The California senate has approved a bill that effectively prevents informing parents about their child’s gender transition, aligning with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) stance that parents are not entitled to know if their child is transitioning.
The legislation, known as AB-1955 Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth Act, is seen by lawmakers as a measure to prevent the “forced outing” of a child to their parents. A summary of the bill explains:
This bill would prohibit school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, and the state special schools, along with their governing board members, from enacting or enforcing any rule that mandates an employee or contractor to reveal any information related to a student’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to anyone without the student’s consent unless required by law. It would also prevent employees or contractors in these educational entities from being obligated to make such disclosures, unless legally mandated. Additionally, the bill would protect employees or contractors from retaliatory actions if they support a student’s rights, work activities, or provide certain instructions as outlined.
In essence, this means parents would remain uninformed, as the legislation highlights: “Policies that forcibly ‘out’ pupils without their consent limit opportunities for LGBTQ+ young people and their families to build trust and engage in these discussions when they are ready.”
The California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus provides additional context and asserts that the bill prioritizes student privacy, emphasizing that the “right of transgender students to keep their gender identity private is grounded in California’s anti-discrimination laws, as well as federal and state laws.”
“Courts have affirmed that students have a right to keep personal information private. Despite this, a growing number of school boards have continued to propose forced outing policies,” the statement adds.
In 2023, California declared itself a “sanctuary state” for transgender children seeking surgery and medication to assume characteristics of the opposite sex.
