California Retailers Without Gender-Neutral Toy Sections Face Fines up to $500 Starting Jan. 1

Toys line the shelves of a store in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Dec. 7, 2023. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Large retailers will soon be subject to fines under a new California law that takes effect in a few weeks if they fail to designate a gender-neutral toy section.

Under a law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021, department stores with 500 or more employees in California that sell children’s products are required to include a gender-neutral area in the store. Those that fail to comply with the law will be fined up to $250 for the first violation or $500 for a subsequent violation.