Safety Act (California law)
{{Short description|2024 California law}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox legislation
| short_title = Safety Act
| image = Seal of California.svg
| citation = [https://lgbtqcaucus.legislature.ca.gov/sites/lgbtcaucus.legislature.ca.gov/files/safety_act/factsheet.pdf]
| date_passed = July 15, 2024
| signed_by = Governor Gavin Newsom
| date_signed = July 15, 2024
| bill =
| bill_citation = [https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB1955/id/2906493]
| introduced_by =
| amended_by = [https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1955]
| status = In force
}}
The Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today's Youth Act, also known as the AB1955 bill, Safety Act or SAFETY Act,{{Cite web |title=AB 1955: Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today's Youth Act. {{!}} Digital Democracy |url=https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca_202320240ab1955 |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=California AB1955 {{!}} 2023-2024 {{!}} Regular Session |url=https://legiscan.com/CA/votes/AB1955/2023 |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=LegiScan |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=New SAFETY Act Signed into Law to Protect LGBTQ+ Students in California {{!}} Official Website - Assemblymember Christopher M. Ward Representing the 78th California Assembly District |url=https://a78.asmdc.org/press-releases/20240715-new-safety-act-signed-law-protect-lgbtq-students-california |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=a78.asmdc.org}} is a first-in-nation act signed and activated by California Governor Gavin Newsom on July 15, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Knutsen |first=Max |date=2024-07-17 |title=California AB 1955: What Is the SAFETY Act? |url=https://pluralpolicy.com/blog/california-ab-1955-safety-act/#:~:text=The%20SAFETY%20Act%20prevents%20educators%20from%20being%20required,from%20enacting%20or%20enforcing%20policies%20requiring%20such%20disclosures. |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=Plural Policy |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Protecting the Rights of Trans and Nonbinary Youth in California {{!}} ACLU of Northern CA |url=https://www.aclunc.org/no-forced-outing |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=www.aclunc.org |language=en}} The state law allows educators discretion in informing parents of a child's LGBTQ+ identity, but bars disclosure being a requirement.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-16 |title=Newsom Signs AB 1955 and Okays Schools Lying to Parents, Opening the Door to Lawsuits and Child Exploitation |url=https://californiapolicycenter.org/ab1955pressrelease/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=California Policy Center}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-15 |title=Gov. Newsom signs first-in-nation bill banning schools' transgender notification policies |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/07/15/newsom-signs-first-in-nation-bill-banning-schools-transgender-notification-policies/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}}
The law has become a controversial topic, with many parents and people protesting and proposing to repeal it. Elon Musk, CEO of X (Twitter), as well as co-founder of SpaceX, has said that he would move SpaceX and X headquarters (X Corp.) to Starbase, Texas (Brownsville, Texas) and Austin, Texas.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-16 |title=Elon Musk says SpaceX and X headquarters moving to Texas, blames new California transgender law |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/elon-musk-says-spacex-x-headquarters-moving-texas-blames-new-californi-rcna162207?os=os&ref=app |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=NBC News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Press • • |first=The Associated |date=2024-07-16 |title=Elon Musk says he's moving SpaceX, X HQs to Texas |url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/business/elon-musk-moving-spacex-x-texas/3593616/?os=os&ref=app |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Kolodny |first=Lora |date=2024-07-16 |title=Elon Musk says SpaceX and X headquarters moving to Texas, blames California trans student privacy law |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/16/elon-musk-says-spacex-hq-officially-moving-to-texas-blames-new-ca-trans-student-privacy-law.html?os=ios |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=CNBC |language=en}} Musk has already moved SpaceX to Starbase and X Corp. to Bastrop, Texas.{{Cite web |title=Elon Musk to move SpaceX and X HQ over gender identity law |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1vd097z7rvo |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=BBC News |date=17 July 2024 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |author1=Elizabeth Howell |date=2024-07-17 |title=Elon Musk says he'll move SpaceX headquarters to Texas over new California LGBTQ+ law |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-elon-musk-california-texas-headquarters-lgbtq-legislation |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Space.com |language=en}}
Law
According to the Northern California ACLU, the SAFETY act, in addition to preventing forced disclosure of LGBTQ+ identity, would also provide information for parents and education personnel on acceptance and the creation of spaces safe for LGBTQ+ students.
Reactions
= Elon Musk =
{{See also|SpaceX#2024 headquarters move from California to Texas}}
{{Tweet
| username = elonmusk
| date = July 16, 2024
| text = This is the final straw.
Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas.
| reference = {{Cite web |last=Musk |first=Elon [@elonmusk] |date=2024-07-16 |title=This is the final straw.
Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas. |url=https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1813290895334383820 |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=X |language=en-US}}
| replyto = Jason
| image = Elon Musk Royal Society (cropped).jpg
}}
{{Tweet
| name = Elon Musk 15px
| username = elonmusk
| date = July 16, 2024
| text = And 𝕏 HQ will move to Austin
| reference = {{Cite web |last=Musk |first=Elon [@elonmusk] |date=2024-07-16 |title=And 𝕏 HQ will move to Austin |url=https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1813295489032622586 |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=X |language=en-US}}
| replyto = elonmusk (the post above)
| image = Elon Musk Royal Society (cropped).jpg
}}
On July 16, 2024, in a statement released on his X post, Elon Musk, CEO of X (Twitter) and founder of SpaceX, said that he would move SpaceX from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas (or Brownsville, Texas). This statement was seen as largely symbolic, as they had already been moved.{{Cite news |date=2024-07-16 |title=Musk to Move X, SpaceX to Texas in Deepening Rightward Shift |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-16/musk-says-spacex-to-move-headquarters-to-texas-from-california |access-date=2024-08-31 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=2024-07-17 |title=Elon Musk says SpaceX and X will relocate their headquarters to Texas |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/07/elon-musk-says-spacex-and-x-will-relocate-their-headquarters-to-texas/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} Musk added in a reply that he would also move the X headquarters (X Corp.; in San Francisco) to Austin, Texas by September 13;{{Cite web |date=2024-08-29 |title=X, formerly Twitter, to shutter its San Francisco headquarters on Sept. 13 - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/x-twitter-to-shut-san-francisco-headquarters-september-13/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |date=2024-08-30 |title=Elon Musk's X cites exactly when they are shutting down San Francisco HQ |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/elon-musks-x-cites-exactly-when-they-are-shutting-down-san-francisco-hq-101724993133405.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830122625/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/elon-musks-x-cites-exactly-when-they-are-shutting-down-san-francisco-hq-101724993133405.html |archive-date=2024-08-30 |access-date=2024-08-31 |work=Hindustan Times}} he instead moved it to Bastrop, Texas.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-05 |title=X officially kills its San Francisco HQ, will relocate to South Bay |url=https://sfstandard.com/2024/08/05/x-officially-kills-its-san-francisco-headquarters-will-relocate-workers-to-south-bay/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=The San Francisco Standard |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Emerson |first=Sarah |title=Elon Musk Has Officially Moved X To Texas |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahemerson/2024/09/18/elon-musk-has-officially-moved-x-to-texas/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Forbes |language=en}} Musk claimed this was because the recently-passed California AB1955 bill "and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies" was a "final straw". However, most of the buildings and workers will remain in Hawthorne until the Falcon program is finished.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-19 |title=Elon Musk plans to move SpaceX HQ to Starbase over new California law |url=https://spaceexplored.com/2024/07/19/spacex-moves-to-texas/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725015914/https://spaceexplored.com/2024/07/19/spacex-moves-to-texas/ |archive-date=2024-07-25 |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=Space Explored |last1=Kurkowski |first1=Seth }}{{Cite web |last1=Jeong |first1=Helen |last2=Service |first2=City News |date=2024-07-16 |title=Space X headquarters to move from Southern California to Texas |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/space-x-headquarters-move-southern-california-texas-hawthorne-newsom-elon-musk/3461109/?os=firetv&ref=app |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=NBC Los Angeles |language=en-US}}
Musk also said, "I did make it clear to Governor Newsom about a year ago that laws of this nature would force families and companies to leave California to protect their children".
= Governor Newsom =
Following Musk's move, Governor Newsom criticized Musk on X, with him posting on X with the caption "You bent the knee" along with a screenshot on X of a 2022 Truth Social post by former President Donald Trump criticizing Musk.{{Cite web |last=Barrabi |first=Thomas |date=2024-07-17 |title=How Elon Musk fired back after Gavin Newsom said tech giant 'bent the knee' to Trump |url=https://nypost.com/2024/07/17/business/musk-newsom-trade-insults-after-spacex-x-ditch-california-you-never-get-off-your-knees/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=New York Post |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Irwin |first=Lauren |date=2024-07-17 |title=Newsom to Musk after HQs move announcement: 'You bent the knee' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4776437-newsom-musk-spacex-trump/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Newsom |first=Gavin [@GavinNewsom] |date=July 17, 2024 |title=You bent the knee. |url=https://x.com/GavinNewsom/status/1813352967946592648?t=SkQM10XiGrd9lY2h9BIPgQ&s=19 |access-date=September 1, 2024 |website=X}}
= Other reactions =
Many people, mostly parents, oppose and are upset by the law, saying it restricts parental rights, and plan to move their children to other states. However, many supporters and advocates have praised the bill for protecting LGBTQ youth,{{Cite web |last=Schermele |first=Zachary |title=California becomes first state to ban forced outing of LGBTQ+ students |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2024/07/16/california-bans-outing-lgbtq-students/74422160007/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |date=16 July 2024 |title=What the new California law on LGBTQ+ student privacy means for San Diego schools |url=https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/what-the-new-california-law-on-lgbtq-student-privacy-means-for-san-diego-schools/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716143206/https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/what-the-new-california-law-on-lgbtq-student-privacy-means-for-san-diego-schools/ |archive-date=16 July 2024 |access-date=August 31, 2024 |work=Fox 5 San Diego}} like California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus Chair Susan Eggman. Other supporters, like CTA President David Goldberg, have given praise: “This historic legislation will strengthen existing protections against forced outings and allow educators to continue creating safe learning environments where every student feels accepted, nurtured, and encouraged to pursue their dreams”.{{Cite news |date=2024-05-22 |title=AB 1955 – Support Academic Futures & Educators for Today's Youth (SAFETY) Act |url=https://lgbtqcaucus.legislature.ca.gov/sites/lgbtcaucus.legislature.ca.gov/files/safety_act/factsheet.pdf |access-date=2024-09-01 |work=California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
- {{CCBYSA4Source|sourcepath=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Safety_Act_(California_law)&oldid=1243808767|sourcearticle=Safety Act (California law)|revision=1244691561|author(s)=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Safety_Act_(California_law)&action=history}}
External links
- [https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1813290895334383820 Elon Musk's SpaceX moving post] on X
- [https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1813295489032622586 Elon Musk's X headquarters moving post] on X
{{Gavin Newsom footer}}
Category:July 2024 in the United States
Category:Law enforcement controversies in the United States
Category:LGBTQ law in California
Category:LGBTQ rights in the United States by state
Category:LGBTQ rights in the United States