Iowa Students to Hold A Walkout In Protest Of Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation


Students across Iowa intend to walk out of class on Wednesday to protest the recent spate of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, including a proposal introduced on Tuesday to prohibit same-sex marriage in the state constitution. According to the Des Moines Register, the rally will occur in at least 14 Iowa public school districts and one institution. Jemma Bullock, a high school senior and organizer, told the newspaper, “Children, psychiatrists, doctors, parents, and instructors have spoken directly to [Republican lawmakers] about how these measures are harmful to students and will create things like bullying, sadness, anxiety, etc.” “They simply refuse to listen.” The Iowa Queer Student Alliance and the student organization IowaWTF, which monitors the state legislature, initiated the protests. Other anti-LGBTQ+ measures in this session include one that would ban gender-affirming care for minors and another that would prohibit educators from teaching young kids about gender identity and sexual orientation. Last Thursday, IowaQSA proclaimed in an Instagram post about the protest, “Well, here in Iowa, WE SPEAK GAY.”