A controversial bill in Washington State threatens to undermine parental rights, as it would allow medical transgender interventions on minors without their parents’ consent. The bill, titled “An Act Relating to Supporting Youth” or Senate Bill 5599, has already cleared the House and is waiting for Governor Jay Inslee’s signature.
This legislation aims to provide host homes for runaway youth, housing them without the need for parental permission. The bill takes it a step further by allowing these homes to not inform parents about their children’s whereabouts or medical treatments if a “compelling reason” is presented, such as seeking “protected health services.” These services include “gender-affirming care” for minors, which encompasses any treatment prescribed by a doctor to address dysphoria.
While the bill claims to support youth, it raises several red flags for conservatives who value parental rights and the family unit. By allowing minors to receive treatments like puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries without parental consent or even knowledge, the bill challenges the role of parents in their children’s lives.
Critics have gone as far as labeling this bill “child abuse,” arguing that it strips parents of their ability to protect their children and could lead to state-sanctioned kidnapping. Opposition to the bill points out that it allows for the harboring of minors and disconnects families from one another.
Supporters of the bill, like Democratic State Rep. Tana Senn, have praised it for affirming the rights of transgender youth. However, State Senate Republican Leader John Braun criticized the bill for attacking parents’ rights, stating that it drives a wedge between vulnerable kids and their parents at a time when they need each other most.
Braun also points out the emotional turmoil that parents may experience when they are unable to locate their child, as they could involve law enforcement and other groups in a desperate search, only to find out that their child was receiving medical treatments without their knowledge or consent.
This issue is not exclusive to Washington, as other states like California are also considering legislation that would restrict parental rights. A similar bill in California would allow students to be admitted into a group home without parental consent, based on approval from school counselors. Critics argue that these laws remove children from their family homes, creating further division and undermining the family unit.
Conservatives must stand firm in protecting parental rights and the sanctity of the family. While it’s crucial to support all youth, it is essential to do so without jeopardizing the relationship between parents and their children. As Pamela Garfield-Jaeger, a counselor who testified against the California bill, stated, “In the dystopian nightmare we are in, if a parent doesn’t use the child’s chosen pronoun or name, they are labeled dangerous.” This should serve as a warning to those who value the family unit and parental rights – it’s time to take action and protect our most cherished values.
