CA Gov Signs SAFETY ACT Into Law Protecting LGBTQ+ Students

On July 16th, CA governor (and the guy we hope becomes president somewhere down the line) signed into law the SAFETY Act (Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth Act, Assembly Bill 1955.) The law prohibits schools, their entities, and contractors from disclosing the orientation and/or gender status of any student to parents and others. It also protects staff and educators who create safe spaces for students from retaliation for said protections from parents and outside individuals.

The law was introduced last May by State Assemblymember Chris Ward (D) in response to districts enacting policies requiring teachers and staff to inform parents if their child identifies as transgender or has a preferred gender expression."Politically motivated attacks on the rights, safety, and dignity of transgender, nonbinary, and other LGBTQ+ youth are on the rise nationwide, including in California," Ward said in a statement. "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."

In addition, the law also requires "the State Department of Education to develop resources or, as appropriate, update existing resources, for supports and community resources for the support of parents, guardians, and families of LGBTQ pupils and strategies to increase support for LGBTQ pupils." This is for any "educational institution that receives, or benefits from, state financial assistance, or enrolls pupils who receive state student financial aid."

A parent tearfully embracing this legislation.

The #SAFETYAct will force the end of forced outing policies. It’s time to stop harming kids and stop wasting taxpayer money on grubby lawyers all too happy to run up billable hours that extremist school boards are all too willing to pay to pursue their divisive political agendas. pic.twitter.com/pwYt3dJ64W

— ourschoolsusa (@ourschoolsusa) May 23, 2024

The parent in the above video mentions Chino Valley, and just listen to that district's school board president testify in opposition to the new law:

CVUSD School Board President Sonja Shaw Testified in Opposition to #AB1955 in the Asm. Education Committee

"In Chino, we won't allow a school to lie to any parent. AB 1955 makes lying legal and a requirement in school. Let me remind you, when you guys say these are your… pic.twitter.com/zlgGzkRAYH

— CA Family Council (@CAFamily) June 26, 2024

The response from the right is standard and unremarkable, citing the need for "parents' rights" and claiming validation of a conspiracy theory regarding "radical gender ideology."

But let us hear from one of the kids:

The #SAFETYAct will force the end of forced outing policies, and Kai was so brave to tell us why passing and adopting #AB1955 is so important at yesterday’s presser: “The sad truth is not every kid has a safe home or a safe person to confide in as they figure out who they are.” pic.twitter.com/BrRgkqXEFV

— ourschoolsusa (@ourschoolsusa) May 23, 2024

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