State senator encourages parents to 'flee' California rather than risk being forced to affirm their child's 'gender identity' someday: Video

A state senator in California has slammed his home state, claiming that it has become "too oppressive," and encouraged parents to "flee" and escape new heavy-handed legislation that may soon compel them to comply with far-left gender "ideology" regarding their child.

Last week, TheBlaze reported that a new bill, which has already passed the State Assembly and the Senate Judiciary Committee, would add "a parent's affirmation of the child's gender identity" to a list of "health, safety and welfare" concerns that must be considered during child custody, divorce, and/or parental visitation proceedings. Opponents argued that California A.B. 957 would violate parents' religious liberties and characterize good and loving parents as possible abusers.

"When you say that gender affirmation is in the child's best interest for health, safety, and welfare, it takes nothing to say [non-affirmation] is now abuse — because you're not taking care of the health, safety, and welfare if you’re not affirming them," claimed attorney Erin Friday of the parental rights group Our Duty.

State Senator Scott Wilk, a Republican who represents parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, took the argument even further and stated in committee that the bill threatens to take children "away from" their parents entirely. "In recent years, we have put bureaucrats between parents, children, and doctors when it comes to medical care," he said. "And now we have this where if a parent does not support the ideology of the government, they're going to be taken away from the home."

During his time in the state Senate, Wilk claimed that legislators have focused primarily on protecting children, but now he says they should redirect their effort toward "protecting parents," whose rights have "atrophied" considerably. In fact, they have eroded to such an extent that Wilk believes parents should "flee" the state rather than risk being subjected to the new bill.

"In the past when we've had these discussions ... I've encouraged people to keep fighting," Wilk stated. "I changed my mind on that. If you love your children, you need to flee California. You need to flee." Other members in the room cheered in agreement.

Wilk added that, while the current bill would mainly affect those parents engaged in divorce proceedings, its influence will soon expand to other areas. "I can assure you it's not going to end with divorce proceedings," he said.

At the end of his speech, he suggested with an air of resignation that his time in the California Senate — and in the state in general — would likely soon come to a close. "I'm not going to stay in this state," he claimed, "because it's just too oppressive, and I believe in freedom." Though he repeatedly insisted that he loves the state in which he was "born and raised," he cannot bear the overbearing government there.

"So I'm gonna move to America when I leave the legislature," he asserted, though without giving an indication when he might do so. The Washington Times reported that he plans to leave after his term ends but did not cite any source supporting that reporting.

A.B. 957 now moves to the Senate floor, and at least one Democrat who voted for it on committee has already suggested she may vote against it in future. "I don’t think we want to send something to the court that causes confusion or wrong decisions," said Democrat state Sen. Anna Caballero. Should the Senate approve the measure, it would return to the State Assembly to approve the amendments. After that, it would be given to Gov. Gavin Newsom for consideration.

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