A proposed parental notification policy for gender identity changes in California did not qualify for the November election.
Proponents announced Tuesday that they did not collect enough signatures to place it on the ballot.
The big picture: The measure would have required schools in California to notify parents if their children want to change their gender identity.
- Supporters argued that the measure would provide necessary transparency for parents, while opponents expressed concerns about the potential risks for children in unsupportive family environments.
- Recent parental notification policies in certain California school districts have resulted in legal battles with the state.
- Proponents of the measure had sued the state Attorney General over biased language in the title and summary issued for the proposed ballot measure. Bonta titled it the “Restrict Rights of Transgender Youth” initiative.
- The campaign gathered approximately 400,000 signatures, falling short of the 546,651 required for qualification.
Go deeper: The proposal also aimed to prevent biological males from participating in female sports from 7th grade through college and would have banned transgender surgery for minors, with some exceptions.
- A Sacramento Superior Court judge sided with the Attorney General’s description of the measure, and proponents plan to appeal the ruling to potentially reopen the signature-gathering process.
What they’re saying: “While we are disappointed we didn’t meet the threshold to qualify for the ballot, we are encouraged by the amount of support from every sector of the state,” said campaign organizer Jonathan Zachreson in a statement.
