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Committee hearing on bill that would treat parental support for child gender transition as custody factor draws large turnout
Summary
A contentious custody bill, House Bill 730, would require Montana courts to treat a parent's encouragement of a child's gender transition as a factor weighing against the child's best interest, and drew extended testimony from family-law attorneys, clinicians, parents and detransitioners.
Representative Lucas Schubert opened House Bill 730, saying the measure would declare that "it is not in the best interest of children for a parent to support their child's gender transition" and would make parental encouragement of transition a factor a court "must consider" when applying the best-interest standard in custody cases.
Proponents framed the bill as a child-protection measure. Sponsor Schubert said many children, he claimed, will resolve gender dysphoria without irreversible medical or surgical interventions and that parents should refrain from encouraging permanent changes. Jerry O'Neil and Russell Sias testified in support; they…
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