Mahkamah Agung AS telah mengeluarkan putusan pendahuluan dalam Mirabelli v. Bonta, yang memulihkan penangguhan terhadap kebijakan sekolah California yang menyembunyikan transisi gender siswa dari orang tua. Putusan ini menegakkan hak konstitusional orang tua untuk mengarahkan pembinaan anak-anak mereka, terutama dalam hal-hal yang memengaruhi kesehatan mental seperti disforia gender. Putusan ini muncul di tengah perdebatan berkelanjutan mengenai keterlibatan orang tua di sekolah.
Dalam Mirabelli v. Bonta, yang diputuskan minggu lalu, Mahkamah Agung berpihak pada orang tua yang menantang kebijakan distrik sekolah California. Kebijakan tersebut memungkinkan sekolah untuk menyembunyikan informasi tentang identitas gender atau transisi siswa dari orang tua kecuali siswa menyetujui dan mengharuskan guru menggunakan nama dan kata ganti yang tidak konsisten dengan jenis kelamin biologis. Pengadilan memulihkan penangguhan sebelumnya, menemukan bahwa kebijakan tersebut kemungkinan melanggar Klausul Pelaksanaan Agama Bebas Amandemen Pertama bagi orang tua dengan keberatan agama dan hak proses hukum Amandemen ke-14 bagi semua orang tua untuk mengarahkan pembinaan dan pendidikan anak-anak mereka. The majority opinion, supported by six justices, emphasized that parental rights are rooted in the nation's history and tradition, especially regarding medical decisions. It noted that gender dysphoria has significant implications for a child's mental health. The Court drew on precedents such as Wisconsin v. Yoder, which affirmed parental roles in child development, and Troxel v. Granville, recognizing parents' authority in upbringing. This follows last year's Mahmoud v. Taylor, where the Court ruled in favor of parents objecting to school books depicting gay marriage and transgender children positively on religious grounds. California argued the policy protects students by preventing forced outing, citing evidence that such disclosures can harm mental health, invade privacy, and increase risks of domestic violence. However, the Court did not develop a record on these claims. The decision reflects a broader push for parental rights since 2021, driven by Republicans and state laws limiting discussions on race, sex, and sexuality. Texas voters passed a constitutional amendment recognizing expanded parental rights in 2025. Critics argue the ruling interprets rights too absolutely, diverging from historical precedents prioritizing children's well-being, as in Prince v. Massachusetts and Wisconsin v. Yoder, where state intervention was allowed to protect youth. Meanwhile, the ruling coincides with Detransition Awareness Day on March 12, highlighting experiences of individuals who regret gender transitions, often due to social pressures or unaddressed distress. Limited research suggests such decisions during adolescence can have lasting consequences, underscoring the importance of family involvement.
