A federal judge has permanently blocked California schools from concealing students' gender identities from their parents, delivering a decisive ruling in a class-action lawsuit filed by teachers and parents.
The injunction, issued Monday by U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez, challenges state policies that previously required school staff to withhold information about students' gender incongruence.
The lawsuit, filed in April 2023 by teachers Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori West of the Escondido Union School District, expanded to include all California parents, teachers and school districts.
The plaintiffs argued that California's "Parental Exclusion Policies" forced educators to use students' sex-incongruent names and pronouns at school while reverting to legal names and biological pronouns when communicating with families.
The teachers contended this violated their moral and religious beliefs.
"Today's incredible victory finally, and permanently, ends California's dangerous and unconstitutional regime of gender secrecy policies in schools," said Paul M. Jonna, special counsel for the Thomas More Society, according to The Daily Caller. "The Court's comprehensive ruling -- granting summary judgment on all claims -- protects all California parents, students, and teachers, and it restores sanity and common sense."
Judge Benitez's 52-page ruling addressed whether parents have a constitutional right under the Fourteenth Amendment to access information about their child's gender identity and whether teachers have free exercise and free speech rights to provide accurate information.
In each case, the judge sided with parents and educators, affirming both parental authority and teacher protections, the Washington Times reports.
The decision comes shortly after Gov. Gavin Newsom made headlines earlier this month with the remark, "I want to see trans kids," which drew criticism from parents, advocacy groups and conservative commentators concerned about aggressive gender-transition policies and parental rights.
Newsom has consistently supported policies allowing students to request name and pronoun changes, access opposite-sex facilities and participate in sports consistent with their gender identity.
Critics argue these measures reduce parental involvement and complicate teachers' roles.
Judge Benitez emphasized that hiding a student's gender incongruence may prevent families from seeking mental health support or guidance.
"They harm the child who needs parental guidance and possibly mental health intervention," he wrote.
The ruling also protects teachers compelled by conscience, moral belief, or religious faith from being forced to conceal information.
Mirabelli and West said they were "profoundly grateful for today's ruling," describing it as a victory for honesty and transparency.
"We loved our jobs, our students, and the school communities we served," they said. "But we were forced into an impossible position when school officials demanded that we lie to parents -- violating not only our faith, but also the trust that must exist between teachers and families."
Supporters hailed the decision as a landmark win for parental rights.
Greg Burt, vice president of the California Family Council, said, "Children do not belong to the government, parents have the right to know what's happening with their own kids, and teachers should never be forced to lie or stay silent to keep their jobs."
State officials, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, filed an application to stay the injunction pending appeal to the Ninth Circuit, arguing that disclosure of students' "trans" status could cause "severe public harms" and discourage reporting of bullying or mental health concerns.
Judge Benitez, a Bush appointee, wrote that while the state's intent to protect students is laudable, it cannot override parents' constitutional rights.
California's education policymakers may be experts on primary and secondary education but they would not receive top grades as students of Constitutional Law," the opinion reads.
The case is considered a landmark ruling with potential nationwide implications for school gender identity policies affecting minors, and it marks a significant rebuke to Newsom's approach prioritizing student autonomy over parental involvement.