California Becomes First US State to Ban Schools from Telling Parents If Their Child Is Transgender – TrendyNewsReporters

California has become the first U.S. state to ban schools from requiring staff to inform parents of their child’s gender identity change, under a law signed Monday by California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The law prohibits school rules that require teachers and other staff to disclose a student’s gender identity or sexual orientation to any other person without the child’s permission.
Supporters of the law say it will help protect LGBTQ+ students living in unwelcoming homes, while opponents say it will hinder schools’ ability to be more transparent with parents.

The law comes amid a nationwide debate over local school districts and parental rights over children who identify as LGBTQ+.

“This law helps protect children while protecting the critical role of parents,” Brandon Richards, a spokesman for Newsom, said in a statement.
“It protects the parent-child relationship by preventing politicians and school personnel from inappropriately intervening in family matters and attempting to control whether, when and how families have deeply personal conversations.”

The new law comes after several school districts in California passed rules requiring parents to be notified if a child asks to change his or her gender identification, a move rejected by Democratic state officials, who say students have a right to privacy.
Jonathan Zachreson, a California activist who supports parental notification policies, opposes the law and said that informing parents of a student’s request to change their gender identification is “essential for the well-being of children and for maintaining trust between schools and parents.”
Some state legislators have introduced bills with broad language requiring parents to be notified of any changes in their children’s emotional health or well-being.