California retailers are now required to have gender-neutral toy aisles

KTLA ^ | January 2, 2024 | by: Iman Palm

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Major retailers in California are now required to have gender-neutral toy aisles under a new state law that went into effect on Monday.

The new law requires retail department stores physically located in California with 500 or more employees to “maintain a gender-neutral section or area, to be labeled at the discretion of the retailer.”

Stores that already have gender-focused toy areas won’t have to get rid of them but instead add a toy section that would apply to children of any gender, according to the law’s text.

The law passed the state Legislature and was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021. Retailers that don’t comply with the law will initially be fined $250, followed by $500 for repeat offenders.

California Assemblymember Evan Low, D-Silicon Valley, said an 8-year-old inspired him to introduce the bill.

“I was inspired to introduce this bill after 8-year-old Britten asked, ‘Why should a store tell me what a girl’s shirt or toy is?’” Low said in a statement. “Her bill will help children express themselves freely and without bias. We need to let kids be kids.”

[frank ballenger]

Woke Gestapo will patrol by walking down the aisles in squads nodding at good and frowning at bad. Bad will have dangerous results.

[frank ballenger]

RE: will need input of children....

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=595213416&q=child+villains+horror+movies&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjg9eK48b-DAxXohIkEHf01

[ProtectOurFreedom]

California Assemblymember Evan Low, D-Silicon Valley -- “I was inspired to introduce this bill after 8-year-old Britten asked, ‘Why should a store tell me what a girl’s shirt or toy is?’”

Uh huh. Sure.

This guy doesn't get out much. Does he think this lass played with Barbies?

[ealgeone]

If the “law” doesn’t specify how much space is required, just set up one aisle and 3 inches by 2 inches, put a ball on it for sale.

[Gen.Blather]

If the article I read on this properly quoted the law, it is so vague in defining gender neutral that the safest thing to do to avoid fines is stop selling toys altogether. My guess is this is what the store’s legal departments will tell them.

[MNDude]

1st amendment violation

[EvilCapitalist]

They’re called Action Figures. There’s no such thing as boy dolls. I played with GI Joe Action Figures growing up in the 80’s.

[lepton]

‘Why should a store tell me what a girl’s shirt or toy is?’” Low said in a statement.

---

Because you’re too daft to figure it out for yourself.

[R_Kangel]

..... This is probably just virtue signaling ..... When you think about it ..... Most toy isles are separated into types of toys and not Boys and Girl Sections .... If they have signs saying Boys and Girls ... All they would need to do is take down those signs.

.

[TBP]

They revel in the harm they do.

[caver]

I don’t remember going in any store where it says “Boys Toys or “Girls Toys”.

[chopperk]

fACISM!

[metmom]

Actually, there are dolls that are made as boys that are not action figures.

Goetz Dolls makes them.

https://www.goetz-puppen.de/en/world-of-dolls/you-your-doll/who-is-who/

There used to be a Goetz factory in CNY and they made one of the American Girl dolls lines there. We took a tour there a couple times as a homeschooling field trip. Sadly, they stopped production there and closed the shop.

[metmom]

I don’t remember going in any store where it says “Boys Toys or “Girls Toys”.

Me either. It was always just the toy aisle.

[Jonty30]

Retail shelves are about 3feet long. So, the retailer could meet this law by devoting one section of shelves.

[Hiddigeigei]

Every time I see something like this, I think about SAKI’s short story “The Toys of Peace” (by H. H. Munro — SAKI).

[calljack]

government forcing private business to do things. Sounds fascist to me.

[roadcat]

“maintain a gender-neutral section or area, to be labeled at the discretion of the retailer.”

"Non-Sexual Toys" could happen as a label. Or worse "Cross-Gender Toys".

[PGR88]

What does a gender neutral toy even look like?

Are toy cars only for boys? Dolls or Figures only for girls?

[lightman]

Could be worse: They might have required Barbies to in the boys section.