by Archie L Thomas & Merry Schrumpf, Corvallis
Open Letter to:
Representative David Bedey
Representative Michele Binkley
Senator Jason Ellsworth
Senator Theresa Manzella
Governor Greg Gianforte
We attended Dr. Temple Grandin’s presentation at Hamilton high school focusing on different types of thinking and related connections to autism spectrum children. The next morning we read SB99 had passed the Senate, defining sex and prohibiting medical or related parental decisions regarding their children’s gender and sex orientation. What makes legislators qualified to pass this sex law and not make a similar law limiting parents’ decisions about their autistic children? Are not both conditions considered to be outside of our society’s norm and provide unique challenges in child development?
We are not recommending you consider any similar autism laws for autistic children. In reality, as mentioned in last night’s program, additional funding for autistic screening and autistic funding as defined by knowledgeable, qualified parents and organizations supporting autistic children is desperately needed.
Our point is that our State legislators are allowing Republican herd mentality, national religious sexual hysteria, lack of personal empathy or understanding of a naturally occurring human condition to remove parental rights. This law removes individual parents’ rights to exercise their responsibilities as parents. This law enables both physical and mental harm to parents and their children. Legislators have no more special knowledge of children’s sexuality than a child’s autism; yet legislators are going to be responsible for actual suicides and lifetime mental anguish for decades to come as a result of SB99. Our children’s education system is reeling from Covid related setbacks and needs thoughtful consideration, yet this law serves as an educational distraction while placing targets on the backs of some students.
Where is support for this legislation by actual affected parents, children and/or recognized third party medical organizations? In addition, Montana taxpayers are burdened with the legal costs defending this indefensible affront to individual parent rights and their medical decisions.
Vote against and defeat SB99.