California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, on Monday signed the state’s first law aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ students from having their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression disclosed by their schools without their consent.
The SAFETY Act prohibits schools from implementing policies that force students out of school and protects teachers and other school employees from retaliation if they refuse to comply with such policies.
According to the California LGBTQ Caucus, the new law makes California the first state to ban outing policies.
San Diego Democrat Chris Ward, who first introduced the bill in the California Assembly, said in a statement Monday that the SAFETY Act would combat politically motivated attacks against queer and transgender students that have been on the rise across the country.
“While some school districts have adopted policies that force students to come out, the SAFETY Act ensures that discussions about gender identity remain a private matter within the family,” Ward said. “As a parent, I urge all parents to talk to their children, listen to them, and love them unconditionally for who they are.”
The law comes nearly a year after State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said he was forced out of a local school board meeting after opposing his school district’s proposed outing policy, which was ultimately blocked in court.
“Teachers can now focus on teaching students the important academic skills they need to be successful, rather than policing children’s gender identity,” Thurmond said in a statement Monday.
Eight states, including Idaho and North Dakota, have made it legal to out transgender youth in schools, while five other states, including Florida and Kentucky, encourage the practice but don’t require it, according to the Movement Advancement Project, a progressive think tank.
Zachary Schermel covers education and breaking news USA TODAY. To contact him via email: zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow @ZachSchermele on X..
