Iowa City school board restores ‘gender identity’ to non-discrimination policies

IOWA CITY — The Iowa City school board unanimously voted to restore “gender identity” to a dozen antibullying and harassment policies Tuesday, a reversal of an earlier decision to remove the words to align with a new Iowa law.

Senate File 418 — signed into law earlier this year — removes gender identity as a protected class from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, strikes the definition of gender identity in state law, and creates new legal definitions of male and female based on reproductive organs at birth.

But some Iowa schools are retaining “gender identity” in their policies because they say removing it is not required by the law at this time.

“This is a case of when we know better, we do better,” Iowa City board member Shawn Eyestone said in a meeting Tuesday. “We had removed ‘gender identity’ from our policies based on guidance we got. We received better guidance, and we’re putting it back in because we’re allowed to and we want it there.”

Board member Charlie Eastham said the board never should have been forced to consider removing “gender identity” from its policies.

“Gender identity is a real thing. It’s not something the federal government should be meddling with. I’m glad we’re taking this opportunity to restore the policy going forward,” Eastham said.

From the board table, school board member Mitch Lingo thanked The Gazette for previous reporting on Iowa schools upholding “gender identity” in their policies.

“Otherwise, it would not have been brought to my attention. Maybe it would have later, but I’m just thankful for local journalists,” Lingo said.

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Iowa schools debate removing ‘gender identity’ from nondiscrimination policies

Earlier this month, the Linn-Mar school board unanimously upheld more than a dozen policies that provide gender identity protections to students and staff.

Some school boards have approved removing “gender identity” from their policies to align with Iowa law. Others — like Linn-Mar — have voted down removing “gender identity” from their policies. Still other districts haven’t had any recommended changes to their policies brought to their school boards.

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