California Bans Policies Requiring Parents Be Notified of Child’s Pronoun Changes

DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law Monday banning schools from implementing policies that require parents be notified if their child requests to be identified as a different gender.

AB 1955, also known as the Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth (SAFETY) Act, strikes down policies that some California schools have already implemented protecting parents’ rights to be made aware of issues and make decisions regarding their children.

In August 2023, the state’s attorney general filed a lawsuit against a California school district after it implemented a policy that required school officials to notify parents if their child requested to change their pronouns or gender, prompting the ban.

“By signing AB1955, Governor Newsom has signaled he’s no longer running for president. This law enshrines the ability of teachers to keep secrets from parents and is inconsistent with our long-standing jurisprudence that parents have a right to raise their children without government interference,” California Assemblyman Bill Essayli said. “We will take this fight to court because our children are worth fighting for.”

Essayli has openly opposed the bill since its conception and issued a press release shortly after its passing, calling it dangerous and saying it defied parents’ rights. “Governor Newsom signing AB 1955 is both immoral and unconstitutional and we will challenge it in court to stop the government from keeping secrets.”

Brandon Richards, a spokesman for Newsom, said the law is meant to protect children and parents. “[The law] protects the child-parent relationship by preventing politicians and school staff from inappropriately intervening in family matters and attempting to control if, when, and how families have deeply personal conversations.”

California is the first state to ban such parental notification policies.

Originally published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.