parent’s children. If we lose sight of that, then I think we’re in a lot of trouble. And if a student, a minor is making major life changing decisions and the parents are cut out of that conversation, I think that’s a very dangerous road to go down on.”   

Opponents of the bills argue that it’s an attack on the LGBTQ+ community and there are concerns that if schools are required to notify parents of a child’s pronoun change that could cause stress within that students’ home. Both bills remain in the House. Click the links below to see both bills.

House File 9  https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=90&ba=HF%20180

House File 8: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=90&ba=HF%208