California push to ban 'forced outing' of trans students leads to lawmaker confrontation

“I take a great deal of offense to that,” he said. “I am not hateful.”

He also implied that The Sacramento Bee’s coverage of the Rocklin policy contributed to the demonizing of Saathoff and those who back the policies.

“She’s constantly framed in a local paper here, and constantly attacked as some kind of hateful person. ... Do you believe that I’m the type of person who comes from a place of hate or harm? I don’t believe you think that.”

Several Democrats, many of whom are members of the LGBTQ Caucus, shared emotional testimony in support of the bill.

“When I was seven years old, my mom told me she’d disown me if I were gay,” said Assemblyman Evan Low, D-Cupertino, through tears at the podium.

“If I was outed, where would I go? What would I have done?”

Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes, D-Riverside, also shared that she did not get to choose when she came out — that someone outed her.

As Ward delivered closing comments, the Democrats present stood behind him, many wiping tears from their eyes, as he explained that the bill is not meant to “keep secrets” from parents — a concern echoed by Republican assembly members.

He closed in an emotional show of support for trans young people.

“Part of what is happening here is stemming from a national issue thrust upon our community to be targeting transgender individuals, a subset of (the LGBTQ) community.”

“Our caucus thought deeply as this was thrust into California communities since last summer about how to wrestle with some of the issues … and at that time we told trans youth that felt under attack that we had their back. And we meant it. And we are here today to send this bill to the governor.”

The Assembly then voted 60-15 to pass the bill, which will now head to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk.

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