California legislators propose a bill to provide legal refuge to displaced transgender youth and their families.
The measure authored by Sen. Scott Wiener is a direct response to efforts in conservative states to consider removing transgender children from their families and placing them in foster care.
The measure was blocked by a Texas judge last week though the state is appealing.
Wiener’s bill mirrors other state provisions, like the California bill responding to efforts in other states that restrict abortions and bars enforcement of civil judgments against doctors who perform abortions on patients from other states.
This bill would reject out-of-state subpoenas seeking medical or related information of those seeking refuge in California, similar to the abortion bill. It will also reject any out-of-state court judgment removing transgender children from their parent’s custody because they allowed their children to receive gender-affirming health care.
Any out-of-state criminal arrest warrants based on alleged violations in other states’ laws against receiving gender-affirming care would be the lowest priority for law enforcement in California under this measure.
“California is a place of refuge for transgender children and their parents as a wave of criminalization sweeps through Texas and other states," Wiener said.
According to supporters of the bill, efforts to suppress transgender youth can lead to fear and mental health issues including depression and suicidal thoughts.
“We will not allow other states to hunt our community within California’s borders," said Tami Martin, legislative director at Equality California, which says it is the largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization in the U.S. Her organization is co-sponsoring the bill with Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California.
