School district may ban biography of Pete Buttigieg to comply with anti-LGBTQ+ book ban law

Pete Buttigieg speaking with attendees at the 2020 Iowa State Education Association (ISEA) Legislative Conference
Photo: Gage Skidmore – Wikimedia Commons

An Iowa school district is considering removing 374 books from its libraries — including classics like 1984 and The Color Purple — because they may violate a new state law banning LGBTQ+ and sex-related content from schools. One free speech advocate called the list “shocking and sickening,” and a queer school board member called it “incredibly offensive.” One of the books on the list is a children’s biography of out Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, possibly just because he’s gay.

The Urbandale Community School District, which contains the capital city of Des Moines, created its list of books that may possibly violate S.F. 496. The law bans instruction on LGBTQ+ identities through sixth grade and all books containing sex acts.

Because many classic literary titles mention sex, the list contains well-known titles like Ulysses, The Catcher in the Rye, Brave New World, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and The Color Purple. It also contains numerous LGBTQ+-themed children’s picture books like And Tango Makes Three and Heather Has Two Mommies.

After legislators passed S.F. 496 in late May, the Iowa Department of Education promised to…

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