Late last month, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill to create a state-run hotline so that residents can report “hate crimes” and “bias incidents.” Such “crimes” and “incidents” include noncriminal activity like refusing to use someone’s pronouns or accidentally misgendering a person. No evidence is required to report someone. 

Proponents of the bill say that the hotline is necessary for members of marginalized communities who “might be afraid to contact police.” In reality, it will pit members of the community and, potentially, families against one another and could mobilize police and Child and Family Services to violate families and enforce radical and dangerous ideas about sex and gender.  

Tragically, Washington is the state most impacted by retail theft, among other crimes. What residents there really need is legal and police reform to protect their safety and uphold their freedoms.