WA bill allows for harboring of minors as they receive abortions, “gender-affirming” care

With one stroke of his pen, Governor Jay Inslee has the power to enact a law that would allow youth shelters become a “safe haven” for harboring children without their parent’s knowledge in order for the child to obtain an abortion or “gender-affirming care” that they were unable to receive under their parent’s supervision. This bill is based on emotions, not the reality of raising children or their safety. Succumbing to a child’s every whim is not healthy, nor is it realistic. Minors are not capable of consenting to these life-altering and in the case of abortion, life-ending procedures.

SB 5599, “Supporting youth and young adults seeking protected health care services,” passed through the Senate and House with immense objection from Republicans, who offered up 12 amendments to the bill in hopes of preserving parental rights. Only one amendment, which will require the Office of Homeless Youth to collect data on the number of unsheltered minors, passed. The other 11 amendments were rejected by Democrats, who are clearly unwilling to make provisions to protect Christian families and their values.

As the law currently stands, any program, shelter or individual housing a runaway or homeless child must report to police, Child Protective Services and/or the parents within 72 hours. With the new bill, if the child reports they are seeking abortion, puberty blockers, gender “reassignment” surgery, or any other health services prescribed by a doctor to treat “dysphoria,” the place where they are seeking shelter has the full authority to assist the child in obtaining those services without contacting police, CPS, or their parents. 

“A parent’s job is to protect their child, this bill strips parents of that ability… Gender is in your imagination (emphasis added),” the Senate Bill Report from the opposition read. “This bill legalizes the kidnapping of children, allows for the harboring of minors, and segregates us from the union. Children should not be housed in mixed sex situations (emphasis added).

The bill does not state any point at which the host must contact the child’s parents, so the child could presumably be kidnapped from their parents for an indeterminate amount of time, and the parents would have no way of knowing who they were with, if they were safe, or if the police had any involvement in their child’s housing. 

“Sponsors and supporters of this bill have overstepped the constitution and case law in promoting this policy, which would allow state bureaucrats to hide minor children from custodial parents and legal guardians,” Republican Rep. Jim Walsh said. He added that the bill operates under the misguided assumption that “families that don’t ‘affirm’ a child’s short-term desires are being abusive.”

It’s not too late to contact Governor Inslee and voice your strong opposition for this horrific policy that could change the foundation of parental rights in Washington. Click here to send Governor Inslee an e-message with your opinion.