GLSEN Responds to Elon Musks Decision to pull out of California

July 17, 2024 - Yesterday, Elon Musk announced his plans to move SpaceX and Twitter/X out of California. Musk identified the SAFETY Act which bans schools from outing trans and nonbinary students who opt to use their preferred pronouns in the classroom as his last straw with the state.

Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, the Executive Director of GLSEN, which is the leading education organization dedicated to creating safe and inclusive K-12 schools and learning environments for LGBTQ+ youth, made the following statement in response to Musk's efforts troubling announcement:

"Elon Musk's recent efforts to spread misinformation about a California law designed to support transgender youth are deeply troubling. The SAFETY Act recognizes that families, not state officials, are best positioned to navigate the conversations about a child coming out and their gender identity.

This law prevents school staff and politicians from intervening in these deeply personal discussions, ultimately protecting and strengthening the relationship between parents and their transgender children. We commend Governor Newsom and the California legislature for their leadership in advancing these essential legal protections.

By spreading misinformation about this law, Musk perpetuates a harmful pattern of promoting transphobia and using his platform to attack the LGBTQ+ community.

GLSEN left Twitter last year due to its increasing hostility towards LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly youth, under Musk's leadership. His actionsboth through policy changes that facilitate anti-LGBTQ+ attacks and through his own rhetoriccreate a hostile environment. At GLSEN, we remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ youth and advocating for inclusive school environments where every child can thrive."