(The Center Square) – A federal judge ordered the California Department of Education and Attorney General Rob Bonta this week to appear in court and show cause why they should not face sanctions for allegedly misleading the court regarding gender secrecy policies in schools.
U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez issued an order this week in the case Mirabelli v. Olson. In October, Benitez officially certified the lawsuit as a class action on behalf of all California parents and teachers who oppose school district policies that conceal children’s gender transitions from their families, also known as Parental Exclusion Policies.
Under these policies, teachers and administrators are required to use preferred pronouns requested by a student and hide a child’s gender identity from parents.
According to a filing by the Thomas More Society, which represents the plaintiffs, state defendants misrepresented that they had withdrawn the policies, but instead, implemented mandatory teacher training called PRISM, an online program for certificated educators that provides resources to support LGBTQ+ youth in California.
“This is an egregious attempt to mislead the Court,” the filing stated.
Peter Breen, executive vice president and head of litigation at the Thomas More Society, said local school district officials continue to deflect responsibility.
“They know this is a losing legal battle. Now they’ve been caught not only lying to California taxpayers but attempting to mislead the Court to escape accountability. That’s unacceptable,” Breen stated.
The Center Square contacted the CDE and Bonta for comment on the court order, but received no response.
“It’s also a slap in the face to all of the California parents and teachers that are members of this certified federal civil rights class action,” Paul Jonna, attorney at Thomas More Society and Partner at LiMandri & Jonna, said. “We will do everything we can do to make sure the State Defendants and their counsel are held fully accountable under the law.”
This matter will be addressed at the next summary judgment hearing, which will be on Nov. 17.
