California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Safety Act which now prohibits schools from notifying parents if their child is gender confused or transitioning to the opposite sex.
The bill, AB 1955, which was signed Monday, prohibits California School Districts from having policies that require parents be notified if their child identifies as transgender. The bill came in response to policies in several school districts that have sought to forcibly out students.
Per the bill:
This bill would prohibit school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, and the state special schools, and a member of the governing board or body of those educational entities, from enacting or enforcing any policy, rule, or administrative regulation that requires an employee or a contractor to disclose any information related to a pupil’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to any other person without the pupil’s consent unless otherwise required by law, as provided. The bill would prohibit employees or contractors of those educational entities from being required to make such a disclosure unless otherwise required by law, as provided. The bill would prohibit employees or contractors of school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, or the state special schools, or members of the governing boards or bodies of those educational entities, from retaliating or taking adverse action against an employee on the basis that the employee supported a pupil in the exercise of specified rights, work activities, or providing certain instruction, as provided.
Although the bill was introduced in May, most media are now focusing on the bill after Elon Musk announced on X that this bill was the final straw.
“This is the final straw. Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas,” said Musk.
Meanwhile, Assemblyman Bill Essayli issued the following statement after Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1955:
“Today, Governor Gavin Newsom defied parents’ constitutional and God-given right to raise their children by signing AB 1955 which codifies the government’s authority to keep secrets from parents. AB 1955 endangers children by excluding parents from important matters impacting their child’s health and welfare at school. Governor Newsom signing AB 1955 is both immoral and unconstitutional and we will challenge it in court to stop the government from keeping secrets from parents.”
On Tuesday, the Liberty Justice Center filed a lawsuit challenging California Assembly Bill 1955 (AB 1955), newly-enacted legislation that would prohibit schools from adopting parental notification policies.
“PK-12 minor students, most of whom are too young to drive, vote, or provide medical consent for themselves, are also too young to make life-altering decisions about their expressed gender identity without their parents’ knowledge. But that is precisely what AB 1955 enables—with potentially devastating consequences for children too young to fully comprehend them,” said Emily Rae, Senior Counsel at the Liberty Justice Center.
“School officials do not have the right to keep secrets from parents, but parents do have a constitutional right to know what their minor children are doing at school. Parents are the legal guardians of their children, not Governor Newsom, Attorney General Bonta, or Superintendent Thurmond. We will continue to defend parents’ rights and children’s well-being by challenging invasive laws like AB 1955 in court, at no cost to taxpayers,” continued Rae.
Chino Valley Unified School District v. Newsom was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California on July 16, 2024.
Press Release by Assemblyman Chris Ward, author of the legislation.
New SAFETY Act Signed into Law to Protect LGBTQ+ Students in California
(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Today, the Support Academic Futures & Educators for Today’s Youth (SAFETY) Act was signed into law, further solidifying California’s commitment to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all students regardless of gender identity. This life-saving legislation, AB 1955, introduced by Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego) and the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, came in response to policies in several school districts that have sought to forcibly out students.
“Politically motivated attacks on the rights, safety, and dignity of transgender, nonbinary, and other LGBTQ+ youth are on the rise nationwide, including in California,” said Assemblymember Ward. “While some school districts have adopted policies to forcibly out students, the SAFETY Act ensures that discussions about gender identity remain a private matter within the family. As a parent, I urge all parents to talk to their children, listen to them, and love them unconditionally for who they are.”
Since 2023, over a dozen school districts have proposed or implemented policies requiring teachers to inform parents if their child identifies as transgender or requests to be identified by a different name or pronouns at school. These policies have significantly impacted the mental health of LGBTQ+ students, and can lead to instances of bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
The SAFETY Act addresses these issues by:
- Prohibiting school districts from enacting forced outing policies.
- Providing resources for parents and students to manage conversations about gender and identity privately.
- Protecting teachers and school staff from retaliation if they refuse to forcibly out a student.
Since 2020, eight states have enacted laws mandating school staff to forcibly out transgender students, while five others have passed legislation encouraging such actions. California is the first state to explicitly prohibit forced outing policies in schools.
Despite homes not always being safe for transgender youth, schools should be a sanctuary. According to a 2024 Trevor Project survey, less than 40% of transgender and nonbinary youth find their homes to be LGBTQ-affirming. Conversely, more than half of transgender and nonbinary young people reported that their schools are gender-affirming, which correlates with lower suicide attempt rates.
The SAFETY Act is a significant step forward in ensuring that all students, regardless of their gender identity, have a supportive and safe environment to learn and grow.
“Today is a great day for California,” said California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus Chair Susan Eggman. “With the Governor’s signature on AB 1955, a first in the nation policy, reaffirms California’s position as a leader and safe haven for LGBTQ+ youth everywhere. I am incredibly proud of our LGBTQ Caucus, and Assemblymember Ward in particular, for their leadership on this life-saving legislation. I am also deeply grateful for all the parents, teachers, youth, LGBTQ+ leaders, and so many other groups who came together to support this bill. Their support reaffirmed what this caucus already knew: Safe and supportive schools for all our children should be our top priority. And at the end of the day that’s what this bill does, ensures our K-12 campuses remain safe and affirming places for our youth no matter how they identify.”
WHAT OUR SUPPORTERS ARE SAYING:
“We applaud Governor Newsom’s signing of the SAFETY Act, which significantly enhances existing protections for LGBTQ+ students in California,” said Trans Family Support Services Executive Director Kathie Moehlig. “This essential legislation safeguards against policies that forcibly out students, offers vital resources for families, and protects educators who foster inclusive environments. By preventing undue interventions in personal family matters, the SAFETY Act ensures private and consensual discussions between students and their parents. This bill is a crucial step toward making all California students feel safe and supported at school.”
“Today, with the signing of AB 1955, every student in California will hopefully feel safe and welcome in their classrooms,” said CFT President Jeff Freitas. “This is a major step in protecting the privacy of our students and keeping the focus of our educators on providing the best possible education that they can. We applaud the Governor and the Legislature for bringing this landmark legislation to fruition.”
“In California, LGBTQ+ students –– like all students –– have the right to a safe and welcoming school environment,” said Becca Cramer-Mowder with ACLU California Action. “With the Governor’s signature, our state becomes the first in the country to ensure protections against forced outing in school are clearly enshrined in statute. LGBTQ+ students and their families deserve to decide on their own terms when and how to have conversations about coming out.”
“The SAFETY Act could not be more timely or necessary, and LGBTQ+ students across California can breathe a sigh of relief following the Governor’s action today,” said Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang. “LGBTQ+ youth across California can now have these important family conversations when they are ready and in ways that strengthen the relationship between parent and child, not as a result of extremist politicians intruding into the parent-child relationship. We are grateful to Governor Newsom for demonstrating his unwavering commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, for the leadership of Assemblymember Chris Ward and the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus for spearheading this legislation, and to the diverse coalition of local, state, and national partners that supported this effort.”
“This historic legislation will strengthen existing protections against forced outing and allow educators to continue to create a safe learning environment where all students feel accepted, nurtured, and encouraged to pursue their dreams,” said California Teachers Association President David Goldberg. “As educators, we are charged with providing a high-quality education to every student. No educator should experience retaliation or have their livelihood jeopardized for following the law and providing safe and supportive learning environments for our students. The Governor signing the SAFETY Act is a great step forward for our schools and communities. The 310,000 educators of the California Teachers Association will continue to fight for our students and focus on doing important work in our classrooms and schools.”
“Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) is proud to see Assembly Bill 1955 signed into law to ensure inclusive school environments where students feel safe to be themselves is the standard in California, not the exception,” said PPAC President and CEO Jodi Hicks. “We know the same extremists who attack reproductive health care are also intent on restricting the right of LGBTQ+ students to feel safe and supported at school as they learn and grow. Planned Parenthood in California will continue to stand alongside LGBTQ+ youth and advocates and continue to fight for their fundamental rights to privacy and bodily autonomy, no matter what.”
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May 2024 – Bill Seeks to Address Forced Outing Policies in Schools
5 comments
No one knows what’s better for your children than the state! *sarcasm*
Public education is state sponsored. Sorta like communism. So, the best suggestion is to enroll your kids in private school or keep your kids at home. Funny how people hate communism and the ideas but still have their kids attend public school that are governed by the government LOL
I read this publication every day. I appreciate a lot of what you do. Sometimes you wind up simply printing, the press releases from our local politicians, but I understand that. But in this case, your headline speaks as news, but it is actually propaganda in my opinion. This bill does not stop the forced outing of trans kids.. It is written and designed to prevent schools from alerting parents. The same politicians tell us that kids struggling with gender dysphoria are at great risk to suicide. If that is true, than how can parents be denied access to information that directly threatens their children’s lives? We’re not talking about outing children. We’re talking about ‘withouting’ parents. With all due respect.
Might as well call it the “They’re not your children” bill. Homeschool or find a state that doesn’t believe in this garbage, because this is going to get worse before it gets better.
Can’t find a better example of the term “nanny state”. More parent’s rights being ripped away from them. There has been a hue and cry in recent years about parents needing to take more responsibility in the upbringing of their kids, but yet this kind of legislation makes it more difficult for them to do so.
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