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California Law Stops Schools from Outing Trans Students
several districts in conservative-leaning areas of the state.Under those policies, school personnel were required to inform on transgender and nonbinary students to their parents if a student either “came out” to a teacher or administrator or asked for various accommodations based on their transgender or nonbinary identity.Proponents of the policies argued that it was important to keep parents informed about decisions made regarding their children and that not having parental notification policies in place would make school districts more vulnerable to lawsuits.But LGBTQ advocates argued that outing students against their will, or before they’re comfortable coming out more publicly, might heighten their feelings of isolation, depression, or suicidal ideation. It could also lead them to be bullied, harassed, or discriminated against because of their identity or failure to adhere to sex stereotypes.Advocates have also voiced concern that in some homes where parents hold anti-LGBTQ views, “outing” students could result in emotional or even physical abuse.With Newsom signing the bill into law, California becomes the first state to bar school officials from requiring parental notification when a student comes out as transgender, nonbinary, or gender-nonconforming.The law will officially take effect on January 1, 2025, provided that it is not blocked by the courts in response to any lawsuits challenging its constitutionality, reports the Sacramento Bee.California Attorney General Rob Bonta is currently embroiled in a lawsuit against the Chino Valley Unified School District for passing a forced outing policy.Bonta sued the district last August, saying the policy violates students’ civil and constitutional rights under California law.
