On October 1, students at Esperanza High School in Anaheim decided they’d had enough of California’s bathroom policies.
Instead of just rolling their eyes and going along with it, they walked out.
About 60 of them left class that morning to protest a state law that lets students use bathrooms and locker rooms based on gender identity, not biological sex.
That’s AB 1266 – the same law Sacramento pushed through back in 2013 under Gov. Jerry Brown.
The Spark
The walkout wasn’t some abstract protest.
It started when junior Lesley Ledesma confronted a biologically male student heading into the girls’ restroom.
According to Ledesma, she asked why. The response was: “I am trans, I identify as a girl.”
Instead of shrugging and moving on, she organized the protest.
That’s right – a teenager did what most adults won’t: stood up and said something.
What the Students Said
At a press conference afterward, Ledesma told reporters she wasn’t out to attack anyone’s identity.
She just wanted privacy and safety in a space where girls are supposed to feel comfortable.
In her words: respect should go both ways.
School district officials, perhaps a little nervous about the optics, called the demonstration “peaceful.”
Police were on site to keep an eye on things, but no arrests or disruptions were reported. Classes resumed after about 45 minutes.
The Supporters
The protest didn’t go unnoticed.
Local figures like Sophia Lorey from California Family Council and school trustee Leandra Blades showed up to lend support.
Blades told the crowd:
“What this is about is the safety of our people. Our females do not feel safe in the bathrooms.”
The Bigger Fight
California has been forcing this bathroom policy for over a decade, and the controversy hasn’t gone away.
Critics say it violates Title IX and undermines protections for girls. Supporters insist it’s about inclusion.
But here’s the thing: if everyone thought the policy was fine and dandy, would teenagers be walking out of class in protest?
California Policies Tend To Drift East
Now, before Nevadans dismiss this as “crazy California stuff,” remember – our own legislature passed SB 245 in 2023.
It’s basically the same deal, though with some talk of opt-outs.
And guess what? Parents and students in Washoe County have already started speaking up.
Petitions, school board testimony, the whole nine yards.
So yes, what starts in California often drifts east across the state line.
We’ve seen it with taxes, energy rules, and now, apparently, bathroom policies.
Kids Proved You Can Say “No” – Without Riots or Chaos
Here’s what stood out in Anaheim: these weren’t parents shouting at school board meetings or lawmakers holding press conferences.
These were kids. They saw something they thought was unfair and said, “Nope, not today.”
No riots, no vandalism – just students walking out and making their point loud and clear.
And maybe that’s what’s most embarrassing for California’s education leaders.
When your teenagers are the ones showing more common sense than the adults writing the laws, it might be time to admit your policy has a problem.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
