Gluesenkamp Perez Statement on House Gender Ideology Bill

“As a parent of a young child, I’m asked to sign off on small things in my kid’s school day, down to whether they get sunscreen at recess. A child’s name and sense of self are not small things. They are fundamental, and on something that important I don’t believe parents should be cut out of the loop. This bill requires schools to get a parent’s consent before changing an elementary or middle school student’s pronouns or name on school forms.

My heart breaks for children who don’t feel safe letting their parents into their world. But divorcing a young child’s school life from their home life doesn’t resolve the underlying problem of an unsupportive family. It can leave that child more alone. I voted for this bill because I believe the answer is to bring families in, and I’ll keep working so every kid in Southwest Washington has support both at school and at home.”