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California was suppose to have implemented a new law on January 1st that required recognition and support for gender dysphic students, to allow them to use appropriate facilities (bathrooms/lockerooms/etc).
I was in several teacher meetings in our district as they wrestled with their response to the issue and present solutions for our district and our campuses.
In general this meant designating restrooms which had individual stalls and doors for use by students who were stuck in transition, allowing all parties to 'feel safe', and not forcing the students transition onto any party until the student was comfortable presenting appropriate gender identity for themselves.
Unfortunately a conservative group in California has scared the citizendry of California and feel that the Governor has gone too far in supporting Transgender rights and providing support for those students struggling with this issue. It looks like they might have gathered enough signatures to place the issue on the ballot for this fall, and this has put the implementation of the Governors mandate on hold for many school districts throughout the state.
I am fortunate that the superintendent of our district is a good man and plans to continue the implementation of the policy in our district, feeling that promoting diversity and understanding in our typically conservative district in Orange County, Republican stronghold of Southern California is the right thing to do.
I am sure that he will get some grief from some elements of our local community base, but it is good to see good men do things for the right reason.
If the issue is certified and goes to the ballot for all of California, I hope that there are enough people of good heart to support the full implementation of Transgender rights throughout California. The results of such an initiative will be binding on the State Constitution and will be an important milestone for the state of California, and by proxy the nation.