SACRAMENTO, California, USA. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill that would have required judges to consider whether a parent recognizes a child’s gender identity when making decisions about custody and visitation.
“That being said, I urge caution when the executive and legislative branches of the state government try to dictate – in prescriptive terms that emphasize an attitude – legal rules that can be applied to the judiciary.” Some interested elected officials in California and other states may take advantage of this strategy to reduce civil rights for vulnerable communities,” the governor said in his statement.
The bill would have made gender affirmation an element of the majority that courts must consider in custody proceedings, whether either parent has committed abuse and how much contact the child has with the parents.
The bill would not have forced judges to prioritize a parent who proves a child’s birth over other factors.
What that statement looks like will vary depending on the individual child and their age, said Democratic Assemblywoman Lori Wilson, who introduced the bill. Wilson has a son who came out as transgender as a teenager.
Wilson expressed his disappointment Friday about the governor’s veto.
“In recent years I have been disheartened to see the rise of hatred and hear insults to the trans community. “My goal with this initiative is to give them a voice, especially in the system of family court where an absentee parent can have a negative impact on a child’s mental health and well-being,” Wilson said in a statement. release.
Newsom said current laws already require courts to consider the health, safety and welfare of a child in determining the best interests of a child in custody cases, including confirming a parent’s identity. child.
