A bill to protect parents from losing custody of a child to the state for simply affirming their dependent’s biological sex over trans-identifying preferences has been introduced to the U.S. House and Senate.
Earlier this month, Rep. Mary Miller (R.-Ill.) introduced the Yaeli Martinez Child Protection Act into the House of Representatives. The legislation is named in honor of Martinez, who became enthralled with gender ideology at age 15.
When Yaeli’s mother, a Christian, refused to affirm her so-called “transgender” identity, Los Angeles Child Protective Services placed the teenage girl into foster care. A few years later, after following a steady regimen of sex-rejecting hormones Yaeli, then 19, committed suicide by stepping in front of a moving train.
Speaking on “Washington Watch with Tony Perkins,” Miller said: “It is urgently needed federal action to ensure that federal child welfare funds are not going to be used to punish parents across the country.”
According to a press release from Miller’s office, the bill would:
- “Protect parents from wrongful abuse allegations by clarifying that affirming a child’s biological sex does not constitute child abuse.
- “Safeguard parental custody by barring federally funded state child-welfare systems from removing children from fit parents simply because those parents affirm their child’s biological sex.
- “Ensure foster and adoptive families cannot be denied placement solely because they affirm a child’s biological sex.
- “Amend the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act to prevent states from wrongfully asserting custody over a child.
- “Hold states accountable through federal funding consequences and a private right of action for violations of the Act.”
Miller said that the far Left’s record speaks for itself. In May, “198 House Democrats voted against requiring parental consent before schools socially transition children, and 201 voted against barring federal Medicaid funds from covering gender transition surgeries for minors,” she explained.
Sen. Eric Schmitt (R.-Mo.), who introduced the Yaeli Martinez Child Protection Act in the Senate, stated in a press release: “The Left’s radical gender ideology is harming children with irreversible treatments and procedures. But in blue states, parents are being punished, and sometimes even separated from their children, for protecting their kids from this permanent damage. It is sickening that a state would impose ideological child-welfare policies to tear apart a family. Parents know what’s best for their own families, and we need to defend their rights to protect their children.”
Penny Nance, CEO and president of Concerned Women for America, told The Washington Stand that a parent’s refusal to affirm their child’s gender dysphoria is not abuse. “In fact, doing so is acting in the best interest of the child by protecting them from falling into a false and dangerous ideology.”
“But far too many families have been wrongly investigated and punished by the state for doing that very thing,” she continued. “Far too many foster parents have been barred from caring for children in need because they refuse to use false pronouns. We are grateful to Sen. Schmitt for introducing legislation that will protect families who rightly teach their children that each one is created uniquely, lovingly, by God, male and female.”
Relevant Bible passages to ponder: Genesis 1:27, Isaiah 45:9, Proverbs 22:6, Colossians 3:20
