Perhaps it’s time to build a wall. Not to keep people out of California, but to keep some of California’s policies from spreading across America.
California’s AB 1955, signed into law in 2024, prohibits school districts from adopting policies that require employees to disclose a student’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to parents without the student’s consent, subject to specified exceptions. In practical terms, a school district cannot require staff to notify parents simply because a student requests a different gender identity, name, or pronouns at school.
That policy has become part of a much larger constitutional debate over parental rights.
In March 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court intervened in Mirabelli v. Bonta, a case challenging California policies under which school employees generally must obtain a child’s consent before disclosing the child’s gender identity to parents. The Court concluded that the parent plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their parental-rights claim and lifted the Ninth Circuit’s stay of the injunction as to those parents. Importantly, this was not a final decision invalidating all of AB 1955 statewide.
For Christians, I believe the underlying issue transcends partisan politics. Parents have a God-given responsibility for the upbringing, formation, and well-being of their children. Government and schools should support parents in fulfilling that responsibility, not gradually replace them.
Whatever your politics, this is a question worth asking:
Who should have primary responsibility for raising a child: the parents or the government?
California’s approach under Governor Gavin Newsom provides an important record for voters to examine. We should understand what candidates and elected officials actually support, distinguish facts from political rhetoric, and then make informed decisions.
Know the policies. Examine the record.
Vote your faith. Vote policy, not personality.
Sources
U.S. Supreme Court — Mirabelli v. Bonta, March 2, 2026
U.S. Supreme Court — Mirabelli docket and orders
