California Assemblyman Mike Gibson (D-Compton) claims his bill (AB 175) to force foster parents to use transgender pronouns will attract people to become foster parents. Gibson made this dubious argument in the Assembly Human Services Committee two weeks ago after concerns were raised over whether his bill would further exacerbate the state’s foster parent shortage.
“I think this bill has great potential of one, increasing parents taking in foster children,” Gibson said, responding to a legislator’s direct question over whether his bill “helps get more foster parents.” After making his unsubstantiated claim, Gibson quickly changed the subject and rambled on about “complicities and trauma” of foster youth and then started reading other parts of his bill to legislators.
California Family Council representative Greg Burt brought up this issue in his opposition testimony at the hearing. “Forcing [Christian] foster parents to refer to their foster children as the wrong gender is forcing them affirm what they believe is a lie. And not only a lie, but harmful to the child,” Burt testified. “Many foster parents are people of faith. They seek to obey and follow God by loving and serving others. Foster parents are heroes that you should be respecting, not driving away. “
AB 175 adds the following new rights to the current “Foster Youth Bill of Rights”:
- The right to be referred to by one’s preferred name and gender pronoun;
- The right to receive adequate clothing, grooming, and hygiene products, that reflex a child’s sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression;
- The right to attend school clubs, parades, and other activities consistent with the child’s age, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression;
- The right to have reasonable access to computer technology and the internet.
- The right (10 years of age or older) to age-appropriate, medically accurate information about reproductive healthcare (abortion), the prevention of unplanned pregnancy (condoms and birth control), and the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (Comprehensive Sex Education).
- Read more bill details here.
The Assembly Human Services Committee eventually voted to approve AB 175 with a vote of 7 to 1 at the Feb 26th hearing. Assembly members Arambula, Friedman, Gipson, Maienschein, Mathis, Reyes, and Stone voted yes. Assemblyman Steven Choi voted no.
Call to Action!
AB 175 will be heard in the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Tuesday March 12th at 9 a.m.
CALL members of the Assembly Judiciary Committee ASAP and tell them to not push Christians out of the foster care system by requiring them to lie to their foster children about their gender.
- Mark Stone (Chair) (D – Santa Cruz) (916) 319-2029
- James Gallagher (Vice Chair) (R – Yuba City) (916) 319-2003
- Ed Chau (D – Monterey Park) (916) 319-2049
- David Chiu (D – San Francisco) (916) 319-2017
- Lorena Gonzalez (D – San Diego) (916) 319-2080
- Chris R. Holden (D – Pasadena) (916) 319-2041
- Ash Kalra (D – San Jose) (916) 319-2027
- Kevin Kiley (R – Folsom) (916) 319-2006
- Brian Maienschein (D – San Diego) (916) 319-2077
- Jay Obernolte (R – Barstow) (916) 319-2033
- Cottie Petrie-Norris (D – Newport Beach) (916) 319-2074
- Eloise Gómez Reyes (D – San Bernardino) (916) 319-2047
