Radical progressive Virginia Democrat Delegate Elizabeth Guzman announced plans to introduce a bill in the Virginia Legislature where parents could face a felony or misdemeanor charge if they do not affirm their child’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity. According to her website, “Elizabeth was inspired by Bernie Sanders’ call for everyday people to run for office, a decision that was cemented when Hillary Clinton lost and Elizabeth’s 9-year-old son said the family had to return to Peru ‘because Donald Trump doesn’t like people who speak Spanish.’ ”
The bill is in response to recent guidelines released by the state’s Department of Education saying that sports teams should be based on biological sex and is focused heavily on parental rights.
The policies under Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin are sharp contrast to the 2021 guidance issued by former Democratic Governor Ralph Northam’s administration.
The new guidance asserts that “parents are in the best position to work with their children and, where appropriate, their children’s health care providers to determine (a) what names, nicknames, and/or pronouns, if any, shall be used for their child by teachers and school staff while their child is at school, (b) whether their child engages in any counseling or social transition at school that encourages a gender that differs from their child’s sex, or (c) whether their child expresses a gender that differs with their child’s sex while at school.”
At a Parents Matter rally in September, Youngkin said, “These same progressives in Fairfax County actually believe they should lock parents out of their children’s lives. They think parents have no right to know what your child is discussing with their teacher or counselor.”
Guzman claims the bill she plans to introduce would help protect LGBTQ children from their parents and guardians who are not affirming of their child’s sexual orientation and gender identity. Further, the bill would expand the state’s definition of child abuse and neglect to include parents who do not affirm their child’s gender identity or sexual orientation.