ACLU files lawsuit against Texas after Governor Greg Abbott’s directive on transgender children leaves them out of care

The ACLU is a non-profit organization whose goal is “to protect and uphold the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to everyone in this country under the Constitution and laws of the United States of America.”

Senate Bill 1646 among other bills that advocacy groups say threaten transgender Texans’ rights. The bill defines abuse under the Texas Family Code to include administering or consenting to a child’s use of puberty-suppressing treatment, hormones, or sex reassignment surgery.

Texas Senator Charles Perry insisted during a debate on the floor that the bill was needed to “prevent children from making irrevocable decisions they may regret later, but experts say that both parts of that statement are questionable.”

ABC13’s partners at Texas Tribune A recent study reported that more than 40% of transgender youth contemplated suicide. According to recent studies by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of suicide attempts among transgender youth is three times higher than that of transgender people.

And the moves now leave Texas families with transgender children forced to choose between the health care their children recommend, or could face an investigation into the services. protect children.

RELATED: Parents of transgender youth in Texas concerned about Governor Abbott’s directive on gender verification procedures

The ACLU submitted the following report to ABC:

“Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton told transgender teens in Texas last week that they view their health care as a form of child abuse. It’s dangerous, inhuman, and shocking. for transgender youth and their supporting families Claims can have devastating consequences – and we’ve seen them.

Abbott and Paxton, along with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, wanted to investigate families simply following best practice medicine and supporting their transgender children through rescue, medically necessary health care. Texas political leaders lack the legal authority to enforce this statement and separate transgender youth from their families. But that didn’t stop the investigations from starting. “

In an earlier ABC13 reportActivists speak out about violence against Houston’s transgender community after a transgender woman was found murdered in her apartment.

“Transgender women, especially Black women, are more likely to experience homelessness and be more vulnerable to discrimination by the homelessness system,” Courtney said. Texas is one of the deadliest places to live. worst in the US for transgender women, and that’s very important.” Seller, executive director of Montrose Grace Place. A non-profit organization for homeless youth of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

A Houston mother, who asked to remain anonymous and will be known as Jane Doe, says her family joined their 8-year-old transgender daughter in 2021 to campaign for transgender rights in Houston. Texas State Capitol.

“My daughter had no idea that the whole world was afraid of her until this year because we kept her in a very safe bubble with supportive family and friends,” Doe said. “She asked, ‘Why do so many people hate me?’ It was the first time she expressed her displeasure with who she was.”

Doe said she was one of the parents who turned to legal experts for reassurance after seeing Abbott’s directive. She decided not to tell her daughter about it, fearing it might make her more anxious.
“Supporting and loving your child is the opposite of child abuse. My other fear is that this will spark madness and they will try to figure out where she goes to school, where we are. live, threaten us, and try to hurt her,” Doe told ABC13 in an earlier report.

The ACLU said: “No one has to struggle with this issue for life-saving care. ABC Network.

RELATED: Parents of transgender youth in Texas concerned about Governor Abbott’s directive on gender verification procedures

A request for comment from Abbott’s office was not returned.

Follow ABC13 reporter Patrina Adger on Facebook and Twitter.

The Texas Tribune contributed to this story.

For LGBTQ mental health support, call Project Trevor’s toll-free 24/7 helpline at 866-488-7386. You can also contact a trained crisis counselor through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 800-273-8255 or texting 741741

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