Gov. Jay Inslee signs bills at the Washington State Capitol, May 9, in Olympia. One of those bills was Senate Bill 5599, which was designed to protect homeless youths seeking reproductive health services or gender-affirming care. (Ed Komenda / Associated Press)

Gov. Jay Inslee signs bills at the Washington State Capitol, May 9, in Olympia. One of those bills was Senate Bill 5599, which was designed to protect homeless youths seeking reproductive health services or gender-affirming care. (Ed Komenda / Associated Press)

Editorial: Ballot measure isn’t about parental rights

A measure to repeal a state law regarding homeless youths would work against kids and families.

By The Herald Editorial Board

Expect to be pestered soon by people holding clipboards urging you to protect the rights of parents by signing a petition to put a referendum on the November ballot.

Despite that and other claims — including one that a new law allows the “state-sanctioned kidnapping” of children from their homes — parents’ rights aren’t being threatened by the law passed by the Legislature and signed last week by Gov. Jay Inslee.

The referendum will seek to overturn Senate Bill 5599, sponsored by state Sen. Marko Liias, D-Everett, which will amend rules that shelters and the state must follow to notify parents within 72 hours when a minor checks into a youth shelter or licensed host home.

Just as the legislation was dogged by disinformation this spring while under consideration by lawmakers, the same charges are expected to be repeated as referendum supporters seek signatures, and if successful, press to overturn the law, which takes effect in July.

A rally earlier this month in Olympia, featuring about 100 protesters — and 250 counterprotesters — focused attention on the law’s added protections for transgender youths and those seeking abortions and other reproductive care who have left home, arguing that the law had trampled on parental rights.

Plainly stated, the law isn’t a threat to parental rights, but instead balances the well-being of youths who have either left or have been kicked out of their homes, assuring they have shelter and services while attempts are made to address concerns and reunify them with family.

Under current law, licensed shelters or host homes must contact a youth’s parents within 24 to 72 hours, unless there are compelling reasons, such as abuse or neglect. In those cases, the state Department of Children, Youth and Families is notified, which in turn, must make a good faith effort to notify the parents and offer behavioral health services to resolve the conflict between the youth and parents and seek reunification of the family.

The new law extends as compelling reasons issues such as a youth seeking reproductive care, such as an abortion, or a youth seeking gender-affirming care, including treatment for gender dysphoria.

The intent of the law is to ensure that youths who leave home or are kicked out of their homes can find safe and supportive shelter and services regardless of their circumstances. A reversal of the new law could mean some youths, believing they would be forced to return to their homes, would avoid shelter altogether, increasing the risks for harm and even suicide.

“We know that there’s [a] really high risk of mental health [issues] leading up to suicide for this population,” Liias told Crosscut earlier this month. “I’ve spoken to young people who have thankfully survived suicide attempts, but who share their stories of how difficult it is to live in environments where they are not just not receiving support, but their family members are actively contributing to the unsafe circumstances that led them to that place.”

About 1.8 percent of youths in the United States identify as transgender, and 1 in 3 of that group say they have attempted suicide, a report by the Trevor Project found.

Yet, groups such as the Conservative Ladies of Washington, attacked the legislation on its Facebook page, claiming it would lead to “state sanctioned kidnapping” of vulnerable children, the new Washington State Standard news service reported last week. Others claimed it would have allowed the state to remove children from parents who refused gender-affirming care for children with gender dysphoria.

To be clear, the new law makes no changes to state law on custody and makes no dictates on medical care.

The referendum signature drive is being led by a Puyallup woman, Dawn Land, the Standard reported. She and referendum supporters must gather signatures of at least 162,258 registered voters by July 22 to get the measure on the November ballot. Land was successful in 2020, gathering more than 264,000 signatures — during the pandemic — to get Referendum 90 on the ballot, which sought to repeal the state’s comprehensive sexual health education curriculum in public schools. Despite opponents’ disinformation — including labeling the curriculum as “sex ed for kindergartners” — about the law’s intent, standards and the curriculum, Washington voters sided with the new state law, voting nearly 58 percent in support.

Washington’s Legislature this session bucked the trend of unwarranted and reactionary legislation in 32 other states that sought — and too often succeeded — in restricting or banning gender-affirming care for transgender youths. That care ultimately should be a decision left to parents and youths; and when situations arise where youths and parents are estranged, the state can provide assistance to resolve the conflict.

Voters asked to sign the referendum petition should decline. Should the referendum make the ballot, they should vote to affirm the law.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

The Washington State Legislature convenes for a joint session for a swearing-in ceremony of statewide elected officials and Governor Bob Ferguson’s inaugural address, March 15, 2025.
Editorial: 4 bills that need a second look by state lawmakers

Even good ideas, such as these four bills, can fail to gain traction in the state Legislature.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Tuesday, May 13

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

County should adopt critical areas law without amendments

This is an all-hands-on-deck moment to protect wetlands in Snohomish County. Wednesday,… Continue reading

A ‘hands-on’ president is what we need

The “Hands Off” protesting people are dazed and confused. They are telling… Continue reading

Climate should take precedence in protests against Trump

In recent weeks I have been to rallies and meetings joining the… Continue reading

Can county be trusted with funds to aid homeless?

In response to the the article (“Snohomish County, 7 local governments across… Continue reading

Comment: Trump conditioning citizenship on wealth, background

Selling $5 million ‘gold visas’ and ending the birthright principle would end citizenship as we know it.

FILE - The sun dial near the Legislative Building is shown under cloudy skies, March 10, 2022, at the state Capitol in Olympia, Wash. An effort to balance what is considered the nation's most regressive state tax code comes before the Washington Supreme Court on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, in a case that could overturn a prohibition on income taxes that dates to the 1930s. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
Editorial: What state lawmakers acheived this session

A look at some of the more consequential policy bills adopted by the Legislature in its 105 days.

Liz Skinner, right, and Emma Titterness, both from Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County, speak with a man near the Silver Lake Safeway while conducting a point-in-time count Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Everett, Washington. The man, who had slept at that location the previous night, was provided some food and a warming kit after participating in the PIT survey. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Editorial: County had no choice but to sue over new grant rules

New Trump administration conditions for homelessness grants could place county in legal jeopardy.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Monday, May 12

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Comment: A 100% tariff on movies? How would that even work?

The film industry is a export success for the U.S. Tariffs would only make things harder for U.S. films.

Scott Peterson walks by a rootball as tall as the adjacent power pole from a tree that fell on the roof of an apartment complex he does maintenance for on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Communities need FEMA’s help to rebuild after disaster

The scaling back or loss of the federal agency would drown states in losses and threaten preparedness.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.