Another round of testimony is set to unfold on a highly controversial bill that could undermine the fundamental rights and responsibilities of Alaskan parents.
On Thursday, March 5, the House Health and Social Services Committee will hear public testimony on House Bill 232. The bill was introduced by vocal LGBTQ activist, Rep. Andrew Gray (D-Anchorage), and it mirrors Senate Bill 90, which was introduced last year by Sen. Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage).
Additionally, the entirety of SB 90 was pasted into House Bill 36 (also sponsored by Rep. Gray). While HB 36 initially only dealt with children in foster care, the wording of SB 90 is now part of that larger bill, thanks to Sen. Matt Claman (D-Anchorage), who merged the two bills in the Senate Judiciary Committee last May. So, in essence, identical threats to parental rights are now contained in all three measures – SB 90, HB 232 and HB 36.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
Each of these bills would give mental health counselors access to minors without any parental knowledge or consent. This would include sessions that deal with gender-identity and sexual orientation.
Proponents of such laws include a long list of LGBTQ activist organizations that believe states should lower age-of-consent laws to give counselors access to minors without informing parents, who might oppose such sessions.
If these bills pass, school-based counselors and gender clinics, such as Anchorage’s Identity Health Clinic, would be able facilitate a minor’s social gender transition while keeping parents in the dark.
TAKING ACTION
— The public hearing on HB 232 is set for Thursday, March 5, in the House Health & Social Services Committee. Testimony is open to the public. Click here https://akleg.gov/docs/pdf/AKLEG_Testimony_Instructions.pdf for details on how to testify.
— Read the proposed Alaska bills: HB 232 and SB 90 and HB 36.
— Click here to contact the members of the House Health Committee, which is considering HB 232.
— Click here to contact Sen. Cathy Giessel (Sponsor of SB 90)
— Click here to contact the members of the Senate Finance Committee, which is considering HB 36 (a bill that now includes SB 90).
— Click here to contact the members of the Senate Rules Committee, where SB 90 is currently awaiting action.
