Iowa lawmaker seeks federal probe after high school airs Bisexual Plus Awareness segment

A Republican Iowa lawmaker is calling for a federal investigation after her 14-year-old son's high school aired a student-produced segment celebrating Bisexual Plus Awareness Week on the morning television program. Rep. Ashley Hinson said she was appalled the school promoted sexual content to minors and questioned why parents were not notified in advance. She said she would seek accountability from the Department of Education and would work with Governor Reynolds to ensure parents have a say in the education of their children.

During the broadcast, a student read from Spectrum, the school’s student-led Gay-Straight Alliance club, introducing the week’s focus on non-monosexual identities and providing definitions of terms such as bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer and omnisexual. The segment explained that non-monosexual identities refer to sexual orientations not limited to heterosexual or homosexual and emphasized inclusivity of diverse identities. The program described Bisexual Plus Awareness Week as an effort to stop biphobia and to help students learn about bisexuality and its history, with participants encouraged to wear bisexual pride pins as allies. The segment was part of the school’s morning news show and began with the student reading aloud from Spectrum.

The Linn-Mar Community School District said in a statement that it is conducting a review to determine whether any policies or procedures were violated during the production or airing of the segment. The district added that it remains committed to fostering respectful dialogue and supporting all students and staff in a safe, inclusive environment in a manner that aligns with district guidelines and policies.

Hinson’s outreach included a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon seeking federal action. The letter, obtained by Fox News, described Linn-Mar High School as the setting for broadcasts “without parental knowledge or consent” and argued that schools should educate students, not indoctrinate them. The congresswoman framed the issue as part of a broader push to restore parental rights in education, saying, “This indoctrination — without even giving parents an opportunity to opt out — is exactly the kind of abuse we must end.” The letter also stressed that the broadcasts were intended to address issues such as biphobia and discrimination and to encourage discussion among students and teachers about how to support bisexual students.

The Daily Mail, which published reporting on the matter, noted the district’s statement that it is reviewing policies and procedures related to the segment and reiterated the district’s aim of maintaining a respectful and inclusive school environment in line with guidelines. The episode also aimed to address issues like biphobia and discrimination and to encourage conversations in class or among friends about how to be supportive of LGBTQ+ peers.

The episode’s broadcast and the ensuing responses come amid broader national debates over parental notification, curriculum content, and the balance between school-led discussions of sexuality and parental rights. Hinson’s call for a federal probe underscores a political fault line that has re-emerged in recent months, with advocates arguing for greater parental oversight and critics warning against censorship of classroom conversations about gender and sexuality.

District officials have indicated they will keep families informed as the review proceeds, and there is no indication yet of any policy changes stemming from the incident. The Linn-Mar district said it remains committed to a safe, inclusive learning environment while complying with all applicable policies and procedures. The outcome of the district’s review and any potential federal or state actions remain to be seen as investigations continue.