A group trying to repeal a new California law that seeks to protect and provide equal opportunity to transgender students has officially failed to qualify their referendum for the ballot.

California’s Secretary of State reported Monday that the repeal effort – led by the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage (NOM) group – did not have the 504,760 valid signatures that were needed to qualify for the November 2014 ballot.

‘I’m certain this won’t be the last attempt by anti-LGBT extremists to roll back advances in equality for LGBT people, but I’m relieved this attempt has clearly failed,’ Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center CEO Lorri L. Jean (pictured) said in a statement.

The California School Success and Opportunity Act, which went info effect on 1 January, allows transgender teens access to the facilities of their choice and to play on the sports teams of their choice.

NOM and its allies had claimed the law was part of a wider conspiracy to end traditional gender roles in the United States and has claimed that allowing transgender students to use showers and bathrooms according to their gender identity is damaging to children.

NOM is the same group that put same-sex marriage on the ballot in California in 2008.

Jean pointed out that that for the past eight years, the LA Unified School District has been offering the same protections to transgender students that are in the new state law.

‘All kids deserve the opportunity to do well in school, including transgender kids,’ she said. ‘ … There have been no registered complaints by students or adults.’