California Bill Seeks to Make State a ‘Refuge for Transgender Children’

California is considering legislation that would make the state a legal refuge for transgender youth and their families under threat for gender-affirming surgeries in other states.

The bill, introduced by state Sen. Scott Wiener, would legally protect parents who support their children’s access to transgender health care by blocking out-of-state court judgements removing the children from their parents’ custody, The Hill reports.

Wiener said that the bill seeks to guarantee that “California is a place of refuge for transgender children and their parents as a wave of criminalization sweeps through Texas and other states.”

“We know other red states will, no doubt, be considering these bills as well,” Wiener said of state’s considering or approving bills against transgender children and/or parents. “They all copy each other and it spreads like wildfire around the country.”

Under the legislation, courts would not be able to subpoena information about anyone who travels to California to receive gender-affirming care. It would additionally flag warrants pertaining to someone from out of state receiving treatments as low priority for law enforcement.