Washington Democrats pass bill that will let strangers shelter children who want sex changes or abortions without notifying parents

State Sen. Marko Liias' Senate Bill 5599 was first approved in the state Senate with a 27-19 vote on March 1, then passed in the House on April 12 with a 57-39 vote. Although the votes split along party lines, Republican Rep. Bryan Sandlin did not vote against the bill.

After the Senate signs off on the legislation as amended by the House, it will go to Inslee's desk for ratification.

The bill states that both licensed and unlicensed persons or organizations that give shelter to a runaway child with the knowledge that the minor in question "is away from a lawfully prescribed residence or home without parental permission" do not have to inform the child's parents or law enforcement of the child's location if the "minor is seeking or receiving protected health care services," defined elsewhere as "gender-affirming treatment and reproductive health care services."

In other words, Liias' bill will ensure that individuals or youth/homeless shelters will no longer be obligated to inform children's parents or law enforcement of their whereabouts if a child is seeking — without parental consent — a sex change, a tracheal shave, a mastectomy, breast implants, an abortion, puberty blockers, or "assisted reproduction" services.

"We know that young people experiencing homelessness are exposed to dangerous and harmful outcomes. That is why we must take every step we can to ensure their safety," said Liias in a statement. "This legislation ensures that our trans youth have safe options and access to secure, stable shelter when they may not be welcome at home."

Liias is the co-chair of the state Senate's LGBTQ Caucus, with which he previously championed a ban against gay-to-straight conversion therapy.

Conservative radio host Jason Rantz reported on KTTH Radio that Democrats rejected an amendment that would make explicit that the bill was aimed at protecting kids facing actual harm or the prospect of actual harm from their parents.

State Rep. Jamila Taylor (D) suggested the amendment would stand in the way of "keeping children safe" and underscored that "parental rights are not infinite."

Rep. Tana Senn (D) intimated that abusive parents are not the only problem; parents who do no go far enough to affirm their child's mental illness are similarly threatening:

Republican Reps. Chris Corry and Peter Abbarno said in a joint video statement that Democrats roundly rejected all of their amendments, one of which would have precluded strangers from hiding children in cases where kids fled ran away because of a mere "disagreement or argument" with parents, contra actual abuse.

Corry and Abbarno underscored that with this bill, Democrats are "eroding parental rights in the state of Washington."

"This is obviously a fundamental violation of parental rights. It's something that's deeply concerning for parents across Washington state," said Corry.

Abbarno noted that he, Corry, and other Republican legislators are parents who, like many others across the state, would be deeply vexed "if a child disappeared for months," especially if the state, knowing where they were hidden, elected to say nothing.

"That was the crux of much of the debate," said Abbarno. "Should we try to strengthen families, let families build together? Or should we continue to let the state essentially hide where the child is?"

Rep. Leonard Christian (R) stated on April 14 that "this bill treats parents who disagree with abortion and 'gender affirming' treatment as though they were child abusers. All Washington parents should be outraged."

"The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled multiple times that the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment secures the rights this bill seeks to eliminate. The state has no right to separate children from loving parents," added Christian.

Rep. Cyndy Jacobsen (R) spoke out against the bill on the House floor, noting that there are already procedures on the books for dealing with abusive parents and that "parents have the best interests of their children at heart. Parents are the ones to guide them through these times in their lives when they are seeking something like gender-affirming care, something that will change their whole life."

"We don't let a children to smoke a cigarette. We don't allow a child to get a Tylenol from a school nurse. We don't allow children to sign contracts," said Jacobsen. "We want them to be able to consult with their parents to get through these hard times in life."

Rep. Jim Walsh (R) indicated that thousands of concerned Washingtonians had contacted him about the bill to express both their concern and outrage.

"Sponsors and supporters of this bill have overstepped the constitution and case law in promoting this policy, which would allow state bureaucrats to hide minor children from custodial parents and legal guardians. This bill is wrong—legally, ethically and morally," said Walsh in a statement.

"Among its many flaws, the bill assumes families that don't 'affirm' a child's short-term desires are being abusive. Wrong! Sometimes love requires parents to not affirm their child's whims. Loving parents guide their children as they grow. Sometimes that means saying 'no,'" continued Walsh. "This is not the first policy approved this session that turns the power and machinery of state government against families. Lawmakers promoting these changes put wedges between children and their parents, grandparents and the people who love them."

When speaking out against the bill on the House floor, one Republican got choked up by the prospect that the Democratic establishment and the coercive power of the state would come between him and his children.

Rep. Spencer Hutchins (R) held back tears, saying on April 13, "I was talking to my three-year-old the other day ... and I said, 'What would I do without you?' And my three-year-old took me very literally. He said, 'Daddy, you'd come find me.'"

Hutchins made it known that were his kids to go missing, nothing would stop him from finding them.

Rep. Spencer Hutchins delivers powerful no speech on bill that erodes parental rightsyoutu.be

"We certainly want to protect children, but we think this bill goes too far in taking loving parents away from important significant decisions that parents are making," Washington Republican Party Chairman Caleb Heimlich told KING-TV. "That is in the bill that if a teen runs away and a loving parent is trying to find where their teen is at, the state will not tell them, and as a parent that is terrifying."

Radio show host Jason Rantz emphasized, "Washington Democrats are coming for your kids, and they're starting with the most vulnerable."

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