California Bill Would Classify Not Affirming Child’s Transgenderism As ‘Child Abuse’

A recently amended California bill would classify not affirming a child’s gender identity by one or both parents as “child abuse.”

AB 957 was introduced into the California legislature by Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) and state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). The bill rewrites much of the state’s family law and classifies “a parent’s affirmation of the child’s gender identity as part of the health, safety, and welfare of the child.”

The bill amends Section 3011 of the Family Code, which deals with child custody disputes, and requires that a court determining the “best interests” of the child must consider affirmation of transgender identity. If a parent were to deny the child’s “gender identity,” it would be a violation of the child’s health, safety, and welfare — equivalent to child abuse.

Because the bill changes the definition of what constitutes the “health, safety, and welfare” of a child, any organization interacting with children — including schools, churches, and hospitals — would be required to affirm gender transitions in minors.

The Washington Free Beacon reported that Wilson’s spokesman disputed the claim that the revisions change anything about the bill and stated that AB 957 relates only to family law, not criminal law.

“It’s not saying [affirmation] is the most important factor or determining factor,” the spokesman, Taylor Woolfork, said. “It’s one of many factors that the judge should consider while working out a custody agreement.”

The bill’s text is ambiguous and general, making no distinctions regarding the age of the child, how long the child has identified as transgender, or the difference between affirming social transitions and sex-change treatments.

Nicole Peterson, founder of the law firm and civil rights advocacy group Facts Law Truth Justice, condemned AB 957 in an interview with The Daily Signal.

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“If a parent or guardian is unwilling or simply not ready to affirm their 7-year-old’s new identity — as they transition from Spongebob to Batman to Dora the Explorer — they can be found guilty of child abuse under AB-957 if it passes into law,” Peterson said. “This is a horrifying bill for children, and for parents and guardians not just in California, but across the country. Gavin Newsom is gunning for president in 2028. If he signs this bill into law, here, it will be headed to every state if he wins.”

Wiener recently turned heads after inviting “Sister Roma,” a member of an anti-Catholic group of “drag queen nuns,” to be honored at the California Capitol for Pride month. He also authored SB 107, making California the first state to establish itself as a “sanctuary” for transgender treatments for minors. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed that bill into law in September 2022.

AB 957 easily cleared the state’s lower house — with 16 mostly Democratic members refraining from voting. The recent changes head to a Senate committee hearing next week.

U.S. To Spend Millions To Push Green Energy Transition In Caribbean

The U.S. is planning to spend millions of taxpayer dollars to push a renewable energy transition in the Caribbean, according to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The announcement came from Vice President Kamala Harris during a trip to the Bahamas, where Harris announced a planned total of $100 million in aid to the region, including $20 million for “transitioning to Renewable Energy and Addressing Climate Change Impacts in the Caribbean.”

“To support the region’s transition to renewable energy and increase energy efficiency, working with Congress and subject to the availability of funds, USAID intends to provide $20 million in funding to companies with financial and technical assistance and business development services through the Caribbean Climate Investment Program,” according to USAID.

The initiative will also form the Blue-Green Investment Corporation, which will work with Barbados, the Green Climate Fund, and private sector entities to form a “green bank.” The purpose of the bank will be to “finance projects such as climate resilient housing, renewable energy, clean transportation, and water conservation firstly in Barbados, and later expanding to other Caribbean countries.”

An additional $1.5 million will be committed to the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, an informational and policy advisory group located in Belize.

The support for an energy transition abroad comes as the Biden administration has aggressively pursued renewable energy and moved away from traditional energy resources like coal and fossil fuels.

“The real truth is that as long as our nation remains overly reliant on oil and fossil fuels, we will feel these price shocks again,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said last year.

The transition could prove to be costly, with some estimates saying that climate-related provisions in Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act might cost taxpayers over $1 trillion.

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“The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) contained a range of climate and energy provisions that PWBM previously estimated to cost $384.9 billion over 10 years,” a model from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business said. “Since that estimate, newer implementation details have emerged, and the fiscal year calendar has moved to start at FY2023. Our updated estimate for over 10 years (FY2023 – 2032) for just the climate and energy provisions is now $1,045 billion.”

Harris also met with officials in the Caribbean to discuss cracking down on gun trafficking in the region.

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