Meeting Public Comments

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SF 2176

A bill for an act relating to obscenity, including the exposure of a minor to an obscene performance and admittance of a minor to a premises with obscene performances, establishing a private civil cause of action, and providing penalties.

Agenda

Subcommittee members: Westrich-CH, Klimesh, Weiner

Date: Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Time: 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Location: Room G15

Comments Submitted:

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The purpose of comments is to provide information to members of the subcommittee.

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02-06-2024

Sandy Wilson [Citizen Engagement]

Citizen Engagement declares IN FAVOR of SF 2176. There are many laws that regulate what a parent can and cant do with their minor children alcohol consumption, driving, babysitting, remaining home alone, among many others. This bill is no different. Please advance the bill.

02-06-2024

Anemarie Ganea []

Vote yes for this bill. There is a reason when "parent guidance" is a must for movies, internet access, books. Smocking, drinking is pretty much forbitten until 18 years old. Obscene performances and exposing children to transvestites' is definitely not a School decision.

02-07-2024

teri patrick []

I support SF2176 This is a common sense bill. Laws against exposing children to inappropriate content can help safeguard their innocence and promote their emotional wellbeing. By prioritizing ageappropriate entertainment and in education, we can protect children from harm and foster a healthier environment for their growth.

02-07-2024

John Kenyon []

Please vote NO against this hateful and unnecessary bill. As someone who has actually attended drag story times, I can say they are fun and a great way to get kids interesting in reading. At no time have I thought about sex, or worried that kids would do so. In fact, those who see a man in a dress and garish makeup and think of sex are the ones who make it weird, who introduce a concept not at all on the minds of the kids in attendance. Perhaps the solution is for these people to stay away from these events themselves. These are performers, no different from a musician or puppeteer who volunteers time to entertain kids at the library or during a school assembly. They should be thanked for taking the time to encourage kids to read, not ostracized and threatened because they choose to do so while looking glamorous. Please vote NO.

02-07-2024

Jenn Turner []

I support the common sense bill SF 2176! It seems crazy that we need to legislate to protect minors from obscene performances. Not so long ago, this would not have even been an argument, just logical. The fact that it is....proves the need to pass this legislation.

02-07-2024

Toni Wood []

Please vote no in response to SF 2176. This bill perfectly complements HSB 649, which is an LGBTQ+ erasure bill. Drag Story time is literally a drag queen reading a story to kids. If you are not wanting to be involved in drag, don't be. If you don't want your kids reading certain books, then by all means don't let them. It is not the business of government to tell me what I can and cannot allow my kids to be involved with and do.

02-07-2024

Rachael Carlson []

Please vote No on this unAmerican bill. Freedom of speech means we have the right to articulate our opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction. The government should not be involved dictating the types of performances our children can attend, rather those decisions should be left to the the parent(s). It's government overreach. This bill is a distraction, and a waste of time and resources, which could be better spent focusing real on issues that actually impact Iowans like affordable childcare, access to healthcare, fixing our roads and bridges, and cleaning up our water.

02-07-2024

Trinity Ray [The Tuesday Agency]

Please strike this bill down! As the owner of a literary related business and father of two here in Iowa the legislature and governor continue to make it harder and harder to live and work in this state! "Obscene" is a subjective term. Aren't the images of death and destruction our kids see every day more "obscene" than a man wearing a wig and dress and joyfully sharing song and story? Aren't the active shooter exercises we subject our kids to more harmful than watching human being express themselves as they understand themselves. These are matters of individual freedom! Please stay out of my closet and out of my books! Get back to doing work that actually matters instead of pandering to the cultural wars!

02-07-2024

Elsworth Carman []

Please vote NO on SF2176. The language in this legislation is intentionally misleading; many programs and performances could fit within the proposed definition of obscenity that are in no way harmful to children. Let parents and adult caregivers decide what performances are appropriate for their children, stop attempting to erase and eliminate LGBTQAI+ people and events, and protect freedom of speech. Vote NO.

02-07-2024

Tara McKee []

Vote No! There is nothing obscene about fully clothed adults reading children's stories to children. I've taken my kids to them when they were younger and the events are a happy place with kids entertained and interested in the stories being read. This is just another way to get kids involved in and learning to love reading. There is absolutely nothing sexual about this event. What an absurd bill, to ban these events just because you do not like how the person reading the stories is dressed. Will you also ban story times on Halloween with people reading dressed in costume? Please focus on things that actually harm children, such as food insecurity.

02-07-2024

Mary Kenyon []

Please vote No on this bill, which is government overreach. Why is it that we only hear about "parents' rights" in the context of preventing any access to information or people who are not white and heterosexual? No one is ever forcing a parent to attend a Drag story time with their kids. If it offends you, don't go! No state law needed. Let's put our energies toward solving actual problems like Iowa's 2ndinnation cancer rate and polluted water.

02-07-2024

Alexa Starry []

Vote NO on SF2176! This type of suppression is so dangerous free communication is essential to the preservation of a free society and a creative culture. It is extremely important to have a diversity of views and expressions. This censorship and LGBTQ+ erasure is disturbing and wrong. VOTE NO!