California Legislature Advances Bill to Keep Gender Transitions at Schools Secret From Parents

Supporters of a controversial bill that would keep social gender transitions at school secret from parents are fast-tracking it through the California State Legislature, critics say. Assembly Bill 1955 would prohibit schools “from enacting or enforcing any policy, rule, or administrative regulation that requires an employee or a contractor to disclose any information related to a pupil’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to any other person without the pupil’s consent unless otherwise required by law,” according to the proposed bill text. The state senate education committee voted 5–2 on May 29 to pass the bill and send it to the health committee, but on May 30, Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) moved to withdraw the bill and refer it to the appropriations committee instead. The next hearing is scheduled for June 10....