Noteworthy News

[Angrboda]

Texas governor directs state agencies to investigate gender-affirming care for trans youths as ‘child abuse’

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ® directed state agencies this week to conduct “prompt and thorough” investigations into the use of gender-affirming care for transgender children, a move that follows an opinion from the state attorney general that such treatments are a form of “child abuse.”

In a letter Tuesday to the state’s Department of Family and Protective Services, Abbott cited an opinion issued Friday by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) stating that certain gender-affirming treatments for transgender children — including gender reassignment surgery and puberty-blocking medications — “can legally constitute child abuse under several provisions” of state law.

Abbott wrote that the protective services agency “is responsible for protecting children from abuse,” adding in a tweet Tuesday that the agency will “refer for prosecution any such abuse.”

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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.