Texas Governor Greg Abbott has recently released a letter instructing the Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate trans children’s parents as child abusers. He also directs professionals like doctors, nurses, and teachers to report any trans children they interact with. The important thing to note about this letter is that it's a non-binding opinion, not a law.
Here are the facts:
This letter has no legal effect; it does not change Texas law.
Every major medical association agrees that gender-affirming care is medically necessary.
It’s the responsibility of the courts to interpret Texas law and the Constitution; so far, no court in Texas or anywhere else in the United States has ever ruled that medically necessary gender-affirming care constitutes child abuse.
Federal law like the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits teachers, counselors, and school administrators from asking about students’ private medical information or disclosing whether a student is trans.
Still, we know that this letter is of course deeply concerning, and emotionally traumatizing for trans Texans, and trans people everywhere. Trans people deserve to be in control of their own bodies, and they deserve to live without fear of violence or discrimination, both individual and government-sanctioned. And none of us deserves to have our very existence questioned by our governments, or to be used as politically charged scapegoats.
So, folks in Texas, we urge you to continue speaking up for the wellbeing of trans youth in your state. Here are five district attorneys who have already stepped forward, openly refusing to comply with the governor’s “egregious” orders.
Are you also disgusted with Greg Abbott’s letter? Here are some things you can do, no matter which state you live in:
Urge the Department of Family and Protective Services to protect the trans youth of Texas.
Tell a trans person you love them. Reach out to someone you know, or join the Transgender Education Network of Texas in sending a virtual love letter to trans Texans.
Trans families in Texas, we see you. Your LGBTQ neighbors in New Mexico support you during this especially difficult time, and always. If you find yourself in need, here are some resources we hope will help: