By Julie Barrett, Founder, Conservative Ladies of America
On Friday, September 8, the California Assembly voted to pass AB 957, authored by Senator Scott Weiner, by a vote of 30-9 along party lines. The bill passed the state senate earlier in the week and now heads to Governor Gavin Newsome’s desk for signing.
AB 957 would require that the court must take into consideration a parent’s affirmation of the child’s gender identity when hearing child custody cases.
“AB 957 would clarify that affirming a child’s gender identity is in the best interest of the child for purposes of child custody and visitation decisions, increasing the likelihood that a gender affirming parent is given legal custody and authority to make important decisions about the child’s medical care and education.” Assembly Member Lori Wilson
Divorced parents in California will risk losing custody of or visitation with their children if they do not affirm the child’s gender, which would include their agreement not just to social transition, but medical, hormonal, and surgical procedures as well. The state is telling parents that they MUST affirm or they’ll lose their child.
AB 957 applies to custody cases, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that this is coming for all parents next.
Republican State Senator Scott Wilk advised parents to flee California during a June 13th California Senate Judicial Committee. “In the past when we’ve had these discussions and I’ve seen parental rights atrophied, I’ve encouraged people to keep fighting. I’ve changed my mind on that. If you love your children, you need to flee California. You need to flee.
Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, who has been very outspoken from the pulpit about these anti-parent laws in California tweeted in June:
“Believe it or not, we all here in California and Washington State are about to discover which one of two senses will kick in:
Fight or Flight. Stand by to see which one is yours.”
As a parent who has experienced the devastation of the anti-parent laws in Washington state and what it has done to my children and our family, I will tell you: you have a duty to protect your children at all costs. You must carefully weigh the risks of keeping your children in states that do not recognize your rights as a parent and believe that your children belong to the government.
You cannot flee states like Washington or California and rest easy, thinking you’re safe. You must engage in the battle wherever you are. These people are coming for your children. They are not content containing their agenda to blue states which is why you see these “shield laws” and sanctuary states. What happens in California (WA, NY, MI…name the blue state) does not stay in California. These laws are designed to be policy that will be implemented throughout the nation.
I encourage parents to do both: flight AND fight. You must get your children to a state that respects and acknowledges parental rights and you must engage in the fight to keep those rights in place. I promise you, as a recent Washington exile to Florida, the left is everywhere and they are hard at work to advance their agenda.