California Parents Group Unsuccessful in Collecting Signatures for Transgender Ballot Measure

A group of parents in California fell short of gathering enough signatures for a ballot measure that aimed to implement policies regarding transgender students.

The proposed measure would have prohibited transgender students from participating in girls’ sports, mandated parental notification for students seeking gender changes, and prohibited the use of certain medical treatments for minors.

Protect Kids California was able to collect over 400,000 signatures, but they were about 150,000 signatures short of the required 546,651 to get the measure on the state ballot.

Campaign organizer Jonathan Zachreson mentioned that many signatures came from Southern California counties such as Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside.

Before Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a title and summary for the measure (“Restricts Rights of Transgender Youth Initiative”), it had garnered support in the state, as The Center Square reported.

The supporters of the measure wanted to change its name to the “Protect Kids of California Act” and update the summary, but their request was denied by a Superior Court judge.

Although they were disappointed about not meeting the signature threshold, Protect Kids California expressed gratitude for the support they received from all over the state in a news release posted on X.

Lawmakers recently introduced a bill at the state legislature that would prevent school districts from enforcing policies that require parental notification of a child’s sexual orientation or gender identity, with some exceptions for situations where the student’s safety is at risk.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.