Will Newsom approve a bill requiring gender notification?

The issue of parental rights and students’ privacy in California has ignited a heated debate as lawmakers grapple with the extent to which public schools should intervene in matters of gender identity. Legislators in Sacramento have passed a bill, AB 1955, and sent it to Governor Gavin Newsom for approval. This bill would prevent school districts from informing parents if their child uses different pronouns or identifies with a gender that differs from what is listed on school records.

During a charged hearing on June 27 in the state Democratic-led Assembly, tensions ran high as Assemblyman Bill Essayli, a Republican, strongly opposed the bill. Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jim Wood, a Democrat, rebuked Essayli for speaking off-topic, leading to multiple instances where Essayli’s microphone was silenced. Despite the challenges, the bill passed by a 60-15 vote.

Newsom, who has been rumored to be eyeing a presidential run, now holds the power to sign this controversial policy into law. Notably, he vetoed a similar bill last year that aimed to consider a parent’s affirmation of their child’s gender identity in custody rulings.

Assemblyman Essayli introduced a contrasting bill last year, AB 1314, which proposed that schools should inform parents of any changes in their child’s gender identity. However, this bill failed to advance past the education committee.

Tempers flared during the debate, with Assemblyman Corey Jackson, a member of the LGBTQ community, having to be restrained as he attempted to approach Essayli after his remarks. Jackson emphasized the importance of allowing young people to make decisions about their own lives when appropriate.

Before the vote, Assemblyman Chris Ward, the author of AB 1955, defended the bill, asserting that it would empower individuals to decide when and how to share intimate details about themselves. He argued that policies forcing educators to act against their judgment could lead to emotional harm for students, a sentiment echoed by experts in the field.

Despite the divisive nature of the bill, supporters remain confident that Governor Newsom will sign AB 1955 into law. Meanwhile, critics, particularly Republicans, believe that informing parents about their child’s gender identity is not a threat to students’ well-being.

The backdrop to this legislative battle includes the actions of school districts across California, which have implemented various parent notification policies. Some policies have been revised following legal action, such as the case of the Chino Valley Unified School District, which faced a lawsuit challenging its mandatory disclosure policy regarding student gender identity. The district has since amended its policy to only acknowledge a student’s request for changes to their records.