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California Parental Rights Group Responds to AB 1955 Legislation
Amy Bohn serves as the president and co-founder of PERK (Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids), a California-based organization dedicated to advocating for parental rights both at the local and state levels. Her advocacy has put her at odds with Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and his administration, especially in light of California’s newly enacted legislation, AB 1955. This law stipulates that educators cannot inform parents if their children change their pronouns, name, or gender identity at school.
Legislation Sparks Controversy Over Parental Rights
Bohn has voiced strong opposition to the law, asserting that it infringes on parental rights. “California’s AB 1955 is one of the worst bills we’ve seen,” she stated, emphasizing that it prevents parents from being informed about significant changes in their child’s identity within the school environment. “It promotes secrecy by withholding critical information from parents and essentially creates a hidden record about families at the school level.”
Supporters of AB 1955 argue that the law is designed to protect student privacy. Assemblyman Chris Ward, a Democrat from San Diego who sponsored the bill, contends it empowers students to determine when they are ready to disclose such personal information. However, Bohn countered this view by highlighting the legal implications of minors making such significant decisions without parental involvement, stating, “Children do not possess the capacity to consent to these kinds of changes independently of their parents.”
Governor’s Support Viewed as Political Maneuver
Bohn also expressed her belief that Governor Newsom’s support for the legislation stems from political motivations rather than genuine concern for children’s welfare. “This is a political move,” she claimed, suggesting that the governor is leveraging children’s issues to fulfill an agenda while diminishing parental authority. “Newsom is eroding parental rights,” she concluded.
Beyond focusing on AB 1955, PERK has been actively engaged in numerous policy issues, particularly those that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bohn has been outspoken against vaccine mandates imposed on school districts.
Opposition to Medical Mandates in Schools
“I firmly believe that schools should not enforce vaccine mandates,” she argued, framing medical treatment as a matter that should be settled between parents and medical professionals. Bohn referenced the illegal nature of vaccine mandates that occurred during the pandemic, asserting that such policies bypassed proper legislative processes.
As a result of these mandates, PERK took legal action in opposition. “We filed lawsuits and successfully challenged these mandates,” she reported, underlining her stance that such requirements violate personal freedoms hard-won through constitutional rights.
Bohn also highlighted PERK’s resistance to school closures during the COVID-19 crisis, recalling how the organization anticipated the negative impact such measures would have on children’s education and overall well-being. “From the outset, we understood that these closures would not last just a couple of weeks,” she remarked. “We quickly alerted legislators about the detrimental effects these policies would have on kids.”
Through mobilizing parental support and legal action, PERK worked to reopen schools and mitigate the fallout from extended closures. “We organized protests and kept parents informed, facilitating engagement to advocate for the swift reopening of schools,” Bohn explained, noting the organization’s impact at school board meetings during that tumultuous period.
As the debate surrounding parental rights and student privacy continues in California, Bohn and PERK remain at the forefront of advocacy for family engagement in education policy. Newsom’s administration has yet to respond officially to the mounting concerns raised by parent advocates regarding AB 1955 and its implications for parental authority.
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