New Washington Law Prevents Parents from Interfering with Children’s Transition.

Washington State Approves Law Allowing Shelters to Hide Children from Parents

Protecting Vulnerable Youth or Removing Parental Rights?

The state of Washington has recently passed a controversial law that allows shelters to hide children from their parents if they want to undergo gender transitioning. The bill, SB 5599, was signed into law by Democrat Governor Jay Inslee on Tuesday, granting shelters the right to not notify parents of minors when the children flee homes where gender transitioning is not accepted.

Supporters of the bill argue that it will protect vulnerable youth, especially those who seek “gender-affirming care.” However, critics argue that the bill removes parents from health and mental health care decisions of their children, allowing a disagreement between a child and the parents over the issue of medical transition to be construed as “abuse and neglect.”

The bill has attracted intense criticism online, with many LGBT+ folks and social welfare organizations speaking out against it. Gays Against Groomers slammed the passage of the bill, stating that “children need to be protected from the predatory medical industrial complex, not their parents.”

What Do Critics Say?

In an interview with The Epoch Times, Republican state Rep. Chris Corry pointed out that SB 5599 allows a disagreement between a child and the parents over the issue of medical transition to be construed as “abuse and neglect” just because the parents hadn’t “properly affirmed what the child wants.” Corry noted that there were already state laws available that protect children from abuse and neglect, requiring “solid and compelling reasons” why kids need to be removed from their homes.

“What’s frustrating is even in those cases, the parents still have a right to know where their kids are after they’ve been removed,” Corry said. “In this case, parents would have no idea.”

Final Thoughts

While the bill has been passed, it remains a controversial issue with strong opinions on both sides. As the debate continues, it is important to consider the rights of both children and parents in making decisions about their health and well-being.