If you didn’t already have enough reasons to leave California, particularly if you are a parent, now you have a few more. The first is a new bill in the state Assembly, AB-957. It deals with child custody matters during a divorce or separation. The change to the bill being debated this week would require judges to consider whether parents “affirm” their child’s preferred gender identity. If there is a dispute between the parents, the judge will be forced to “favor” the parent who affirms the transgender identity over the parent who opposes the transition. At this point, it’s almost like the state government is daring parents to go to war with them. (Free Beacon)

A newly revised California bill would treat parents’ refusal to “affirm” their child’s gender identity as a violation of health, safety, and welfare in the context of custody disputes.

The bill, which has already passed the State Assembly, would require judges adjudicating such disputes over transgender-identifying children to favor the parent who “affirms” the child’s preferred identity. Earlier this week the authors released an updated version that specifically defines “the health, safety, and welfare” of a child to include “a parent’s affirmation of the child’s gender identity”—a change that the bill’s opponents worry will open the door to non-affirmation being treated as abuse.

Critics of the measure are pointing out that having such a provision on the books opens the door to a situation where a parent objecting to their child’s trans indoctrination could be charged with child abuse. California is sailing into some seriously dangerous uncharted waters here.

The bill’s primary sponsors in the legislature, State Senator Scott Wiener (D.) and Assemblywoman Lori Wilson (D.) are denying that this could lead to any sort of abuse charges. A spokesman for Wilson attempted to brush off concerns over the change, saying that affirmation is not “the most important factor or determining factor.” Instead, he claimed that it is “only one of many factors” judges must consider when determining custody. But I think we can all see where this is going.

Adding insult to injury, Wiener is pushing a second bill that would require foster parents to preemptively affirm a child’s right to transition prior to taking custody. In other words, the state is trying to ensure that any children experiencing gender confusion will only wind up in homes where transitioning will be fully supported and encouraged rather than finding help for the child’s dysphoria.

In cases of divorce or separation, this new legislation will effectively wipe out custody or visitation rights for parents who don’t fully buy into the social contagion of transgender ideology. Sane parents such as the members of the parental coalition Our Duty have been protesting these types of policies, but the state government continues to charge toward the cliff at full speed. At this point, there really may be no other choice but to take your children and flee California. You are being ruled by insane, partisan monsters and your fellow Californians continue to elect the same people over and over again. It’s a tragedy for all of the children involved who will wind up being permanently damaged, but you may need to simply get away and let California sink under the waves on its own.