Judge rules that schools cannot forcibly out trans kids to their parents
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/judge-rules-that-schools-cannot-forcibly-out-trans-kids-to-their-parents/ar-AA1qtnqT?ocid=windirect&cvid=5096d132b01a48c6ddb3c0ba51126ed7&ei=48
Story by Mira Lazine (12 Sep 2024)
A California judge has ruled that Chino Valley Unified School District cannot continue enforcing its forced outing policy for transgender youth. This means that it has to comply with state law, which protects trans youth from forced outing policies.
"The Court has already determined [the school district's policies] are discriminatory on their face and subject to strict scrutiny," San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Michael Sachs wrote in his 50-page ruling. "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 District could have also similarly adopted a gender-neutral policy that requires disclosure for participation in any type of extracurricular activity or athletic program while addressing concerns related to the participation (e.g.. the size of the child) instead of focusing on the individual's gender or gender expression," Sachs added.
Sachs argued that the specific policies enacted by Chino Valley Unified that out trans youth are inherently discriminatory. His argument drew from prior case law to determine how to best enforce California's recently enacted law forbidding such outings. Additionally, he enshrined protections for adults who are attending the school district in their protections from forced outing.