In a shocking twist that no one on either side of the political aisle saw coming, Governor Gavin Newsom of California (D-Hair Gel) actually vetoed a bill that would have allowed judges to remove children from parental custody if the parents were not “affirming” of their child’s “gender identity.”

This was a complete surprise to both sides. Republicans were bracing themselves for this bill, AB 957, to absolutely undermine the rights of parents. Democrats were already rejoicing in their victory. But both sides apparently didn’t consider Newsom’s eye on the political landscape, and even as much as he demurs, we can all see Joe Biden fading and falling before our eyes, and Kamala Harris is absolutely stalled out at the starting line. In short, Gavin Newsom is running, and knows this bill would have absolutely killed his chances in a national election.

The statement from Newsom is an exercise in political doublespeak. He first says that he supports the spirit of the law, but then says that the law isn’t needed because judges can take all circumstances into account when deciding on custody anyway.

🚨Wow🚨

Late on a Friday night, Gavin Newsom just vetoed AB 957, which would have required judges to remove custody of children from parents who don’t “affirm" a child's "gender identity or gender expression.” pic.twitter.com/fXfdYtBNS4

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) September 23, 2023

The bill was passed earlier this month by the state assembly, and was sent to the governor’s desk for his signature. But Newsom said in a statement released Friday night that he cannot sign the legislation.

The governor said he appreciates the “passion and values” that led Democrat Assemblywoman Lori Wilson to introduce the bill and that he shares a “deep commitment to advancing the rights of transgender Californians, an effort that has guided my decisions through many decades in public office.”

“That said, 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,” Newsom wrote. “Other-minded elected officials, in California and other states, could very well use this strategy to diminish the civil rights of vulnerable communities.”

“Moreover, a court, under existing law, is required 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,” he added.

And you can tell how unexpected this veto was by the reaction of the Democrats in California who proposed and pushed this bill, only to be met with this surprise defeat.

My Statement on Governor Newsom's Veto of AB 957 pic.twitter.com/bK1JhrW27z

— Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson (@AsmLoriDWilson) September 23, 2023

Governor Newsom has been such a staunch ally to the LGBTQ community. A true champion. Respectfully, however, this veto is a mistake.

— Senator Scott Wiener (@Scott_Wiener) September 23, 2023

But notice how both Lori Wilson and Scott Wiener do not go on the attack against Newsom. They express disappointment, but not anger. This tells us that they know the game that is being played here. This is nothing more than Newsom’s attempt to be “moderate” and attempt to present himself as a Democrat who is an “ally” without being tagged as “extreme.” And this bill WAS extreme, as we learned earlier this month when it went through the legislature.

AB 957 passed California’s State Assembly on May 3, but a co-sponsor amended it after hours in California’s State Senate on June 6.

Assembly Member Lori Wilson, D-Suisun City, wrote the bill and introduced it on Feb. 14. State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, co-sponsored it. Wilson’s child identifies as transgender.

Originally, AB 957 required courts to consider whether a child’s parents were “gender-affirming” in custody cases. Wiener’s amendment completely rewrites California’s standard of child care.

AB 957 post-amendment “would include a parent’s affirmation of the child’s gender identity as part of the health, safety, and welfare of the child,” altering the definition and application of the entire California Family Code.

California courts would be given complete authority under Section 3011 of California’s Family Code to remove a child from his or her parents’ home if parents disapprove of LGBTQ+ ideology.

By changing the definition of what constitutes the “health, safety, and welfare of [a] child,” schools, churches, hospitals, and other organizations interacting with children would be required to affirm “gender transitions” in minors by default—or risk charges of child abuse.

AB 957 could also expand which organizations provide “evidence” of gender “nonaffirmation” to California’s courts.

Because of the addition of “gender affirmation” to the qualifications of California’s standards for “health, safety, and welfare,” California’s courts would now be able to accept reports of gender “abuse” from progressive activist organizations—as long as they claim to provide “services to victims of sexual assault or domestic violence.”

In essence, a boy could report his parents to his local school’s Gay-Straight Alliance club or other LGBTQ+ organization, who could then report the boy’s parents for child abuse.

Incredibly, the bill provides no definition whatsoever of what would qualify as “nonaffirming” to a child’s gender.

Just imagine Gavin Newsom having to debate Ron DeSantis (is that debate ever going to happen?), and DeSantis absolutely taking AB 957 and metaphorically pounding Newsom into the ground with it. Imagine the details of this bill being broadcast to a national audience during a televised debate. This bill could boost a Democratic candidate in a primary, and then destroy them in a general election. Democrats have already made a gigantic tactical blunder by conceding parents as a voting bloc to the Republicans, as we constantly see from Biden administration officials who complain about parents “acting like they know what’s right for kids,” as Secretary Cardona just said.

Education Secretary Cardona says that he doesn’t have “too much respect” for parents who have been “misbehaving” at school board meetings.

They’re “acting like they know what’s right for kids!” pic.twitter.com/uQf9nbZJ0F

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 22, 2023

But this is the Democrat party platform now: “we know what’s best, and all your kids are belong to us.” That’s not going to play well at the national level. It didn’t play well when Joe Biden proclaimed that “there’s no such thing as someone else’s child” and “our nation’s children are all our children,” and Gavin Newsom knows it. Even if he doesn’t end up stepping in during the 2024 election, Newsom wants to have a political future beyond California, and the only place left to go is national.

The true believers on the left are not going to stop pushing crap like AB 957. A single veto by Gavin Newsom is not going to stop them. The right must stay vigilant and keep putting on the pressure nationally, because the radical activists on the left, who want to offer America’s children as a human sacrifice to the gods of their transgender cult, are never going to stop. Newsom may have given them a temporary setback, but they know why he did it. And we know why he did it. He’s running – and maybe sooner rather than later.

Featured image: original Victory Girls art by Darleen Click