California stops gender affirmation initiative

2023-09-23 23:42:01

SACRAMENTO, California, USA (AP) — California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill that would have forced judges to take into account whether a parent recognizes a child’s gender identity when issuing Custody and visitation decisions.

Announcing his veto Friday night, Newsom said in a statement that he has a “deep commitment to advancing the rights of transgender Californians,” which has guided his decisions in office.

“That said, I urge caution when the executive and legislative branches of state government attempt to dictate—in prescriptive terms that highlight a characteristic—legal rules for the judiciary to apply. “Other interested elected officials in California and other states might take advantage of this strategy to diminish civil rights for vulnerable communities,” the governor said in his statement.

The bill would have made gender affirmation one element among many that courts already have to consider in custody proceedings, whether either parent has committed abuse and how much contact the child has had with the parents.

The bill would not have forced judges to prioritize a parent affirming a child’s gender identity over other factors.

What that statement sounds like varies depending on the individual child and their age, said Democratic Assemblywoman Lori Wilson, who introduced the bill. Wilson has a son who came out as transgender when she was a teenager.

Wilson expressed his disappointment on Friday regarding the governor’s veto.

“In recent years I have been disheartened to see the increase in hate and hear the insults towards the trans community. “My intention with this initiative was to give them a voice, particularly in the family court system where a parent who does not come forward might have a negative impact on the mental health and well-being of a young child,” Wilson said in a statement. release.

Newsom said existing laws already require courts to consider health, safety and well-being when determining the best interests of a child in custody cases, including a parent’s affirmation of the child’s gender identity.

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