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CA Passes K-12 Transgender Rights Bill

Allows students to choose sports teams and restrooms.

California legislation that would allow transgender children to choose sports teams and restrooms based on gender identity and not sex at birth is on its way to Gov. Jerry Brown. Backers of the bill, which passed 21-9, say the new law will protect transgender students from bullying and abuse. Detractors claim that students could take advantage of the system, like males serving as ringers on girls’ teams or young predators using an opposite-sex bathroom to victimize other students. “To date there’s been no single reported incident of any misconduct,” Democratic state Sen. Ricardo Lara said. “Let’s not confuse silly behavior issues with sensitive gender-identity issues.”