LGBTQ+ activists protest Senate Bill 14 on the Texas Capitol, Friday, May 12, 2023, in Austin, Texas.
Mikala Compton/AP
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Mikala Compton/AP
LGBTQ+ activists protest Senate Bill 14 on the Texas Capitol, Friday, May 12, 2023, in Austin, Texas.
Mikala Compton/AP
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas would change into the biggest state to ban gender-affirming take care of minors below a invoice despatched Wednesday evening to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who has beforehand ordered youngster welfare officers to analyze such therapy as abuse.
The invoice cleared the GOP-controlled Legislature after a closing vote within the Senate over the objections of Democrats, who used parliamentary maneuvers in current weeks to delay passage however couldn’t derail it fully.
Texas is now poised to hitch at the least 17 different states which have enacted comparable bans.
Abbott’s workplace didn’t return an electronic mail in search of remark Wednesday evening. Last 12 months, Abbott grew to become the primary governor to order the investigation of households who have been receiving care. The investigations have been later halted by a Texas decide.
Every main medical group, together with the American Medical Association, has opposed the bans and supported the medical take care of minors when administered appropriately.
Texas is amongst a lot of states the place Republican lawmakers have given precedence standing this 12 months to measures limiting the rights of transgender folks. Earlier Wednesday, the Texas House additionally gave preliminary approval to a invoice that places restrictions on transgender school athletes.
Transgender rights activists have disrupted the Texas House with protests from the chamber gallery, which have led to state police forcing demonstrators to maneuver outdoors the constructing.
Earlier this month, a Texas hospital’s take care of transgender minors got here below investigation by state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who stated he was in search of proof of alleged “doubtlessly criminality” with out elaborating.