The U.S. Department of Education is going after California over a new law that protects LGBTQ students from being outed by school staff. The probe could strip the state of nearly $8 billion in federal funds — all because the state dared to say that queer kids have a right to privacy.
At the center of the firestorm is Assembly Bill 1955, which bars public schools from disclosing a student’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression without their consent. The goal? Protect vulnerable youth — especially queer and trans students — from being involuntarily outed to families who may not be supportive. But the Trump administration sees it differently. They claim the law violates the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which they interpret as giving parents full access to all educational records — even the most intimate parts of a child’s identity.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, doubling down on the administration’s anti-LGBTQ stance, said that educators “should not be in the business of advising minors… on consequential decisions about their sexual identity.” According to her, that’s a parent’s job — even if the student isn’t ready to have that conversation, or if home isn’t a safe place.
But Assemblymember Chris Ward, the San Diego Democrat who authored the bill, isn’t backing down. “Requiring school officials to expose students’ gender without their consent is immorally invasive,” he said. “Parents have always retained the right to have meaningful conversations with their children. But those conversations shouldn’t be forced by law.”
LGBTQ youth under fire — again
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about paperwork. This is about lives. Outing LGBTQ students without their consent can lead to homelessness, abuse, or worse. State Superintendent Tony Thurmond is standing firmly with queer youth. “Our students must be safe in order to learn,” he said. “To our LGBTQ+ youth and families, I want to make sure that you hear us as loudly as we hear you.”
And yet, the Trump administration has made it clear that protecting LGBTQ kids is not on their agenda. In addition to targeting California’s privacy protections, Trump also recently signed an order banning transgender girls and women from participating in female sports. The message is loud and clear: if you’re not straight, not cis, and not conforming, this administration is ready to legislate you out of existence.
David Goldberg, president of the California Teachers Association, slammed the federal threat, saying it puts vulnerable students at risk — not just emotionally, but physically and economically. Losing federal education funding could cut into school meal programs and services for students with disabilities.
While the legal battle heats up, LGBTQ students are stuck in limbo, caught between their right to safety and privacy and a government hell-bent on control. And it begs the question: who really owns your identity — you, or the state?
For queer youth across the country, this fight isn’t theoretical. It’s personal. And it’s a reminder that every inch of progress must be fought for, fiercely and unapologetically.