California legal duel: 'Unsupportive parent' custody bill OK'd as schools work to inform parents

As California passes a law to require judges to consider whether parents support the gender transitioning of their children in custody cases, public school districts are instituting policies to notify parents of students who are transitioning.

On Friday, the California State Assembly passed Assembly Bill 957 after the state Senate had previously passed it, which requires judges in custody cases to take into consideration whether the parents are supportive of their children’s gender transitioning.

“This bill, for purposes of this provision, would include a parent’s affirmation of the child’s gender identity as part of the health, safety, and welfare of the child,” the legislation reads.

The bill amends a section of the state Family Code regarding “the best interests of the child,” adding “comprehensive factors” that include “a parent’s affirmation of the child’s gender identity or gender expression.”