State Representative Gary Click (R-Vickery) provided sponsor testimony before the House Judiciary Committee for House Bill 693 - the Affirming Families First Act - which aims to clarify parental rights and limit gender-identity screening in Ohio's child welfare system.

"One would assume that this is already the case, but we have seen children's protective services run amok in other states such as Virginia. President Trump highlighted the tragic abuse experienced by a young girl named Sage at his State of the Union address," said Click. "Some counties in Ohio have already implemented policies designed to undermine parental authority in these matters. Parents and children cannot afford for the Ohio legislature to stand idly by and allow the government to dictate these issues to us."

The Affirming Families First Act would clarify that it is not abusive for parents or guardians to affirm a child's sex rather than a perceived gender identity. If enacted, this legislation would prohibit the following:

• Prohibits a parent's affirmation of a child's biological sex from constituting the basis to restrict access to the child, deny the child's return, limit decision-making authority over the child's physical or mental health care or withhold information about the child.
• Investigating a report of abuse or child neglect if the sole basis for the report is the parent's or guardian's affirmation of the child's biological sex.
• Proactive screening of children in the child welfare system for gender identity or sexual orientation and the maintenance of databases containing that information.
• Contracting with or using educational materials from outside organizations that suggest non-affirmation of a child's biological sex is psychologically harmful or constitutes a threat to the child's safety.
  

House Bill 693 awaits further consideration in the House Judiciary Committee.