Elon Musk has criticized a contentious California child custody bill, labeling it “a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” amid a fervent debate over the legislation’s potential impact on parental rights and gender affirmation for children.
What Happened: The California State Senate recently passed a bill that could introduce a significant change in how child custody and visitation decisions are made during divorce proceedings.
The bill would require judges to consider a parent’s affirmation of their child’s gender identity as one of several factors in custody decisions.
Proponents of the legislation argue that it is a proactive step to protect LGBTQ+ children from potential harm, such as abuse or rejection, during divorce cases.
On Friday, reacting to this news on X, formerly Twitter, Musk asserted that the bill could lead to parents losing custody if they disagree with gender-affirming procedures for their children.
The bill in question was largely split along party lines, with Democrats supporting it and every Republican in the state Senate opposing it.
Republican Senator Kelly Seyarto, representing Murrieta in Southern California, expressed concerns about government interference in parental decisions, believing that the bill could exacerbate conflicts between parents, reported AP News.
Why It’s Important: Last year, it was reported that one of Musk’s children, Xavier Musk, filed to change their last name and also legally declare gender identity.
The reason for the name change in the documents was “gender identity and the fact that I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape, or form.”
Musk’s social media platform, which he acquired for $44 billion in October 2022, has also been criticized for doing a poor job of protecting LGBTQ+ individuals.
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