Amy Bohn is the president and co-founder of PERK (Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids), an organization that advocates for parental rights at the local and state level in California. Bohn recently spoke with Fox News Digital about California’s AB 1955 legislation, which would prevent educators from informing parents when their children change pronouns, names, or gender identities at school. Bohn believes this legislation is a violation of parental rights and promotes secrecy by creating secret files on parents at the school level. Supporters of the bill argue that students are entitled to privacy and dignity in deciding when to share private information.
Bohn argues that minors do not have the legal capacity to consent to such decisions without parental guidance. She believes that parents play a crucial role in guiding and protecting their children from exploitation, and laws are in place to ensure that children are not making decisions without proper consent. Bohn sees this legislation as a political move by Governor Gavin Newsom, eroding parental rights and using children as pawns in a political agenda. She believes Newsom is not genuinely concerned about the wellbeing of children but is focused on advancing his political goals through this legislation.
In addition to opposing AB 1955, PERK has been actively involved in other policy battles related to education, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bohn has spoken out against vaccine mandates in school districts, arguing that medical decisions should be made by parents and doctors. PERK has challenged vaccine mandates, including COVID-related mandates, through litigation, and has been successful in overturning them. Bohn believes that mandates undermine freedom and go against the principles of the Constitution.
PERK also fought against COVID lockdowns imposed by Newsom and teachers’ unions, arguing that prolonged closures would harm children’s academic learning and overall wellbeing. The organization sent letters to the governor and legislators expressing their concerns about the negative impact of lockdown policies on students. They informed parents about the potential consequences of prolonged closures and mobilized them to push back against these measures. PERK was credited with driving local protests and activism at school board meetings, advocating for the reopening of schools as quickly as possible to benefit families and children.
Overall, PERK remains committed to protecting parental rights and advocating for policies that benefit children’s education and safety. Bohn and the organization have been actively engaged in challenging legislation like AB 1955, vaccine mandates, and COVID lockdowns, in order to ensure that parents have a voice in decisions that impact their children. They continue to fight against policies that undermine freedom, privacy, and parental authority, and strive to empower families to advocate for their rights in the education system.