A California policy requiring schools to notify parents if a child wants to change their gender identity was ineligible as a ballot measure in the November election.
Supporters of the proposed ballot measure announced Tuesday that they had been unable to gather the necessary number of signatures to place the measure on the ballot.
Supporters said the measure would provide needed transparency for parents, but opponents argued it could jeopardize the safety of children living with families who don’t accept such a change in gender identity.
In recent months, parent notification policies in some California school districts have led to legal battles with the state.
School districts continue to fight after California judge blocks parent notification policy: ‘The fight is not over’
A parental rights supporter holds a sign during a Chino Valley Unified School District board meeting at Don Lugo High School on July 20, 2023 in Chino. (Getty Images)
Supporters of the bill had sued state Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, over the title and summary of the proposed ballot measure, accusing it of biased language that made it difficult to gather signatures.
Bonta labeled the bill a “restriction on the rights of transgender youth,” but supporters of the proposal called it the “Protect California’s Children Act” and called for an amendment brief.
“While we are disappointed that we did not meet the threshold to qualify for the ballot, we are encouraged by the overwhelming support we have received from all sectors of the state,” campaign organizer Jonathan Zachreson said in a statement.
The campaign has collected about 400,000 of the 546,651 signatures needed to get on the ballot, Zackleson said. He said many of the signatures came from people in Southern California counties, including Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside.
The proposal would have banned biological males from eighth grade through college level from participating in girls’ sports, with some exceptions, and would have also banned sex-reassignment surgery for minors.
A Sacramento Superior Court judge sided with Bonta after a hearing last month, saying his description of the bill was accurate. Sakreson said supporters of the bill plan to appeal the ruling. They hope that if successful, they’ll have a chance to restart the signature process and get the bill on the November ballot again.
California judge blocks notification policy after suggesting some parents pose ‘danger’ to transgender students
People hold signs supporting the rights of gay and transgender students during a Chino Valley Unified School District board meeting at Don Lugo High School on July 20, 2023 in Chino. (Getty Images)
Last week, state lawmakers introduced a bill that would prohibit school districts from adopting policies requiring parents to inform them about their child’s sexual orientation or gender identity, with some exceptions, such as when student safety is at risk.
This comes amid a national effort to address local school district policies and parental rights of transgender students.
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Republican-led states across the country are aiming to ban gender-reassignment medical treatments, bar biological men from competing in girls’ sports and require schools to notify parents if their child wants to change their gender identity.
Some lawmakers in other states have introduced bills with broad language that would require parents to be notified if there are any changes in their child’s mental health or well-being.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
