Payam Javan: California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a new bill directing public school students toward an online LGBT forum that critics say could expose minors to online predators. Assembly Bill 727, approved on October 10—World Mental Health Day—requires all middle schools, high schools, and colleges in the state to print contact information for The Trevor Project on the back of student identification cards.

Supporters of the bill claim the measure will connect vulnerable youth to mental health and suicide prevention resources. However, critics argue that The Trevor Project’s online forum, known as TrevorSpace, lacks adequate age verification and moderation, creating an unsafe digital environment for minors. According to The Christian Post, the site allows users as young as 13 to interact freely with adults worldwide.

Brenda Lebsack, a trustee with the Santa Ana Unified School District, said the platform “puts kids in harm’s way” by enabling unmonitored communication between minors and adults. “TrevorSpace allows minors to explore their sexualities with random strangers internationally—this is dangerous for our most vulnerable children,” she said, citing her own experience observing the site.

Law enforcement officials share similar concerns. Kevin Brown, a retired police officer and founder of the anti-trafficking group Lives Worth Saving, testified against the bill, warning that predators can easily infiltrate the forum. Brown said he tested the platform by creating a fake 15-year-old profile and was immediately contacted by adults, one of whom tried to move the conversation to another chat platform, Discord, known for hosting illicit content.

Both the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and the Orange County Department of Education reportedly urged Newsom to veto the bill, citing child safety risks. Despite these warnings, Newsom signed the legislation, continuing a trend of advancing progressive LGBT initiatives in California schools.