California Governor Newsom has recently signed a bill into law that will require stores with over 500 employees to include a gender-neutral toy section for children. Starting in 2021, stores that fail to comply may face fines beginning at $250. The bill has faced criticism from some individuals, including former California GOP State Senator Melissa, who believes the government should not dictate how parents shop for their children.
Melissa expressed her initial surprise upon reading the bill, highlighting that the author has no children and therefore lacks firsthand experience in dealing with the challenges of shopping for toys. She emphasized that retailers should be given the freedom to decide what best suits their customers, rather than the government stepping in to co-parent with parents.
However, Melissa acknowledged that certain retailers have voluntarily opted to provide gender-neutral toy sections, suggesting that such decisions should be left to individual businesses and their clientele. She expressed concern that the legislation may inadvertently label parents as 'bad' if they choose to shop for their sons in sections traditionally associated with toys such as trucks or Legos.
Critics of the bill argue that it infringes upon the First Amendment, with some asserting that the government now dictates the signage and advertisement of products in stores. They fear that this legislation sets a precedent that could result in further government interference in commercial operations.
Speaking on behalf of the America First Policy Institute, Melissa stressed the importance of prioritizing the American people and Californian citizens. She expressed her belief that the new law prioritizes the interests of a small minority, granting them the power to control the choices and shopping habits of the majority. Additionally, she pointed out that the state of California is currently grappling with a $68 billion budget deficit and suggested that resources could be better allocated to addressing more pressing challenges.
One concern raised regarding the enforcement of the legislation is who will be responsible for checking the compliance of toy aisles. Melissa humorously suggested that perhaps all the children of California could be deputized to report any violations.
Responding to the author of the bill, Evan Lowe, Melissa suggested that he should first have children of his own before offering advice on how to raise them. She maintained that the notion of harm caused by traditional gender-specific toys is unfounded, arguing that parents have been successfully raising children for generations and are well-equipped to make their own choices.
The bill's genesis reportedly stemmed from a staffer of Lowe's who had a daughter curious about why certain toys were designated for specific genders.
