Prominent anti-trans activist Beth Bourne running for Davis school board
Beth Bourne, one of the most prominent anti-transgender activists in the state, is running for the Davis Joint Unified School District Board of Education.
Bourne is the chair of the Yolo County’s chapter of Moms for Liberty, a nonprofit that describes itself as advocating for parental rights. She frequently protests policies related to transgender students at school board meetings and city events.
Bourne filed her candidate documents Monday, as first reported by The Davis Vanguard.
In an interview with The Sacramento Bee Friday, Bourne said she wanted to run for the school board to provide “a different perspective” than what she currently sees in local school boards.
Bourne said she wants to advocate for parents’ right to be involved in decisions regarding their childrens’ gender identity at school, including the changing of names, pronouns or use of locations like bathrooms and locker rooms.
“You’re telling kids at school that it’s okay to keep secrets from parents, and that has to end,” Bourne said.
Bourne said she is concerned about schools discussing mental health, teaching ethnic studies and allowing transgender girls to compete in sports. She also said she wants the district to be more transparent with decisions, including financial decisions like raises for administration compared to the raises for teachers.
Last year, Bourne gained media attention when she removed her shirt and pants at a Davis Joint Unified School District board meeting over what she called the school’s policy to allow transgender students to choose a bathroom that aligns with their gender identity.
In 2023, she was served a restraining order from the district for sharing teachers’ personal information, which was later revoked, according to previous reporting from The Bee. Also in 2023, after Moms for Liberty hosted an event discussing trans women in sports, Davis schools received repeated bomb threats.
Bourne previously worked for UC Davis, but her position was eliminated last year after the university announced budget cuts, according to previous Bee reporting.
Bourne said she was notified on June 12 by the Davis school district that she was not permitted on district property except as authorized for a 14-day period, which has since ended, because she was interfering with peaceful conduct of the campus. She said this is not the first time the district has restricted her from properties.
“We’ve sort of been silenced in this town,” Bourne said. "If you do make a public comment at the school board about an issue, one of the trustees currently on the board will jump in as soon as you’re done and say, 'We don’t really want to hear that kind of speech or that’s hate speech.’ ... We have to have our school boards and our school board meetings be a place where all speech is welcome.”
Spokespeople for the district did not immediately return a request for comment Friday.
Bourne is running to replace incumbent trustee Elizabeth Moon, who was elected in 2022, according to the district’s website. Moon represents the district’s area 4, bordered by L Street to the west and Mace Boulevard to the east.
As of Friday, Moon had not filed paperwork to run for re-election, according to the Yolo County website. The filing period ends Aug. 7.
