Conservative Supreme Court justices curb California's effort to shield transgender students from forced outing

"The court vacated a Ninth Circuit order that had blocked a district court ruling against California officials, including Attorney General Rob Bonta. The justices concluded that parents objecting on religious grounds are "likely to succeed on the merits" of their claims under the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause and the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause."

"The case centers on California guidance prohibiting school staff from telling parents if a student socially transitions at school, meaning they are adopting a different name or pronouns, without the student's consent. State officials say the policy shields students who may face rejection or harm at home. Opponents argue it unlawfully cuts parents out of consequential decisions about their children's mental health and upbringing."

"Assembly Bill 1955, signed into law in 2024, was designed to protect transgender and gender-nonconforming youth by prohibiting schools from requiring educators to disclose a student's gender identity or pronouns to parents without the student's consent. Critics have labeled it "forced outing.""

The Supreme Court vacated a Ninth Circuit order blocking a district court ruling against California officials in Mirabelli v. Bonta, allowing parents challenging the state's school gender identity policies to enforce restrictions on student confidentiality. The justices determined that parents objecting on religious grounds are likely to succeed on First Amendment Free Exercise Clause and Fourteenth Amendment Due Process Clause claims. The dispute centers on California guidance prohibiting school staff from informing parents if a student socially transitions at school without the student's consent. State officials maintain the policy protects students from potential rejection or harm at home, while opponents argue it unlawfully excludes parents from significant decisions regarding their children's mental health and upbringing. The policies stem from Assembly Bill 1955, enacted in 2024 to protect transgender and gender-nonconforming youth.

Read at Advocate.com