Proposed Virginia law would charge parents with child abuse if they dispute child's gender identity

A Virginia Democrat has proposed a law that, if passed, could charge parents with criminal child abuse if they fail to affirm their child's chosen "gender identity." 

Elizabeth Guzman, who represents Virginia's House of Delegates District 31, told news station WJLA this week that she proposed the measure as an explicit pushback against state Gov. Glenn Youngkin's late aggressive efforts to roll back LGBTQ victories in the state, specifically his measure barring students from using bathrooms that correspond to their "gender identity."

“The day that Governor Youngkin wanted to implement this policy, I immediately texted the policy lead of that committee and said, this is how we're going to push back," Guzman told the news outlet. 

Guzman said the provisions of the proposed law would be triggered if a child reports to state authorities that his parent is not being supportive of the gender identity he has chosen. 

“And then that's how everybody gets involved," Guzman said. "There's also an investigation in place that is not only from a social worker but there's also a police investigation before we make the decision that there is going to be a CPS charge.”

Asked about the penalties of such charges, Guzman said, "It could be a felony, it could be a misdemeanor, but we know that CPS charge could harm your employment, could harm their education, because nowadays many people do a CPS database search before offering employment.”

Guzman said the purpose of the law is to "educat[e] parents."

"[T]his law is telling you do not abuse your children because they are LGBTQ," she said. 

Republicans currently control the state's House of Delegates, while Democrats are in command of the state senate.