Texas Gov Orders State’s Child Protection Agencies To Investigate Transgender-Affirming Care As Child Abuse

February 23, 2022 Republicans, Trump cultists

The Austin American-Statesman reports:

Responding to conservative Republican opposition to gender-affirming care for young transgender Texans, Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday ordered the state child welfare agency to investigate reports of “gender-transitioning procedures” as child abuse.

The move came one day after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a written opinion defining gender-affirming care as child abuse under state laws — and months after state lawmakers considered but did not pass similar bills when the Legislature met last year.

Transgender advocates accused Abbott and Paxton of twisting state law to meet their political goals and biases, particularly after efforts to define gender-affirming medical care as child abuse died last year in the Texas House after passage in the Senate.

The Washington Post reports:

Religious and social conservatives praised the move. “This (Paxton) opinion means nothing if it’s not enforced,” said Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler. “The truth is, though, that we need a special session immediately to address this. We are not going to back down on this — this is a hill we are ready to die on.”

The Morning News reported that it is unclear whether every state agency will follow Abbott’s directive, as Paxton’s opinion does not carry legal force.

Some prosecutors and county attorneys have said they will not follow the order, the newspaper reported. Both the district attorney’s office and the county attorney’s office in Travis County, where Austin is located, told the Morning News they would not adhere to the directive.

The Texas legislature meets for five months every other year and its next regular session isn’t until January 2023.



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