AB 1955 Privacy Rights For LGBTQ+ Students

Since 2007 California laws have prohibited discrimination against public school students and employees that is based, among other things, on sexual orientation.  In 2024, the Legislature passed AB 1955, which added several sections to the Education Code by enacting the SAFETY Act, which is an acronym for Support Academic Futures and Education for Today’s Youth.  It is intended to protect students from being “outed” for being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning.

The law prohibits school districts and contractors that deal with them from adopting or enforcing a rule requiring the disclosure of any information related to a student’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression without the pupil’s consent, unless required by law.  It also prohibits those employers from retaliating against employees who support student exercise of the rights to privacy, nondiscrimination, and equal educational opportunity.

For more information, contact your legal counsel.