Washington State’s Democrat Governor Jay Inslee has just signed a controversial bill into law that allows authorities to remove children from their parents if they refuse to consent to left-altering transgender surgeries and other radical treatments.
Inslee signed Senate Bill 5599 which was introduced by State Sen. Marko Liias (D-Everett).
The law allows the state to legally take children away from their parents if they don’t consent to their child’s “gender transition” treatments or abortion.
The new law also strips parents of other rights regarding their children.
Under Washington state’s current law, any youth shelter where a child seeks refuge is legally required to notify their parents or guardians within 24 to 72 hours.
However, the new state law allows shelters to choose not to tell the parents or legal guardians if they have “compelling reasons” to believe that doing so would put the kid in danger of abuse or neglect.
The newly signed law allows authorities to hide the whereabouts of runaway children who claim to be seeking sex changes or abortions.
Senate Bill 5599 also removes parents from the health and mental health care decision-making process of their children.
“Trans youth and transgender people have become a target for disinformation campaigns and political stunts that portray them as dangerous or degenerate,” Inslee claimed during the signing of the bill.
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“In Washington State, we reject the politics of transphobia and fear.
“We look for ways to help LGBTQ remain safe and support it,” he added.
“With this bill, Washington leads the way by taking a more compassionate, developmentally appropriate, and reasoned approach to support these youth as they access gender-affirming treatment and reproductive health care services.”
WATCH:
#BREAKING: Despite massive pushback, protests, and a letter writing campaign by WA parents, Governor Jay Inslee(@GovInslee)just signed the controversial Senate Bill 5599 introduced by State Sen. Marko Liias(@SenMarkoLiias.) Critics say this transgender law removes parents from… pic.twitter.com/meClP0HsVl
— Jonathan Choe Journalist (Seattle) (@choeshow) May 9, 2023
State Sen. Liias, the prime sponsor of the bill, issued a statement when the bill was signed into law.
“Transgender and at-risk youth deserve safety during difficult times in their life,” the Democrat lawmaker said.
“SB5599 to remove barriers to safe shelter for those seeking gender-affirming or reproductive care was signed into law today! I’m so inspired by and honored to work with our LGBTQ community,” he added.
Transgender and at-risk youth deserve safety during difficult times in their life. #SB5599 to remove barriers to safe shelter for those seeking gender-affirming or reproductive care was signed into law today! I'm so inspired by and honored to work with our LGBTQ community. #WaLeg pic.twitter.com/zjmZ1XqqSW
— Sen. Marko Liias (@SenMarkoLiias) May 10, 2023
According to Discovery Institute Senior Journalist Jonathan Choe, a group has reportedly filed a referendum to overturn SB 5599.
The campaign to gather the required number of signatures to appear on the November ballot has officially begun, Choe added.
FIGHT CONTINUES: A group has already filed a referendum against SB 5599. They wanted the Gov.(@GovInslee) to delay the bill signing so he could consider more parent concerns. Ground game is now on to collect enough signatures to make it on the November ballot. They say power to… pic.twitter.com/7VpYdBQBFg
— Jonathan Choe Journalist (Seattle) (@choeshow) May 9, 2023
Although framed by proponents as a bill to protect youth suffering from abuse, SB 5599 only stipulates that the minors be “seeking or receiving protected health care services” for a homeless shelter or “host home” to avoid informing the parents or legal guardians, as otherwise required by state law, according to Clark County Today.
The bill adds youth seeking abortions or irreversible gender surgeries to the list of compelling reasons while allocating $7.5 million to the Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Programs for “supportive care grants to organizations to address the needs of youth and young adults seeking protected health care services.”
The bill does not state when or if the parents ever need to be notified of their child’s whereabouts.
As defined by existing state law, “gender-affirming care” includes but is not limited to the following procedures:
- Breast augmentation
- Chemical peel
- Dermabrasion
- Facial feminization surgeries
- Face lift
- Facial masculinization surgeries
- Forehead brow lift
- Genital modification
- Hair line modification
- Hair removal by electrolysis or laser
- Hysterectomy
- Lip enhancement
- Reduction thyroid chondroplasty (chondrolaryngoplasty or tracheal shave)
- Rhinoplasty
- Skin resurfacing
- Liposuction
- Mastectomy
- Penile implant
- Voice modification
Combined with HB 1469, which has passed in both chambers, the two policies would allow children from other states to run away from home, go to a Washington youth shelter seeking an abortion or gender surgery, and the parents would not have to be notified.
Also, none of the medical records related to any of those services could be obtained.
One amendment added on the House floor requires OHY to collect data on the number of unsheltered homeless youth in the state, while another requires the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to offer runaway youth referrals to behavioral health services and services to “resolve the conflict and accomplish a reunification of the family.”
Existing family reunification services include:
- Short-term family counseling
- Crisis Residential Center services
- Referrals for substance abuse treatment and/or counseling
- Referrals for mental health services
- Short-term placement
Although SB 5599 does not address abuse or neglect, supporters speaking on the House floor before the April 12 vote conflated parents not accepting a child’s claim to be the opposite gender as akin to an “unsafe” home environment.
READ MORE: Public School Nurses Trained to Hide Kids’ ‘Gender Transitions’ from Parents
