Washington state parental rights law criticized as a 'forced outing' measure takes effect

A new law in Washington state about parents' rights will start this week. Some people don't like this law and think it's like forcing parents to reveal things. A court commissioner decided not to stop the law for now. The groups against the law didn't prove it would cause immediate harm to stop it before a trial. The law, called Initiative 2081, gives parents more rights than before. It says schools must tell parents before giving medical care to their child, except in emergencies. Parents can also see their child's medical and counseling records and choose if their child learns about sex education. Some people worry this law could hurt students who need help but don't want their parents to know. They say the law might go against the state Constitution. The law was supported by Brian Heywood, who said it's not meant to let parents control their child's medical choices, just to keep them informed. The law was approved by the Democratic-led Legislature in March. The court commissioner understands the concerns but thinks they are not proven yet. An attorney for the state says the law is okay and the groups against it didn't show they needed to stop it.