Gov. Newsom signs law to protect LGBTQ+ students from ‘forced outing’

While several states across the country have passed laws requiring schools to notify parents if their children are transgender, California has gone in the opposite direction.

On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the SAFETY Act, which prohibits school districts from enacting “forced outing" policies for LGBTQ+ students.

Tony Hoang, executive director of Equality California, praised the state for becoming the first in the nation to ensure these protections.

“We believe that LGBTQ+ students and their families deserve to decide on their own terms when and how to have conversations about coming out,” Hoang told KNX News.

He said that while parents should be informed about their kids’ lives, involving school officials and violating students’ privacy isn’t the way to do it.

“Policies that forcibly out a student without their consent removes the opportunities for LGBTQ+ youth to build up the trust and confidence to have these important conversations when they’re ready and in ways that strengthen the relationship between a parent and a child,” Hoang said.

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Hoang noted that nearly a dozen school districts in California have passed forced outing policies that the new law will override.

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