As the 2017 legislative session comes to a close, California state legislature gave final approval to several horrific bills. New proposed laws to change the definition of gender, fine and jail senior healthcare workers who repeatedly “misgender” those identifying as transgender, and prevent religious organizations from having codes of conduct related to abortion, contraception, and sex outside of marriage.
The only thing keeping these bills from becoming law is a veto from Governor Jerry Brown.
Call Governor Brown’s office today at (916) 445-2841 and ask him to veto the bills listed below:
Gender Change Bills:
- SB 179: Change Your Gender Bill This bill completely changes the meaning of the words “male” and “female,” from a physical description of reality, to a description of feelings and self identification. And it also officially creates a third gender, “non-binary” for those who don’t want to identity exclusively as either sex. Specifically, SB 179 simplifies the ability of people to change the gender listed on their driver’s licenses or birth certificates to one of three options, by simply filling out a form; no questions asked; no proof required. Parents of children will also be able to change the sex of their children listed on their birth certificates no matter how young, if parents think their child’s body doesn’t match their “true” gender. For more information…
- SB 310: Gender changes for inmates This bill will simplify the process for inmates to change their names and gender while in the custody of state or county prisons. Currently, a gender change while in jail must be approved by correctional facility officials before official documents can be changed. If this bill passes, the decision will no longer be up to correction officials, but made by a judge instead. We believe this will lead to men, who claim to be women, being housed with women inmates. You don’t need much of a imagination to know what big issues this would cause.
- SB 396 – Gender identity sensitivity training: Businesses with over 50 employees will be required to provide at least two hours of training and education regarding harassment based on gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. The bill analysis states that the state Fair Employment and Housing Council issued new regulations in July of 2017 regarding discrimination based on gender identity: “These regulations address key topics such as the rights of employees to use restrooms, locker rooms, and other similar facilities corresponding to their gender identity; to dress in accord with their gender identity and expression; and to be addressed by their preferred name and gender pronoun.”
Anti-Religious Liberty Bills:
- SB 219: LGBT Rights Long-term care facilities This bill will inflict fines and jail time on long-term care center workers who refuse to use the preferred pronoun of patients identifying as transgender. (The gender pronoun list could contain as many as 50 options) The bill also mandates that gender be determined by self identification, not biology. As a result, anyone claiming to be a woman or a man would have to be treated like their preferred sex in regards to rooming situations and bathroom usage. There are no exemptions for religious institutions. Not only does this bill violate the religious liberty rights of faith-based senior facilities, but it violates free speech rights by compelling people to use work not even found in the dictionary. For more information…
- Watch Tucker Carlson take to task a Democratic strategist who defends SB 219 here.
- AB 569: Prohibits Pro-Life Codes of Conduct This bill specifically outlaws employer codes of conduct for employees that prohibit abortion, sex outside of marriage, or contraception, and exposes them to devastating and expensive lawsuits. This includes all churches, religiously affiliated schools, and pro-life non-profits. There is a very narrow exemption for ministers. This bill is directly targeting religious groups who want to operate their organizations according to Biblical principals. For more information…
Parental Rights
- AB 677 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Disparities Reduction Act: Currently, primary and secondary schools that have students fill out the California Healthy Kids Survey, must get parental approval if the questions about a student’s sexual orientation are included. Some schools remove the sexual orientation question so they can give kids the survey without parental approval. This bill would prohibit schools from taking out the sexual orientation question if they are going to make their students take the California Healthy Kids Survey. Public school administrator have no business asking children to reveal their sexual feelings. This bill puts more pressure on schools to ask these very personal questions.
