Newsom Signs Legislation Making California a Trans Sanctuary State

The California State Capitol building in Sacramento on April 18, 2022. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed “gender-affirming health care” legislation into law, making the state a refuge for transgender children and their parents fleeing child abuse laws in other states.

“In California, we believe in equality and acceptance. We believe that no one should be prosecuted or persecuted for getting the care they need—including gender-affirming care,” Newsom wrote in his signing message on Sept. 29. “Parents know what’s best for their kids, and they should be able to make decisions around the health of their children without fear. We must take a stand for parental choice.”

He accused other states of passing laws “to demonize” the transgender community.

“The hate demonstrated by these laws is unfathomable and has contributed to soaring suicide rates,” Newsom said. “With the signing of this bill, California will ensure these kids and their families can seek and obtain the medical and mental health care they need.”

The legislation, Senate Bill 107—authored by Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat—was widely protested by parental rights groups opposed to minors receiving puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and gender transition surgeries.

Chloe Cole, an ex-transgender teen, speaks in support of the Protect Children's Innocence Act as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) looks on outside the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 20, 2022. Terri Wu/The Epoch Times

Chloe Cole, 18, who testified against the legislation, had both of her healthy breasts removed when she was 15 years old and now regrets the decision. She told The Epoch Times that she isn’t surprised that Newsom approved the legislation but said she’s “incredibly disappointed that this heinous bill was signed into law.”

“This will open the floodgates to thousands of children suffering through what I have. No American child is safe from mastectomy, sterilization, or a disrupted development anymore—all under the veil of ‘life-saving care,’” Cole said.

A self-described Democrat and the mother of a teen who once suffered from gender dysphoria, Erin Friday, who spearheaded opposition to the legislation as a California leader of the organization Our Duty, told The Epoch Times the legislation will have devastating consequences for families across the United States.

“Gov. Newsom just told every parent in America that California courts can control their child’s bodily integrity by passing SB107,” Friday said. “He just told every judge in the other 49 states that California judges have the final say with every custody agreement in the country. Newsom just gave permission for every noncustodial parent to abscond with his child to California to commit irreversible atrocities on the child.”

The California Family Council (CFC) also opposed the legislation and warned of pending litigation.

“SB 107 endangers every young person in the nation who experiences gender dysphoria. By signing this extreme bill, Gavin Newsom is telling all parents across the country that he knows what’s best for their children,” CFC President Jonathan Keller said in a statement.

“Mothers and fathers in every state should demand their elected representatives push back against this unconstitutional assault on parental rights. Governors and legislators must defend their citizens from this out-of-control government in Sacramento.”

The CFC joined with parental rights groups, including Moms for Liberty, in asking Newsom to veto the legislation.

More than 50 organizations sent a letter from the Promise to America’s Parents Coalition to Newsom on Sept. 19 urging him to veto SB 107, which the group called “a dangerous piece of legislation which ignores the established authority of the other 49 states and also violates the fundamental rights of parents while increasing the risk of irreversible harm to America’s children.”

The new law will allow state courts to remove out-of-state minors from their parents’ custody in many cases, according to the CFC.

“Newsom, Wiener, and the mainstream media are ignoring the section of the bill that enables children to be kidnapped and enticed to the state against their parents’ wishes and against the court custody determinations and laws of other states,” the CFC said in a Sept. 30 statement.

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and Equality California, among other LGBTQ advocacy groups, supported the legislation.