The potential for further erosion of parental rights looms in California as Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom contemplates signing a new bill concerning gender ideology in public schools.
The bill, known as Assembly Bill 1955 or the SAFETY Act, could significantly alter the dynamics between parents, children, and educational institutions.
According to The Federalist, the proposed legislation would prevent public schools from informing parents if their child opts to use pronouns inconsistent with their biological sex or a name different from their birth name. Additionally, students could choose to use bathrooms designated for the opposite sex without the school being obliged to notify parents.
When questioned about his intentions for the bill during a Wednesday morning press conference, Governor Newsom responded, Well, Ive got 60 bills, thats one of them, and Ill let you know very shortly and well be reviewing that with my team and staff, the details of that bill. He added, Ive been following that, Im well aware of the LGBTQ Caucus and their advocacy in that space. I havent read the details of the bill yet, as is the case, as you know well, all too well, I try to familiarize myself with the nuances and details before I opine publicly.
Despite the reporter's insistence, noting Newsom's long-standing consideration of this issue, the governor remained noncommittal, citing the bill's pending status.
Jacob Huebert, president of Liberty Justice Center, expressed his concern about the bill's potential impact on parental rights. Parents have a right to know what their own minor children are doing at school and school officials have no right to keep secrets from parents, Huebert said. He pledged to continue supporting parents and school districts that respect parental rights, offering free representation at no cost to taxpayers.
The bill was advanced by the state legislature's LGBTQ Caucus and Tony Thurmond, California's state superintendent of public instruction. The bill's text argues that policies that forcibly 'out' students without their consent undermine opportunities for LGBTQ+ youth and their families to build trust and initiate these conversations when they are ready.
The bill, AB 1955, was passed in the state legislature by a 60-15 vote and is now awaiting either a signature or veto from the governor.
Republican Assemblyman Jim Patterson voiced his concerns about the potential harm this bill could inflict on parent-child relationships at a press conference with the California Family Council. In the nearly 12 years that I have been in the State Assembly, I have never seen an effort to damage the relationship between children and their parents like this one, Patterson said.
Governor Newsom has a history of supporting LGBT causes. In 2023, he signed nine bills addressing issues such as standards for all-gender restrooms in public and private K-12 schools and LGBTQ+ cultural competency training for public school teachers and staff, many of which furthered efforts to push gender ideology in California schools. However, he vetoed a bill requiring courts to consider a childs gender identity in parental custody cases, specifically how said parent feels about their childs identity.
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