A California school district is weighing the possibility of fortifying parents’ rights to be informed about their child’s gender identity choices, mirroring a move made by a neighboring district.
The Murrieta Valley Unified School District board is contemplating a measure that would necessitate school personnel to inform parents about their child’s transgender identification rather than withholding such information.
This step follows the Chino Valley Unified School District’s recent decision, which necessitates that parents be informed if their child identifies as transgender, opts for certain pronouns, chooses a different name, or wishes to join programs that align with their gender identity rather than their biological sex, as reported by Townhall.
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Paul Diffley, the President of the Murrieta Valley Unified School Board, noted the decision by Chino Valley, calling it “an interesting guide” for their board’s potential actions.
However, not everyone agrees with this direction. Tony Thurmond, the California state superintendent of public instruction, was present at a recent board meeting.
“I support parent rights,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of student safety, and he expressed concerns that these measures might be seen as pandering to a “mob mentality” that could overlook the safety of certain vulnerable students.
In light of the Chino Valley decision, Democratic California Attorney General Rob Bonta has initiated a civil rights investigation into the school district.
“Chino Valley Unified’s forced outing policy threatens the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ students,” Bonta commented, suggesting that these students might face harassment or potential harm from those unaccepting of their gender identity decisions.
Furthermore, the California Department of Education currently advises school staff to keep details of students’ transgender transitions confidential from parents.
A number of school districts nationwide, including locations in Colorado, Virginia, Kansas, and California, have adopted similar protective policies. This past May, a school district in Cincinnati, Ohio, was found to have advised teachers to report to protective services if parents didn’t support a transgender student’s identity.
It remains to be seen how this unfolding debate in California will shape policies concerning parents’ rights and student identity in school districts across the state and perhaps the nation.
