Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond President | Official website of California Department of Education
Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond President | Official website of California Department of Education
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond celebrated the signing of AB 1955, also known as the Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth Act (SAFETY Act), into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. This legislation positions California as the first state to prohibit forced outing policies in schools.
The SAFETY Act was introduced by Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego) and co-authored by State Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman, along with several other legislators. The act prohibits any school board policy that mandates the disclosure of a student's LGBTQ+ identity without their consent unless required by state or federal law.
Thurmond has been vocal about his support for this legislation. "I am proud to work alongside our legislators who have courageously championed the privacy rights of our most vulnerable students," he said. "This is a major step forward for the rights of students and families."
The new law comes almost a year after Thurmond was removed from a school board meeting for opposing a proposed forced outing policy. According to Thurmond, such policies threaten students' safety both at school and at home.
The SAFETY Act aims to ensure that all students have access to safe and supportive learning environments regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. It also provides resources for parents and families to navigate conversations around gender and identity on their own terms.
A 2024 survey conducted by the Trevor Project revealed that 90% of LGBTQ+ young people reported their well-being had been negatively impacted by recent politics, with nearly half experiencing bullying within the past year. The SAFETY Act seeks to address these issues by protecting LGBTQ+ youth from bullying and harassment in schools.
Thurmond's efforts are part of broader initiatives to defend the rights of LGBTQ+ students. In 2019, he co-sponsored a bill encouraging teacher training on resources available for supporting LGBTQ+ students facing various challenges. Additionally, he sponsored SB 760 All-Gender Restrooms and AB 5 The Safe and Supportive Schools Act, which require K-12 schools in California to provide appropriate facilities and training for supporting LGBTQ+ pupils.
More information can be found on the CDE Supporting LGBTQ+ Students web page.
Alerts Sign-up