More families of trans teens sue to stop Texas child abuse investigations

https://www.texastribune.org/2022/06/08/transgender-texas-child-abuse-lawsuit/

Notice one trans boy tried to commit suicide blaming the current hate stirred up by Governor abbot and the republicans.   Notice that Gender-affirming care is endorsed by all the major medical associations as the proper treatment for gender dysphoria, which is the distress someone can feel when their assigned sex doesn’t align with their gender identity.   Treatment blocked by these laws.  The state is making doctor advised accepted medical treatments illegal for political purposes.   These asshole republican office holders think they know more than medical providers do.   They did the same thing with Covid treatments, vaccines, Ivermectin, and fish tank cleaner.   Does going to medical school mean anything to these people?  

The ACLU and Lambda Legal filed the lawsuit on behalf of three families currently under investigation, as well as more than 600 Texas-based members of PFLAG, an advocacy group for LGBTQ+ families.

BY ELEANOR KLIBANOFF JUNE 8, 2022UPDATED: 14 HOURS AGO

 

 

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

A new lawsuit filed Wednesday is challenging Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive to investigate parents who provide gender-affirming care to their transgender children. The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal on behalf of three families, including the Briggle family, who have long been advocates for trans rights, including hosting Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for dinner with their transgender son.

The lawsuit also seeks to block the state from investigating any families that belong to PFLAG, an advocacy group for parents and family members of LGBTQ+ people.

 

The state is currently blocked from investigating one family that brought a prior legal challenge. This lawsuit seeks to widen the number of people who cannot be investigated under the directive; according to the filing, PFLAG’s 17 chapters in Texas have over 600 members combined.

At least nine families are currently under investigation for potential child abuse by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services for providing gender-affirming care to their transgender children.

Gender-affirming care is endorsed by all the major medical associations as the proper treatment for gender dysphoria, which is the distress someone can feel when their assigned sex doesn’t align with their gender identity. While many young people focus on social transition — dressing differently or using different pronouns — some are prescribed puberty blockers, which are reversible, or hormone therapy.

In February, Paxton issued a nonbinding legal opinion equating gender-affirming medical care with child abuse. Days later, Abbott followed that opinion with a directive telling DFPS to investigate these cases. The agency said in a statement at the time that it would “follow Texas law … in accordance with Governor Abbott’s directive.”

The ACLU and Lambda Legal sued Abbott and DFPS on behalf of a family under investigation, seeking a court order stopping these investigations more broadly. The Texas Supreme Court ultimately ruled that the court could temporarily stop the investigation into the family that brought the suit, but would not shield all parents of transgender children.

Some investigations resumed after that ruling.

Now, the ACLU and Lambda Legal have brought this new suit on behalf of three specific families and PFLAG, arguing that “every one of PFLAG’s Texas members with a transgender child, or those with children still learning who they are, is at substantial risk of harm.”

“For nearly 50 years, PFLAG parents have united against government efforts to harm their LGBTQ+ kids,” said Brian K. Bond, executive director of PFLAG National. “By going after trans kids and their families, Gov. Abbott has picked a fight with thousands of families in Texas and across the country who are united as members of PFLAG National.”

 

According to the lawsuit, a 16-year-old transgender boy tried to kill himself the same day that Abbott issued the child abuse directive.

“[He] said that the political environment, including Abbott’s Letter, and being misgendered at school, led him to take these actions,” the lawsuit said.

He survived the attempt and was admitted to an outpatient psychiatric facility, where staff learned that he was undergoing hormone therapy. A week after he was discharged, an investigator from DFPS visited the family’s home and, according to the lawsuit, said that the psychiatric facility had reported the family for child abuse. The family remains under investigation.

This is complete bullshit.   Investigating families for child abuse because they are following proscribed medical treatment advocated for by the majority of medical organizations.    It is harassment.   Imagine doing this for families that allow boys to pierce their ears, or any child to get other piercings.    Imagine doing this for allowing your kids to color their hair.  It could be anything the republican rabid right dislikes.   They no longer care about medical science or harming kids and families.   This is entirely punitive by republicans in charge, do what we say and as we like people to do or we ruin you, destroy your family, smear you, maybe cost you your job.   Next they will go after families that do not force their gay children to stay in the closet or go to conversion therapy.   This is the Christian Taliban in the US.   Hugs

Friday • 5 hours ago

Evil and corrupt Christianist shithole administration.

Todd20036 • 5 hours ago

The cruelty is the point. And some people even in the LBG community want to push out the T

Disgusting

KarenAtFOH • 5 hours ago

The Hippocratic Oath is dead in Texas.