Lawmakers in California want to make a new rule to stop schools from telling parents if their child is transgender. This rule would be part of Assembly Bill 1955, which was introduced by Assemblyman Chris Ward. They’re changing the bill to add this new rule.
Under the new rule, schools couldn’t make teachers tell parents if a student is transgender or gay unless the student agrees. The bill is called the “Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth” or SAFETY Act. It also says schools should give parents and students help to talk about gender and sexuality. The bill would protect teachers from getting in trouble if they don’t tell parents about a student.
Assemblyman Ward says making students’ identities public without their okay hurts everyone. He wants families to be able to talk about these things when they’re ready.
This new law would follow guidelines from the state Department of Education about supporting LGBTQ+ students, especially those who are transgender or non-binary, while keeping their privacy.
But some schools in California have different rules. Some say parents should know if their child is LGBTQ+, while others say it’s not necessary. This has led to arguments and even lawsuits.
Research shows that many LGBTQ+ youth don’t feel supported at home. For those who are outed before they’re ready, the consequences can be serious, like homelessness or family problems.
School is often where LGBTQ+ youth feel safe to be themselves. Having a supportive adult at school can make a big difference, like it did for Kai, a young person from Northern California. Kai had a teacher he could trust, but he was worried about telling his parents. Luckily, his teacher kept his secret until he was ready.
Kai says having a trusted adult is crucial for LGBTQ+ kids. He believes no child should lose that support because of rules that force them to be outed.
Now, the SAFETY Act will be discussed by the Senate Education Committee. If the Senate agrees, it will go back to the Assembly and then to the governor to become a law.