By The Vanguard Staff
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A federal district court here has dismissed a case challenging the state’s policy of allowing students to be their “authentic selves at school without fear of being outed at school or at home,” according to a statement by the ACLU.
The ACLU, noting California school districts face pushback for supporting trans and other LGBTQ+ students, praised the ruling issued Tuesday.
U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez ruled, said the ACLU, “parents do not have a constitutional right to force schools to out students who use different names and pronouns at school than those they were assigned at birth. The judge also made clear that schools have an interest in protecting students’ privacy and ensuring they aren’t bullied or harassed.”
Jennifer Chou, staff attorney at the ACLU of Northern California said, “We are pleased that the court has affirmed that in California, trans and nonbinary students get to decide on their own terms when and how to have conversations about gender and identity at school and at home.”
Chou added, “Many California parents support their children for who they are and favor policies that allow students to be themselves on campus and give schools the flexibility to help students work towards family acceptance when needed.
“Young people thrive when they have parental support and feel safe sharing their full identities at home, but it can be harmful to force them to do so before they’re ready. Allowing students to be their authentic selves saves lives; it also improves their well-being, family trust, and academic outcomes.”
Bigots lose in court.
“Young people thrive when they have parental support and feel safe sharing their full identities at home, but it can be harmful to force them to do so before they’re ready. Allowing students to be their authentic selves saves lives; it also improves their well-being, family trust, and academic outcomes.”
Truer words have never been spoken. I am so happy that they have dismissed the case. This is such a big win for those who are part of the LGBT+ community. Schools are supposed to protect us, not put us in danger by outing us before we’re ready or put us in harms way. Let’s hope to a future where we can feel safe everywhere. Everyone deserves that right.
Well spoken again Eleanora.