“The Battle Has Just Begun”: California School’s Transgender Parent Policy Smacked Down by Judge

Amy LewisNov 21, 2023

Minute Read

In an eyebrow-raising decision, a California judge has thrown a temporary spanner into the works of a school district’s policy. The disputed policy, which dictates that parents must be informed if their child alters their gender identification or pronouns, has now been put on a provisional hold. This decision was reached in San Bernardino after the judge granted a temporary restraining order against the Chino Valley Unified School District. The order means that the district’s policy is put on hold until the matter can be fully litigated in court, a process that could potentially take months.

Restraining Order in San Bernardino

The litigation stage was set by a decision from San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Thomas S. Garza on Wednesday. This followed a lawsuit filed against the Chino Valley Unified School District by California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office regarding the district’s policy to disclose transgender students’ status to their parents.

Advocating for LGBTQ+ Rights

Bonta proudly commented on Wednesday regarding the San Bernardino Superior Court’s decision to “rightfully uphold the state rights of our LGBTQ+ community.” He emphasized the temporary restraining order’s significance in preventing harm to children by immediately stopping the school board’s disclosure policy.

A Step Toward Protecting Well-being

The fight for the rights of transgender students is far from over, but Bonta indicates that this ruling stands as a pivotal measure. According to him, this decision will ensure the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of the students, fostering an environment of inclusivity. “Exclusive policies that openly discriminate can devastate these students, undermining their sense of self-worth,” he says. “By blocking this policy, we affirm the worthiness of every student and drive home the important message that discrimination is unacceptable.”

Reaction of Chino Valley’s Board of Education President

Sonja Shaw, the Board of Education President for Chino Valley Unified, expressed her disappointment with the ruling in an interview with Fox News Digital. But she emphasized, “The battle has just begun.” She firmly believes in the cause and vouched to not back down until the parental rights issue as per the policy is resolved in the best interest of the parents involved. Shaw further expressed her unwavering conviction that the policy was aimed at defending families and preserving their rights to decide their child’s welfare and upbringing.

Standing Against Agenda To Marginalize Parents

Shaw voiced her strong opinion against the agenda to marginalize parents, emphasizing parents’ rights to be aware of their children’s experiences at school. She stressed the need for unity among parents to effectively counter this agenda.

The District’s Controversial Policy

Bonta’s lawsuit asserts that the district violated the Protection Clause, Education and Government Code, and constitutional right to privacy. Bonta argued that the policy poses a threat to the well-being of transgender students by forcing disclosure to their parents. Contributing to this argument is the assertion that such a policy, by violating young individuals’ rights, could potentially lead to heightened incidents of bullying and discrimination. Additionally, concerns are raised about the increased likelihood of family rejection and subsequent mental health issues among transgender students.

The Policy’s Scope

Chino Valley Unified School District, located about 35 miles east of Los Angeles, serves 27,000 students and is one of several districts statewide with policies requiring parental notification if their children are transgender.

Plea from Deputy Attorney General for California

Delbert Tran, a deputy attorney general for California, raised concerns about the policy’s immediate impact on students. According to Tran, the policy is preventing students from expressing their true selves at school. He emphasized that even one transgender student’s safety is too great a risk and demanded immediate action to address the policy.

Contradicting Statements from District Attorneys

Chino Valley Unified’s attorneys argued that the policy would not hinder students’ private conversations with teachers. Their stance adds to the controversy as they claim the policy aims to include the parents in discussions related to name changes, bathroom choices, sports team selection, and pronoun preferences on campus. However, this viewpoint has been met with strong opposition from groups advocating for the rights and privacy of transgender students, who argue that such disclosures could potentially put students in vulnerable situations and infringe upon their rights to personal autonomy and self-identification.