Locker room rules became the center of attention at a California school board meeting after activist Beth Bourne carried out a protest that stunned the entire room. Bourne, who has been speaking out for years against these policies, chose a dramatic way to express her concerns and forced officials to pause the meeting.
The meeting took place on September 18 during the Davis Unified School Board’s public comment session. Like other attendees, Beth Bourne had signed up to speak, but her actions quickly set her apart from the rest.
Beth Bourne is no stranger to these meetings. She has repeatedly voiced her opposition to the district’s locker room rules, which allow transgender students to use the changing room that matches their gender identity. Bourne has argued that the rule creates uncomfortable and unsafe situations for young girls. While her concerns have been shared before, this time she decided to go further with a bold performance that caught everyone by surprise.
As she stood at the podium, Beth Bourne began to undress. Underneath, she revealed a bathing suit, explaining that her act was meant to show what girls experience when they must undress around transgender students in locker rooms. The visual protest led the board to recess the meeting for five minutes, an unusual interruption that highlighted just how disruptive her actions were.
Speaking directly to the board, Bourne said she wanted to give them a clear picture of the reality students face. “I’m a parent in the Davis Unified School District, and I’m here today to talk about the policies you have for the locker rooms in the junior high schools,” she told them. She even listed schools such as Emerson, Holmes, and Harper Junior High.
Beth Bourne explained further, “Right now, we require our students to undress for PE class. So I’m just going to give you an idea of what that looks like when I undress.”
Her point was sharp. “If the adults don’t feel comfortable watching someone, and I’m a 50-year-old woman, how can they expect girls to feel comfortable doing that in the locker room?” she asked. To her, the demonstration was the only way to make her concerns impossible to ignore.
After the meeting resumed, Beth Bourne once again attempted to undress at the podium.
This time, she accused the board of trying to silence her voice and limit her free speech rights. She stated afterward that she had everything covered since she was wearing a bathing suit, but the impact of her protest was undeniable.
Bourne later reflected on her choice, saying, “I thought I made a really good point. I just thought I would show the school board what it’s like to change into your PE clothing, and I had a bathing suit on, so everything was covered as far as my body.”
Her protest created an even bigger stir because of her role outside the meeting. Beth Bourne is the chair of Moms for Liberty, a conservative group that first gained attention in 2021 for opposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Since then, the group has pushed against LGBTQ+ representation in school libraries and fought lessons they describe as “critical race theory.” Her leadership role in the group has amplified the reaction to her protest, as many see her actions as part of a larger campaign.
The shocking protest left officials scrambling. Trustee Cecilia Escamilla-Greenwald told The Vanguard, a local news outlet, that police had been contacted once Beth Bourne began to undress a second time. She strongly condemned the behavior and called it inappropriate.
Escamilla-Greenwald explained that the school board would need to review the incident and discuss next steps. “We are going to be meeting about this, about what to do in such situations,” she said. “I know that our superintendent is going to be speaking with counsel to see what can be done because it’s very inappropriate for anybody to be coming before the board and behaving in such a manner.”
Her words were firm. “It’s very inappropriate,” she repeated, stressing that the board would not tolerate similar disruptions in the future.
The protest over locker room rules has left the community divided. Some parents believe Beth Bourne raised a valid issue in a way that finally drew attention to concerns many have quietly expressed. Others see her actions as extreme and disruptive, crossing boundaries of decency.
For supporters, Bourne’s decision to use a bathing suit as a symbol was a clever way to push her point. They argue that if adults in the room felt uncomfortable watching her, it proves that young girls in locker rooms might feel the same discomfort under current policies. To them, the protest highlighted an overlooked problem.
For critics, the protest was irresponsible. They believe that stripping during a school board meeting sets a bad example for students and undermines constructive discussion. Some also point to her involvement with Moms for Liberty as evidence that the protest was less about students and more about advancing a political agenda.
Locker room rules remain a contentious subject in school districts across the country. Policies that allow transgender students to use facilities matching their gender identity have been praised for protecting inclusivity and equality. Yet at the same time, these rules have faced strong opposition from groups concerned about privacy and safety.
Beth Bourne’s protest shows how deeply personal and emotional the issue has become. For her, the problem is not abstract. She has attended board meetings for three years, speaking up month after month, and believes the only way to be heard was through a shocking act. Her persistence reflects the frustration many parents feel when they believe school officials are not listening.
The Davis Unified School Board now faces the challenge of balancing rights, safety, and community concerns. Officials must address not only Bourne’s protest but also the larger debate about how locker room rules affect students. The outcome of their discussions could shape future policies in the district and influence debates in other communities as well.
Another major issue raised by the protest is free speech. Beth Bourne accused the board of silencing her when she attempted to undress a second time. She framed the act as a form of expression protected under free speech. However, boards and public meetings have rules of conduct that limit disruptive behavior, raising questions about where free speech ends and inappropriate actions begin.
The involvement of the police further complicates the situation. While no reports suggest that Beth Bourne was arrested, the fact that law enforcement was contacted shows the seriousness with which the board viewed her actions. Officials will now need to clarify what behavior is acceptable during meetings, especially when protests push boundaries.
The shock from the protest is likely to linger in the community. Parents, students, and teachers are left discussing not only the locker room rules but also the way concerns should be raised. Some feel inspired to speak up more boldly. Others worry that extreme protests distract from finding real solutions.
The school board’s decision on how to handle future incidents will be closely watched. Trustee Escamilla-Greenwald’s statement made clear that new guidelines may be introduced, and legal counsel will be involved. This could result in stricter rules for public comment sessions, limiting how protests can take place.
At the same time, the debate over locker room rules will not disappear. For families like Bourne’s, the issue touches on daily school life. For advocacy groups on both sides, the debate is part of a much larger national conversation about rights, identity, and safety in schools.
Beth Bourne’s protest over locker room rules has already become a symbol of how emotional and divisive school policies can be. By stripping at the podium, she forced everyone in the room to confront her perspective, whether they agreed with her or not. The Davis Unified School Board now faces the difficult task of responding not only to her protest but to the broader questions it represents.
The protest may have been shocking, but it succeeded in bringing locker room rules into the spotlight. The discussions that follow will reveal whether Beth Bourne’s act changes anything or simply becomes another controversial moment in an already heated debate.
