Emily Randall on Families & Children

Allow youth in shelters to seek gender therapy & abortions

Chrisitan Broadcasting Network analysis (05-09-2023): Opponents said it elevates state authority over parental rights, allowing minors to pursue medical gender-changing interventions and abortions without parents' consent. State Sen. Marko Liias, the bill's sponsor, told KOMO News, the measure protects transgender and at-risk youth by removing barriers to safe shelter. The shelters would not be required to report to parents if teenagers were seeking gender-changing hormone therapies or abortions.

Legislative outcome:  Passed House 57-39-2 on Apr/12/23; passed Senate 29-20-0 on Apr/19/23; State Sen. Emily Randall sponsored and voted YES; signed by Gov. Jay Inslee on May/9/23.

Sex-ed in elementary school thru 12th grade

The bill's sponsor said the new law will improve safety for children across the state. "This is about making sure younger children know what kind of touching is inappropriate, whether by peers or predators," she said.

But the bill's opponents say the curriculum is too explicit. Several of the bill's opponents say sex education should be restricted to grades 7 through 12.

Supporters of the bill say no student will be required to participate in any of the sex education classes, with the bill providing families the ability to opt their children out.