Gary Carnivele

About Gary Carnivele

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Occidental World Music & Dance Day at Occidental Center for the Arts Happens June 1

Saturday, June 1, 2024. 10 am – 9 pm. Occidental World Music & Dance Day at Occidental Center for the Arts. Our unique 2nd annual event offers more than 30 exciting workshops – indoors and outdoors- in song, music and dance from around the globe, taught by the best instructors from around the Bay Area; with open jam sessions, instructor performances, musical instrument lending library, international food & drink available for purchase, complimentary instrument check and a closing concert by the renowned world fusion ensemble Fula Brothers. Affiliated with Lark Music Camp. All of this for $85 (by May 31); $95 at the door. Kids & OCA members get additional discounts. Register asap at www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org.; or pay at the door. Whether you’re an amateur or professional looking to expand your knowledge, an aspiring musician, singer or dancer experimenting with different genres – or just want to observe and experience traditional folk music and dance from around the world – this event has something for everyone! Occidental Center for the Arts, 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental, CA. 95465. 707-874-9392. Accessible to mobility-challenged patrons.

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Trans golfer Hailey Davidson shares defiant message after US Women’s Open qualifier: ‘Never give up’

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Trans golfer Hailey Davidson has shared a defiant message to transphobes after competing in the US Women’s Open qualifier, telling her fans to “never give up”.

Davidson, the first trans golfer to win a professional women’s event back in 2021, won an alternate spot for the US Women’s Open after just missing out on automatically qualifying by one stroke earlier this month. 

The golf pro, who was born in Scotland, finished in a three-way tie for third in the 36-hole qualifier at Bradenton Country Club. 

She then claimed the first alternate spot at the event against two-time LPGA Tour winner Jasmine Suwannapura, who claimed the second alternate, and fellow player Louise Olsson Campbell. 

Taking to Instagram on 15 May, Davidson addressed the transphobia following her win. She wrote: “I may not have been able to play in any tournaments these last couple of months but that didn’t stop me from continuing to put in the work into my game every single day to be ready for any next opportunity I may have to compete. 

The golfer took to Instagram to share a message to her followers. (Instagram/@haileydgolf)

“Now to cross my fingers and hope for the best,” she continued. “No matter what, NEVER GIVE UP!,” she urged her followers.

“PS: I DO in fact have legal documentation from the USGA that allowed me to play in the first place so zero rules were broken as always,” she added, harking back to the constant criticism regarding her eligibility to play women’s professional golf. 

Davidson was subjected to cruel backlash and transphobia in January when she was forced to undergo further testosterone testing to verify her eligibility at a women’s pro tour event in Florida. 

More recently, the backlash came from a fellow golfer at the qualifier – who remained anonymous – and ridiculed her pronouns and her voice. 

The anonymous golfer said to OutKick: “Best part was when he/him/she/her/it/the holed out [from] 40 feet off the green and goes ‘f**k yeah’ with the lowest male tone I heard all day.”

The player then proceeded to cruelly compare Davidson and other trans people to a castrated dog. “There’s not any other way to explain it [other] than if you neuter a male dog, it’s still a male dog,” the player said. “We never call them [a] female dog.”

Speaking out on 22 May in response to the hateful vitriol, Davidson said on her Instagram story that she’s “alternate number 18” for the US Women’s Open, “which means I have more chance of winning the lottery than getting into the tournament.

“Running out of any opportunities, ” she added. 

Davidson also apologised for wrongly assuming who the player was who spoke to the publication. “I massively messed up there and apologise for what that may have done,” she said.

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Malta Ranked Europe’s Most LGBTQ-Friendly Nation

Time Out reports:

To shed some light on the best and safest destinations for LGBTQ+ travellers, ILGA-Europe, an LGBTI organisation, has released its sixteenth annual Rainbow Map. The index involves comprehensive analysis into seven categories, and each country has been given an overall score based on each.

Given it boasts the fantastic annual Europride celebrations, we’re hardly surprised it’s Malta, for the ninth consecutive year. Iceland climbed three places into second this year, and thanks to its ban on conversion practices, Belgium came third.

Greece, Germany, Iceland, Estonia and Liechtenstein all made the biggest jumps: Estonia and Greece amended their laws to allow same-sex couples to marry and adopt, and Lichtenstein amended their adoption laws to include gay couples, too.

Read the full article. The bottom five in order with worst last: Belarus, Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Russia. Visit ILGA-Europe for an interactive map, a full ranking, and each country’s score on the seven criteria.

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La Pesada Subversiva battles anti-LGBTQ digital violence in Bolivia

In Bolivia, the collective La Pesada Subversiva faced an onslaught of digital violence they could have never imagined after showcasing their LGBTQ artwork. Thanks to Hivos’ Digital Defenders Partnership, they received critical support and training to protect themselves, and now have tools to fight against online aggression.

La Pesada Subversiva (The Subversive Troublemakers), a trans, feminist, and sexually diverse collective in Bolivia, has emerged as a form of resistance to patriarchy and gender-based violence. Founded in 2018 in Santa Cruz, one of Bolivia’s most conservative regions, the collective uses various art forms — audiovisual, writing, street happenings, and social media content — to express their views in demonstrations, protests, and the virtual realm.

Cristian Egüez (he/him), one of the founders, explains, “In this region, far-right and ultra-religious narratives are prevalent, pushed by very conservative authorities. In such a tough context, collectives are needed with the courage to confront them and maintain a critical approach to the violence that occurs.” 

Pride Month and ensuing violence

The Altillo Benni Museum, the largest in the city, commemorated Pride Month for the first time on June 1, 2022. They opened an LGBTQ art exhibition called “Revolución Orgullo” or “Pride Revolution” led by La Pesada Subversiva. The collective’s groundbreaking LGBTQ art exhibition faced vehement opposition.

“We adorned the museum facade with trans and LGBTIQ+ flags,” Egüez recounts, “but it lasted less than a day because a group of neighbors came to protest violently and aggressively.” 

Despite this, the exhibition attracted over 400 visitors, demonstrating growing public support for their cause. 

Confronting online harassment

To the collective’s surprise, the museum’s director defended the exhibition, stating that no artwork would be removed, and the exhibition would remain until the end of the month. But then an unimaginable wave of digital violence hit them. Egüez recalls the aftermath: “The event left us emotionally devastated. Throughout that year, every day, we had to endure threats and harassment online.” 

Alejandra Menacho (she/her), another founder of La Pesada Subversiva, shares her experience, saying, “They threatened to rape me, to teach me how to be a woman. It overwhelmed us; it started to really hurt because we felt … everything we said or did was being surveilled.” The collective faced constant harassment on social media, with anti-rights groups monitoring their activities and scaring them with false threats.

Seeking protection from the Digital Defenders Partnership

As the onslaught escalated, the collective sought refuge and support. They applied for a grant from the DDP to get digital protection and security. With DDP’s assistance, they underwent comprehensive training in digital security measures, enabling them to protect their online presence effectively. The members learned to protect themselves and their accounts, not to publish certain things, and to be cautious about disclosing their whereabouts. DDP’s training gave them a comprehensive understanding of digital security tools and provided clear guidelines for dealing with future incidents and how to report them. 

In addition to these digital security skills, they learned physical self-defense techniques, blending martial arts with a feminist approach. 

“This has strengthened us immensely. Now we understand digital security holistically and are always safeguarding our networks,” Menacho emphasizes. 

Members of La Pesada Subversiva in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. (Photo courtesy of La Pesada Subversiva)

The ongoing struggle of online resilience

Despite the challenges, La Pesada Subversiva remains steadfast in their mission. 

“Digital security must be integrated across the board; it’s not something you attend a workshop for and forget. It must be practiced continually,” Egüez asserts. 

For Menacho, even though she has experienced a lot of frustration and anger, learning to combine these digital tools with psychology and art has helped her express themselves and achieve emotional balance. 

“Because we are rebellious, we want to do these things. Also, because we don’t want these injustices to continue in Santa Cruz. That’s why we keep coming back and reinventing ourselves,” Menacho said. 

La Pesada Subversiva’s journey exemplifies the resilience and determination of marginalized communities in the face of adversity. Through collective empowerment and solidarity, they navigate the complexities of digital violence, emerging stronger and more united in their pursuit of equality and justice. 

The Digital Defenders Partnership (DDP), managed by Hivos, is an emergency grant mechanism for digital activists under threat launched by the Freedom Online Coalition in 2012. It provides a holistic response to digital threats and creates resilient and sustainable networks of support to human rights defenders.

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Florida won’t light bridges in rainbow colors for Pride Month this year

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Florida’s major bridges won’t be lit up for Pride Month this year. Instead, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants the Sunshine Skyway lit up in red, white and blue.

Florida Transportation Secretary James Perdue recently announced on social media that as part of the state’s “Freedom Summer,” all bridges will be lit in patriotic colors from May 27 to Sept. 2.

“As Floridians prepare for Freedom Summer, Florida’s bridges will follow suit, illuminating in red, white, and blue from Memorial Day through Labor Day!” he wrote. “Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida continues to be the freest state in the nation.”

The decision was announced as the DeSantis administration also touted a sales tax holiday and free access to state parks on Memorial Day weekend. So despite the governor’s abysmal record on LGBTQ+ rights, the decision didn’t seem to outwardly be motivated by a chance to pre-empt Pride.

But it did come after some Republican officials in the state objected to decisions in recent years to light up state bridges for certain causes. Manatee County Commissioner Mike Rahn, for example, emails the state Transportation Department objecting to lighting the Sunshine Skyway in St. Petersburg in rainbow colors for Pride Month and in orange for Gun Violence Awareness Day, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

The state decision impacts all state-owned bridges in Florida, stopping some cities with progressive leadership and communities from a years-long tradition of lighting the bridges on Pride month.

“We don’t want us or our legislatures to have to look back at the end of their lives and say oh boy I blew it on that. It’s a symbol. It would not have hurt anybody to continue doing pride colors, GVP colors, and so on,” Carol Rescigno, the President of Brady Sarasota, told Sarasota’s ABC affiliate. Sarasota for years has colored the John Ringling Bridge in rainbow for June.

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Police identify 12th victim buried on estate of closeted Republican murderer

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Police in Indianapolis have identified a 12th body buried on the estate of now-deceased wealthy Republican businessman Herbert Baumeister, a closeted gay man who is believed to have murdered over 20 men and boys that he met in Indianapolis gay bars during the mid-1980s and ’90s.

DNA and forensic genetic genealogy testing helped police determine that a bone found on Baumeister’s 18-acre Fox Hollow Farm estate in Westfield belonged to Jeffrey Jones. Jones lived in Fillmore, Indiana — a city located 63 miles southwest of Westfield — when he mysteriously disappeared in 1993. A team of law enforcement and forensic investigators identified Jones’ remains using DNA samples and bone fragments, Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison said.

“Because many of the remains were found burnt and crushed, this investigation is extremely challenging; however, the team of law enforcement and forensic specialists working the case remain committed. A special thanks goes to the very talented and hardworking people at the FBI, Indiana State Police Laboratory, Dr. Krista Latham of the Biology & Anthropology Department at the University of Indianapolis, and DNA experts from Texas based Othram Laboratory.” said Coroner Jellison.

“Because many of the remains were found burnt and crushed, this investigation is extremely challenging,” Jellison wrote in a May 21 Facebook post. Jellison said that four additional DNA profiles have not yet been identified but will be sent to the FBI for genetic genealogy investigation.

The effort to identify the victims has been complicated by the fact that many of the bones recovered from the Baumeister’s estate had been burned or crushed, “probably the two worst things that you can do to remains,” Jellison said.

Baumeister was a married father of three and the founder of the local Sav-A-Lot thrift stores that made him wealthy. His wife of 25 years said that she and Baumeister only had sex six times during their marriage and that she never saw him nude. In 1994, his 13-year-old son found a partly buried human skeleton on the estate, but Baumeister said the cadaver had belonged to his father who was a doctor.

In the early 1990s, when Indiana State Police began investigating the murders of gay men who had last been seen at Indianapolis gay bars, one man identified Baumeister as a person who nearly suffocated him to death during a sexual encounter at Baumeister’s estate. Concerned about Baumeister’s increasingly erratic behavior, Baumeister’s wife allowed police to search the family’s estate while he was out of town.

Police initially found evidence of 11 bodies on the estate’s grounds and issued a warrant for his arrest. In response, Baumeister lethally shot himself in the head at Pinery Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada.

Police also suspect that Baumeister may have been the “I-70 Strangler,” a serial murderer who dumped his naked or partially clothed victims’ bodies near Interstate 70 during the late 1980s. Though the serial killings remain officially unsolved, in April 1999, police named Baumeister as their prime suspect in the case, noting that bodies stopped appearing on the interstate after Baumeister purchased his estate in 1991. Baumeister’s victims ranged in age from 14 to 45.

Jellison said that he found it “unacceptable” that human remains have been sitting on a shelf for decades without being identified. “These remains represent people. These people are someone’s son, someone’s brother, someone’s father. They’re not just a box of bones. They’re people and we have to pursue it,” he said.

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Sonoma County Pride Weekend Kicks Off May 31


 Kiesza headlines the Sonoma County Pride 2024 Festival Main StageGraton Resort & Casino‘s Sonoma County Pride is proud to return to Courthouse Square for the 39th Annual Pride Festival, presented by Keysight Technologies, Sonoma County Family YMCA and Deep Eddy Vodka.  Join us in celebrating the 39th annual Pride Parade & Festival, paying tribute to our local “Queeroes.” This event is not only for members of the LGBTQ+ community but for allies and supporters alike. It’s a lively, joyous gathering that welcomes peoples from all walks of life as we honor the extraordinary contributions, resilience, and achievements of Queer individuals in our community. This year’s mainstage promises to be an unforgettable experience you don’t want to miss!     KIESZAKiesza burst onto the music scene in 2014 with her passionate hit “Hideaway”, which has garnered over a billion streams and earned a spot on multiple best-of-decade lists. Her debut studio album, “Sound Of A Woman”, topped charts worldwide and sold over a million units. Recognized by top-tier musicians, Kiesza collaborated with artists such as Skrillex, Diplo, Duran Duran, and Joey Bada$$, solidifying her place in the industry. Not limited to music, Kiesza has also made her mark in the fashion world, representing esteemed brands like Fendi and Maison Birks. After a life-altering car accident forced her into a two-year hiatus, Kiesza returned as an independent artist, launching her own label, Zebra Spirit Tribe. With her 2020 sophomore album “Crave” receiving critical acclaim, Kiesza continues to collaborate with esteemed artists like deadmau5, Tommy Trash, and Lindsey Stirling. In 2024, she celebrates the 10-year anniversary of “Hideaway” with a new project titled “Dancing and Crying: Vol 1”, which blends her folk roots with captivating dance music. RêveRêve Montreal-born and Toronto-based singer-songwriter Briannah Donolo, known as Rêve, gained attention after her performance of the national anthem at a Canadiens de Montréal game went viral. Despite offers to transform her into the perfect pop star, she embraced her imperfections, adopting the moniker “Rêve” and delving into the club scene. Inspired by her nights dancing to dance music, Rêve began crafting honest songs that combined playful pop and R&B elements with 90s Euro sound. Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, Rêve connected with production duo Banx & Ranx, leading to a creative turning point in her career. Now signed to Universal Music Canada and Astralwerks, Rêve has gained over 110 million global streams, achieving a #1 US Dance radio hit with “Whitney” and seeing her track “CTRL + ALT + DEL” go platinum in under eight months. With recognition from the JUNO Awards and collaborations with notable artists, Rêve’s dance-pop artistry continues to captivate audiences worldwide.   Grant Knoche GRANT KNOCHELos Angeles-based singer-songwriter, producer, dancer, and performer GRANT KNOCHE has established himself as a rising star in the music industry. At just 21 years old, GRANT has independently garnered over 1.1 million followers across social media platforms. His unique synth-driven, deep bass, intimate pop songs are all self-written and produced, showcasing his desire to create music that is distinct and evokes new emotions. GRANT has performed over 200 shows across America, including notable venues like Radio City Music Hall and Woodstock. His three EPs, “COLOR ME BLUE”, “FIRST HELLO”, and “I COULD DIE JUST THINKING OF US”, have gained exposure on major playlists and received recognition and support from industry inspirations like FINNEAS, Ryan Tedder, Billie Eilish, and Christina Aguilera. GRANT’s talent and dedication have also led to collaborations and partnerships with major brands like Hinge, Apple, and Amazon, further solidifying his place in the industry.   Jax Our Host Jax from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15Jax is an American drag performer and one of the contestants from the fifteenth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race.   CHEER SF CHEER SFCheer SF is an adult, all-volunteer charitable organization dedicated to supporting beneficiaries that assist individuals living with HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, and other life-challenging conditions. Through powerful performances, Cheer SF not only entertains and inspires audiences but also promotes excellence and support for organizations that strengthen communities.   DJ John Parker DJ John ParkerBorn in San Francisco in July 1959, DJ John Parker developed a love for music at an early age, influenced by his father, a talented jazz, blues, and R&B drummer. Initially drawn to funk music, 80s rock, and new wave, John ventured into DJing after discovering soulful house music. Over the past two decades, John has performed at various venues and festivals, including San Francisco Pride and Russian River Pride. Currently, he holds a residency at the Rainbow Cattle Company in Guerneville, where he showcases his expertise in spinning house music every Saturday night. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to cheer on participants, assist at check-in locations, distribute beveragesPlease email if you or anyone you know is interested in volunteering. grace@sonomacountypride.org 		 
2024 Pride Movie Night
   May 31 – Pride Movie NightGrab your favorite blanket and low-back lawn chairs for an evening under the stars. Relax and immerse yourself in the heartwarming coming-of-age romantic comedy, Crush. Directed by Sammi Cohen and written by Kirsten King and Casey Rackham, this film shares the story of a teenage girl who discovers unexpected feelings for her crush’s twin sister, leading to a journey of self-discovery, love, and acceptance.  MORE INFORMATION PRIDE MOVIE NIGHT 
   May 31 – Pride Kick-Off – Pride Fiesta “Al Cien”!Get ready to kick off Sonoma County Pride in style at the !Pride Fiesta “Al Cien”! – Latinx Dance Party, presented by Los Cien & Latino 100.9. Join us at La Rosa Tequileria & Grill in downtown Santa Rosa on Friday, May 31, 2024, for an unforgettable evening filled with vibrant music, amazing performances, and a joyful celebration of diversity. Your fabulous host for the night will be the sensational Irish Mexican and Sonoma County native, Princess Pan***, accompanied by the talented Russian River Sister, Arya Sunshine. DJ Rotten Robbie will set the dance floor on fire with their incredible music selection, ensuring a night you won’t forget. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PRIDE FIESTA “AL CIEN” 
   June 1 – sha-BLAM! – Holding Out For A Hero! Pride After-PartyStep into THE HALL OF HEROES and pay tribute to the real-life LGBTQIA+ heroes who have made an indelible impact. Immerse yourself in the vibrant energy of QUEEROPOLIS (Ballroom) for a euphoric dance experience accompanied by thrilling pop-up performances. Seeking a more intimate ambiance? Discover THE BAT CAVE, a secluded spot adorned with neon lights, where you can unwind and soak in a chill atmosphere.  MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PRIDE AFTER PARTY 
   June 2 – Wigs & Waffles Pride Drag BunchCelebrate Sonoma County Pride in the most fabulous way possible at Graton Resort & Casino’s 630 Park Steakhouse, with the 3rd Annual “Wigs and Waffles” Pride Brunch. This year, we’ve teamed up with TravelDaddyz to make it an unforgettable event filled with over-the-top performances and gourmet cuisine created by 630’s amazing chefs. You’ll be mesmerized by our exceptional lineu f drag performers! This star-studded cast includes Jax from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15, Castrata, the Drag Chanteuse of NYC, Fertile Liza, the Musical Singing Plant-Queen Entrepreneurial Sweetheart from Oregon, and Ryder Moore, the queer trans embodiment of “Magic Mike”. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WIGS & WAFFLES 
   June 2 – Sonoma County Pride’s Atlantis Pool PartyKick off your pride season with the LARGEST GAY POOL PARTY IN NORCAL at the fabulous Graton Resort & Casino’s pool. Join us for an exciting and vibrant pool party with a concert-like atmosphere, where you can enjoy live performances from the talented Debby Holiday and dance to the beats of GRAMMY Award-Winning Producer/DJ Tracy Young and DJ Mark Tarbox. Get ready to immerse yourself in a fun-filled celebration by the pool! 

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Out In Tech’s North Bay Kickoff Social Happens at Brew in Santa Rosa June 8

Calling all North Bay LGBTQIA+ tech folx — students, workers, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts alike! Are you looking to up-skill, find a new tech career or simply want to network and meet like-minded people from our diverse, queer community? Then, friends, we’ve got an event for you.

Join us for a chill Friday night at the first Out in Tech gathering in Santa Rosa, hosted by our good friends at Brew Coffee and Beer on June 7th from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Learners, entrepreneurs, workers, retirees, techno-dabblers, Pokemon gatherers — whatever your stripe, all are welcome!

Discover the talents and potential of our growing North Bay queer community, and grab a cold drink or coffee with other LGBTQIA+ folks who geek out with all things tech! Network, connect, make new friends, and learn more about Out In Tech and its 50K+ global members.

Many thanks to our friendly hosts from Brew Coffee and Beer House in Santa Rosa — an energetic, inviting, and safe space where you’ll feel accepted and appreciated for who you are.

Come be a part of something new and exciting in the North Bay! Let’s connect, share, and learn together. See you there!

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COVID-19 Notice: This event will be mostly indoors. We are operating under good faith that attendees are vaccinated & have tested negative for COVID-19 on the day of the event. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, we ask that you please not attend the event for the sake of all other attendees.

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6th Street Playhouse 2024-25 Season Tickets Available Now

Traditional Subscriptions On Sale TODAY!
Get excited! In our 2024-25 Season, we will visit cafés in Pennsylvania, a rockin’ courthouse in Massachusetts, have Christmas in Vermont, eat cheeseburgers in Paradise and join the Pirate King and his merry band of bumbling pirates in Cornwall. You won’t want to miss a single minute!
Lock in your seats today and you’ll get…Tickets to 8 fantastic 6th Street Playhouse shows!

20% off our regular ticket prices!The same seat for every performance in both our GK Hardt Theater and our Monroe Stage!
Limited time offer! Ends May 31st!Single Tix and “Pick Any” Subscriptions On Sale June 1st!

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE TODAY!
Need help? Our Box Office is here to assist you!Email: boxoffice@6thstreetplayhouse.comPhone: 707-523-4185 x 2Plus…Special Subscription Walk-Up Hours!
WeekdaysMay 23 – 3110am – 8:30pmWeekendsMay 25, 261pm – 5pmMemorial DayMay 27CLOSED

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Supreme Court won’t hear Maryland school district gender identity case

The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear a bid backed by a conservative Christian legal group to challenge a Maryland school district’s policy against informing parents if their children identify as transgender or gender-nonconforming.

The justices turned away an appeal by three parents with children attending public schools in the Washington suburb of Montgomery County of a lower court’s ruling holding that they lacked the necessary legal standing to challenge the policy. The plaintiffs are represented by the Virginia-based National Legal Foundation.

The issue of transgender rights has become a flashpoint in the U.S. culture wars. As part of this, conservative litigants and parents groups have filed lawsuits in various U.S. jurisdictions challenging school policies that seek to respect requests by transgender students to not “out” them to their parents without their consent.

The policy at issue, adopted by the Montgomery County Board of Education for the 2020-2021 school year, permitted schools to develop gender support plans for students to ensure they “feel comfortable expressing their gender identity.”

The policy directs school personnel to help transgender and gender nonconforming students create a plan that addresses their preferred pronouns, names and bathrooms, and bars staff from informing parents of those plans without a student’s consent.

The plaintiffs — one mother and two fathers — sued in 2020, arguing that the district’s policy violated their due process rights under the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment to direct the care of their children.

U.S. District Judge Paul Grimm tossed the case in 2022, and a three-judge panel of the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal on a 2-1 vote in 2023, finding that while parents raised “compelling” arguments, they lacked standing to pursue their claims.

Judge A. Marvin Quattlebaum, writing for the 4th Circuit majority, cited the lack of allegations that the children of these parents are transgender; have any gender identify issues; or “gender support plans” that addressed, among other things, what names, pronouns and bathrooms they would use.

Quattlebaum, an appointee of Republican former President Donald Trump, said that meant the plaintiffs had failed to put forward facts showing the schools had any information about their children that might be withheld from them.

That flaw rendered their opposition a mere “policy disagreement,” Quattlebaum said.

“And policy disagreements should be addressed to elected policymakers at the ballot box, not to unelected judges in the courthouse,” Quattlebaum wrote.

The parents, in appealing, had argued that the 4th Circuit’s ruling misread U.S. Supreme Court precedent on legal standing and conflicted with decisions by other federal appeals courts. The parents also had urged the justices to not just decide whether they had standing to sue but determine whether the school policy violated their fundamental parental rights, saying that “this issue is not going away.”

“Moreover, this case presents an issue on the merits that is roiling parents and school districts from Maine to California,” they wrote in their petition to the justices. “It is important for parents, their children and public schools alike to have this issue addressed and resolved now.”

The school district said its policy was intended to ensure that its schools provide a safe and welcoming environment where all students feel accepted. While the policy encourages parental involvement whenever possible, the district said, it reflected the reality that in some cases students may not openly express their gender identity at home out of concern for their safety or acceptance.

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