Governor Brown Attacks the 1st Amendment; Signs Bill With Jail Time for Refusing to Use Transgender Pronouns

SACRAMENTO – In a shocking disregard for the privacy rights of seniors and constitutional freedoms of speech and religion, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law SB 219 yesterday.

While no doubt well-intentioned, the bill from California state senator Scott Weiner (D-San Francisco) will inflict severe penalties on long-term care center workers if they fail to deny biological facts by using “preferred pronouns” for any patients identifying as transgender. If employees “willfully or repeatedly violate” SB 219, they could be charged with a misdemeanor and subject to punishment of a $1000 fine, or even up to one year in jail.

SB 219 also mandates gender be determined by self-identification, not biology. As a result, female senior citizens will be forced to share bedrooms and other intimate facilities with biological men if those men identify as a women.

“Compelled speech violates free speech,” said Jonathan Keller, President of California Family Council. “SB 219 forces people to use words that aren’t even in the dictionary.”

“SB 219 tries to place ‘misgendering’ someone on the same level as physical abuse,” Keller continued. “Everyone should be treated with respect in nursing homes, and that includes those who believe gender is based on biology, not feelings.”

For more information about SB 219, see the following stories:

• Tucker Carlson On CA Bill that Jails Healthcare Workers Who “Misgender”
• CA bill to make criminals out of those refusing to use transgender pronouns
• Read letter of opposition from the Women’s Liberation Front.
• Legal analysis from Pacific Justice Institute.