A Southern California school district is defying a state order to reverse a controversial policy requiring parents to be notified if their child wishes to identify as transgender.
But on April 19, the district’s education board voted 3–2 to keep the policy in place.
“We have a right as a board to defy a dictatorial governor and bureaucracy ... that tries to take away our rights as parents and as citizens—as a duly elected board,” trustee Nick Pardue said at the meeting Friday. “We have legal standing, and we should absolutely stand up for our rights against dictators.”
However, in a statement, trustee Nancy Young told local news outlet ABC 7 News that she voted against the policy and “is still opposed.”
“I believe it is illegal, discriminatory, cruel and is miring the district in lawsuits,” Ms. Young said. “These kids already have a high suicide rate. [Trustees who approved the policy] are fighting their personal political battles with Sacramento on taxpayer dollars. They need to do this on their own time and with their own money.”
The policy requires schools to notify parents in writing within three days if their child identifies as transgender, is involved in violence, or shares thoughts of suicide.
After Murietta Valley passed its policy last year, state Attorney General Rob Bonta denounced it.
“I am deeply disturbed to learn another school district has put at risk the safety and privacy of transgender and gender nonconforming students by adopting a forced outing policy,” Mr. Bonta said in a statement in August. “My office remains committed to ensuring school policies do not target or seek to discriminate against California’s most vulnerable communities.”
Last month, the board considered whether to keep the policy as-is or alter its language—and ultimately decided to leave the policy unchanged.
The issue comes after nearly a dozen Southern California school boards like Murietta’s—including the Temecula Valley and Chino Valley school districts—passed similar parent notification policies last summer, drawing criticism from Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mr. Bonta.
Mr. Bonta filed a lawsuit against Chino Valley’s policy in August. In October, a judge granted the state’s preliminary injunction to stop the district from enforcing parts of it.
In March, Chino Valley revised its policy, which now indicates parents should be notified if their child requests to change any information in their official or unofficial record.
