Gaetz Questions Washington Law Allowing Gender-Affirming Care for Runaway Minors

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution and Limited Government held a hearing on gender-affirming care for minors with former Division I swimmer Paula Scanlan, detransitioner and activist Chloe Cole, and civil rights attorney Shannon Minter. Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) focused primarily on questioning Minter and a law passed in April by the state of Washington allowing runaway minors to receive gender-affirming care without parental notice.

Rep. Gaetz began by explaining the original law. If a child appeared at an emergency shelter, their parents would be notified within 72 hours, barring evidence of abuse or neglect.

"And then the law changed, where now in Washington State if someone shows up to one of these shelters who is a minor, and says that their parents do not agree with them changing their gender, that the shelter no longer has to notify the parents within 72 hours can instead notify a government authority. Do I have that right?" questioned Rep. Gaetz.

While Minter replied that parents would still be notified, "This simply allows for a delay in order to allow them to investigate, to make sure the child is going to be safe."

Gaetz immediately asked how long the delay would be, to which Minter did not answer. The Florida Congressman then turned to the screen and addressed viewers directly, asking them to "just imagine you are that parent."

"Just imagine you are that parent; you do not know where your child is. And the law says now there is a 72-hour period where the shelter has to notify you. And that 72-hour period for any child of any gender or any circumstance is a period to investigate whether there is abuse at home. But beyond that 72 hours, you have got to tell the parent," said Gaetz.

He then said the Washington law demonstrates "what the proponents of radical gender ideology want."

"It is really important to understand here, what the proponents of radical gender ideology want. They want to stand between a parent and a child on these important decisions. And I do not think it is abuse if a parent says, 'I am not going to get my child gender blockers,'" Gaetz continued, pointing out the irony in Minter previously saying earlier in the hearing that parents have "a fundamental right to make healthcare decisions regarding their children."

A male voice chimed in to yell "murderer!" at Gaetz, only for him to respond, "Oh please, get over yourself."