A win for trans youth in California and around the country comes after a state judge ruled that Chino Valley Unified School District must comply with the state law that protects trans youth from being forcefully outed in schools. In the court’s 50-page ruling, San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Michael Sachs determined Chino Valley’s policies were “discriminatory” based on prior case law. “The District could have adopted a policy which focused on the existing problems (bullying, mental health, psychological distress, any drastic behavior changes, etc.) instead of focusing on the protected group,” the ruling reads.
According to LGBTQ Nation, earlier this year California banned the forced outing of trans kids via Assembly Bill 1955, which is also known as the SAFETY Act. Sachs suggested that schools employ policies that encourage parents and school faculty to work together to find ways to support trans youth in academics. “There is no forced secrecy in this case,” said Sachs. “Parents are still free to have conversations with their child about gender identity; and parents have the right to observe a classroom, talk to a teacher, and review educational records.”
Though there are many states making attempts to create schools and public spaces unsafe for both trans youth and adults, many courts have been pushing back on discriminatory practices against LGBTQ+ people.
