Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a motion seeking permanent injunction and declaratory relief against the Chino Valley Unified School District's forced outing policy. The motion aims to prevent the district from reinstating or implementing the discriminatory policy that was detrimental to transgender and gender-nonconforming students.

Attorney General Bonta emphasized the importance of protecting students' safety and well-being, stating, "Chino Valley Unified has an obligation to protect the safety and well-being of the students it is charged to serve, especially our most vulnerable student communities who are susceptible to violence and harassment."

The forced outing policy required schools to disclose information about students requesting to use a different name or pronoun, which could result in harm to the students. Despite the policy being rescinded in March 2024, the district's Board continues to stand by it, prompting the Attorney General to seek a permanent injunction to safeguard students' civil rights.

Bonta highlighted the need for final adjudication to ensure the protection of transgender and gender-nonconforming students from similar policies in the future. The motion seeks to declare that the forced outing policy violated students' constitutional and statutory rights and urges the Court to issue a final judgment to prevent the district from re-enacting the discriminatory policy.

The Attorney General also pointed out the discriminatory motivations behind the policy, citing statements made by board members during its passage that stigmatized transgender and gender-nonconforming students. The motion asserts that the policy aimed to create prejudice and discrimination without any compelling reason.

Research shows the importance of supporting transgender students in making choices about disclosing their gender identity, as they face high levels of harassment and mistreatment when not in supportive environments. Statistics reveal the challenges faced by transgender youth, with many experiencing violence, homelessness, and discrimination.

Attorney General Bonta's motion seeks to protect the legal rights, safety, and mental health of children in California schools, emphasizing the need to create inclusive environments that promote safety, privacy, and inclusivity for all students.