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Download California on Monday became the first US state to enshrine certain rights for transgender students from kindergarten to the 12th grade in state law. The new legislation requires public schools to allow those students access to whichever restroom and locker room they want. Democratic Gov Jerry Brown announced that he has signed the bill, which also allows transgender students to choose whether they want to play boys or girls sports. The law gives students the right to participate in sex-segregated programs, activities and facilities based on their self-perception, regardless of their birth gender. Supporters said it will help to reduce bullying and discrimination against transgender students. The move comes as families of transgender students are waging battles with school districts across the country over what restrooms and locker rooms their children can use, disagreements that have sometimes landed in court. "Will transgender students make some other children uncomfortable? Perhaps," said the author of the bill, Democratic state legislator Tom Ammiano. "I don't want to minimize that, but new experiences are often uncomfortable. That can't be an excuse for prejudice." The California Catholic Conference objected to the law, which it said was proposed to help just a few students, but will have an impact on all of them. "Inevitably, some mischievous or malicious individuals will use this sweeping policy change as an opportunity to disrupt school settings for the purpose of intimidating others, exactly the behavior we wish to address," it said. | 
