The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, March 2, temporarily blocked California from enforcing policies that generally prevent public-school teachers from disclosing a student's transgender status to parents, siding with a group of religious parents challenging the rules.
In an unsigned order, the court's conservative majority granted an emergency request filed by Christian parents and teachers who argued that the state's policies required schools to conceal students' gender identity from parents and facilitate social transitions, even over parental objections. The justices said the parents were likely to succeed in their legal challenge and ruled that the policies could not remain in effect while litigation continues.
The parents have "sincere religious beliefs about sex and gender, and they feel a religious obligation to raise their children in accordance with those beliefs," the majority wrote. The order added that California's policies "violate those beliefs" and burden the parents' religious rights.
The majority further said that beyond religious objections, parents more broadly have a constitutional right "not to be shut out of participation in decisions regarding their children's mental health," suggesting the state's approach may infringe on parents' authority to direct the upbringing of their children.
The court’s three liberal justices dissented. Justice Elena Kagan criticized the majority for acting hastily on an emergency basis without full briefing or oral argument, and before a federal appeals court had resolved the case. In a concurring opinion, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, joined by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, rejected claims that the court had acted precipitously. They said the temporary order reflects the potential harm of excluding parents from "participating in consequential decisions about their children's health and well-being."
According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, transgender surgeries on minors, often including hormone therapy and genital reassignment, are highly controversial and have been linked to significant physical and psychological risks, including infertility, sexual dysfunction and long-term health complications.
As a response, the Thomas More Society described the ruling as "the most significant parental rights decision in a generation." Peter Breen of the Thomas More Society, who is assisting in representing the parents, said that the court's "landmark decision will safeguard parents' rights to raise their children according to their beliefs for years to come."
California Family Council (CFC), a right-of-center advocacy group focused on religious liberty and pro-family policies, also celebrated the decision. CFC wrote that the court ruling decisively affirms their longstanding argument: parents have a fundamental right to be informed about and involved in decisions affecting their child's mental, emotional and physical well-being.
"Today's Supreme Court decision is a monumental victory for parents, teachers and the Constitution. The Ninth Circuit was wrong to block protections for families while this case moves forward. The Supreme Court rightly recognized that parents have a fundamental right to know what is happening to their children at school and to direct their upbringing without government interference.
"California's policy of hiding a child's gender transition from mom and dad was not only unconstitutional, but it was also dangerous. No school should ever place ideology above a child's well-being or a parent's God-given authority. This decision sends a powerful message: the Constitution still protects families, and California schools are not above the law," Greg Burt, Vice President of CFC, said.
Listen to Health Ranger Mike Adams explaining how transgender surgeries for teenagers are tantamount to medical child abuse.
This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.
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