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California Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent approval of the SAFETY Act, which prevents schools from notifying parents when students change their pronouns, has sparked significant controversy. Critics argue that the legislation undermines parental rights and imposes a one-size-fits-all approach to sensitive family matters.
They claim the act prioritizes student privacy to such an extreme degree that it disregards the vital role parents play in their children’s lives and education. Additionally, concerns have been raised that mandating the State Department of Education to create resources for increased LGBTQ support, while well-intentioned, may lead to the neglect of broader student needs and further polarize already contentious social issues in schools.
Opponents argue the law is an overreach, circumventing parents’ rights to determine how their child is raised and creates a government-imposed wall of secrecy between parents and their children.
“Politically motivated attacks on the rights, safety, and dignity of transgender, nonbinary, and other LGBTQ+ youth are on the rise nationwide, including in California,” said Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego). “While some school districts have adopted policies to forcibly out students, the SAFETY Act ensures that discussions about gender identity remain a private matter within the family. As a parent, I urge all parents to talk to their children, listen to them, and love them unconditionally for who they are.”
Since 2023, over a dozen school districts have proposed or implemented policies requiring teachers to inform parents if their child identifies as transgender or requests to be identified by a different name or pronouns at school.
The SAFETY Act addresses several issues by prohibiting school districts from enacting forced outing policies, providing resources for parents and students to manage conversations about gender and identity privately, and protecting teachers and school staff from retaliation if they refuse to forcibly out a student. Since 2020, eight states have enacted laws mandating school staff to forcibly out transgender students, while five others have passed legislation encouraging such actions. California stands out as the first state to explicitly prohibit forced outing policies in schools.
According to a 2024 Trevor Project survey, less than 40% of transgender and nonbinary youth find their homes to be LGBTQ-affirming. Conversely, more than half of transgender and nonbinary young people reported that their schools are gender-affirming, which correlates with lower suicide attempt rates.
“The SAFETY Act is a significant step forward in ensuring that all students, regardless of their gender identity, have a supportive and safe environment to learn and grow,” Ward press release stated.
The California Family Council (CFC) has condemned Governor Gavin Newsom’s decision to sign AB 1955 into law. This bill, passed by the California Legislature, allows schools to withhold information from parents regarding their children’s health and welfare, specifically preventing school districts from notifying parents if their child requests a different name and pronoun at school.
Jonathan Keller, President of the CFC, expressed strong opposition, stating, “Governor Newsom’s signing of AB 1955 is a direct assault on the safety of children and the rights of their parents. By allowing schools to withhold vital information from mothers and fathers, this bill undermines their fundamental role and places boys and girls in potential jeopardy.”
Assemblyman Bill Essayli, who authored AB 1314 to ensure parental notification for gender changes on school records, also voiced his disapproval. He remarked, “Today, Governor Gavin Newsom defied parents’ constitutional and God-given right to raise their children by signing AB 1955, which codifies the government’s authority to keep secrets from parents. AB 1955 endangers children by excluding parents from important matters impacting their child’s health and welfare at school. Governor Newsom signing AB 1955 is both immoral and unconstitutional, and we will challenge it in court to stop the government from keeping secrets from parents.”
The CFC and Assemblyman Essayli emphasize that parental rights have been under continuous attack by the California Legislature. Essayli’s AB 1314 was blocked by legislative Democrats, and Attorney General Rob Bonta has been actively suing school districts to maintain these secrecy policies. AB 1955 further cements the government’s authority to withhold crucial information from parents.
A recent ruling by federal judge Roger T. Benitez in San Diego declared that policies enforcing secrecy regarding students’ gender identity violate parents’ constitutional rights. The judge stated that parental involvement is essential to the healthy maturation of schoolchildren and that parents have the right to direct their child’s education, health, and upbringing. Judge Benitez described the parental exclusion policies as a “trifecta of harm” to children, parents, and teachers, arguing that these policies harm children needing parental guidance, deprive parents of their Fourteenth Amendment rights, and compel teachers to conceal critical information.
The California Family Council, alongside Assemblyman Bill Essayli and other parental rights advocates, will be challenging AB 1955 in court and advocating for policies that uphold the sanctity of the family and the rights of parents.
