California Court Blocks Transgender Student Policy

A California judge has permanently blocked the Chino Valley Unified School District's policy that required parental notification when transgender students requested to change their name or pronouns or used gender-segregated facilities. This ruling by San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Michael Sachs follows California's Assembly Bill 1955, which prohibits forced outing of transgender youth in schools and aims to protect their privacy. The court upheld parts of the policy that require notifying parents about official record changes but struck down the more intrusive parental notification sections. California Attorney General Rob Bonta celebrated the decision as a significant victory for the rights of LGBTQ+ youth, while critics, including the California Family Council, argue it undermines parental rights. The district's legal representation has indicated plans to appeal the ruling, signaling ongoing legal battles over children's rights and parental authority in educational settings.