Residents, especially parents, are criticizing California's new gender affirmation rule.
A member of the newly-formed "Protect Kids California" group explained why the new state measure is alarming.
California's Gender Affirmation Rule Receives Criticisms
Fox News reported that Californian parents are concerned about the new gender affirmation rule of the state.
This is because the regulation requires judges to include if a parent affirms a child's belief that they are transgender when there's a custody battle.
On Sunday, Sept. 10, Protect Kids California member Nicole Pearson, who is a mother to three kids, said that the new state policy could have disastrous impacts.
"This is the steady assault on family and children that we've been seeing this legislative session and throughout the past couple of years in California," she explained.
She asked what the new gender affirmation law does if both parents are conservative and are not comfortable affirming their child's gender beliefs.
Pearson explained that the state policy states that conservative parents are neglecting, endangering, or even abusing their kids just because they can't affirm the children's beliefs regarding their gender.
"Does that mean that the state will find that both are endangering or neglecting or even abusing their child and remove custody from both parents?" asked the Californian mom.
Nicole warned that if the law is not corrected, it could make Californian children "wards of the state" if no one can step up and take custody of them.
About California's Gender Affirmation Law
The Catholic News Agency reported that Assembly Bill No. 957 (AN957) was passed by the California Assembly on Friday, Sept. 8.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to sign AN957 into law on Oct. 14. The bill's author, Lori Wilson, explained that the state rule could mean a lot of things for children.
For example, kids can play with toys associated with their gender identities. They can also decide the length of their hair or if they want to get their nails painted.
The new bill clarifies that parents are not required to allow their children to have gender-affirming surgeries. This is because minors can only undergo such operations with their parents' consent.
Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener said that the new bill is a proactive measure. He explained that the state rule is not about getting involved after a child gets hurt.
Wiener said the new bill is about "trying to make sure that something terrible does not happen to them."
