Parents of kids at Newport High School in Southern California are looking for answers and raising concerns after the school was directing students to resources for gender transitioning without asking for parental consent.
Liberal School Policies
Newport High School is in a wealthy school district in Orange County, California, where some of the most liberal policies take place both inside and outside the classroom.
Going Too Far
Despite being within such a liberal community, some parents now worry that Newport High School is taking things too far after it was revealed that they were providing kids with gender transition resources without parents’ permission.
Directing Students to LGBTQ+ Resources
Newport Harbor High School even has QR codes displayed in hallways that connect students to various LGBTQ+ resources, some of which include resources for gender-affirming care.
Following the Link
The resources linked through these codes lead students to the LGBTQ+ Center of Orange County, where they can be given access to puberty blockers, hormones, and even gender reassignment surgery.
Statement From School Officials
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District has responded to some parents’ concerns by claiming the QR codes are just there to help support students looking for help.
Clarification From the School
However, when asked about the QR code connection to the LGBTQ+ Center, they refused to provide any more clarification on how the centers support students.
Not Referring Student
In an email to the Daily Mail, Annette Franco, a district spokeswoman, stated, “We do not refer students for gender-affirming care nor do we have gender support plans without parental involvement.”
Home-Schooling Kids
In response to the allegations that the school is giving their kids access to gender-affirming care without permission, some parents have already brought their kids out of the district to be home-schooled instead.
Pulling Kids From School
One concerned parent told Daily Signal, “I’m in several chats with a lot of moms, and we have had a lot of people pull their kids from the district after finding out all of this stuff.”
Dispute Over Parental Involvement
The Daily Signal first reported that the district would allow children to create gender support plans without parental consent for kids as young as 12, but the school was quick to dispute this claim.
Obtaining School Documents
However, the Daily Signal would eventually obtain school documents that revealed parental approval for gender support plans was encouraged but not mandatory.
Not Requiring Parent’s Permission
Sarah Coley, the district’s student services administrative director, wrote in an internal email discovered by Daily Signal, “It is encouraged to have parents part of the process, but under the law, it is not required.”
Gender Support Plans and Privacy Concerns
The Newport-Mesa district has been criticized for allegedly keeping gender support plans in “locked drawers” in administrative offices, hidden from parents.
Hiding Documents
The school district has also been criticized for keeping these gender support plans locked away in administrative offices, hidden from parents who may have concerns about their child’s well-being.
Rooming Controversies on School Trips
Emails from district officials found by the Daily Signal also revealed that students on overnight trips may have to sleep with students who transitioned to the same gender.
Missing the Trip
The emails also clarified that if a student was uncomfortable with this arrangement, the only alternative was to not go on the trip at all and be left out of the class experience.
An Optional Trip
In an email to district employees, Sarah Coley wrote, “If you / your student is not comfortable with the rooming assignments and process of staying with other students in a room, then they can elect not to participate in this optional trip.”
Criticism From Advocacy Groups
Mark Trammell, executive director of the Center for American Liberty, criticized the district’s decisions and subsequent response to the controversy for prioritizing some student’s feeling over others.
Keeping Secrets From Parents
Mark Trammell stated, “It is ironic that school districts cite a student’s right to privacy as justification for schools keeping secrets from parents.”
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