Governor Greg Abbott’s attack on trans youth in Texas took an alarming turn Tuesday, when the Republican lawmaker directed state agencies to investigate gender-affirming care for minors as “child abuse,” calling on doctors, teachers, and the general public to report the parents of trans children for prosecution.
In a letter to the state’s Department of Family and Protective Services, Abbott pointed to an opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released on Monday claiming that gender-affirming care for minors, including puberty-blocking medication and gender reassignment surgeries, “can legally constitute child abuse under several provisions” of state law.
Opinions issued by Attorneys General are interpretations of existing laws and do not constitute new legislation. In most states, including Texas, such opinions are not binding on courts or state agencies.
Paxton’s ruling comes ahead of state elections in which he’ll face Republican primary challengers to his seat. Paxton had also previously signaled likely action against supportive parents of trans kids, weighing in on case of Luna Younger, a trans girl who has been caught in a lengthy custody battle. Paxton and Abbott both expressed support for her father, who is unsupportive of her identity, with the case becoming a conservative flashpoint.
Abbott called for “prompt and thorough” investigations of such alleged abuses by the parents of trans children.
He also noted that doctors, nurses, and teachers are legally required to report instances of alleged abuse, and that failure to do so calls for “criminal penalties.” Abbott further noted that similar requirements exist for the general public as well, essentially encouraging all Texans to alert authorities to the existence of trans kids who may be seeking gender-affirming care.
The immediate and future impacts of Abbott’s letter remain uncertain, as state agencies have not yet responded publicly, and some prosecutors have already signaled their dismissal of the directives, according to The Dallas Morning News.
“Right now, we have more questions than answers,” Kate Murphy, senior policy associate for child protection at Texans Care for Children, told Dallas Morning News. “Since this is a nonbinding opinion by the attorney general right now, it’s unclear what will happen next.”
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee rejected the call to action in a statement on Tuesday. “My office will not participate in these bad faith political games,” Menefee said, as Dallas Morning News reported. “We’ll continue to follow the laws on the books — not General Paxton’s politically motivated and legally incorrect ‘opinion.’”
Abbott’s statement is the latest hostility toward trans youth in Texas, which has been pummeling its LGBTQ+ citizens with legislative attacks in recent months. The state passed a law in October that effectively bars trans kids from school sports by forcing all student athletes to compete according to the gender on their original birth certificate.
The White House condemned the passage of the Texas sports bill last year, calling the bill “hateful” and praising trans kids as “some of the bravest Americans.” White House spokesperson Ike Hajinazarian added, “these anti-transgender bills are nothing more than bullying disguised as legislation and undermine our nation’s core values.”
Research has proven time and again that gender-affirming care is life-saving for transgender youth. Texas’ latest anti-trans directives also fly directly in the face of guidelines from the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychological Association in supporting gender-affirming care.
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health also lambasted Texas lawmakers. “Targeting trans youth, their parents, and their health care providers for political gain is unconscionable,” WPATH said in a statement to Dallas Morning News. “We strongly denounce this alarmist and misguided opinion which could obstruct access to medically necessary care.”
Get the best of what’s queer. Sign up for them.'s weekly newsletter here.
