The California State Assembly passed a bill Friday that would require judges in child custody cases to consider whether a parent has affirmed a child’s “gender transition” by making “gender affirmation” an equal part of a child’s “health, safety, and welfare” under state law.
Democratic lawmakers’ bill, AB 957, passed the Assembly by a vote of 57-16 along party lines.
The California Senate passed the bill Wednesday, 30-9, also along party lines.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, is expected to sign the bill into law. Under it, parents who refuse to participate in transgenderism by pretending that their child is a different gender could be guilty of failing to provide for the “health, safety, and welfare” of their child — therefore losing custody to another parent or the state.
Assemblymember Lori Wilson, D-Suisun City, whose child identifies as transgender, wrote the bill and introduced it Feb. 14. State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, co-sponsored the measure.
The Daily Signal previously reported that Wiener amended the bill June 6, altering AB 957 from requiring a judge to consider whether a child experiencing gender dysphoria was “affirmed” by parents to making “gender affirmation,” an essential need of a child in California.
“Gender affirmation” isn’t defined or explained in AB 957 or any other California law, drawing concerns over interpretation.
Susannah Luthi, who covers California for The Washington Free Beacon, pointed out: “The bill makes no distinctions regarding the age of a child, how long a child has identified as transgender, or affirmation of social transition versus medical sex-change treatments.”
Greg Price, communications director for the State Freedom Caucus Network, reported that bill author Wilson had said: “Parents affirm their children. Typically, it happens when their gender identity matches their biological gender. But when it doesn’t, the affirmation starts to wane. … Our duty as parents is to affirm our children.”
Entrepreneur and California resident Elon Musk, who owns X, the social media app formerly called Twitter, and is parent to a child who claims to be transgender, responded by saying:
This bill is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. What it actually means is that if you disagree with the other parent about sterilizing your child, you lose custody. Utter madness!
Threatening the standard of “health, safety, and welfare” of a child under the California Family Code can carry penalties under the California Penal Code — prompting parents, activists, and lawmakers to speculate that AB 957 could result in parents being charged with child abuse or neglect for not participating in a child’s transgenderism.
In a California Senate Judiciary Committee hearing June 13, state Sen. Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, warned parents to leave California if such legislation were to pass….
From the Daily Signal
Don’t divorce.
Even if you don’t, they can still take your children away. You’d both be “criminals.” And, the state will “care” for your children.
Anyone really wonder why so many are fleeing our once-great state?!
I’m a third-generation Californian. But, perversion, child abuse and totalitarianism aren’t tolerable.
This is about contested child custody.
Yes, but the California Family Code is broader than parental custody (disputes). The court could determine that neither parent (both failing to “affirm” gender mis-identity) is suitable and grant custody of children to someone else. Contested custody is not limited to parents.
California Family Code 3040 sets forth the order of preference in granting custody of a child, according to the best interest standard. First, both parents should jointly share custody, or either parent should be granted custody. In making a decision to grant either parent custody, the Court must evaluate, among other things, which parent is most likely to allow the other parent to have continuing and frequent contact with the child. If neither parent is suitable, custody should be granted to someone the child has been living with in a stable and wholesome environment. Finally, custody may be granted to any other person the Courts deem suitable to provide the child with proper guidance and care.
You’re crazy to stay in California. They’re telegraphing what they’re going to do.
And don’t let the Democrats do to the rest of America what they’re doing in California.
Elon Musk is right. Utter madness. You get the governments you deserve and vote for.
Unless the election is stolen or rigged. Then we get the government we didn’t vote for, but one that powerful people and groups imposed upon us.
if it’s rigged: Those powerful people and groups that you speak about days are numbered. Pray the Holy Rosary every day.
There ought to be a law passed, very soon, that parents have total responsibility for their children. Not the State. In divorce cases, child custody issues should be very simple, with judges using common sense, and not interfering in parental decisions. You make simple child custody arrangements– and let the parents do the rest. Passing transgender laws, because of two State legislators with personal interests in the subject (Wilson and Wiener– who is gay) is a total waste of time. Dealing with an occasional transgender issue in a child is extremely rare. Offer counseling for such rare cases– and use common sense. Transgender hormones, drugs, and surgeries/mutilations, as well as social gender transitions– should all be prohibited for minors. Married couples who are living in California, who want to get a divorce, should relocate to another state, that has common sense in their laws.
maybe they WANT people
to leave California
why would that be?
God bless all families through the beatified Ultima Family. May their intercesson heal all broken famlies.
Did anyone see the online posting (to Instagram and other social media sites) of the mayor of Burbank bending over, to get a spanking with a paddle, by a drag queen, at a Democratic fundraiser– Drag Queen Bingo– last Saturday? What a sickening state California has become. Such behavior should be illegal.
No doubt a Democrat.
California needs a lot of prayers or it will be doomed. Pray the Rosary every day.
Even Scripture says there are some sins that cannot be helped nor should be prayed about.
“If you see your brother or sister committing what is not a mortal sin, you will ask, and God will give life to such a one—to those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin that is mortal; I do not say that you should pray about that.” 1 John 5:16
California is doomed. Prayer won’t help California. The Garlock Fault and the San Andreas Fault will unleash God’s judgment.
I did not see the online posting of the mayor spanking thing. I wouldn’t see it because I wouldn’t seek out. such a thing. Why did you seek it out?
I saw it without seeking it out. I clicked right off. Some commentary on Tiktok.
The people who are so outraged by things are always the ones spreading it around.
State Senator Scott Wilk warned parents to leave California, but will he follow his own advice and move his family elsewhere? I think not. I think being a senator is too much of an easy income for him, and he’s content to be in a superminority in California’s government so he can talk without consequence, as he did in advising people to leave the state.
If Scott Wilk doesn’t immediately resign and move to another state, he’s a hypocrite.
But he’s right that people who value freedom, goodness, truth, quality of life, happiness, and their children’s futures should leave California as soon as possible.
The message is clear here in California. “The family is not as important as the state and we will control you. Everyone will soon be subject to paying more taxes for the privilege of unquestioning obedience to the Rainbow Gestapo”.
No. The message is that the individual is important.
“No. The message is that the individual is important.” I don’t think so. Children are too young for this gender-fluid madness, and are too easily manipulated by the LGBTQ+ forces dominating California. The underlying philosophy of the poster is that the transgender craze sweeping the democratic party and in consequence California politics and education is a healthy development; that authorities telling a boy he can be a girl for a girl she can be a boy and putting surgery to work to confirm the authorities’ bias is in the best interest of children–yet this is utter madness and the most brutal form of child abuse. It is the absolute opposite of affirming the individual is important. The only people being affirmed are the insane powers that be who want nothing more than to spread their insanity at every turn. Children are only pawns in this terrible game.
Dan, you misread my mind. I think you probably projected some imaginary thing onto me. I do not agree with the policy. But I also disagree with Fr. Higgins interpretation of it.
My apologies for the misread. Your words could be interpreted several ways, and my guess, which I thought was the right one, was the wrong one. Much of transgender hype focuses on the individual and their needing autonomy in choosing their pronouns, gender etc. There is nothing imaginary about the pressure on gender-confused youth to conform to LGBTQ+ norms. Under such pressure, your statement could be taken as LGBTQ+ advocacy. Again, my apologies.
Accepted.
Fr. John Higgins: Sister Lucia of Fatima said: the final battle would be between the Kingdom of Christ & Satan will be over marriage and the family. The family is very important to Almighty God because he created it. God always wins in the end. Our Lady of Fatima pray for the family. A family that prays together stays together.
I swear, Democrats must be getting dumber. They keep pushing dumber things on people. And they keep getting dumber ideas about what’s good for people.
Maybe smarter? They push leftist totalitarianism and the people comply. Most California voters (admittedly mostly Democrat) are ignorant, stupid, or evil. Any other explanations?
“Most California voters (admittedly mostly Democrat)
are ignorant, stupid, or evil. Any other explanations?”
How about; Ignorant, stupid AND evil?