Existing law requires the court, upon the filing of a petition commencing a proceeding for a change of name to conform the petitioner’s name to the petitioner’s gender identity.
This bill would amend current law to require the court to strongly consider that affirming the minor’s gender identity is in the best interest of the child if a nonconsenting parent objects to a name change to conform to the minor’s gender identity.
The rights of parents to make health decisions and other very important decisions for their children will be severely compromised should this bill pass with its current language. Judges should not have more authority than parents to make those decisions except in extreme cases of abuse where such facts are actually proven. Nor should the ideologies of certain legislators interfere with a judicial officers’ independent, fact-based assessment of what is in the “best interests of a child” in a particular family law matter.
AB 957 passed in the Assembly and was ordered to the Senate at the end of March 2023. On May 3, 2023 AB 957 was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Call to Action: Submit your position on AB 957 by using the “Submit Position Letter” link or by sending an e-mail.
Aria Morgan is a writer and advocate dedicated to civil liberties, medical freedom, and free speech. As Director of Content at Free Now Foundation (2024–2026) and former Managing Editor of Children’s Health Defense–CA (2021–2024), she helped shape investigative storytelling efforts advancing informed consent and individual rights.
Aria bridges more than 30 years of embodied wellness practice and over 25 years of teaching with civic engagement. Her wellness work lives at DailyDowndog.com
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