In a recent school board meeting in California, women’s rights activist Beth Bourne staged a protest against a policy allowing transgender students to use girls’ locker rooms. To emphasize her point, she stripped down to a bikini during the Davis Joint Unified School District’s meeting on September 18.
Bourne, who leads the group Moms for Freedom in Yolo County, spoke about the locker room policies affecting middle schools like Emerson, Holmes, and Harper. She expressed her concerns regarding the district’s directives that allow students to choose their restroom based on their gender identity.
As she spoke, board members interrupted her, insisting she stop. Bourne insisted her rights were being violated, stating, “I have to finish my comment. You are violating my First Amendment.”
The tension escalated when School Board Vice President Hiram Jackson called for a break in the meeting. After a five-minute pause, Bourne was allowed to continue but soon resumed undressing, prompting another break more than half an hour long to switch topics.
Despite the interruptions, Bourne remained committed to voicing her concerns. She told CBS News the dramatic measure was necessary to highlight the issues surrounding locker room policies, which she has protested for three years.
During her comments, Bourne questioned the comfort of young girls in such environments, saying, “If adults don’t feel comfortable looking at someone, how can they expect girls to feel comfortable doing it in the locker room? I thought I made a good point.”
Following her protest, Trustee Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald indicated that police might be called for future disruptions, suggesting the board would discuss how to handle similar situations moving forward. The overall atmosphere during the meeting highlighted the ongoing tensions surrounding this policy debate in the community.
