Elon Musk to relocate companies over gender identity law in California schools

Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has vowed to relocate two companies in protest over a California law that will ensure schools do not have to notify parents of a student’s gender identity requests.

He announced his plans to move the headquarters of aeronautics company SpaceX and social media company X to Texas on Tuesday over the newly passed law.

“This is the final straw,” Musk said on X.

“Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas.”

The multi-billionaire also said he is transferring X from its art-deco headquarters in San Francisco to Austin, a threat he has made before but never carried through.

Musk has already moved Tesla’s headquarters from Palo Alto in Silicon Valley to Austin, Texas.

“I did make it clear to Governor [Gavin] Newsom about a year ago that laws of this nature would force families and companies to leave California to protect their children,” Musk wrote.

Musk has expressed deep disdain about the use of preferred pronouns, often mocking the practice on social media and dismissing it as part of a “woke” agenda that was dangerous for society.

What is California’s new law?

California governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill on Monday after a contentious legislative process that pitted a handful of school boards fighting for parental rights against LGBTIQ+ activists concerned about the welfare of vulnerable students.

The law reversed decisions in conservative school districts that ordered teachers to notify parents if a student changed their name or pronouns or requested to use facilities or participate in programs that didn’t match their official gender.

Elon Musk has previously criticised Gavin Newsom, who is a former San Francisco mayor, during the deadliest stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, when he challenged the decisions of city and state health officials. Source: AAP / Jessica Christian/AP

Newsom, who is seen as a potential alternative to US President Joe Biden as a candidate for the White House, has often clashed with conservatives over gender issues at state schools.

Last year, he signed a law that sets fines for school districts that ban textbooks portraying LGBTIQ+ people and other marginalised groups.

The latest law came after Newsom fought bitterly with a conservative school board over its opposition to the study of gay rights figure Harvey Milk, a San Francisco public official who was assassinated.

The tech billionaire has also endorsed Republican candidate Donald Trump, who vehemently opposes the Equality Act civil rights protections covering gender identity and sexual orientation.

On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Musk plans to donate $45 million a month to a pro-Trump fundraising group.

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