A group of parents in California are fighting against Democratic lawmakers and the Newsom Administration over a proposed ballot measure that would require schools to notify parents if a child is changing their gender, protect female sports from transgender athletes, and mandate students to use facility consistent with their birth gender. Despite majority support from Californian voters, the state legislature, controlled by Democrats, refused to hear the bill, and State Attorney General Rob Bonta changed the initiative’s title to a negative and misleading one, making it difficult to gather signatures or raise money for the cause. The Liberty Justice Center has filed a lawsuit against Bonta, arguing that his bias is interfering with the democratic process and preventing the initiative from having a fair chance at the ballot.
The required 100-word summary of the initiative was changed by Bonta, making it more difficult for the initiative to succeed. The Attorney General is required to provide an unbiased statement of the purpose of the measure, but supporters argue that the wording changes have created prejudice against the initiative. A judge tentatively denied the parents’ lawsuit, citing statutes that give the Attorney General considerable latitude in preparing a title and summary, and only under clear and convincing proof can a judge step in to make changes. The group of parents cited research indicating that voters typically only read an initiative’s title and summary, and changing words like “protect” to “require” or “prohibit” can doom a measure at the ballot box.
The parent activist group is accusing Bonta of attempting to bypass California’s ability to evaluate the issue neutrally by providing a biased summary that is unlikely to garner support. Bonta, who is also a potential gubernatorial candidate, is facing conflict-of-interest accusations as he is already suing to stop the Chino Valley School District from adopting a similar policy. Bonta’s office defended their title and summary for the measure, stating that it is the responsibility of the Attorney General’s office to issue official titles and summaries for proposed initiatives. Judge Acquisto, who previously served as legal counsel for Governor Jerry Brown, heard arguments challenging his ruling and the parents’ group plans to appeal, hoping to get the initiative on the 2026 ballot.
The fight over the proposed ballot measure in California highlights the rift between parents and Democratic lawmakers on issues related to gender and sports. Despite the majority support for the initiative from Californian voters, the Democratic-controlled legislature has refused to hear the bill, and the Attorney General’s office has been accused of bias in preparing the title and summary for the measure. The parents’ group, supported by the Liberty Justice Center, is fighting to ensure that the initiative receives a fair chance at the ballot, arguing that the wording changes have created prejudice against the measure. The group plans to continue their legal battle in hopes of getting the initiative on the 2026 ballot and allowing voters to decide on the contentious issues of gender, sports, and school facilities.
The parents’ fight against the Democratic lawmakers and the Newsom Administration showcases the challenges faced by initiatives and proposed laws in a politically charged environment. The accusations of bias and conflict of interest against the Attorney General highlight the complexities of the legal and political processes involved in shaping public policy. As the legal battle continues, the parents’ group remains determined to push forward with their initiative, arguing that it is essential to protect the rights and interests of Californian families and students. The outcome of this court fight and the fate of the proposed ballot measure will have far-reaching implications for the ongoing debate over gender, sports, and school policies in California.
