"Federal Judge Temporarily Halts Portions of Iowa's LGBTQ Book Ban in Schools"

A federal judge in Iowa has granted a partial injunction against a new state education law that bans books depicting sex acts from school libraries and restricts discussions on gender identity and sexual orientation through grade six. The injunction blocks these provisions due to First Amendment concerns while allowing the law requiring parental notification for student pronoun or name changes to stand. The law faces legal challenges from the ACLU of Iowa, Lambda Legal, Iowa's largest teacher's union, and others, arguing it violates free speech and equal protection rights. Governor Kim Reynolds expressed disappointment, emphasizing the protection of children's innocence, while education advocates hailed the ruling as a win for the First Amendment and educational professionals.