- Musk is relocating the headquarters of SpaceX and X
- He attributed the move to recent California legislation
- LGBTQ+ advocates champion student privacy
Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk is relocating the headquarters of two major companies, SpaceX and X, from California to Texas. He attributed the move to recent California legislation, particularly a law barring schools from mandating staff to disclose a child’s gender identity to parents without the child’s consent.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office defended the law, stating it safeguards “children safe while protecting the critical role of parents.”
However, Musk, a Texas resident himself, deemed this “the last straw” on his social media platform. This follows his relocation of Tesla’s headquarters to Texas in 2021, a state with no income tax.
The issue of parental knowledge regarding a child’s gender identity is a hotly debated topic in the US. LGBTQ+ advocates champion student privacy, while others emphasize parental rights.
While Musk, who has a transgender daughter, has expressed support for transgender individuals, he has also shown frustration with gender pronouns.
News of the move comes after a 2022 incident where Musk’s transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, sought to sever ties with him, stating a desire to no longer be associated with him.
Musk, previously vocal about potentially criminalizing transgender healthcare, announced the move on X, emphasizing his past opposition to the California bill.
Governor Newsom responded on social media, suggesting Musk yielded to pressure, referencing a 2022 post by Donald Trump predicting Musk would readily submit to his demands.
This decision signifies a potential shift in the tech industry landscape, with California’s grip on major companies loosening slightly.
