Category Archives: LGBTQ+

Newsom signs bill banning schools from notifying parents about student gender identity | dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Monday that prohibits mandating that teachers notify families about student gender identity changes, capping a year-long battle between conservative school boards concerned about “parental rights” and LGBTQ+ activists worried about vulnerable youth.

The new law shields teachers from retaliation for supporting transgender student rights and prohibits K-12 “forced disclosure” rules. 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.

Source: Newsom signs bill banning schools from notifying parents about student gender identity | State-Nation-World | dailyrepublic.com

SPI Celebrates Signing of AB 1955: The SAFETY Act – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

Posted on by

Following outcry from LGBTQ+ students and families whose local districts enacted “forced outing” policies over the past year, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today celebrated the signage of AB 1955: Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth Act (SAFETY Act) into law by Governor Newsom.

The signing of AB 1955, the SAFETY Act, comes nearly one year to the date after Superintendent Thurmond was forcibly removed from a school board meeting External link opens in new window or tab. after speaking during public comment to oppose a proposed forced outing policy that LGBTQ+ students and families had said would threaten students’ safety at school and at home.

Thurmond supported AB 1955 to ensure all students have access to safe and supportive learning environments regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. The SAFETY Act was introduced by Assemblymember Chris Ward External link opens in new window or tab. (D-San Diego) and co-authored by State Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman External link opens in new window or tab., Vice-Chair and Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus, along with co-authors and Assembly Members Al Muratsuchi External link opens in new window or tab., Sabrina Cervantes External link opens in new window or tab., Corey Jackson External link opens in new window or tab., Alex Lee External link opens in new window or tab., Evan Low External link opens in new window or tab., and Rick Chavez Zbur External link opens in new window or tab., and State Senators Toni Atkins External link opens in new window or tab., John Laird External link opens in new window or tab., Caroline Menjivar External link opens in new window or tab., Susan Rubio External link opens in new window or tab., Scott Wiener External link opens in new window or tab. and Steve Padilla External link opens in new window or tab.. Superintendent Thurmond supported the bill as part of efforts to push back against extremist attacks on the privacy rights of LGBTQ +students.

Source: SPI Celebrates Signing of AB 1955: The SAFETY Act – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

SPI Celebrates Passage of LGBTQ+ Legislation – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

Posted on by

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today applauded the passage of AB 1955: Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth Act (SAFETY Act) by the California Legislature to ensure all students have access to safe and supportive learning environments regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The bill, which was supported by Superintendent Thurmond, has gone to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature to become law.

AB 1955, The SAFETY Act, was introduced by Assemblymember Chris Ward External link opens in new window or tab. (D-San Diego) and co-authored by State Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman External link opens in new window or tab., Vice-Chair and Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus, along with co-authors and Assembly Members Al Muratsuchi External link opens in new window or tab., Sabrina Cervantes External link opens in new window or tab., Corey Jackson External link opens in new window or tab., Alex Lee External link opens in new window or tab., Evan Low External link opens in new window or tab., and Rick Chavez Zbur External link opens in new window or tab., and State Senators Toni Atkins External link opens in new window or tab., John Laird External link opens in new window or tab., Caroline Menjivar External link opens in new window or tab., Susan Rubio External link opens in new window or tab., Scott Wiener External link opens in new window or tab. and Steve Padilla External link opens in new window or tab.. The bill was supported by Superintendent Thurmond, who has actively worked to push back against extremist attacks on the privacy rights of students who are LGBTQ+.

Source: SPI Celebrates Passage of LGBTQ+ Legislation – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

Solano Pride issues statement on Carli flap – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

By Nick McConnell

The Solano Pride Center has issued a statement in the aftermath of Vacaville Mayor John Carli’s decision not to sign the city’s Pride proclamation, also expressing frustration with the City of Vacaville for a lack of communication surrounding a flag-raising ceremony for the pride flag.

“The Board of the Solano Pride Center shares our sadness that the Mayor of the City of Vacaville continues to use his position to give cover for the discrimination many in our community experience there,” the statement reads.

The organization’s board of directors outlined its frustration with the changes in language between the proposed proclamation and that of the city’s final product. The proclamation, authored by Carli and signed by Vice Mayor Greg Ritchie did not contain the word Pride, and did not mention the LGBTQ community until the final paragraph. The wording was similar to that of previous years, but the phrase “build and celebrate” was removed and replaced with “while building.”

Source: Solano Pride issues statement on Carli flap – The Vacaville Reporter

SPI Supports Safe, Supportive Learning Environment – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

Posted on by

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today joined Assemblymember Chris Ward External link opens in new window or tab. (D-San Diego) and Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman External link opens in new window or tab. (D-Stockton), Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, along with teachers, parents, and LGBTQ+ advocates, to announce Assembly Bill (AB) 1955, the Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth (SAFETY) Act, to ensure all students have a safe and supportive environment to learn regardless of gender identity.

If signed into law, the SAFETY Act would prohibit school districts from implementing forced outing policies, provide resources for parents and students to navigate conversations around gender and identity on their own terms, and ensure teachers or school staff are not retaliated against for refusing to forcibly out a student.

“All of our students deserve to be safe at school in order to learn and thrive,” Thurmond said. “AB 1955 protects our LGBTQ+ youth from increased risk of bullying and harassment, and it affirms families’ ability to handle family matters at home without school employees being forced to intervene. The SAFETY Act will allow our teachers to focus on teaching academic skills—not on policing gender identity.”

Source: SPI Supports Safe, Supportive Learning Environment – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)