We are sharing this recent article with kind permission from Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans.
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A federal lawsuit has been filed against Washington State officials alleging abridgment of civil rights of parents of runaway youth over a new law enabling shelters to conceal information for youth seeking so-called “gender affirming” care. Attorneys are seeking additional parents from Washington, Oregon or Idaho to join as co-plaintiffs. If you are interested in learning more, please see the contact details at end of this essay.
Attorneys for plaintiffs International Partners for Ethical Care and Advocates Protecting Children, two nonprofits established to combat gender ideology, along with eight anonymous parents, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on August 16, 2023 in the U.S. District Court for The Western District of Washington against Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Attorney General Robert Ferguson, and the Secretary of WA Department of Children, Youth and Families, Ross Hunter. Plaintiff's Complaint states: "This lawsuit against Washington state officials is about whether a minor child who is receiving or even just seeking so-called 'gender-affirming' treatment—which includes services that alter body parts, prescribe life-altering medications, and other related things—showing up at a youth shelter, homeless shelter, or a host home, provides sufficient grounds to steamroll parental constitutional rights. Under recently enacted SB 5599, that answer is 'yes.' Under the United States Constitution and the Washington State Constitution, however, that answer is 'no.'" The Complaint alleges that the statute infringes on parental civil rights by taking away a requirement of notice to parents, authorizing the State to refer a minor for mental health services potentially including services the parents would not endorse or authorize, delaying when the State would return the children to their parents, and enabling shelters and homes to conceal the child's location or medical interventions from the parents with no time limit. The Complaint further alleges that the recently enacted Washington state statute "discriminatorily deprives certain parents -- but not all parents -- of their fundamental right under the U.S. Constitution to direct care and upbringing of their children, as well as their rights to the free exercise of religion, due process, free speech, and equal protection..." in violation of plaintiffs' rights under the 1st and 14th Amendments. Attorneys from three legal firms Mitchell Law, America First Legal, and Schaer Jaffe, LLP are providing pro bono legal services to parents whose rights are threatened by this new law. Attorney James Phillips stated that they are seeking “[P]arents with a child who struggles with gender identity issues and who has run away in the past or is threatening to do so now.” Parents from Washington State, Oregon or Idaho are encouraged to join with the eight other parents as anonymous co-plaintiffs. If you are a parent interested in joining the lawsuit you may contact Schaer Jaffe, LLP. info@schaerr-jaffe.com 202.787.1060
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