Newsom vetoes bill that would mandate parents to affirm kids' gender identity in custody fights

California Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill late Friday night that would have forced judges in child custody cases to consider whether or not a parent has affirmed their child's gender identity.

The bill, titled AB 957, was passed earlier this month by the state assembly. It was originally proposed that courts deciding custody cases have to take into account whether each parent affirmed a child's gender identity. 

There was an amendment added in June that if a parent affirmed their child's gender identity, it would be on par with California's standard of what constitutes parental responsibility in court by providing "health, safety, and welfare of the child," according to Fox News. 

Newsom wrote in a statement that while he shares a "deep commitment to advancing the rights of transgender Californians," he could not sign the bill. 

"That said, I urge caution when the Executive and Legislative branches of state government attempt to dictate — in prescriptive terms that single out one characteristic — legal standards for the Judicial branch to apply," the statement reads. "Other-minded elected officials, in California and other states, could very well use this strategy to diminish the civil rights of vulnerable communities."

The bill was authored by Democrat state senators Scott Wiener and Lori Wilson. 

"I am extremely disappointed. I know the Governor's record. He's been a champion for the LGBTQ+ community for years and even before it was popular to do so," Wilson said after Newsom's veto, according to Fox News. "However, on this point, the Governor and I disagree on the best way to protect [Transgender, Gender-Diverse and Intersex] kids."

Charlotte Hazard is a reporter at Just the News. Follow her on X.