Topline
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaign defended the governor’s directive calling for child abuse investigations into parents of transgender children who have received gender-affirming care, multiple outlets report, with campaign officials calling the issue a “winner” for the governor’s campaign Wednesday in spite of widespread controversy and opposition from medical experts.
Key Facts
Running on the controversial transgender rule is a “75% to 80% winner” for Abbott, campaign representative Dave Carney told reporters on a call following the governor’s primary win on Tuesday, according to journalists from multiple outlets.
Carney criticized Democrats for being “out of touch” by opposing it and said the rule is a “winning issue” because “Texans have common sense,” the Texas Tribune reports.
Abbott issued the directive to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) on February 22, asking it to conduct “prompt and thorough investigation[s] ” into parents of transgender children who have received gender-affirming treatment.
DFPS has already initiated at least one investigation into parents of a transgender child, according to allegations outlined in a lawsuit filed Tuesday, which could lead to job losses and the parents being listed on a child abuse registry.
The Abbott campaign has not yet responded to a request for further comment.
Crucial Quote
“I don’t believe even [gubernatorial opponent Beto O’Rourke]
quoted Washington PostChief Critics
The Texas rule has drawn widespread opposition from Democrats, celebrities, transgender rights advocates and medical groups, with the American Civil Liberties Union noting in a lawsuit challenging the rule that organizations including the National Association of Social Workers, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association and Prevent Child Abuse America have opposed it. “This directive undermines the physician-patient-family relationship and will cause undue harm to children in Texas,” the Texas Pediatric Society said about the rule.
What To Watch For
A state judge in Texas is expected to rule later Wednesday on whether to temporarily block the directive as the ACLU’s lawsuit against it moves forward.
Key Background
The Texas directive is part of a broader rash of policies nationwide targeting transgender Americans, particularly transgender youths. Other state policies include bans on transgender girls from participating in student athletics and restrictions on gender-affirming medical care, with NBC News noting seven states introduced measures targeting trans and nonbinary youths just in the first week of 2022 alone. The ACLU lawsuit notes that no other state has equated minors receiving gender-affirming care to “child abuse” or restricted doctors from treating minors with gender dysphoria, however. The Texas legislature rejected legislation that would have classified the treatment as “child abuse” last year, prompting Abbott to instead issue the rule as a directive based on a legal opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton—which the ACLU argues in its legal challenge exceeded the governor’s authority.
Further Reading
ACLU Sues To Block Texas Trans Youth Rule — Alleges ‘Child Abuse’ Investigations Already Underway (Forbes)
Elliot Page Calls Texas Investigations Into Trans Youth ‘Inhumane And Downright Dangerous’ (Forbes)
