Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest bill signing is a win for transgender students and families | Opinion

For a student who is going through puberty or thinking about their gender identity, school may be the only outlet they have to discuss their thoughts and questions.

That’s why California needs legislation like Assembly Bill 1955, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law on July 15. Authored by Democrat Christopher Ward of San Diego, AB 1955 prohibits schools from mandating teachers inform parents about their child’s use of gender non-conforming pronouns or name changes.

Opinion

School should be a safe place to explore who you are and who you want to be, and I’m proud to live in the first state to legally recognize that. How horrible would it be to grow up in a world where parents are informed of every single thing their child does, says or thinks? Your child may feel safe expressing themselves at home, but many others are not.

“Parental rights” activists opposed to AB 1955 reek of fear and control — never mind of transphobia.

This new law will override the damaging and cruel mandates at schools, such as those in the Chino Valley Unified School District and in nearby Placer County that attempted to forcibly out transgender children to not only their parents but the entire school.

Chino approved a policy last year that required teachers and school staff to inform parents if their student requested to use different pronouns or a different name than what was on official records, or if the student used bathrooms or joined programs that did not align with their sex assigned at birth. Any student who so much as chose to use a nickname could be outed to their parents with such a rule.

Despite misinformation spread by conservatives about the new law, AB 1955 does not allow a student’s name or gender identity to be changed on an official school record without parental consent, nor does it limit a student’s ability to discuss their gender identity with their own family or take away or undermine parents’ rights.

So let’s be honest about why these so-called parental rights activists are mad: It’s not because they think schools should be forced to report everything a child does, it’s because they hate the idea of anyone — much less a child — questioning their assigned gender. They are transphobic and proudly so, and they should be forced to deal with the consequences of their choices — not enforce their beliefs on children in our public school system.

Schools should stay out of those conversations and provide a safe place for children to explore, learn and grow. That’s what AB 1955 does, by allowing children to express themselves freely while at school.

It’s important to have a free space for children to explore their identities. Transgender people often understand very early in life that their assigned gender at birth does not align with their internal perception of themselves. Some transgender people report knowing as early as three years old, but for many, the social stigma, a lack of knowledge and the fear of rejection by their family and peers can often keep transgender people from coming out in their childhood or teens, according to the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ political lobbying organization within the U.S.

“Trying to change your child’s gender identity — either by denial, punishment, reparative therapy or any other tactic — is not only ineffective; it is dangerous and can do permanent damage to your child’s mental health,” the campaign’s website states. “The most recent survey of high school students by the Centers for Disease Control finds that roughly 3% of adolescents and teens identify as transgender or non-binary.”

AB 1955 simply allows this small percentage of non-binary or transgender children to express their gender in non-conforming ways while at school — which may be the only safe outlet that child has.

This new law keeps California students safe from judgment and possible harm at home, and if even one child is given that comfort, then it’s well worth it.

If you are — or sympathize with — parental rights activists, I beg you to consider this: If your child doesn’t feel safe coming out to you or giving you information about their thoughts and actions, could that not be your fault? It’s not the state or schools’ responsibility to mandate the forcible outing of anyone, much less children to their parents.

Nothing stops a child from sharing information with their family faster than family members who don’t support or love them. AB 1955 makes California schools a safe place for queer and gender non-conforming kids who need a space away from home to express and explore themselves. This new law does not prevent families from having these conversations, it simply takes schools and school boards out of the equation.

If passing such a law in our state means we lose the shady business of, for example, a big balding baby of a CEO who has more money than sense, then I say that’s an overall net good for the people of California.

Laws like this are meant to create a California that is welcoming, safe, inclusive and loving. If you — or your business — do not wish to abide by those governing principles, then by all means, move to another state.

Children deserve safety and love no matter who they choose to be. If even one child is allowed to be themselves because of AB 1955, then it is a great law, and I’m proud to live in California.