Orange Unified School District in California became the sixth school district to pass a parental notification policy in the state.
The board voted Thursday night with four out of the seven board members approving the measure.
The new policy requires schools to notify parents if their child is requesting to be referred to as a different sex.
This is the sixth school district in California to adopt a parental notification policy regarding students requesting to identify as transgender following Murrieta Unified School District (MUSD), Chino Valley Unified School District’s (CVUSD), Anderson Union High School District (AVUHSD), Temecula Valley Unified School District (TVUSD), and Rocklin Unified School District (RUSD).
Protestors attended the board meeting citing the policy would harm LGBTQ-identifying students. Several protestors spoke during public comment identifying themselves as revolutionary communists.
"Even having the discussion about changing the words in this policy and trying to reach across the aisle with fascism is like just completely the wrong thing," one protestor said. "We are getting organized for a real revolution to get rid of this system."
The protestor added the group fought for a world where "LGBT people are actually treated and viewed as full human beings."
"Any kind of trying to negotiate with any of these fascists in the room, on the board, is illegitimate," the protestor continued, urging attendees to fight for the "humanity" of LGBT people to "overthrow this whole system that gave birth to white [and] male supremacy."
The protestor further called for a new constitution following a revolution that would "uphold the rights of LGBT people."
A second protestor who also self-identified as a revolutionary communist referred to America as a "Christian fundamentalist" nation.
Another speaker, who held an American flag and wore a shirt reading "LEAVE OUR KIDS ALONE," criticized the self-identified communists and said board members opposed to the policy were defending them.
In late August, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a lawsuit against CVUSD challenging their recently adopted policy.
“Every student has the right to learn and thrive in a school environment that promotes safety, privacy, and inclusivity – regardless of their gender identity,” said Bonta. “We’re in court challenging Chino Valley Unified’s forced outing policy for wrongfully and unconstitutionally discriminating against and violating the privacy rights of LGBTQ+ students."
"The forced outing policy wrongfully endangers the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of non-conforming students who lack an accepting environment in the classroom and at home," he continued. "Our message to Chino Valley Unified and all school districts in California is loud and clear: We will never stop fighting for the civil rights of LGBTQ+ students.”
