Safety Act (California law)
| Safety Act | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Citation | [1] |
| Passed | July 15, 2024 |
| Signed by | Governor Gavin Newsom |
| Signed | July 15, 2024 |
| Bill citation | [2] |
| Amended by | |
| [3] | |
| 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,[1][2][3] is an first-in-nation act signed and activated by California governor Gavin Newsom on July 15, 2024.[4][5] The state law allows educators discretion in informing parents of a child's LGBTQ+ identity, but bars disclosure being a requirement.[4][6][7]
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, shared that he would move SpaceX and X headquarters (X Corp.) to Starbase, Texas (Brownsville, Texas) and Austin, Texas,[8][9][10] Musk already moved SpaceX to Starbase and X Corp. to Bastrop, Texas.[11][12][13]
Law
[edit]According to the Northern California ACLU, the SAFETY act would, 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.[5]
Reactions
[edit]Elon Musk
[edit]
Elon Musk 
@elonmuskReplying to @Jason
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.
July 16, 2024[14]
Elon Musk @elonmuskReplying to @elonmusk (the post above)
And 𝕏 HQ will move to Austin
July 16, 2024[15]
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),[8] seen as largely symbolic, having already been moved.[16][17] Musk also added in a reply that he would also move the X headquarters (X Corp.; in San Francisco) to Austin, Texas[9] by September 13,[18][19] he instead moved it to Bastrop, Texas.[13][20] Musk claimed was because the recently passed California AB1955 bill "and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies" and is a "final straw".[14][21] However, most of the buildings and workers would remain in Hawthorne until the Falcon program is finished.[22][10][4][23]
Musk also said in the reply on the post that said he would move to Starbase, stating that: "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".[17][14]
Governor Newsom
[edit]Following Musk's move, Governor Newsom then 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 Elon Musk.[21][24][25]
Other reactions
[edit]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,[4][6][26][27] like California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus Chair Susan Eggman. Other supporters, like CTA President David Goldberg, also gave 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”.[7][28]
See also
[edit]- LGBT law in the United States
- Law enforcement in the United States
- LGBTQ rights in California
- California law
References
[edit]- ^ "AB 1955: Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today's Youth Act. | Digital Democracy". digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
- ^ "California AB1955 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session". LegiScan. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
- ^ "New SAFETY Act Signed into Law to Protect LGBTQ+ Students in California | Official Website - Assemblymember Christopher M. Ward Representing the 78th California Assembly District". a78.asmdc.org. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
- ^ a b c d Knutsen, Max (2024-07-17). "California AB 1955: What Is the SAFETY Act?". Plural Policy. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ a b "Protecting the Rights of Trans and Nonbinary Youth in California | ACLU of Northern CA". www.aclunc.org. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
- ^ a b "Newsom Signs AB 1955 and Okays Schools Lying to Parents, Opening the Door to Lawsuits and Child Exploitation". California Policy Center. 2024-07-16. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ a b "Gov. Newsom signs first-in-nation bill banning schools' transgender notification policies". The Mercury News. 2024-07-15. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ a b "Elon Musk says SpaceX and X headquarters moving to Texas, blames new California transgender law". NBC News. 2024-07-16. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ a b Press • •, The Associated (2024-07-16). "Elon Musk says he's moving SpaceX, X HQs to Texas". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ a b Kolodny, Lora (2024-07-16). "Elon Musk says SpaceX and X headquarters moving to Texas, blames California trans student privacy law". CNBC. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ "Elon Musk to move SpaceX and X HQ over gender identity law". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
- ^ Elizabeth Howell (2024-07-17). "Elon Musk says he'll move SpaceX headquarters to Texas over new California LGBTQ+ law". Space.com. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
- ^ a b "X officially kills its San Francisco HQ, will relocate to South Bay". The San Francisco Standard. 2024-08-05. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
- ^ a b c Musk, Elon [@elonmusk] (2024-07-16). "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". X. Retrieved 2024-08-31. - ^ Musk, Elon [@elonmusk] (2024-07-16). "And 𝕏 HQ will move to Austin". X. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ "Musk to Move X, SpaceX to Texas in Deepening Rightward Shift". Bloomberg.com. 2024-07-16. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ a b Clark, Stephen (2024-07-17). "Elon Musk says SpaceX and X will relocate their headquarters to Texas". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ "X, formerly Twitter, to shutter its San Francisco headquarters on Sept. 13 - CBS News". CBS News. 2024-08-29. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ "Elon Musk's X cites exactly when they are shutting down San Francisco HQ". Hindustan Times. 2024-08-30. Archived from the original on 2024-08-30. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ Emerson, Sarah. "Elon Musk Has Officially Moved X To Texas". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
- ^ a b Barrabi, Thomas (2024-07-17). "How Elon Musk fired back after Gavin Newsom said tech giant 'bent the knee' to Trump". New York Post. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
- ^ "Elon Musk plans to move SpaceX HQ to Starbase over new California law". Space Explored. 2024-07-19. Archived from the original on 2024-07-25. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ Jeong, Helen; Service • •, City News (2024-07-16). "Space X headquarters to move from Southern California to Texas". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ Irwin, Lauren (2024-07-17). "Newsom to Musk after HQs move announcement: 'You bent the knee'". The Hill. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
- ^ Newsom, Gavin [@GavinNewsom] (July 17, 2024). "You bent the knee". X. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
- ^ Schermele, Zachary. "California becomes first state to ban forced outing of LGBTQ+ students". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ "What the new California law on LGBTQ+ student privacy means for San Diego schools". Fox 5 San Diego. 16 July 2024. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "AB 1955 – Support Academic Futures & Educators for Today's Youth (SAFETY) Act" (PDF). California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. 2024-05-22. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
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