A California federal judge issued a preliminary injunction requiring parental notification and opt-out options for gender identity topics in elementary school buddy programs. The injunction comes after concerns over a lesson involving the book “My Shadow Is Pink.”
The buddy program pairs older students with younger ones and is mandatory, with the contested session involving fifth graders mentoring kindergartners about gender identity through the book about a boy who liked dresses and girls’ toys. Fifth graders in the program felt uncomfortable teaching gender identity concepts, contradicting their personal beliefs, according to parents.
The judge noted that the buddy program’s mandatory nature likely violated students’ First Amendment rights by compelling them to express support for views they find objectionable.
Parents were concerned, as they received no prior notice or opt-out for the buddy program’s gender lesson, unlike the Human Growth and Development Unit, which had notice and opt-out options.
