OLYMPIA, Wash. — An initiative referred to as the “Parents' Bill of Rights" has organizations that support LGBTQ+ youth speaking out. State lawmakers passed the initiative on March 4, however, a coalition of 11 organizations are now sharing concerns about the policies.
The initiative passed with strong, bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. Some groups that support LGBTQ+ youth said they will be keeping a close eye on any negative impacts from the legislation.
Initiative 2081 allows for parents to have access to records showing both what their kids are learning in school, as well as their child’s school records. This includes any medical, health, or counseling records, which some people think could potentially have negative impacts on youth.
A school is not required to release medical, health or mental health records to parents if they are being investigated for child abuse or neglect.
“That will make students less likely to want to engage in assistance for those difficult conversations and those difficult things they're dealing with, because they'll fear that that information will get relayed back to parents who might not respond kindly,” said Gabriel Neuman, with the Greater Seattle Business Association.
Neuman said this could make kids not want to come forward for counseling, be scared to identify with new pronouns at school, or have other impacts.
“This will have impacts on access to reproductive care. For example, if a student has questions about receiving contraception through their school,” said Neuman.
The Greater Seattle Business Association and the Queer Power Alliance are two of eleven groups in a coalition that issued a press release stating that they will monitor any negative impacts from this legislation.
“We want the youth to be able to feel supported and secure about their own lives and be able to speak up if something does come up,” said Taylor Farley, the executive director of the Queer Power Alliance. “We know that parents rights are protected, and that children's' rights need to be protected."
Republican state representative and state GOP chairman Jim Walsh voted in favor of the initiative and said it strengthens the rights of parents, giving them new access to information.
“It is about parent empowerment. It is about bringing families together. It's about defending families and parents and children,” said Walsh. “It encourages parents to engage with their children, all children. And I think that will ultimately end up with better outcomes and happier and healthier kids.”
Walsh said he doesn't believe any part of the initiative is divisive, when asked about the concerns that the initiative negatively impacting LGBTQ+ youth.
“There is nothing in 2081 that is anti-LGBTQ. There is nothing in the initiative that is anti-trans or anything like that,” said Walsh. “There are interested groups that want to make that an issue, but that is false and it's divisive.”
The groups that do have concerns said they hope there will be no issues.
“We're going to continue to monitor the situation to figure out any pain points from the passage of this legislation," Neuman said. "And then next year, work with our legislators to provide recommendations to ensure that our youth are continuing to be supported."
Initiatives do not need to be signed by the governor; it goes into effect in 90 days.