The California Attorney General, Rob Bonta, has filed a lawsuit against the Chino Valley Unified School District over its new policy requiring parents to be notified when a child expresses a desire to be recognized by a different gender identity or pronoun. The policy, which was adopted in a 4-1 vote by the school district in July, also mandates notification if a student wishes to use facilities or participate in activities that do not align with their sex listed on official records.

Bonta argues that the policy infringes on the civil rights of LGBTQ students and "wrongfully endangers" their well-being by creating a hostile environment both in the classroom and at home. The lawsuit comes at a time when several states have been introducing bills to limit the rights of LGBTQ individuals in various domains of their lives.

Research has shown that inclusive policies that protect and affirm transgender youth's identities are associated with positive mental health and academic outcomes. On the other hand, transgender youth are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and thoughts of suicide due to discrimination and stigma.

The Chino Valley school board held public hearings on the policy during the summer, attracting protesters from both sides of the issue. The lawsuit filed by the California Attorney General is the first of its kind but follows the adoption of similar parental disclosure policies in other conservative areas of the state.