Texas’ Anti-Trans Directive

March 23, 2022

Texas’ Anti-Trans Directive

One month ago, on February 22, Texas governor Greg Abbott made a terrifying, violent decision. He directed the state’s Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to investigate gender-affirming healthcare for trans youth as “child abuse.” Put simply, Abbott’s directive places parents and caretakers of trans youth and their medical providers under risk of experiencing the trauma of a DFPS investigation, even though there is nothing about affirming a child’s gender identity that could ever reasonably constitute “abuse.”

The prosecutorial aim of Abbott’s directive sparked outrage and led to a lawsuit, Doe v. Abbott. Doe v. Abbot was filed by the ACLU, the ACLU of Texas, and Lambda Legal on behalf of the anonymous parents of a 16-year-old trans girl and alleges that classifying trans healthcare as child abuse violates parental rights, denies trans youth equal protection, and deprives them of due process.

Since the lawsuit was filed, a Texas judge has issued a temporary injunction, which blocks Texas’ DFPS from investigating parents of trans youth for “child abuse.” But the case is still pending and is set for trial on July 11 for a final decision.

Alejandra Caraballo, JD, clearly details the danger of this directive: “The real risk of these actions is the tremendous chilling effect on providers and parents of trans children. Most importantly, it has the effect of traumatizing trans kids themselves by creating uncertainty and doubt about their safety and care.”

We at the Woodhull Freedom Foundation stand with the plaintiffs of Doe v. Abbott and with all trans youth and those who support their care. We know that our right to sexual freedom is intimately tied to other fundamental human rights, like the right to gender-affirming healthcare. We believe that trans youth should be celebrated, cared for, and able to access critical medical care, including gender-affirming care. Abbott’s directive is abhorrent, unconscionable, and must not be allowed to stand.

Sign a petition here.