California parents oust school board members who enacted anti-LGBTQ+ policy

Parents in Southern California have voted to remove two conservative school board members after they spearheaded a policy that forcibly outs transgender students to their guardians.

Members of the Orange Unified School District board voted 4-0 to enact the policy in September. It was passed at 11:30 p.m., after the three opposed members walked out and withheld their votes.

The policy states that parents must be notified when a student seeks “to be identified as a gender other than the student’s biological sex or gender listed on the student’s birth certificate or any other official records.” This includes names, nicknames, and pronouns, and applies even if the student hasn’t taken action but has discussed the matter with a counselor.

Board President Rick Ledesma said there was a moral obligation to establish the policy, as otherwise students could “be told to keep a secret, and because supposedly it comes down from the state.”

Now Ledesma and another member who led the effort to enact the policy, Madison Miner, have been removed from their seats in a recall vote. Both lost their elections last week by a margin of approximately seven percentage points, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Darshan Smaaladen, a local parent who led the recall effort, told the outlet that the community specifically aimed to demonstrate their opposition to anti-LGBTQ+ policies with their votes.

Trending stories

'9-1-1' star Ryan Guzman spills some tea on fans shipping Eddie & Buck

Discover why chic Costa Navarino is Europe's luxury getaway

Pride journey Walla Walla: An LGBTQ+ wine, food, and adventure getaway

Kori King is exactly that girl you thought she was

All 6 rogue Mississippi cops got long prison sentences in 'Goon Squad' torture of 2 Black men

Here's why this Mediterranean Virgin Voyages cruise belongs on your bucket list

Arrietty dishes on that roast sabotage shocker: 'Oh, it felt great'

Lexi Love goes public with HIV status after Trump wipes resources from federal website

Exclusive: Mike Maimone honors late husband Howard Bragman in new single “On My Way”

Celebrating Black History Month with our annual African American issue

Trump's orders prompt CDC to erase HIV resources

SFAF's Dr. Tyler TerMeer says he'll continue to fight for health care for all

Karla Sofía Gascón apologizes 'to all I have offended' in latest post

How climate disasters hurt mental health in young people

Orville Peck and The Wiggles are 'Friends of Dorothy' in new song

Luigi Mangione's rumored 20 sex tapes have the internet going feral

France becomes world’s first country to enshrine abortion rights in constitution

Watch Gabby Windey's viral chainsaw takedown of 'toddler' Elon Musk

Joe Biden has tied the record for most LGBTQ+ judges confirmed in federal courts

Wisconsin's oldest gay bar, co-owned by Trixie Mattel, has now closed

Plus nominated for 2025 GLAAD Media Award alongside industry giants like Vogue, People, and Variety

Luxury and community in South of France at Cinq & Sept

MAGA Elon Musk's bizarre 'Hitler' haircut is so bad the internet can't stop roasting him

Jennifer Tilly says there's 'fireworks' at the 'RHOBH' season 14 reunion

Elon Musk uses burner accounts on X, doesn’t fact-check: report

• 0
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8

“We did this recall knowing everyone was watching,” he said. “These school board takeovers are part of a national trend. ... But for us it wasn’t about politics. It was about taking politics and personal agendas out of the school board and making students the first priority.”

At the initial meeting in September, the board was overwhelmed by crowds who showed up to either protest or support the policy. However, the majority of the attendees voicing support did not have children in the district's schools, and most were not residents of the area, according to the Times.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has since challenged the forced outing policy in court, alongside other anti-LGBTQ+ rules from the district. One such measure banned flying flags outside schools other than the United States or California flag, which has largely been used to restrict the Pride flag.

The OUSD board will now decide whether to hold a special election to fill the vacant seats or wait until the November general. Kris Erickson, one of members who walked out during the September vote, added that "the past 14 months have been extremely challenging and chaotic" due to the manufactured culture war, but that the board is looking to get back to work on the issues that will actually benefit families in the district.

“Rather than engaging in civil and thorough policy discussions about issues that profoundly affect our students, families and district, it has been a year of dramatic gestures and political theater," he said. "It has been disappointing and frustrating to see our OUSD parents and teachers be demonized, ridiculed and, ultimately, ignored. I look forward to improving transparency, civility and fiscal responsibility.”