By Dr. Ché Ahn  | Candidate for Governor of California

In recent years, California has passed a wave of legislation that was supposedly aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ students. But in reality, some of these laws have stripped away basic safeguards, weakened parental involvement, and left vulnerable children exposed to greater risks—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

As a pastor, father, and candidate for governor, I believe we can do better.

California Policies Harm Children

Children deserve protection. And in any healthy society, that protection begins at home. But here in California, policies like SB 107 and AB 957 empower state institutions to bypass parents entirely when it comes to life-altering decisions about a child’s gender, health care, or identity. While these laws were passed in the name of inclusion, they’ve created confusion and opened the door for exploitation.

We’ve seen reports of young people pulled into unsafe online spaces, encouraged to hide things from their families, and isolated from the very people who love them most.¹ That’s not progress—it’s a warning sign.

Protecting Children Should Not Be Political 

Safeguarding children should never be controversial. No matter where we fall on the political spectrum, we must agree that our kids are not political pawns. They are precious individuals, still developing, and still in need of guidance, structure, and love.

Our campaign believes in a better way—rooted in truth and fueled by compassion. We call this Compassionate Justice: a vision where justice is measured not just by ideology, but by outcomes that protect, heal, and uplift. It means protecting children from harm, trafficking, and manipulation, while also ensuring every family has the freedom to parent according to their deeply held values.

Parental Rights Matter

Parental rights are not extreme. They are essential. The bond between parent and child is sacred and irreplaceable. When the state overrides that relationship, it risks losing the trust of the people it’s supposed to serve.

If I am elected governor, I will champion legislation that reflects these values.

As someone many in our community affectionately call Papa Ché, I take that trust seriously. It’s not just a nickname—it’s a reminder that leadership should feel like family: protective, present, and deeply invested in the next generation.

That’s why I will work to:

• Requires full parental notification and involvement in any psychological, medical, or educational intervention for minors—except in proven cases of abuse.
• Protects teachers and counselors who support transparency with parents.
• Prevents state agencies from encouraging secrecy or withholding vital information from families.
• Invests in trauma-informed care and family reunification programs to truly support struggling youth.

All Children Are Valued

Let me be clear: I believe in treating every person with dignity and compassion. Every student—regardless of identity—deserves to be safe, supported, and valued. But safety does not mean secrecy. And compassion does not mean cutting parents out of their children’s lives.

We can have a state that both honors personal freedom and protects the innocence of childhood.

The path forward is not with more mandates or more control from Sacramento. The path forward is with strong families, strong communities, and servant-hearted leadership that refuses to sacrifice children on the altar of political agendas.

California Should Lead In Protecting Our Youth

California has long been a leader—but we must now become a leader in protecting our youth from preventable harm.

Together, let’s rebuild a California where families are empowered, not pushed aside. Where children are nurtured, not manipulated. And where freedom, faith, and truth guide our laws and our hearts.

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📌 Based on concerns raised by educator and advocate Brenda Lebsack. Read more at interfaith4kids.com. Shared with permission.