California Tries to Trample Parental Rights (Again)

Even in a state as blue as California, many parents have grown frustrated and alarmed by the transgender policies being put in place at their children’s schools. One of the biggest problems is a recurring situation where teachers and administrators are secretly indoctrinating children into trans ideology and hiding that information from parents and guardians. With that in mind, a group of concerned Californians began working on a ballot initiative that would require schools to notify parents if their child changed their gender identification, name, or preferred pronouns. The group had wanted to give the measure a name along the lines of “Protect Kids of California Act” and begin collecting signatures. But when the measure was submitted to the State Attorney General, he overrode them and said the signatures must be collected identifying the measure as one that “Restricts the Rights of Transgender Youth.” The state is clearly trying to torpedo the measure before it gets off the ground and the question is now heading for the courts. (LA Times)

Supporters of a proposed November ballot initiative wanted the all-important title of their measure to reflect their beliefs, a name like “Protect Kids of California Act.” But Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta saw things differently when his office chose the name signature gatherers must use: “Restricts Rights of Transgender Youth.”

Among its provisions, the initiative in question — which has not yet qualified for the ballot — would require schools to notify parents if a child changed gender identification unofficially or in school records, such as a roll sheet.

With a May 28 deadline to submit signatures — and 25% of the way to the goal — initiative backers must use the state’s description, which they say is hindering their effort. They have sued the state, claiming the initiative was “branded with a misleading, false, and prejudicial title” A hearing is set for April 19.

It’s first worth noting that the ballot measure goes much further than simply addressing parental notification in public schools. The proposal would ban children‘s medical treatment or surgery to address gender dysphoria. It would ban students born as males from participating in girls’ sports all the way through college and change the education code that currently allows all students to participate in school sports “irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records.” It sounds like a list of laws currently being passed in a number of red states.

You might be wondering where the State Attorney General derives the authority to change the title that appears on ballot signature sheets. That’s generally not an issue, but California has some rather peculiar rules in place, to say the least. When a dispute arises over the name or description of a ballot measure, state law dictates that the Attorney General shall “affix a neutral title.” Clearly, “neutral” is in the eye of the beholder because the description Rob Bonta is trying to force through is entirely one-sided in favor of the trans agenda. Bonta is already leading a lawsuit against another district where the school board mandated parental notification.

Supporters of the ballot measure have thus far gathered 25% of the signatures that are required. They admit that the label “Restricts Rights of Transgender Youth” is hindering their signature-gathering efforts, but they remain confident that they will be able to collect enough by the May 28 deadline. But getting a measure like this on the ballot and attracting enough votes to put a law on the books are very different things. This is still California, after all. There are some more conservative, red districts in the eastern part of the state, particularly in rural areas. But the major cities and the districts along the coast remain bright blue for the most part. Supporters of the measure are hoping that the idea of maintaining control of parental rights is an issue that will resonate beyond typical ideological boundaries, and perhaps that is possible in some cases. But turning over control of children’s lives and destinies to the state is a major tenant of socialist ideals. It would be surprising indeed to see a measure like this attract a majority at the polls in modern California.