Huntington Beach, a city known for its surf culture on California’s Pacific coast, could emerge as a stronghold for parental rights following a pro-transgender law passed in California. Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark of Huntington Beach plans to make the town a ‘Parents’ Right to Know’ city in response to AB 1955, an anti-parent law that Governor Gavin Newsom enacted in July.
The new law prevents school staff from notifying parents if their children decide to socially transition at school. This includes children’s wishes to use different names, pronouns, or single-gender spaces. Given its unconstitutional nature, Van Der Mark aims to make it simpler for parents and schools to legally challenge this law. If implemented, the law will take effect from the first day of 2025.
Van Der Mark believes California is one of the most dangerous states to raise children. By proposing this ordinance, she hopes to send a clear message to Newsom and the Democratic-leaning California State Legislature that parental rights will be respected in Huntington Beach. Her initiative also intends to support any parents who want to fight for their constitutional rights to raise their children according to their personal morals and values.