NY ballot initiative could ban parents from approving child's trans surgery, critics warn in fiery campaign

Critics are slamming a NY ballot initiative with broad language they say would ban parents from approving their child to undergo transgender surgeries.

"This ballot initiative is written so broadly and so poorly that it could cause irreparable harm to children and families. This is no soft-sounding equal rights amendment, it’s nothing less than The Parent Replacement Act."

The New York Legislature passed the Equal Rights Amendment in January 2023, bringing the amendment to voters on the Nov. 5 ballot this year for ratification. Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul celebrated its passage last year, adding that New York would "combat discrimination" and "protect abortion access" following the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, which ended the recognition of a constitutional right to abortion.