California's Democratic attorney general, Rob Bonta, has initiated an investigation into the Chino Valley Unified School District in Southern California.
The probe comes in response to the district's decision to notify parents if their child begins to identify as a different gender. Critics argue that Bonta's actions are an attempt to suppress opposition to the state's LGBT agenda in schools.
Bonta stated on Friday that he is exploring potential legal violations by the school district, claiming that the parent notification policy could expose students to parental abuse or increase their risk of self-harm or suicide. The Chino school board voted against state guidance that advises schools to keep students' gender exploration hidden from their parents.
Sonja Shaw, the President of the Chino school board, believes that Bonta's investigation is an attempt to intimidate other school boards in California from adopting similar policies. She stated, "We have united all over California, and people from all over the nation are linking up to protect our kids and ensure parental rights. They did us a favor and just revealed more of their agenda and exposed their intentions."
Bonta's investigation is part of a larger trend of Democratic crackdowns on parents and school officials in the name of LGBT ideology. Governor Gavin Newsom recently condemned Armenian parents in Glendale who protested against their school district's decision to celebrate Pride month. He also threatened a $1.5 million fine against a different Southern California school board that rejected an LGBT-themed social studies curriculum, which ultimately led the board to reverse its decision.
According to Jonathan Zachreson, a Northern California school board member and parental rights advocate, numerous school districts in California are considering implementing policies similar to Chino's. The Murrieta Valley Unified School District in Riverside County is set to pass its own version of the policy on Thursday. Zachreson believes that Bonta's baseless investigation will not deter these school districts from protecting parental rights.
When the Chino school district trustees approved the parental notification policy on July 20, they faced opposition from state public schools chief Tony Thurmond, who attended the meeting in person to condemn the move. Bonta also sent a warning letter to the district, suggesting that the policy may violate state and federal privacy laws. However, he failed to cite any relevant statutes or legal precedents to support his claim.
Lance Christensen, Vice President of policy for the California Policy Center and a 2022 Republican candidate for public schools chief, argues that the investigation demonstrates Democratic leaders' alignment with left-wing activists. He believes they are attempting to silence parents through intimidation, bullying, lawfare, or a disinformation campaign.
The California Justice Department has missed the deadline for a public records request from the Washington Free Beacon regarding emails related to the Chino case. The department cited the need for an extension to consult with multiple components of the department with a substantial interest in the requested records.
A statewide poll conducted in June found that 62 percent of California voters would support a law requiring schools to inform parents if their child is identifying, requesting to identify, or being treated as a gender that does not align with their biological sex.
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