California Gov. Gavin Newsom is standing by his controversial state policy after the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily halted its enforcement, rejecting claims that the measure infringes on parental rights and religious freedom.
The law, which Newsom signed in 2024, permits educators to withhold information from parents if a student is experiencing gender dysphoria and requires teachers to use a student’s preferred pronouns. Earlier this week, the high court issued a 6-3 order blocking the policy while legal challenges proceed.
“Teachers should be focused on teaching — not forced to be gender cops,” Newsom told the New York Post. “The shadow docket ruling by the Supreme Court undermines student privacy and the ability to learn in a safe and supportive classroom, free from discrimination based on gender identity.”
In its unsigned opinion, the Supreme Court of the United States concluded that the parents challenging the law are likely to prevail on their constitutional claims.
“We conclude that the parents who seek religious exemptions are likely to succeed on the merits of their Free Exercise Clause claim,” the Court wrote. “The parents who assert a free exercise claim have sincere religious beliefs about sex and gender, and they feel a religious obligation to raise their children in accordance with those beliefs.”
The majority found that the California policy conflicts with those protections and emphasized longstanding precedent recognizing parents’ authority to direct the upbringing of their children. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton sharply criticized Newsom’s response.
“Most people look at this and can’t understand why it’s even a question: of course parents should be told if their children change their gender,” Hilton told the Post. “The justification Newsom claims for his parental secrecy policy is that without it, students will face harm. We have plenty of resources in California, inside and outside the school system, for any students who might be in that situation.”
Hilton labeled the policy part of an “insane, fringe ideology.”
“They think kids belong to the government, not parents, and it is disgusting to see Newsom take the side of far left ideologues against families,” Hilton said. “But no surprise from the guy who won’t do anything about biological boys in girls’ sports or evil child rapists being set free early.”
The controversy unfolds as Newsom positions himself on the national stage ahead of a potential 2028 presidential bid. In recent months, he has sought dialogue with prominent conservative figures, including Steve Bannon and the late Charlie Kirk. During a conversation with Kirk, Newsom acknowledged that it is “deeply unfair” for boys to compete in girls’ sports solely based on gender identity.