Why should LGBT groups care about guardianship?

loyisagoy-elgoycherev:

Because under Washington State law,

1) An anti-LGBT parent can petition for guardianship of their Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender adult child under in order to force them by penalty of law back home, into an institutions, or group home etc. (RCW 11.88, full chapter on Guardianship—Appointment, Qualification, Removal of Guardians)

2) An anti-LGBT parent of an LGBT adult child with a partner can accuse that partner of “leading them astray” or “taking advantage of a vulnerable adult” and not only force their adult child back home but also make it illegal under penalty of law for their partner to ever see them again. (RCW 11.88.045 subsection 5)

Legal heterosexism is absolutely still real and still needs to be fought. A trend among parents of transgender youth with disabilities is seeking guardianship to forcefully stop their transition by saying they’re “incapable of making decisions.” (Personal conversation with ASAN staff member, 2016).

Gay liberation means disability justice now.