Fact vs. Fiction: California Bill AB 1955 and Parental Notification of Gender Identity Changes

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Claim by Libs of TikTok: California bill AB 1955 bans schools and teachers from notifying parents if their child modifies their gender identity.

Reasoning: The claim, originating from a post by the @LibsofTikTok account on X (formerly Twitter), asserts that the California Senate has prohibited schools from informing parents about their child’s gender identity changes. This claim is inaccurate. According to the bill’s co-author and its text, AB 1955 prevents teachers from being compelled to notify parents of a child’s gender identity or pronoun changes without the child’s consent. Teachers can inform parents if the child permits. The bill aims to protect queer youth from forced outing, which can lead to serious harm. It does not entirely ban communication between teachers and parents regarding a child’s gender identity but restricts mandated disclosure.

Fact or Fiction? Fiction. The bill does not ban schools and teachers from notifying parents; it prevents compulsory notification without the student’s consent.