A local women’s rights activist in California, Beth Bourne, staged a protest at a school board meeting, where she stripped down to a bikini to voice her opposition to a policy permitting transgender students to use the girls’ locker room.
Bourne, who leads Moms for Freedom in Europe County, attended the Davis Joint Unified School Board meeting on September 18. She expressed concerns regarding the policy that allows middle school students from Emerson, Holmes, and Harper to choose which locker room to use based on their gender identity.
As she spoke, she emphasized her role as a parent in the district. “Today, we’re discussing the locker room policy for middle schools,” she stated, indicating her deep personal stake in the matter.
During her speech, board members interrupted, urging her to stop. Bourne insisted, “I must complete my comments. You’re violating my First Amendment rights.” Eventually, the Vice President of the board, Hiram Jackson, called for a brief recess.
After a five-minute pause, the meeting resumed, allowing Bourne to continue. However, she once again began to undress, prompting another break, and the board moved on to other topics after a lengthy delay.
In a follow-up with CBS News on September 19, Bourne mentioned that she had been attending school board meetings monthly for three years to raise concerns about locker room access and felt compelled to take decisive action to communicate her message.
Reflecting her perspective, Bourne asked, “If adults feel uncomfortable with it—I’m a 50-year-old woman—how can we expect young girls to be comfortable in that environment?” She added, “I really thought I was making a valid point.”
Following the disruptions, Trustee Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald indicated to a local news outlet that the police might be involved after the second break. The board is now contemplating how to proceed in future meetings, as they recognize that similar situations might recur.
