California has become the first U.S. state to prohibit school districts from requiring staff to notify parents about their child’s gender identification change/pronoun changes, following a law signed on Monday by Governor Gavin Newsom.
This new law prevents school policies from mandating that teachers and staff disclose a student’s gender identity or sexual orientation without the student’s consent. Advocates of the law believe it will protect LGBTQ+ students in potentially unsupportive households, while critics argue it limits parental transparency.
The legislation emerges amid a national discussion on the rights of parents and LGBTQ+ students within school systems.
“This law ensures children’s safety while acknowledging the essential role of parents,” said Brandon Richards, a spokesperson for Newsom, in a statement. “It prevents inappropriate interference from politicians and school staff in personal family matters, safeguarding the timing and manner of family conversations.”
Previously, some California school districts had implemented policies requiring parental notification if a child requested a gender identity change, prompting backlash from Democratic state officials who emphasized students’ privacy rights.
Jonathan Zachreson, a supporter of the parental notification policies, opposes the new law. He contends that informing parents about their child’s gender identity change is crucial for the child’s well-being and for maintaining trust between schools and parents.
Nationally, various states have attempted to restrict gender-affirming care, bar transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports, and require schools to disclose students’ gender identities to their parents. Some states have introduced legislation mandating that parents be informed of any changes to their child’s emotional health or well-being.
The California law sparked intense debate in the state Legislature. LGBTQ+ lawmakers shared personal experiences about the challenges of coming out to their families, advocating for transgender students to control the timing and manner of sharing their identities. Republican State Assemblymember Bill Essayli, who represents part of Riverside County, has been a vocal critic of the law. He criticized Democratic leaders for blocking a bill he introduced last year that would have required parental notification of a child’s gender identity change.
In Northern California, the Anderson Union High School District board approved a parental notification policy last year. However, the teachers union advised teachers not to enforce the policy amid a labor dispute with the district, said Shaye Stephens, an English teacher and president of the teachers association at the district.
Stephens stated that the notification policies place teachers in a difficult position.
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“It’s a no-win situation for teachers and administrators,” she said. “I don’t think it’s safe for students. We are not the appropriate people to have those conversations with parents or guardians.”
