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Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho, rejected the work of an artist asked to contribute to an exhibition at the college because the work involved discussion of abortions, The Post Register reported.
Lydia Nobel, a New York artist, told the news outlet she was surprised to learn her piece, “As I Sit Waiting,” a series of four interviews—three on video and one on audio—with women discussing reproductive health care, including abortions, would not be included in the “Unconditional Care” exhibition about women’s health.
College officials removed her work and those of other artists from the lineup, citing Idaho’s No Public Funds for Abortion Act, which “prohibits the use of public funds for abortion, including speech that would ‘promote abortion’ or ‘counsel in favor of abortion.’”
The director of the National Coalition Against Censorship’s Arts & Culture Advocacy Program, the head of the ACLU of Idaho, and others wrote to LCSC president Cynthia Pemberton asking for Noble’s work to be included in the exhibit.
“We’re disappointed that the college decided to move in this direction,” Leo Morales, executive director of the ACLU of Idaho told The Post Register. “We hope that other colleges and universities across the state don’t move in the same direction.”
