1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Vote no on the PROTECT Kids Act. This bill would strip transgender and gender-nonconforming students of basic dignity at school by requiring parental consent before a teacher can even use a student's preferred name or pronouns. For kids in unsupportive or abusive homes, that's not parental involvement — it's forced outing with real consequences. The research is clear: social support at school is a lifeline for transgender youth. This bill eliminates that lifeline while providing no exceptions for abusive households, no funding for schools to manage compliance, and no protection for students whose safety depends on a teacher simply respecting who they are. It also raises serious First Amendment and equal protection concerns — singling out gender identity for special restrictions applied to no other aspect of student expression. Schools should be safe places where every kid can learn. This bill makes them less safe for some of the most vulnerable students in the country. Vote no.