New Gateway Board Member Takes Her Seat as Shasta County’s First Openly Trans Elected Official
Bobbie Simpson is a Gateway parent who says she wants to ensure good policies in the District. She defeated an incumbent Moms for Liberty candidate to gain her new position on the local school board.
This week Bobbie Simpson was sworn into office as Gateway Unified School District’s newest Board member, becoming the first openly transgender person to be elected in Shasta County. She won by a margin of 639 votes, securing 56% of the voters’ support.
Her victory followed a close race against Board incumbent Elias Haynes. The candidates’ diametric opposition on the contentious issue of so-called “parents’ rights” came to the fore during their campaigns.
While Simpson’s interest in school board politics is broad, one focus of her campaign was acceptance of all students, including those in the LGBTQ+ community. Her opponent, Haynes, was endorsed by both the National and Shasta County branches of Moms for Liberty (M4L), a conservative nonprofit with a central focus on perceived threats to “parents’ rights” and an emphasis on banning LGBTQ+ affirming curricula in the public school system.
Proponents of “parents’ rights” have advocated for school district policies that require staff to inform parents if a student asks to use a different name or pronouns at school. In July, Gavin Newsom signed AB 1955, known as the SAFETY Act, which bans such policies, which are referred to by the ACLU as “forced outings.”
Simpson worries about what parental notification policies could mean for the safety of LGBTQ+ youth in schools.
“I have friends that have been afraid to come out to family,” Simpson said, “and some of them have come out and had great support, some of them have come out and been thrown out of their house, even chased off … at gunpoint. And so, the forced outing policy is an absolute no, to me.”
Her failed competitor Elias Haynes, and his wife Lindsi, who continues to hold an elected seat at Gateway, both joined the five-person Board of Trustees in late 2022 as two of the more than 500 candidates endorsed by M4L across the nation. Gateway serves about 2,000 students in grades K-12.
The Hayneses almost immediately became controversial figures on the Board. One month into their terms, they drew public backlash after voting to dismiss the District’s superintendent, Jim Harrell, without cause. Shortly thereafter, the Board sought to appoint a new superintendent without following the District’s approved policies.
The next summer, a group of more than 500 community members filed for a recall of both Lindsi and Elias Haynes, citing Brown Act violations. That recall was unsuccessful, but soon after, the California Teachers Association filed a cease-and desist-letter, leading the Board to agree to an “unconditional commitment (to) . . . not repeat alleged violations” of California open meeting law.
While Elias Haynes declined to be interviewed for this story, he shared by email that his top priorities as a school board trustee were “spending, improving our academic performance, and our alternatives to higher education pathways.”
While his candidate statement didn’t reference “parental notification” policies, he voted in support of instituting a parental notification policy in the Gateway District last year. While that vote failed, a similar vote in nearby Anderson Union High School District passed in 2023, leading to an ongoing legal battle with the state.
Parental notification policies appeal to some locals, including Kathy Phillips, a retired special education teacher in Redding whose children are now adults. In an interview with Shasta Scout, Phillips expressed her sympathy for students who are struggling or questioning their identities, but said she worries that schools might hide sensitive information about children from their parents and could implement “drugs” or “mutilation surgeries”.
Importantly, California law forbids schools from providing any kind of medical care without parental consent.
While Simpson is openly transgender, she’s made it clear that she isn’t trying to push any specific agenda. Like her fellow Board members, she said she’s focused on student well being.
“I campaigned because I am a parent and I wanted to support the board and the children in Gateway,” Simpson explained.
She’s also passionate about investing in special education services, which have benefited her own family. And she’s a supporter of social emotional learning, which Simpson says “has really connected” her family, and which other Board members have pushed back on in past.
This election wasn’t the first confrontation between Simpson and Moms for Liberty. Last year, she was featured in an online meme posted by Authur Gorman, who sits on the Shasta County of Education’s (SCOE) Board and is also the secretary for the Shasta County M4L chapter. The meme included a picture of both Simpson and the Hayneses with a caption asking which photo voters felt represented the voice of Gateway.
After Simpson spoke about the meme at a SCOE Board meeting, some members of the board issued statements of support for Simpson and considered censuring Gorman, although they did not ultimately vote to do so. Gorman was just voted in as Vice President of the SCOE Board earlier this week.
Meanwhile, hateful direct messages and online comments directed toward Simpson have only increased since her victory. Comments include being called her a “freak,” and having a pre-transition photo of her circulated on the internet.
She said she sometimes worries about her safety. Ahead of her swearing-in at the December 18 Board meeting, Simpson reached out to Debby Boontjer, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent of Gateway Unified. That conversation, she said, assured her that current Board members Lewis and Casey Bowden “will not let people be bullied . . . from either side.”
After her inaugural Board meeting on Wednesday, Simpson spoke to Shasta Scout, sharing her appreciation for the strong statement about respectful speech that Board President Lewis made after swearing her in and expressing her relief that comments throughout the night remained civil.
Even beyond the threat of transphobic hate speech, Simpson says, she expects that there will be the usual disagreements between her and other Board members on topics of interest to the the public. When asked how she’ll handle conflict, she said, “I admire the other Board members who have been able to keep their cool… de-escalation is really the key.”
Simpson says she anticipates working well with the other board members, including Bowden who won a special election in March.
“I supported him with his campaign,” she said, noting that his election broke an ideological stalemate on the Board, which had often split 2-2 on important issues. And despite defeating Elias Haynes, Simpson says she has confidence she’ll be able to work with his wife, Lindsi Haynes, who she described as “friendly and nice.”
“She’s got a daughter, and they’ve had issues with the school District, which is why they wanted to get on the board,” Simpson says of Ms. Haynes, “I respect that – being able to actually be a parent and stand up and do something.”
On Wednesday, after the swearing-in, Lindsi Haynes encouraged Simpson to read her Board packet before meetings, saying “you’ll be ahead of others” if you do. Other Board members offered Simpson words of welcome, saying they’re glad to be working with her.
The newest Gateway Board member says she’s also received appreciation and congratulations from many others, including her own children.
“My daughter is so proud”, Simpson said.
“She told me, ‘I want to be like you when I grow up.’ … That was so meaningful, because it was after I’ve transitioned and I’m actually doing things.”
While diverse opinions are welcome, Shasta Scout will not tolerate anti-trans hate speech on our platforms. Please be respectful. Do you have a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.
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ANNELISE PIERCE
Founder / Managing Editor / Community Reporter
I’m sorry, I thought your title indicated you had some responsibility for this web blog. My earlier comment was a factual observation of your obvious unhealthy weight gain. It was not a comment on your appearance. That would be a whole other topic. I look forward to seeing you in person. I have some diet and exercise tips for you. Also, you may want to consider some mental health help. Significant weight gain over a short-term time period could also indicate depression. I’m glad I could help.
I wish you the best, Mindy.
Not to change the latest gender identity news here.
But a couple of years ago on the news was . . .
I have a question? Where does it end?
Hi Happy I’ve edited your comment. I have a question. If the voters overwhelmingly selected Bobbie Simpson to be their new board member, does it matter to her work as an elected official how other individuals feel about her gender?
Misgendering ? Promote transgenderism or be censored? Might as well call your site Shasta —–. What other biblical principals do you find offensives?
Hi Chris: I have edited your comment. No one has asked you or others to promote anything. We’re simply requiring you to avoid denigrating speech targeted at people based on their race or gender, while leaving comments on our platform or social media posts.
lol imagine thinking a book written by committee over 2000 years has anything beyond the vaguest semblance of anything that may or may not have happened
Because that 2000 plus year old book is like reading today’s newspaper
Much easier to believe than a man can become a woman by far
Chris S, Please enroll in a class called Human Sexuality at Shasta College, it’ll earn you 3 units and a great deal of information about humans and their flexibility.
I would much rather enroll inn classes at Shasta Bible College far more truths taught there and mayI suggest putting down your rainbow flag for a while because it is getting old
Congratulations on your election to the Gateway Unified School District Ms. Simpson. As a duly elected Board member and a counter to the M4L crowd your job will have many ups and downs as you help make decisions about the operations of the rural school district you will serve. If the Federal Dept. of Education is eliminated the necessity of learning a new set of rules will be a challenge. As you serve the children, parents, community, school staff and administrators focus on the job, try to ignore those who attempt to demean you and remember that gender identity is the cause du jour. Used to distract and rile those, who in their lack of understanding, are easily manipulated to believe and behave as if they are superior to those around them. Good luck and be safe.
Bobbie – you are a great example for other trans people to get involved in their communities. I have great respect for you and know you will do a fantastic job for the Gateway USD and their children.
Unless someone can come up with data, Bobbie Simpson may very well be the first Trans person to be elected to an elementary school board in CA. Not that we’re looking for any special data for Shasta County.
This is a time for those who are uncomfortable or without knowledge of Transgenderism who might want to delve into articles that explain this human medical/social and chemical related phenomenon. Transgender’s are nothing knew to the human condition. Transgenders have been part of our history for many centuries. Shasta County tends to have a plethora of Trans folks and there’s no reason to need to know why, it just is.
“While diverse opinions are welcome, Shasta Scout will not tolerate anti-trans hate speech on our platforms.” I am curious: why would you be specific on this to only include anti-trans hate speech? Why not say ALL hate speech will not be tolerated? I say this because I read so much hate in the comments on here, particularly toward those who hold conservative values, those of us who voted for our President-elect, and those of us who are traditional in our lifestyle.
Mrs. Lynn, you report that Shasta Scout does not treat conservatives, those who voted for our President-elect, and those who live traditional lifestyles fairly. Please explain this to me.
In what traditional lifestyle and in what traditional conservative lifestyle universe is it okay to commit sexual abuse? The Judge said E Jean Carroll’s allegation Trump raped her is ‘substantially true’ in dismissal of Trump’s counterclaim.
In what traditional lifestyle and in what traditional conservative lifestyle universe is it okay to proudly vote for a criminal convicted of 34 felony counts for a president, let alone a dog catcher?
I, for one, am tired of all the conservative practices claiming to have higher-than-thou moral standards or beliefs hypocrisy.
Happy Holidays, and may we all have a better New Year.
Christian, My comment was a question directed to the editor. It was not a report. My question was very straightforward. Specifically, “Why allow hate speech at all?”
What is to be gained with any hate speech toward any one?
I agree, hate speech is not productive.
However, I was replying to your statement, “I read so much hate in the comments on here, particularly toward those who hold conservative values, those of us who voted for our President-elect, and those of us who are traditional in our lifestyle.” I’m pretty sure the “here” you were referring to is Shasta Scout, and you are the one who brought up Trump, who has a long history of blabbering Hate Speech as an example.
Happy Holidays and My We All Have A Better New Year!
I’m all for being civil, AND for the freedom of speech.
Hi Barb. While a variety of statements may be offensive to someone of a differing viewpoint, there is a difference between speech directed at someone because of their religion or politics and speech directed at someone because of their gender or race. The latter is what I moderate in the comments. In legal terms, these are known as protected characteristics. As you’ll notice, occasionally people come on here to call me a bad journalist. That’s not hate speech no matter how much they might say they hate me or my journalism. It’s just their opinion. And they’re welcome to express it here.
“there is a difference between speech directed at someone because of their religion or politics and speech directed at someone because of their gender or race.”
So you do not moderate religious hate speech? What is the logic behind treating religion as an adoptable “viewpoint” and gender as a fixed identity given the increasing malleability of gender and the relative rarity of religious conversion?
Jay: I don’t think I’ve ever had to moderate targeted speech based on religion. However it is true that someone’s real or perceived religion is a protected social group under California law. My comment was in reference to, for example, the term “christian nationalist” which combines religious and political groups but I should have phrased that differently. Thanks for your question and your push for me to correct/clarify.
Thanks for the clarification.
The religious hate speech I notice most often (locally) is directed at Bethel, but I can appreciate how difficult it must be to separate the political (e.g. 7 mountains mandate) from religious. Similarly, institutions around the world are struggling with how to handle criticism of Zionism without opening the door to antisemitism…
Jay: Yes I don’t think Bethel qualifies as a religion.
Annelise
You are correct about one thing. You are a bad journalist. Please consider the following to improve your creditability:
“Journalism today is built off true, accurate and objective information. To remove those aspects would be damaging to the very core of not just journalism but also the very way information is spread and given to viewers and others all around the world. The audience will see the lack of ethics and standards, making others question whether information is good and reliable information.”
Source Wikipedia Ethics in Journalism.
It’s funny how you bash conservatives and then write a puff piece on an individual with obvious mental challenges put in charge of children’s education.
Mindy: Since you’ve now moved from comments on my personal appearance to comments on my journalism perhaps you can provide specific concerns either from the past or as they come up. That’s more helpful to me and others than simply “you’re a bad journalist”. You say I “bash conservatives”. Please provide examples. Also if the “puff piece” you’re referring to is the one on Bobbie Simpson – I didn’t write that piece.
I tried to leave a comment twice and apparently, the moderator finds (my comments) to be hate speech. Maybe the so-called moderator was offended by my opinion (shared by many). I expected more from Shasta Scout than to censor someone because they disagree. … Probably wasting my time, since they’ll likely censor this reply, too.
Geoffrey: I have deleted two of your comments and edited this one. Hate speech is defined as speech that denigrates someone based on a core aspect of their identity such as their gender or race. I understand that you hold the belief that Bobbie’s very existence as a woman is a falsehood. You are allowed to believe whatever you’d like. But here, on Shasta Scout’s platform, I won’t allow intentional misgendering. You’ll have to find somewhere else to express yourself in that way.
I said absolutely nothing denigrating anyone. If you find the truth offensive, perhaps journalism shouldn’t be your profession or at least don’t claim to be an objective journalist. Who knows how many other comments you have deleted from others with whom you disagree and simply declare it as “hate speech.” I had high hopes for Shasta Scout as an objective news source alternative in this area. I was wrong and I will point this out to others. Again, I am probably wasting my time, but I don’t expect this comment to be allowed at all or without you modifying it according to your “righteous” interpretation of what is “hate speech.”
Hi Geoffrey. I have edited your comment.
Annelise, since you chose not to let the objectively true statement I made in my comment remain, and then you (cowardly – in my opinion) turned off replies to your comment admitting you censored my reply, you have shown you are far from an unbiased journalist. So, I clicked reply on my own comment to leave this one. Again, probably a total waste of time and I will not comment further nor waste my time with Shasta Scout again.
Geoffrey: I haven’t turned off replies to any comments, just fyi.
Aysha, Very nice, well written article! Congrats to Bobbie! Thank you Shasta Scout and to the Safe And Sane majority of voters of the Gateway District.
Happy Holidays and New Year to all.
In precincts Donald Trump won by more than 2-1, the voters take the first opportunity to throw M4L-aligned incumbents out, in favor of someone who is said to be well informed but obviously is an odd duck for a political candidate in Shasta County.
Conservatives really ought to practice running things without massively alienating the community. Might work better for them.
I’m very pleased for Bobbie and all of Gateway USD. They have chosen to prioritize the well being of all students above all else. Thank you.
Congratulation to Bobbie!!! She will serve Gateway with honor
the sounds of heads exploding must be deafening
A sad, sad day for Gateway. It cannot prosper.
In many people’s opinion, it will prosper in the teaching and understanding of a new generation, although LBGTQ has been around probably longer than you or myself has lived. Maybe it can also teach the meanig of bigotry also.
No- it is a sad, sad day for transphobes and homophobes.
Elizabeth…pose this same question in 4 years when Ms. Simpson will likely run again, and then I hope you can give her a Gold Star.