A proposed bill in CA threatens to separate children from families over “affirmation of the child’s gender identity”

A bill currently making its way through the California legislature, AB 957, amends state family law to make not “affirming” a child's claimed “gender identity” child abuse. 

The bill adds (in bold):

3011. (a) In making a determination of the best interests of the child in a proceeding described in Section 3021, the court shall, among any other factors it finds relevant and consistent with Section 3020, consider all of the following:

(1) (A) The health, safety, and welfare of the child.

(B) As used in this paragraph, the health, safety, and welfare of the child includes a parent’s affirmation of the child’s gender identity.

It also removes a later statement that said that the state may consider, “A parent’s affirmation of the child’s gender identity because it is in the best interest of the child to affirm their gender identity” (emphasis added).

This bill changes family law so that, if passed, affirming a child’s gender identity is always legally considered in the best interest of the child and not doing so may be considered child abuse. This is despite the fact that the majority of children will grow up to be comfortable with their sex if allowed to naturally mature. 

Over the past few years, increasing numbers of children in the United States have indicated that they identify as “transgender,” “non-binary,” “gender fluid,” or as other types of identities that do not necessarily conform with socially-created sex stereotypes. According to GLSEN, around 92% of these children are female and the overwhelming majority are same-sex attracted.  

AB 957 pushes parents to adopt a state-mandated ideology, which could potentially do more harm than good to these children. More concerning, the bill does not define what “affirmation” requires of parents. It may not be enough for parents to alter their language to go along with a child’s made-up pronouns or new chosen name. Many organizations that provide guidance to these parents are now supporting “gender-affirming” treatments and medically unnecessary interventions for children such as puberty blockers, or even cross-sex hormones and surgeries.  

Unnecessary surgeries, puberty-blocking medications, cross-sex hormones, the removal of healthy body parts, and other cosmetic surgical procedures on young people have harmful, long-lasting, and often permanent effects. However, parents may now feel forced by the state to comply — or risk being separated from their children.

This bill is, unsurprisingly, co-sponsored by state Senator Scott Wiener, the same lawmaker responsible for California’s SB 132 — the law which put men in women’s prisons based solely on their self-identification. 

Take Action! Tell Gov. Newsome to Stop AB 957!

Loving, caring parents should not have to live in fear, constantly threatened by the possibility of losing their children to the state, simply for not aligning with a prescribed belief system. This bill isn't progress but an assault on personal freedoms and parents’ rights all to promote a regressive ideology that hurts women and children.

Write California Governor Gavin Newsom and tell him to Stop AB 957!