SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a law barring school districts from passing policies that require schools to notify parents if their child asks to change their gender identification. The law bans rules requiring school staff to disclose a student’s gender identity or sexual orientation to any other person without the child’s permission. Proponents of the legislation say it will help protect LGBTQ+ students who live in unwelcoming households.
In a May statement announcing the legislation, his office said more than a dozen public school district across the state had proposed or enacted 'forced outing policies' that put transgender, nonbinary and other LGBTQ+ youth 'at risk' by violating their privacy. The policies require that parents be notified if a child requests to change their gender identification. That led to pushback by Democratic state officials, who say students have a right to privacy.