New California law labeled ‘liberal agenda-driven government overreach’ by prominent evangelical

A new law set to go into effect on January 1 in California is already facing backlash from at least one prominent evangelical.  The law requires retailers to have a “gender neutral” toy section in their store or face fines of up to $500 from the state. The law is limited to retailers with 500 or more employees, but opponents to the bill say it’s just another example of government interference in private business. 

Franklin Graham who serves as President and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and The Billy Graham Evangelical Associationsaid the law is nothing more than liberal government overreach.

“California’s Democratic leadership and Governor Gavin Newsom have passed a bill to impose fines on stores in their state that do not have a “gender-neutral” toy section for children,” Graham wrote on Facebook. It’s effective January 1 and applies to stores that have more than 500 employees. Can you believe it? This is more liberal agenda-driven government overreach.”

Graham went on to call out the policies in liberal states that are allowing criminals to get off the hook and then making life harder for businesses who are doing the right thing and paying their taxes.

“All this while we see many Democrat-led cities and states having less punishment for the criminals. They want to fine the companies who are paying their taxes and trying to survive, but not punish the shoplifters or the smash-and-grab gangs that are at epidemic level. Their thinking is backwards. No wonder people are leaving California!,” Graham concluded. 

Proponents of the bill believe they are just letting “kids be kids” and not stereotyping. Fox reported, “California Democrat lawmaker Evan Low, the author of the legislation, said after its passing, “We need to stop stigmatizing what’s acceptable for certain genders and just let kids be kids.”