Washington Democrats Vote to Shield Runaway Transgender Kids and Girls Seeking Abortion from Parents
Originally published at National ReviewThe Left is hell-bent on allowing children to transition — regardless of what their parents believe is right or the potential harm done to young bodies. California is officially a transgender sanctuary state. And now Washington State Democratic senators have voted to prevent the informing of parents of runaway transgender children if they turn up in shelters.
At first, the legislation seems well-intentioned. It requires homeless shelters to tell parents if their children have run away from home. From S.B. 5599:
(1)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, any person, unlicensed youth shelter, or runaway and homeless youth program that, without legal authorization, provides shelter to a minor and that knows at the time of providing the shelter that the minor is away from a lawfully prescribed residence or home without parental permission, shall promptly report the location of the child to the parent, the law enforcement agency of the jurisdiction in which the person lives, or the department.
That’s good. Ah, but the progressives have included a crucial “compelling reasons” exception in part (b):
If there are compelling reasons not to notify the parent, the shelter or organization must instead notify the
department.
And what, pray tell, are those?
“Compelling reasons” include, but are not limited to (i) Circumstances that indicate that notifying the parent or legal guardian will subject the minor to abuse or neglect. . . . (ii) When a minor is seeking or receiving protected health care services. “Protected health care services” has the same meaning as provided in chapter . . . Laws of 2023 (Senate Bill No. 5489).
Okay. Let’s check out Bill 5489 to see what “protected health services” means. Bingo! (my emphasis)
(3) “Protected health care services” means gender-affirming treatment and reproductive health care services that are lawful in the state of Washington.
(4) “Reproductive health care services” means all services, care, or products of a medical, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, mental health, behavioral health, diagnostic, preventative, rehabilitative, supportive, counseling, referral, prescribing, or dispensing nature relating to the human reproductive system including, but not limited to, all services, care, and products relating to pregnancy, assisted reproduction, contraception, miscarriage management, or the termination of a pregnancy, including self-managed terminations.
Thus, the parents of children seeking gender-affirming medical interventions — which can include everything from puberty blockers to serious surgeries — are not to be told if their children turn up in shelters. Instead, “the department” will be informed. Ditto if a child wants an abortion or potentially dangerous “self-managed termination.”
No wonder every Republican voted against passage and every Democrat for.
The bill isn’t law yet. But I have little doubt it will pass and be signed by the governor.
So, the Left continues its cultural imperialism over the rights of parents and insinuates itself into the intimate depths of family life. Expect more of this kind of thing in progressive states going forward.