Gov. Youngkin slams Guzman's bill that would make it illegal to not affirm LGBTQ children

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (7News) — For the first time, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin reacted to Del. Elizabeth Guzman's (D) legislation she said she wanted to introduce in the upcoming legislative session.

At a campaign event in Fredericksburg, Gov. Youngkin blasted Guzman's legislation when he was asked about her bill by a reporter.

“What we saw is a clear statement of what the progressive liberals believe. They believe if parents try to be parents they should be investigated,” Youngkin stated when asked about the bill. “We saw Attorney General Garland out of the U.S. government investigating parents for standing up at board meetings. We saw my opponent last year stand up and say parents don’t have the right to see what’s being taught in classrooms.”

7News Reporter Nick Minock spoke to Gov. Youngkin in an in-depth interview to elaborate on his thoughts regarding Del. Guzman's proposed legislation.

"Governor, what do you think about Del. Elizabeth Guzman's bill that she articulated in a 7News (WJLA-TV) interview? She said the penalties of her bill for parents who do not affirm their LGBTQ child she said in her own words after the investigation concludes it could be a felony a misdemeanor it could impact someone's employment and education. What's your reaction to what she said?"

"My first reaction is this is exactly what the progressive liberal Democrats believe and she just spoke transparently what she thinks should happen," Gov. Youngkin told 7News on Tuesday. "And, oh, by the way, this is the exact revelation that happened last year in my campaign when Terry McAuliffe clearly articulated again, that they believe parents shouldn't be dictating what's taught in schools. And this, this is what they believe. So there's no mistakes here. It is transparency. I also think this is why Virginians, not Republicans, but Virginians, stood up so strongly last year and rejected trying to put bureaucrats and politicians between parents and their children. And I think Virginians are going to continue to deliver the exact same message this November."

"And she [Del. Guzman], in fact, spoke their [Democrats] truth. And now they're trying to walk it back. This is transparency from the progressive liberal Democrats of what they believe. And now they're trying to walk it back because they don't want anybody to know that yet. What we know is that parents matter in Virginia, what we know is that parents across the political spectrum spoke loudly last year and they're speaking loudly again now. Parents must have the primary role in their children's lives. That's their education. That's their health. That's their upbringing. That's their well-being. And this is why I believe that we have such momentum for so many of the things that we're doing but on top of that, why I think in November, again, voters, not just Republicans, but voters are gonna stand up and send a very clear message."

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The controversial battle over parental rights and protections for LGBTQ students has been a big focus in the Commonwealth.

7News was the first to report that Guzman plans to introduce a bill in the legislature's next session that will expand the state's definition of child abuse and neglect to include parents and guardians who do not affirm their LGBTQ children.

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Virginia House Minority Leader Don Scott (D) said he assures Del. Guzman is not going to move forward with presenting the proposed legislation. Del. Guzman's planned bill was in response to the Republican governor's updated "model policies" on transgender students.

“The day that Gov. Youngkin wanted to implement this policy, I immediately texted the policy lead of that committee and said, this is how we're going to push back,” Guzman told 7News.

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You can watch the full interview 7News conducted with Guzman here.