Landmark Protections

Gov. Jerry Brown Signs Law Offering New Rights to CA Transgender Students

California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law landmark legislation that allows transgender students to participate in school programs, including sports, based on their gender identity. The measure, which passed the state legislature almost entirely on the basis of support from Democrats, removes barriers that transgender students previously experienced to any sex-segregated school program or facility.

“While many California schoolchildren are already protected by policies in some of our biggest school districts, other districts don’t seem to understand that transgender students should have equal access to all programs and facilities,” Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, the bill’s author, said.

Under the new law, transgender students can participate in sports and other activities on the basis of the gender by which they identify. In addition, transgender students will be able to use locker rooms and restrooms on the same basis.

Opponents of the measure complained that it robs parents of their choice and gasped at the idea of bathrooms not being biologically segregated (as if they are in every home in the nation). However, supporters of the bill said that a similar policy in place in the Los Angeles  School District has been successful for eight years.

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