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A California school board meeting erupted into bedlam on September 18 as activist Beth Bourne disrobed to a bikini in protest over the district's transgender students' use of girls' locker rooms. The protest was the catalyst at the Davis Joint Unified School Board meeting, sparking controversy and protests over student privacy and the First Amendment.

Bourne, a chair of Yolo County's Moms for Liberty, explained she hoped board members could feel the vulnerability that is experienced by students when friends pick locker rooms according to gender identity. "I'm a mom in the Davis Unified School District, and I'm here today to speak with you regarding the policies you have for the locker rooms within the junior high schools… So I'm just going to give you an idea what that looks like when I undress," she informed the shocked trustees, before pulling out her bikini from under her clothing, ABC10 reports.

The activist stressed that students must strip to their underwear for gym at Emerson, Holmes, and Harper Junior High Schools, and she challenged the transgender policy which lets gender-identifying students choose bathroom and locker room use.

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Chaos At The Meeting

As Bourne removed her top, one board member exclaimed, “No, you cannot…” prompting the trustees to call a recess to regain control of the meeting. Bourne protested, insisting, “I’ve got to finish my comments… You are violating my First Amendment right, I am putting on my…” before her microphone was cut off.

After the recess, Bourne was allowed a second chance to speak, but board members warned her that any further disruptions would result in her being asked to leave. Undeterred, she continued her demonstration, stating, “If adults don’t feel comfortable watching me undress, how can young girls feel comfortable in the same situation?” 

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School officials condemned the protest, calling it inappropriate. Trustee Cecilia Escamilla-Greenwald said the act was “very inappropriate” and added that the board would consult legal counsel to address similar disruptions in the future. The incident has ignited discussion on how school districts balance student privacy, inclusivity, and community concerns regarding transgender rights.