The Huntington Beach City Council in California last week passed an ordinance making the city a "Parents Right to Know City" – a designation that bans educators in the city from withholding information from parents about their children's "sexual orientation, gender ideology, or gender expression."
The ordinance may contradict California State Assembly Bill 1955, according to The Orange County Tribune. That bill, slated to become effective January 1, 2025, would prohibit school districts from enacting policies that allow school employees to withhold information from parents regarding their child's sexual orientation, gender ideology, or gender expression.
Liberty Justice Center, which is based in Texas, has filed a lawsuit concerning AB 1955 on behalf of California's Chino Valley Unified School District and several parents. But even though it isn't representing Huntington Beach, the legal group has issued a statement of support for the city council's ordinance.
Emily Rae, senior counsel for Liberty Justice, states that it's obvious the state is overstepping its authority when it comes to parental rights.
"They're acting like they're the parents," she tells AFN. "Parents have a constitutional right to direct the upbringing and education of their children. They have the right to make decisions for their children while they're still minors – and the state seems to have forgotten that."
According to Rae, this isn't a new issue – and is controversial enough that it could go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"These court cases have been ongoing for several years now in state and federal courts across the country," the attorney explains. "I think this is something that a lot of people really care about and … ultimately that the Supreme Court is going to need to speak on."
None of the three public school districts served by the city – Huntington Beach City School District, Ocean View School District, and Huntington Beach Union High School District – are subject to the city government's jurisdiction.
