In a recent hearing of the Senate Judicial Committee considering a bill amendment to the existing AB 957, Republican California State Senator Scott Wilk warned parents and guardians throughout the state to flee California over what he referred to as a “truly alarming” piece of legislation. The bill, if passed, would give the state the power to take away custody of a child if the parent or guardian fails to affirm their gender identity.
This procedure, AB 957 states, “includes a parent’s affirmation of the child’s gender identity as part of the health, safety, and welfare of the child.” Wilk went on to emphasize the gravity of the situation, saying that “not only will it affect divorce proceedings,” but it may affect more than that.
The issue of child custody is seriously in dispute between transgender activists and opponents of sex changes for minors. Transgender activists hold that without sufficient medical intervention, gender dysphoric children could commit suicide, while opponents counter that such medical intervention are beyond the emotional and mental maturity of most children.
The Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth took this a step further this past May, recommending that a refusal to provide sex changes to children should be classified as child abuse. This was met with strong opposition by many, and has led to Texas launching an investigation into a children’s hospital in the state for what the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services considers “child abuse.”
In light of all this, Democratic California State Senator Scott Wiener had introduced a bill in January which would make the state a “sanctuary state” for kids trying to get illegal sex changes. The bill proposal calls for the state’s courts to block any subpoenas of parents from states that restrict minor sex changes.
In light of all these events, Wilk’s insistence that parents and guardians “flee California” to protect their children from the state’s immense power over custody has gained the attention of many.
With the future of this bill still uncertain, all parents and guardians in California are urged to consider their child’s best interests first and foremost. I would normally agree that families should stay and fight but you have to weigh the pros and cons. Children are so malleable and impressionable. The last thing anyone needs is a rouge government telling parents how to raise the.