California Republican lawmakers and anti-transgender activists announced Friday that they will introduce three new bills in the state Assembly, despite significant political obstacles in Sacramento.
As a psychotherapist and former employee of the Riverside County Department of Mental Health, freshman Assemblymember Leticia Castillo, R-Corona, said, “I ran on a promise to protect parental rights and safeguard our children.”
“As a mental health professional, I have seen the concerning trend of vulnerable children—those who suffer from anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other issues—adopting transgender identities,” Castillo said during a rally outside the Capitol.
In the previous two legislative sessions, the Democratic supermajority state legislature did not even hear similar bills.
The American Psychological Association, the primary professional organization representing psychologists in the United States, has adopted an official policy supporting evidence-based gender-affirming care for transgender, gender diverse, and nonbinary children, adolescents, and adults.
Castillo was joined by former St. Louis Children’s Hospital employee Jamie Reed, detransitioner activist Chloe Cole, fellow Republican Assemblymember Bill Essayli, R-Corona, and members of Our Duty, an anti-trans organization.
According to a bill that Castillo intends to introduce, a parent who chooses not to disclose their child’s trans identity—for example, by refusing to use their preferred pronouns, adopting a new name, or providing their child with gender-affirming medical care—is not abusing their child. Additionally, it would prevent judges from considering gender affirming behavior when deciding who gets custody of a child.
On Friday, Castillo and Abigail Martinez spoke together.
Martinez, a parent from Los Angeles, briefly lost custody of one of her transgender children. When Martinez was sixteen, the California Department of Child and Family Services placed her on a child abuse registry and her child in a group home. Martinez’s 19-year-old child committed suicide.
“After three years, I was cleared for emotional abuse, but it was too late; the harm had already been done,” Martinez said.
“Any part of a public school’s curricula, instructions, lessons, presentations, or assemblies discussing, involving, or referencing transgender concepts” or “any anonymous, voluntary, and confidential tests, questionnaires, or surveys discussing, involving, or referencing transgender concepts” would be prohibited for students under Castillo’s other bill, unless a parent consented.
Furthermore, if the student misses any lessons or activities related to gender identity, the school is required to provide “an alternative educational activity.”
“A crucial first step in rebuilding trust in our schools and educators is restoring the importance of parental rights over harmful indoctrination,” Castillo told CNN.
Essayli’s bill would require students to participate on sports teams and use all school facilities based on their biological sex rather than their gender identity.
The California Interscholastic Federation, which oversees high school athletics in the state, is under federal Title IX investigation for failing to comply with California law, which requires transgender children to have access to gender-segregated facilities, such as restrooms, and activities, such as sports, that correspond to their gender identities. His bill comes after President Donald Trump ordered an investigation.
The federal law known as Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal funds.
Anti-trans laws in California
Despite President Donald Trump’s executive orders significantly limiting transgender people’s rights, including veterans, members of the Democratic-dominated California Assembly are unlikely to support the proposed bills.
“Executive orders have no jurisdiction over state departments and agencies,” members of the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus stated in January, when Trump began issuing anti-trans executive orders.
“We in California will continue to support an individual’s fundamental right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Several of the bills we will introduce this year will strengthen protections for all Californians from the Trump administration.”
Previous efforts to restrict transgender rights have failed in Sacramento.
One bill was the “parent notification policy” law, which required school staff to notify a parent if their child identified as transgender.
Activist Erin Friday, who spoke with Castillo at the Capitol on Friday, pitched the bill to various lawmakers; Essayli introduced it in the Legislature, but it did not receive a hearing.
In 2024, lawmakers amended the bill, passing legislation introduced by LGBTQ Caucus Chair Christopher Ward, D-San Diego, that would prohibit schools from forcing teachers to “out” transgender students to their parents.
The 2025-26 Legislative session has already seen anti-trans laws, such as Castillo’s, that are unlikely to pass.
Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez, R-Rancho Santa Margarita, introduced legislation that would prohibit transgender girls from participating on girls’ sports teams. Ward chairs the Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism, where the bill will first be considered.
The Democratic super-majority controls both the Assembly and the State Senate, and while Gov. Gavin Newsom has not always supported the transgender community, he is unlikely to sign any of these bills into law.
LGBTQ groups respond
The California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus reacted to Friday’s announcement by condemning the GOP lawmakers who sponsored the bills.
“It is infuriating that we again see hateful bills being introduced by a couple of the same Republicans who should be focused on addressing real-life issues impacting Californians than manufacturing divisive click-bait,” the group said in a statement.
The caucus stated that California law already allows parents to opt their children out of specific curricula for religious or personal reasons, but Castillo’s opt-out bill “disgustingly peddles false narratives.”
Regarding Castillo’s other bill, which would protect non-affirming parents from child abuse allegations, the caucus stated, “We question how denying youth necessary mental health services approved by medical associations is moral and does not exacerbate mental suffering.”
The caucus stated that Essayli’s bill prohibiting transgender sports would “subject all women and girls to interrogations and invasive examinations.”
“These Republican policies actually empower predators to target women and girls, subjecting them to harassment, bullying and violence,” according to the caucus.
Tony Hoang, executive director of Equality California, which advocates for LGBTQ causes at the state level, issued a statement Friday vowing to fight these bills “every step of the way” and saying his organization “stands firmly against any legislation that seeks to roll back the rights and dignity of transgender and nonbinary youth.”
“These bills are dangerous attempts to deny transgender young people access to life-saving, evidence-based healthcare, as well as their fundamental right to be seen and respected for who they are.” “Medical professionals, not politicians, should make healthcare decisions with the families involved,” Hoang stated.
