SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a first-in-the-nation law Monday barring school districts from passing policies that require schools to notify parents if their child asks to change their gender identification.
The law comes amid a broader debate over local school districts and the rights of parents and LGBTQ+ students. The new law comes after several school districts in California passed policies requiring that parents be notified if a child requests to change their gender identification. That led to pushback by Democratic state officials, who say students have a right to privacy.
States across the country have sought to impose bans on gender-affirming care, bar transgender athletes from girls' and women’s sports, and require schools to out trans and nonbinary students to their parents. Some lawmakers in other states have introduced bills with broad language requiring that parents be notified of any changes to their child’s emotional health or well-being.