In a disturbing decision, The Murrieta Valley school board in southwestern California voted to disclose the identities of transgender and gender-non-conforming students to their parents.
The proposal was approved on 10 August with a three-to-two vote, even after the district’s attorney warned that the policy might place them in a precarious legal position.
The new policy – approved on 10 August with a three-to-two vote, was championed by the board’s president, Paul F. Diffley III, and clerk, Nicolas Pardue.
Despite the district’s attorney’s warning that the policy may place the school board in a precarious legal position, the mandates will now see school administrators informing parents if students opt for a name, pronouns, or restroom facilities that diverge from their birth-assigned gender.
This decision mirrors a recent policy enacted by the Chino Valley Unified School District in California.
The board’s decision was met with mixed reactions, with the public deeply divided during the meeting. Proponents of the policy held banners asserting the importance of “protecting family bonds,” while opponents displayed their disagreement by donning rainbow-coloured attire.
Marinna de Brauwere, a mother of five in the school district, voiced her concerns to the Los Angeles Times, emphasising that transgender identity isn’t a choice. She stated that schools might be the only affirming environment for some transgender students.
Defending the policy, Diffley mentioned in a pre-meeting interview, “Parents deserve complete transparency about matters affecting their child’s mental and physical well-being during school hours. It’s essential for parents to receive comprehensive information to engage in meaningful dialogues with their children.”
However, the policy’s introduction hasn’t gone unnoticed. Before the meeting, Tony Thurmond, California’s state superintendent of public instruction, advised the board to reconsider. He highlighted the potential dangers it poses to LGBTQ+ students, cautioning that revealing a student’s gender identity prematurely might subject them to harm or mistreatment at home.
The California Department of Education also voiced concerns, stating that schools are responsible for safeguarding all students, particularly transgender students. They emphasised the students’ legal right to privacy concerning their gender identity under the California Constitution.
