Gavin Newsom's veto of bill forcing judges to consider parents' willingness to 'trans' kids in custody battles leads to speculation of presidential run

California Governor Gavin Newsom took the surprise move of vetoing a bill passed by the state legislature that would require judges in custody hearings to take into account which parent would allow a child to undergo sex changes, and award custody to that parent.

Newsom has passed many bills giving preference to those who seek gender transition for kids, meaning allowing educators to keep secret a child's social gender transition in school, allowing the state to intervene and allow a child from another state to undergo gender transition even if their parents in another state object, and allowing a parent to bring a child to California to undergo sex change even if laws in their home state require both parents to agree and there is not agreement, among others.

His refusal to sign this bill has many speculating that he may intend to run for president in the event that President Joe Biden does not run. Newsom has been asked repeatedly if he is going to consider a run, and has said he supports Joe Biden. But Biden, who faces an impeachment inquiry and appears to be facing geriatric mental decline, may not be in the race. Newsom spoke at the United Nations during a meeting in New York this past week, and plans to speak out at the GOP debate this coming week.

"Are you ready for President Newsom? He will be America's Stalin," James Lindsay asked.

PublicSq's Michael Seifert said "I guess Gavin Newsom is running for President after all."

OANN's Kara McKinney also weighed in, saying "Newsom wants to run for President and he knows this would sink his chances. Same with vax mandates, he didn’t follow other progressives on it to the same degree because illegals weren’t going to comply with the app."

"Gavin Newsom vetoed the bill that would’ve taken children from parents who don’t affirm a child’s gender. He did it for one reason. He’s running for President in the near future and this that alone would’ve cost him votes because moms (who vote predominantly democrat) don’t play when it comes to their kids," another X account posited.

The bill, sponsored by state senator Scott Wiener and Lori Wilson, would have required judges in family court to decide that a parent who is willing to give a child puberty blocking drugs, undergo mutilating surgeries, and take cross-sex hormones in service to the belief that the child should present as being a member of the opposite sex.

In declining to pass the legislation, which would have joined other laws in California that can rightfully called "state-sanctioned kidnapping" bills, Newsom said that the bill could be used "to diminish the civil rights of vulnerable communities."

"I appreciated the passion and values that led the author to introduce this bill. I shared a deep commitment to advancing the rights of transgender Californians, an effort that has guided my decisions through many decades in public office," he wrote.

"That said," Newsom continued, "I urge caution when the Executive and Legislative branches of state government attempt to dictate – in prescriptive terms that single out one characteristic – legal standards for the Judicial branch to apply. Other-minded elected officials, in California and other states, could very well use this strategy to diminish the civil rights of vulnerable communities."

He also stated that existing California law already required judges "to consider a child's health, safety, and welfare when determining the best interests of a child in these proceedings, including the parent's affirmation of the child's gender identity."

"For these reasons," he concluded, "I cannot sign this bill."

Wilson spoke out against Newsom's veto, saying "I am extremely disappointed. I know the Governor's record. He been a champion for the LGBTQ+ community for years and even before it was popular to do so. However, on this point, the Governor and I disagree on the best way to protect TGI kids." Wilson has a child who identifies as trans.

"I've been disheartened over the last few years," she continued, "as I watched the rising hate and heard the vitriol towards the trans community. My intent with this bill was to give them a voice, particularly in the family court system where a non-affirming parent could have a detrimental impact on the mental health and well-being of a child. Whether the roadblock comes from the opposition or even a supporter, it only hardens my resolve. I'm far from donw, this fight is personal! Not just for my family, but to all the trans kids that deserve a brighter and safer future."

Wiener expressed his dismay at Newsom's declination. "This veto is a tragedy for trans kids here & around the country," Wiener said. "These kids are living in fear, with right wing politicians working to out them, deny them health care, ban them from sports & restrooms & erase their humanity. CA needs to unequivocally stand with these kids."

Wiener has authored and proposed a number of very leftist laws, from drug legalization and decrmininilization to reducing penalties for sex offenders. He backs requirements that California companies disclose their "greenhouse gas emissions," pushed through a law that allows male felons to be housed in female prisons simply by saying they are female.

Wiener is also the one who proposed the state-sanctioned kidnapping bill which he says "Provides refuge for trans kids and their families in California so they can avoid criminal prosecution for seeking or allowing gender-affirming care in states like Texas." In other words, if a child lands in California and demands medical sex change procedures, even if that child is a runaway, or if the parents are embattled over the issue in a custody dispute, California will allow it.

Newsom has backed a constitutional amendment to force gun control, and signed a bill that allowed doctors to be punished for spreading what he called "misinformation." He also required toy stores to create "gender neutral" toy aisles. Newsom also claimed that conservative news outlets are dividing the nation and are a place where "illusion rules." He advised fellow Democrats not to appear on conservative broadcast networks like Fox, and banned the sale of gas powered vehicles in his state by 2035.