"If you love your children, you need to flee California," a state senator said during a hearing on new legislation in the state to classify a parent’s refusal to "affirm" their child’s gender identity as a violation of the "health, safety, and welfare of the child."
State senator Scott Wilk (R.), who represents California’s 21st State Senate district, said in the California Senate Judiciary Committee hearing he was "born and raised in this state."
"I love this state," Wilk said. "I’m not going to stay in this state, because it’s too oppressive and I believe in freedom, and so I’m going to move to America when I leave the legislature."
Parents in California already facing rampant crime, homelessness, the rising cost of living, and post-pandemic learning loss are now also facing the prospect of a family court awarding custody to a parent based on their affirmation of a child’s gender identity and the other parent’s refusal. The committee on Tuesday passed Assembly Bill 957, which would include "a parent’s affirmation of gender identity" as a factor in the "health, safety, and welfare of the child" in divorce proceedings.
Hundreds of parents appeared at the committee hearing to voice opposition to the bill. Another State Senate Republican, Roger Niello, questioned why California should accept "gender affirmation as the appropriate approach by a parent" when Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom have raised doubts about the practice.
Assemblywoman Lori Wilson (D.), who introduced the bill, said the bill was not an attack on parents’ rights.
"No one is out to get your kids," Wilson told a local CBS affiliate. "No one is out to force your kids to be anything they shouldn't be. It's about really protecting children who are caught up in the family court system from a parent that is antagonistic or non-affirming."