Most people in California would probably agree on the importance of treating everyone with respect. So, if someone feels the need to express a different gender identity, we can certainly acknowledge that choice.
But there are boundaries to consider.
These boundaries become particularly significant when it comes to children.
Young people just aren’t equipped to make decisions that could lead to permanent changes in their bodies and fertility.
That’s why surgical procedures to remove genitals or breasts should not be performed on minors. Additionally, prescribing drugs that block hormones and hinder natural development is also problematic.
Moreover, it’s crucial that children aren’t coerced into making such significant choices by doctors who may have questionable motives, or by educators who are possibly trying to prove a point.
Recently, a California publication shared stories of several individuals who have “detransitioned”—those who were persuaded to take puberty blockers or to undergo surgery while still minors, only to reconsider their decisions later on.
In a related development, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a report titled “Wolves in White Coats,” which suggests that some healthcare providers, encouraged by certain politicians, may be leading children into unsuitable and irreversible treatments.
There’s a potential financial gain for physicians and hospitals, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.
California has played a role in fostering such concerns.
Due to the efforts of State Senator Scott Wiener—who is running for Nancy Pelosi’s congressional seat—and Governor Gavin Newsom, California has become known as a “sanctuary state” for transgender minors from other places seeking hormone therapies and surgeries.
Wiener’s legislation, known as SB107, protects doctors and hospitals in California from having to share information with courts in other states regarding youth who come for so-called “gender-affirming care.”
This is just the latest in a series of controversial legislative efforts from Wiener, who has gained a reputation in Sacramento for pushing radical measures that claim to safeguard LGBTQ+ rights.
Governor Newsom has also played his part in this narrative. He once signed a law (later struck down by the Supreme Court) that barred schools from informing parents if their child chose to change their gender identity in school.
This situation left many children vulnerable, relying on teachers, counselors, and school health officials when it came to making drastic decisions about their health.
Newsom seems hesitant to address how young a child needs to be to receive transgender medications or surgeries.
It appears that he, along with other Democrats, shy away from confronting the most radical factions of the LGBTQ+ movement.
In summary, it should be straightforward: let’s protect the children.
