CA Bill Could Enforce Gender Neutral Kids Sections In Big Stores

CALIFORNIA — California lawmakers are looking at a bill that would require large retailers to establish gender-neutral sections for children. If it passes, stores that fail to follow the new law could be fined $1,000 in 2023.

The bill, introduced by Assembly member Evan Low late last month, would require department stores with 500 or more employees to maintain a gender-neutral area of the store designated for children.

Large retailers would be required to "maintain undivided areas of its sales floor where, if it sells childcare articles, children’s clothing, or toys, all childcare items, all clothing for children, or all toys, regardless of whether a particular item has traditionally been marketed for either girls or for boys, shall be displayed," the bill proposes.

Authors of Assembly bill 2826 argue that keeping similar items marked either for girls or for boys makes it "difficult for the consumer to compare the products and incorrectly implies that their use by one gender is inappropriate."

The full text of the bill can be found here.