Senator Eric Schmitt introduces child protection bill

Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) has introduced the Yaeli Martinez Child Protection Act, a bill designed to prevent child welfare agencies from classifying a parent’s refusal to affirm a child’s stated transgender identity as child abuse.

The legislation is named after Yaeli Martinez, a 19-year-old who died by suicide years after her mother lost custody due to refusing to affirm her daughter’s transgender identity. The bill aims to stop states from removing children from homes or penalizing families based on a refusal to support social or medical gender transitions.

If passed, the bill would condition federal child welfare spending on compliance with these protections and would prevent federally funded programs from treating the affirmation of biological sex as abuse. Additionally, it would establish a private right of action, allowing parents to sue state actors for violations.