Coalition urges 9th Circuit to uphold parental rights in California case

A coalition consisting of 17 states, various lawmakers, and advocacy organizations has filed 12 friend-of-the-court briefs with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The group is urging the court to uphold the constitutional rights of parents and teachers to be informed about their children, specifically regarding public school gender policies.

The legal action is part of the case Mirabelli v. Bonta, which challenges California’s “Parental Exclusion Policies.” Previously, U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez issued a permanent injunction against these policies, ruling that schools cannot socially transition students’ gender while withholding that information from parents. Although the 9th Circuit stayed that injunction, the U.S. Supreme Court later vacated the stay in a 6-3 decision.

California continues to appeal the matter, maintaining that parents do not have a right to know about a child’s gender identity unless they specifically request the information. The Thomas More Society, acting as counsel for the parents and teachers, argues that California is attempting to override previous Supreme Court guidance.