New Commiefornia Bill Would Take Custody Of Children Whose Parents Don't Give Them Sex Change Operations

A newly revised California bill would treat parents' refusal to "affirm" their child's gender identity as a violation of health, safety, and welfare in the context of custody disputes.

The bill, which has already passed the State Assembly, would require judges adjudicating such disputes over transgender-identifying children to favor the parent who "affirms" the child's preferred identity. Earlier this week the authors released an updated version that specifically defines "the health, safety, and welfare" of a child to include "a parent's affirmation of the child's gender identity" — a change that the bill's opponents worry will open the door to non-affirmation being treated as abuse.