A California policy requiring schools to notify parents if their children want to change their gender identity is inconsistent with a ballot measure in the November election.
Supporters of the proposed ballot measure announced Tuesday that they were unable to gather the number of signatures needed to put the measure on the ballot.
Supporters say the measure would provide needed transparency for parents, while opponents of the proposal argue it could threaten the safety of children in families who don’t accept gender identity changes.
Parent notification policies in some California school districts have sparked legal disputes with the state in recent months.
School district continues fight after California judge blocks parent notification policy: ‘The fight isn’t over yet’
A parent rights supporter holds a sign during the Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting at Don Lugo High School in Chino on July 20, 2023. (Getty Images)
Backers of the measure have sued state Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, over the title and summary he released for the proposed ballot measure, accusing him of biased language that made it harder for them to collect signatures.
Bonta named the measure the “Restricting the Rights of Transgender Youth” initiative, but backers of the proposal sought to change it to the “Protect California Children Act” and called for changes to the summary.
“While we are disappointed that we did not qualify for the ballot, we are encouraged by the outpouring of support from across the state,” campaign organizer Jonathan Zachreson said in a statement.
Zachreson said the campaign collected about 400,000 of the 546,651 signatures needed to qualify for the ballot, with many coming from people in Southern California counties such as Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside.
The proposal would also ban boys and girls from seventh grade through college from participating in girls’ sports and prohibit gender reassignment surgeries for minors, with some exceptions.
A Sacramento Superior Court judge sided with Bonta after a hearing last month, claiming his characterization of the measure was accurate. Zackreson said the proposal’s backers plan to appeal the ruling. They hope a successful appeal will allow them to restart the signature-gathering process for another chance to get on the ballot in November.
California judge suggests some parents pose ‘danger’ to transgender students after blocking notification policy
People hold placards supporting gay and transgender student rights during a Chino Valley Unified School District board meeting on July 20, 2023, at Don Lugo High School in Chino. (Getty Images)
Last week, state lawmakers announced a bill that would prohibit school districts from adopting policies requiring parents to inform their children of their sexual orientation or gender identity, with some exceptions, including situations where a student’s safety is at risk.
Against this backdrop, efforts across the country are grappling with local school district policies and the parent rights of transgender students.
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Republican-led states across the country are targeting bans on transgender people from receiving medical treatment, banning biological males from competing in female sports and requiring schools to notify parents when their children want to change their gender identity.
Some lawmakers in other states have introduced broadly worded bills that would require parents to notify them of any changes in their children’s emotional health or well-being.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
