A new bill passed in the state of Washington seeks to undermine parental rights by allowing “shelters” to provide gender transition medical services to minors without parental consent.
Senate Bill 5599, sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias, will allow certified shelters to contact the Department of Children, Youth and Families instead of parents, for children seeking reproductive health services or gender-affirming care.
Many argue that this bill could lead to abuse and exploitation of minors, as it creates a potential avenue for predators to take advantage of vulnerable children who may be seeking shelter or medical services. This could also have long-term consequences on the mental and physical health of children who may not have the maturity or capacity to make informed decisions about their healthcare.
Others have also pointed out that the government should not be involved in providing gender-affirming care to minors, and that such decisions should be left to parents and medical professionals.
Last night, Washington state passed SB 5599 which allows the state to legally take children away from their parents if they don’t consent to their child’s gender transition surgeries.
All Democrats voted, yes.
All Republicans voted, no. https://t.co/C9wtbBxLWq
— Katie Daviscourt (@KatieDaviscourt) April 13, 2023