Newsom signs bill banning schools from notifying parents about student gender identity

In most cases, I don't really care about any trans-related issues, because it really doesn't affect me.

But reading this, it just sounds wrong to leave the parent out of the loop.

On the one hand, I get the logic. It's not the teacher's responsibility to police someone else's child.

It's the same as being gay. If a child comes out as gay at school, should the teacher tell the parent? Of course not. That's ridiculous.

BUT, trans issues are more complicated because it involves dressing as another gender, using different restrooms, and even referring to the student as a different gender.

That could cause problems down the line, and the parents should at least be aware of the child's decision.

It seems to me that this policy, if the California Department of Education isn't careful, could potentially open them up to lawsuits, if something bad happens to the child, and the parents were unaware of what was going on in school.

That's just my two cents.

The parent needs to know if the student is identifying as fairy/fairyself, it/itself, or they/them. The insanity must stop.

You're just criticizing without defending your position, R2.

The California DOE's position is that it's not their responsibility to inform the parents, because the teachers aren't there to police someone else's kid. They're just there to teach.

So why do YOU think it's their (the teacher and the DOE's) responsibility to tell the parents?

Shouldn't the child be the one to tell their own parents?

Isn't that how it works with gay kids?

That's what the California Department of Education is saying.

It's not the most responsible position, but it is the logical one.

R2 Yes, this will not go down well with many Americans, who are getting sick of the trans/nonbinary nonsense.

Even if this is just in California, other states are going to be like "I don't want that to happen here" and begin voting Democrats out of office.

That sounds like a great way to piss off a lot of parents and not even ones who have trans kids.

Maybe I am misunderstanding the situation, though.

Proof positive Newsom isn't interested in replacing Biden this year.

And Democrats wonder how they are losing.

It’s the “mandating” that’s the problem.

I can see it from both sides. I don't think schools should automatically tell parents about a student's sexuality - especially if they come from a conservative/Christian home. So this is sort of similar.

If a student is telling schools before parents, there will almost certainly be a good reason for that.

Well, that ends Newsom’s future presidential campaign. A big lesson in politics is don’t fuck with parents.

Ridiculous law that ends any hope of Newsom on a national ticket. Parents are properly informed of all sorts of behavior at school. Why not gender change?

[quote] The California DOE's position is that it's not their responsibility to inform the parents, because the teachers aren't there to police someone else's kid. They're just there to teach.

Trans activists are the ones who insist that gender identity is a health issue, so whether it’s mental health or physical health, schools should be obligated to inform the parents of such issue. If a student tells a teacher that they are contemplating suicide, should the teacher keep quiet about it, since they “aren’t there to police someone else’s kid”?

Never mind. I foolishly relied on OP to have an accurate headline. The law bans local schools from REQUIRING parental notification.

DING DING FUCKING DING R13 and R8... we have a winner!

This bill is not about banning schools from notifying parents; this bill is about unequivocally MANDATING that teachers inform parents. Let me say that again: this bill does not ban teachers from informing parents, it simply says that no district/city/supervisor/mayor/whatever REQUIRE that teachers inform parents.

California has it right. We have so hamstrung teachers that they cannot use their better judgment when it comes to a host of issues because despite their years of education, continuing education, work, and experience, we've decided that teachers are the least capable people of educating children. It's fucked up.

Let's leave the decision as to whether or not something a child discloses to them is worthy of reporting to parents. I trust the teachers a hell of a lot more than I trust politicians.

[quote] Let's leave the decision as to whether or not something a child discloses to them is worthy of reporting to parents. I trust the teachers a hell of a lot more than I trust politicians.

Well we all know what's going to happen.

In blue areas of California, the trans students will be left alone.

But in red areas, teachers are still going to run straight to the parents and get all in the kid's business.

Because that's what MAGATS do.

"Less government," unless it's something they disagree with. Then they want government to tell everyone what to do.

It's the right-wing MAGAT way.

GOOD!

Why is there a picture of LA City Hall with this story?

This shit is so unbelievably creepy. Newsom needs to be thrown out.

R15, this IS big government. They are legislating keeping info away from parents. Are you goddamn brain dead? Maybe Democrats do need to be wiped out this year. They’ve lost their goddamn minds.

Anything that is liable to potentially alienate children from their parents is going to be out of step with public opinion. This is promoting a culture of secrecy, based on the assumption that parents are going to be antagonistic, which may not necessarily be the case at all.

As an older gay man, I find the whole Jeffrey Marsh TikTok shtick of encouraging young transgender people to "go no contact" with their parents quite alarming, as I remember how painful it can be to be cut off from your closest family members. It's not something I would wish on anyone.

Sorry, I should have read R13 first. Please ignore.

R13, the headline isn't OP's - it's the headline attached to the article, which was originally published in the Los Angeles Times.

This is the exact kind of know-it-all mentality Newsom and the other progressives possess which will bring us down in November. Anyone who thinks this left-of-center to Siberia is a feasible candidate for a GE should have their heads examined (and their genitals.)

I don’t care at all about this at all.

It doesn’t affect me one jot or tittle.

Well I don't give one TWAT or TWADDLE about you either, R24!

If the kid doesn't feel comfortable telling their parents then they feel that way for a reason. Why is everyone playing dumb?

They are NOT legislating keeping info away from parents. Stop lying. They are simply saying no government official or body in California can MANDATE that the parents be told. That's what they do in red states where they want to force everyone, even the liberal (or as I call them, adult) cities/counties, to inform the parents when a child confides in a teacher or other such instances. They're leaving that up to the teacher who knows the child, their parents, the school administration and the community. There is nothing in this bill preventing a teacher from informing the parents. It is simply a small-government bill.

R27, parents should be notified. It’s the same as when your kid is acting up in class. Parents need to know.

Ultra-liberals are all about "autonomy of the child."

They despise authority figures, which includes parents.

If a kid is quietly transitioning, as my nibling did, they slowly feminize or masculate themselves as they grow into a new identity. I don't think that's reason for the school to contact the parents. The parents may or may not be aware but it seems like tattling and may backfire, depending on how parents react.

I can see it coming up during a discussion of a student's academic progress if there are issues about declining performance due to stress or bullying. It seems logical to talk about it if there is a negative affect at school. Otherwise, I don't see the point of a school just telling the parents unconnected to anything else about the student. Just outing the student seems intrusive and unfair to the student.

Parents may not be supportive and come down hard on the kid. It's sad, really, for teachers. I know a few and they witness enough heartache among their students already, from divorce, dysfunction and abuse. It's their duty to treat all students equally and with respect. When behavior issues come up that are disruptive is when it's time to talk with parents and support staff.

I was very sensitive in my teens and my mother was not at her best during those years. For the school to inform her of some sort of "deviance" in my behavior would have been the end of any happiness I had.

Parents need to know what their kids are doing because kids don't know what they are doing and can get themselves into all kinds of shit. Kids do not need to transition before they are 18 and can decied for themselves

Decide^^^

This law lacks multiple double negatives to cloud the intent abd meaning further. Is its purpose not to not inform parents or to not inform parents?

This law prevents requiring teachers to rat out their students. It doesn’t force teachers to keep quiet. Does anyone actually read, or did you just go by OP’s misleading title?

[quote] It's not the teacher's responsibility to police someone else's child.

That's it in a nutshell. If I can't slap your child in the face for being a rude, disruptive POS, you can figure out if he/she/they are trans, gay or non-binary.

The only non-academic occurrences teachers should be reporting is when a student is bullying, being bullied or brings a gun to school.

Teachers should keep trans issues hidden from parents.

Parental choice

Which one do you think is going to play better with the vast majority of American voters many with kids or grandkids almost all have no idea what DL is?

R36 we can all agree that only those 3 rise to the level of informing parents and that meth or H does not belong on your list.

I bet you are a parent :-)

[quote]This law prevents requiring teachers to rat out their students. It doesn’t force teachers to keep quiet.

Basically, the Left's version of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

British child and adolescent psychiatrist Az Hakeem (who happens to be gay) believes 'trans' (the non-dysphoric type found in schools) is a subculture with a limited shelf life, eventually to be replaced by something else. He was lambasted for it, of course.

It’s a great election year to be seen as pro children trans and against notifying parents.

This is the kind of progressive issue most American voters and parents will get behind, It’s a winning Dem issue like being pro monkeypox.

The law forbids requiring teachers to inform parents that their kids are trans. But teachers can still inform parents that they are. This really makes no sense. What teacher will inform parents their kids are transing now?

Couldn’t this extremely important law( to 2%) of the population been passed after the election? Are the Dems just stupid on purpose or accident?

R43 Progressive not stupid. This is not an accident.

^ I am beginning to think the two are synonymous.

It’s a California law, R43. Among California Dems, it’s a positive occurrence. Why would they delay it as if it’s shameful? There are state and local politicians who want to use the law to tout LGBT bona fides. Incumbents want their constituents in blue districts to know they voted for it, and challengers to certain seats might use it to contrast themselves with opponents who voted against it. In many parts of Cali, this is an election winner. They don’t weigh every decision in fear of the mean things that might be said on Fox News.

If an adult says to a child "let this be our little secret", it's bad in 99 percent of the cases.

It sounds like this addresses pretty specific items - if a kid asks to use a different bathroom or requests that their name be changed on official records. Of course the parents should be told. If a kid drops Spanish, the parents should be told.

A kid dressing ambiguously or adopting a gender neutral “nickname,” then all good.

Schools should not be making subjective calls on which parents get told what about their kids. If an underage student makes an official request, then the parents should be told. Otherwise it’s the student and school colluding against the parent.

The only way I see this as a problem is if some kids are really anxious about bathroom use. But that’s not a problem that likely to be easily solved by letting the individuals switch bathrooms, anyway. Maybe you create a few genderless bathrooms anyone can use in a heavily trafficked area to minimize the potential for bullying. Then there is no obligation to tell parents.

And here is how it ends up sounding to voters and parents

A young school age boy decides he is a girl, the teachers become aware of this , but the parents don’t. The issue is not the fine print or intent of these laws hardly anyone one pays attention to the fine print..

No matter what the Democrats suggest, the Republicans will twist into lies anyway.

"Bill won't mandate schools to notify parents of gender identity" turns into "Democrats BAN all schools from telling all parents of gender identity, the evil fucking weirdos!!!"

Good grief!!! R38, any criminal activity -- like sale or possession of drugs -- should be reported directly to law enforcement.

You obviously are not a teacher OR a parent. :-)

[quote] It sounds like this addresses pretty specific items - if a kid asks to use a different bathroom or requests that their name be changed on official records.

When can a 'kid' or underage student change their name on an "official record" without parental consent?!

No such option. That poster was probably talking about "socially transitioning" (that is, adopting an opposite-sex name and dress style in class).

[quote] It comes in response to school board decisions in some red pockets of California to notify parents if their child changes their name or pronouns, or if students request to use facilities or participate in programs that don’t match their gender on official records.

I interpreted this as a student making an official request for a name change or to participate in official school activities that are delineated by gender. Not a student previously known as Jeremiah deciding to start turning homework in with the name Jerri on. A teacher shouldn’t be mandated to tell a parent if a student is using a different moniker. Where would you even draw the line? Jerry? Jerri? Jerri with the i dotted with a heart? I guess if the student changes their last name, that’s a gray area but not really a trans issue.

But if a formerly male student joins the girls track team then, yes, the school should be mandated to inform the parents. Although I would assume that in most cases there is a permission slip for sports participation anyway.

If a kid wants to socially transition and not tell their parents, fine. But if a kid wants to apply to college with transcripts listing a different name than the one supplied by the parents when the kid was enrolled in kindergarten, then the parents should know about it.

I suspect this would affect very few children (if I am interpreting it correctly). Which is why I find it so objectionable. Not mandating disclosure seems like it could create an atmosphere of us against them that aligns students and authority figures against the students’ parents. Because when is this even going to come up? Unless there is that secondary appeal of pulling a fast one on mom or dad.

Again, I may be misinterpreting it, but how can you mandate disclosing informal social transitioning? Bill wore lipstick today, I better call his dad? That doesn’t make sense. Who is to say the teacher noticed the lipstick?

Trans at school and cis at home ? How are the kids going to be able to deal with all that GENDER DYSPHORIA ?!

A parent would need to be pretty clueless if they didn't notice their child transitioning.

The fact that they don't notice shows how out of step they are with their own children. A kid in a fundie family, for example, would hide who they are at home. From fear. Authoritarian parents, any authoritarian, want to squash diversity, even among their own kind. They want to force others to be something that is intrinsically against their nature. Square pegs in round holes, so to speak.

It's hard for some parents to accept their kids aren't who they'd like to mold them to be. Lucky those with perfect kids, they aren't shameful and embarrassing. Perfect kids are rare, but they come in all sexual persuasions, too.

Accept people as they are. Live and let live. Except for when they are authoritarian assholes, don't vote for them. Scary how so many have found their way to elected office.

What kind of monster thinks kids should be outed to their fundie parents? If it's wrong to out gay kids, it should be wrong to out trans kids, too

Shame on all the self-hating Log Cabinettes attacking this law

For kids, being trans is a cool fad. They'll soon tire of it.

R47, it's bad to out kids to their parents. Did it ever occur to you that kids might hide things from their parents?

This is such a winning issue for the Dems to get strongly behind I bet it could really turn those piss poor polls around.

R2 Your two cents is right because it’s common sense. Minor children do not fully have privacy. A parent is entitled to the happenings of that minor child because said parent is also responsible for the actions and behavior of that minor child within a reasonable scope. This is such a clear cut legal issue that also happens to just be a good ol fashion common sense. I can’t wait until this goes to the Supreme Court.

R2 I agree with you as well but my praise was actually intended for r1.

R3 It isn’t their responsibility. But that’s not how laws work. If a teacher makes this known even without intentional malice that teacher will be fired. This bill should not be passed. Because with the passing of this bill it makes it the teacher’s responsibility not only to not inform parents BUT ALSO to protect that fact of them knowing.

R14 That is a significant distinction. Dam you OP. Looks like another cunt I have to put on the can’t be trusted list.

When I was in high school everyone knows I practiced my warm ups in a cheerleaders uniform. Mom knew because I pranced around the house like Babs in Funny Girl.

R40 He's right. Thirty years ago these kids would have been goths. As long as they aren't getting shit chopped off or taking puberty blockers and hormones, it can be just a humiliating phase that their younger siblings can tease them about and threaten to tell their girlfriend or boyfriend in years to come. I would have a fucking field day with this if this were my sibling. "Remember when you told everyone to call you Aiden and wore a pronoun pin with xie/xer on it? Ha ha, you fucking tool!"

My sister just retired from many years of teaching elementary school. Oh, the stories I've heard over the years. She was a master reading teacher and musician in a culturally enriched classroom in a very diverse district. Salt of the earth and massively intelligent.

One issue that sometimes came up was, how do you tell the parents their kid is a raging asshole? You don't of course. Often those parents were the reason for the assholery. Fortunately those families were the exception, not the rule, but some years there were 2 or 3 in the classroom. Made for an exhausting year.