AMAC Action Stands with Parents in Major Supreme Court Case

AMAC Action is standing with parents and families nationwide by joining a major amicus brief now before the United States Supreme Court in Mirabelli v. Bonta, a case that strikes at the heart of parental rights, transparency in public education, and the role of government in family life.

The case arises from a deeply troubling policy adopted by a California school district that required teachers and school staff to conceal a child’s “social gender transition” from parents. Under the policy, educators were prohibited—and in some cases required—to mislead parents about how their own children were being treated at school unless the child explicitly consented to disclosure. One family involved in the lawsuit did not learn that their daughter was being treated as a boy at school until after she attempted suicide.

Parents and teachers challenged the policy in federal court, arguing that it violated long-established parental rights and forced teachers to act against their conscience. A federal district court in San Diego agreed, issuing a permanent injunction that blocked California officials from enforcing the policy statewide. That ruling was a clear victory for families.

However, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit later stayed the injunction, reopening the door for secret social transition policies to take effect while the case is appealed.

AMAC Action joined a broad coalition of organizations in filing an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to vacate the Ninth Circuit’s stay and reinstate the district court’s injunction. The brief was led by Advancing American Freedom, with AMAC Action signing on to underscore the importance of parental rights for parents, grandparents, and families across the country.

The brief argues that parental rights are among the most deeply rooted liberties in American law and history, citing previous Court precedent to explain that parents—not the state—have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing, care, and education of their children. Policies that deliberately exclude parents from critical decisions about their children’s mental health and identity, the brief argues, violate the Fourteenth Amendment and undermine ordered liberty.

The brief also places the California case in a broader national context. Similar “parental exclusion” policies have appeared in school districts across the country, and legal challenges are now pending in at least ten federal circuits. Without clear guidance from the Supreme Court, parents and teachers remain vulnerable to policies that prioritize ideology over transparency and family integrity.

“Parents should never be treated as obstacles to be managed or bypassed by government bureaucracies,” said Andy Mangione, Senior Vice President of AMAC Action. “This case is about far more than one school district in California. It’s about whether parents retain the right to know what is happening in their own children’s lives and to guide them through sensitive and potentially life-altering situations. AMAC Action is proud to stand up for families and demand accountability from public schools.”

The Supreme Court has so far declined to squarely address the growing wave of cases involving secret social transition policies. Mirabelli v. Bonta presents a critical opportunity for the Court to reaffirm that parental rights are not optional, outdated, or subject to bureaucratic discretion.

AMAC Action’s participation in this case reflects a continued commitment to defending families, protecting constitutional liberties, and ensuring that public institutions serve rather than supplant the role of parents. As the case moves forward, its outcome could set a national precedent with lasting implications for schools, families, and parental rights across America.