California AG Sues Chino Valley Unified School District : The California Attorney General, Rob Bonta, is filing a case against the Chino Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) to halt its policy on students disclosing their gender identity. The case argues that CVUSD’s policy violates privacy rights in the Constitution and California laws. Other central California school systems have done similar, criticized by Bonta.
“No matter their gender identity, every student deserves a safe, private, and welcoming school environment,” said Bonta. He repeatedly stated that the forced outing policy harms LGBTQ+ youth and jeopardizes their safety. Sonja Shaw, CVUSD president, called the case “government overreach” and said parents have a constitutional right to influence their children’s upbringing.
TVUSD and MVUSD both made similar rules. Hence, the case was filed. Staff must inform parents if a child identifies as transgender under all three rules. Due to these rules, Bonta criticized the school systems publicly. MVUSD passed policies 3 to 2. Thurmond asked the board to change.
Sonja Shaw, CVUSD president, told the lawsuit didn’t surprise her due to Sacramento’s “aggressive stance.” Shaw claimed Bonta and other lawmakers, including Governor Newsom and Superintendent Thurmond, used taxpayer funds to separate children from parents. Shaw vowed to defend our children.
Bonta began a civil rights review of CVUSD, examining the school’s policy and potential legal violations. He criticized all three school districts, saying, “It’s concerning that more districts are implementing policies that harm vulnerable LGBTQ+ students in California.”
Bonta’s lawsuit aims to protect LGBTQ+ children’s civil rights. “Our message to Chino Valley Unified and all CA school districts is clear: We’ll keep fighting for LGBTQ+ student rights,” Bonta said.
The legal fight reveals a conflict between parental rights and LGBTQ+ youth’s rights to privacy and fair treatment. President Shaw of the CVUSD believes parents have the right to raise their children and questions government interference. Bonta and advocates argue that CVUSD’s rules violate students’ rights to privacy and equal protection under the law, contrary to the Constitution.
This lawsuit highlights the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights in schools nationwide. With increasing cases of school districts targeting vulnerable students, the lawsuit may establish a precedent for future cases.
