On September 18, in an unusual display of protest at a meeting of the Davis Joint Unified School Board, Beth Bourne, chair of Moms for Liberty in Yolo County, chose to remove her clothing to express her discontent with the district’s junior high school locker room policies.
Before her unexpected striptease, Bourne articulated her concerns, arguing that the school board must comprehend the feelings of vulnerability experienced by students when peers select a locker room based on their gender identity rather than their sex assigned at birth. The district’s policy allows students to undress in whatever locker room aligns with their identified gender.
“So I’m just going to give you a visual representation of what it feels like when I undress,” the 50-year-old activist stated before revealing her bikini top after removing her shirt.
“This school district is permitting children to choose their bathrooms based solely on their transgender identity,” Bourne continued, advancing her point while continuing to strip off her pants.
In stark opposition to Bourne’s actions, a school board trustee exclaimed, “No, you cannot do that.” To which Bourne retorted, “I have my bathing suit on. Excuse me, this is permitted.”
The meeting’s Vice President, Hiram Jackson—filling in for Board President Joe DiNunzio—quickly ordered a recess, presumably to quell the mounting chaos.
Yet, Bourne rejected the call for order, claiming her right to free speech was being suppressed. “I need to finish my comments,” she protested, asserting that her First Amendment rights were being disrespected, even as her microphone was cut off.
“You are disrupting,” Jackson responded, proceeding to suspend the meeting. Later coverage by ABC 10 mentioned that when the board reconvened, members cautioned Bourne against further disrobing, warning her that she would be removed from the premises should she continue.
Nonetheless, Bourne persisted in her unconventional act of protest, leading to yet another recess. Ultimately, police intervention was required to remove her from the meeting.
After the incident, Bourne claimed that her First Amendment rights had been infringed upon, and stated she is seeking legal advice on the matter.
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