Hey folks, it’s Amie. And I’m on one today, so buckle up!
You might remember earlier this year, when Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law her education bill that mandated schools get rid of any library books the state deemed not “appropriate,” including those with “descriptions of sex acts.”
That super vague law was, naturally, interpreted in wildly different ways by school districts. Some responded by panic-banning hundreds of books. Others waited until the state gave them more guidance on what, exactly, was meant by the law.
That guidance has now, several months later, come out. And not only is it still not illuminating, it may have made the law even worse.
Per the Cedar Rapids Gazette, who spoke to Thomas Mayes, general counsel for the Iowa Department of Education:
The rules allow for books to have “neutral” mentions of LGBTQ characters, Mayes said. This includes an “observation regarding a book character’s sexual orientation or gender identity that stops short of being a promotion.”
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This idea—that you “become gay” because the “lifestyle” has been “promoted” to you by evil-doers—is an old trope. Here’s what I mean:
Older popular literature has traditionally shunted queer characters into one of two boxes:
- “The Monster,” who seduces unsuspecting straights; or
- “The Joke,” aka the Sassy Gay Friend.
Monster and Joke characters are generally not protagonists. No matter what they’re going through in the story, they’re not written in a way that the reader is meant to identify with. And, btw, they often die or get cast aside at the end—sometimes because companies wouldn’t publish the book otherwise.
These days, things have changed in literature (and in popular TV and movies). Queer characters are front and center. They lead successful lives. They have full romantic lives. They are no longer exclusively Monsters or Jokes. They are just like everyone else.
But it’s precisely that line of thought—that queer folks shouldn’t be main characters in the world—that is at the heart of extremist laws like these:
But Iowans are fighting back: Progressive voters came out to give a big middle finger to the school board candidates endorsed by Moms for Liberty, which has been championing many of these bills. Students themselves have been fighting for their rights and against censorship since the beginning.
Why? Perhaps because Iowans know that it’s not exactly prizing our liberties or maintaining our rights to allow only a certain kind of person to have, or imagine, a certain kind of life.
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That’s me with my wife Shenae and our dog Phoenix, hiking at George Wyth this fall.
I wasn’t sure what to imagine for myself when, in my 20s, I took my first steps into the unknown. I just knew that what I was feeling toward my romantic partners wasn’t what other people said they were feeling. Eventually, I wanted that feeling; believed I, too, deserved the experience of real love.
Finding who I was meant to be, and finding that person to share in all my joys and tragedies, are the best things that I slowly, unsteadily, have ever done.
BTW—those two paragraphs above aren’t remotely describing a sexual act. But, under Iowa’s new definition, they could be seen as “a promotion” of a “sexual orientation” worthy of a ban.
Because of this new guidance from our state’s Republican leaders, you probably won’t find simple human joy like mine in some school libraries in Iowa in the near future.
But I hope the students in those schools remember: No matter who you are, you’re not a Monster or a Joke. Joy can exist for you, too.
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From Queersgiving to Friendsgiving, 8 free Thanksgiving meals around Iowa 🦃
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Thanksgiving is traditionally a time for a meal at home with family. But if you want to break bread with your community, plenty of places in Iowa offer that, too.
So if you’re looking for a free community meal, courtesy of the kindness of your fellow Iowans, here are eight around Iowa coming up.
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Reproductive health care in Iowa ‘not going anywhere’ 🧑⚕️
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Facebook Question of the Week 🎄
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When is the “right” time to put up Christmas or December holiday decorations?
Are you an “after Thanksgiving” person? Do you put it off until Christmas Eve? Or are they up right now? (For that matter: Is there even a “right” time?)
Strong opinions abound over on this week’s question; add yours here.
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A snuggler (after running around with you) and an attention-seeking sweetheart are hoping to meet you. Check out Grace or Chex in Des Moines.
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Reynolds officially shuns Trump
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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Rivers. Iowa Starting Line is happily free to read for everyone. Your financial support means a lot to us. Donate here.
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