California judge stops school district from informing parents about child’s gender status change.
A California Judge Temporarily Blocks School District’s Parent Notification Policy
A California judge on September 6th issued a temporary restraining order against a local school district’s parent notification policy, which required schools to inform parents when their child identifies as transgender. The request for the order came from State Attorney General Rob Bonta, who had previously announced a lawsuit against the Chino Valley Unified School District over the policy. The policy was enacted in July and later adopted by three other local school districts.
The ruling, issued by San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Tom Garza, stated that the district’s policy lacked strong evidence to support its claim of advancing parental rights. Judge Garza described the policy as a “thin veneer” for discrimination against LGBT youth. Attorney General Bonta argued that the policy could put transgender students at risk if their parents were unsupportive of their desire to transition.
Protecting the Well-being of Transgender Students
In a statement following the ruling, Attorney General Bonta emphasized the importance of protecting the well-being of transgender and gender-nonconforming students. He stated that while the fight was far from over, the ruling was a significant step towards ensuring their physical, mental, and emotional safety. Bonta pledged unwavering support to ensure that every student has the right to learn and thrive in a school environment that promotes safety, privacy, and inclusivity.
Chino Valley Unified Board President Sonja Shaw, who introduced the policy, expressed her determination to continue fighting for children’s well-being and protecting parental rights. She stated that the battle had just begun and urged unity against the agenda to marginalize parents. Shaw also claimed that Judge Garza issued the order without fully reading their briefs.
Policy’s Alleged Infringement on Rights
The state’s lawsuit alleges that the policy infringes on several civil and constitutional rights for transgender or gender non-conforming students, including California’s Equal Protection Clause and the right to informational and autonomy privacy. It also cites state education and government codes that ensure equal rights and opportunities for students and prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and expression.
Supporters of the notification policy argue that parents have the right to be involved in their children’s education and protection. They cite a survey conducted by Rasmussen Reports, which showed that 84% of California potential voters supported a local law requiring parental notification of major changes in a child’s health or academic performance.
Assemblyman Bill Essayli expressed confidence in the legal protection of parents’ right to be involved in their children’s education. He stated that the ruling would be appealed and ultimately decided by the United States Supreme Court.
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