America First Legal, a nonprofit organization led by former Trump policy adviser Stephen Miller, has initiated legal action against Washington Governor Jay Inslee, aiming to halt the enforcement of a state law permitting minors to undergo sex-reassignment surgeries without parental consent.
/1🚨BREAKING — we sued the governor of Washington @GovInslee to block enforcement of a new “state-sanctioned kidnapping” bill that allows the state to hide kids from their parents to perform “gender transitions” – including disfiguring drugs and mutilating surgeries.
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— America First Legal (@America1stLegal) August 16, 2023
The lawsuit targets Senate Bill 5599, which was signed into law by Gov. Inslee in May. According to the conservative group, this legislation introduces a concerning dynamic by encouraging minors who disagree with their parents on “gender-affirming care” to seek refuge in shelters or host homes.
Under SB 5599, host homes are allowed to accommodate youths without parental authorization.
Additionally, these host homes are not obligated to inform parents of their children’s whereabouts or any medical procedures undertaken, provided there is a compelling reason to withhold such information, including a minor seeking protected health services.
The bill’s definition of “protected health care services” encompasses “gender-affirming care,” extending to any medical treatments prescribed by doctors to address dysphoria in minors. This category encompasses various gender identities, such as two-spirits, transgender, nonbinary, and other gender diverse individuals, as outlined in the bill.
Supporters of the legislation, including Democratic Senator Marko Liias, asserted that the bill aims to ensure a safe and stable environment for all children, particularly those who may not find acceptance at home. However, they clarified that the law does not involve removing youths from their parents or addressing custody issues related to a child’s gender transition.
America First Legal contends that SB 5599 grants Washington State the authority to refer minors for “behavioral health services” without specifying the nature of such services.
