"Newsom's Stance on LGBTQ+ Rights and Parental Support Sparks Controversy in California"

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a law requiring all public schools in the state to provide gender-neutral bathrooms. The legislation expands on an existing law that allows students to use the bathroom corresponding to their gender identity. The new law explicitly mandates the inclusion of a gender-neutral option, inspired by an attempt by a school district to restrict transgender students' access to certain facilities. This law is part of a package of bills aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ youths and comes amidst culture wars in conservative-controlled school boards. Newsom's signing of these bills follows criticism for vetoing a bill that would have considered a parent's support of a child's gender identity in custody battles.