board meeting“>During a recent school board session, a mother made headlines by dramatically removing her shirt to protest a policy allowing transgender students to use locker rooms corresponding to their gender identity. Beth Bourne, a 50-year-old activist and chair of Moms for Liberty in Yolo County, stunned attendees at the Davis Joint Unified School Board meeting on September 18 with her bold demonstration.
Bourne addressed the board to highlight the discomfort and vulnerability some students experience when sharing changing spaces with peers who identify differently from their biological sex. She emphasized the issue, especially since the district mandates that students change clothes for physical education classes, as reported by ABC10.
Before beginning her speech, Bourne warned the board members, “I’m going to give you a glimpse of what it feels like when I undress.” As she spoke about the district’s policy allowing students to choose bathrooms based on their transgender identity, she began removing her top, revealing a bikini underneath. One board member immediately objected, saying, “No, you cannot…” but Bourne responded firmly, “I’m already wearing a swimsuit,” asserting her right to continue.
The board quickly called for a recess to halt the disruption, but Bourne insisted on finishing her remarks, citing her First Amendment rights. Her microphone was cut off, and after the break, she was permitted to speak again. Despite warnings from the board chair that further interruptions would lead to her removal, Bourne repeated her act of removing her shirt, prompting a second recess and ultimately her ejection from the meeting by police officers.
According to the school board president, public presentations must adhere to established guidelines, and disruptions can lead to pauses in the meeting and removal of those causing disturbances. Police charged Bourne with disturbing the peace, though she maintains that her constitutional rights were infringed upon and is currently seeking legal counsel.
In an interview with CBS News, Bourne explained her motivation: “I wanted to provide a visual representation of what it’s like to change clothes while being observed by someone of the opposite sex. If adults feel uncomfortable with that scenario-and I’m a 50-year-old woman-how can we expect young girls to feel safe in the locker room?”
Having engaged with the board on transgender issues for three years, Bourne advocates for open dialogue and debate on sensitive topics, believing that transparency will contribute to a safer community for all students.
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