California lawmakers have passed a bill that would bar school districts from notifying parents if their child uses different pronouns or identifies as a gender different from what’s on school records. The bill, AB 1955, is currently in the enrollment process and awaits Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature. The legislation has sparked controversy, with supporters arguing it protects students’ privacy and opponents claiming it violates parental rights.
Two University of New Brunswick education professors believe Premier Blaine Higgs’ recent ban on a sexual health presentation in high schools is primarily driven by political aspirations. They suggest Higgs is exploiting the issue to mobilize support for his expected platform emphasizing “parental rights” in the upcoming provincial election. Critics argue that Higgs is intentionally inciting a “culture war” to divert attention from pressing concerns such as healthcare and housing.
The Supreme Court has declined to hear a case involving Maryland parents attempting to sue a school district for its policies that reinforce gender transition of students without their parents’ consent. The case centered on whether the parents have the proper standing to file the suit. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the parents lacked standing because they did not allege that their children have gender support plans, are transgender, or are even struggling with issues of gender identity. Legal experts criticize the ruling, arguing that it fails to protect parental rights and encourages policies that keep gender transitions secret from parents.
Numerous red states are challenging the Biden administration’s Title IX changes that redefine sex and expand the definition of sex discrimination to include gender identity. Conservative lawmakers argue that these changes gut parental rights, put children at risk, and undermine the rule of law. The states filing suit include Missouri, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Montana, Tennessee, West Virginia, Louisiana, Indiana, South Carolina, Idaho, Iowa, Arkansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Oklahoma.
The Colorado Supreme Court has ruled in favor of allowing a local group to collect signatures for a ballot initiative that would require public school officials to notify parents if their child is experiencing gender incongruence. Supporters of the measure believe it is necessary to protect the rights of parents to be involved in their children’s education, while opponents argue that it could potentially out transgender students to their parents against their will. The exact text of the ballot measure states that “any public school representative who obtains information that a child enrolled in their public school is experiencing gender incongruence shall notify the child’s parents within 48 hours of receiving such information.”
A mother has lodged a complaint against a trampoline park after she was allegedly asked to leave for ‘double bouncing’ her autistic son. Esther Beckett, whose son cannot bounce himself and risks self-harm if not assisted, claims staff at Flip Out in Stoke approached her just 10 minutes into her session and asked her to stop. Despite explaining her son’s condition and previous visits where double bouncing was allowed in specialized sessions, she was told to stop and eventually banned from the premises. Flip Out has since acknowledged the complaint and is investigating.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has acknowledged that his proposal for universal school vouchers will not pass this legislative session, due to divisions within the Republican-dominated General Assembly. Despite initial support, rural GOP lawmakers expressed concerns over losing limited public school funding in their districts, leading to a stalemate. Governor Lee vowed to renew the school voucher discussions during the next legislative session, but it remains uncertain whether it will succeed given upcoming retirements and election challenges faced by some members.
