Texas Family Files Lawsuit Against Governor Greg Abbott After He Prompted The Investigation Of Transgender Children’s Parents For “Child Abuse”
On February 22, Republican Governor Greg Abbott instructed the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to conduct “prompt and thorough investigations” of parents who allowed their children to undergo gender reassignment surgery.
Abbott called this gender-affirming familial support “abusive” in his letter and has already begun investigations. Families and human rights groups nationwide are outraged at Abbott’s ignorant stance.
One such family has filed a lawsuit against Abbott and Jamie Masters, the Texas DFPS Commissioner.
The family, whose names are protected on record, has accused Abbott and Masters of “trampling on the Constitutional rights of transgender children, their parents, and professionals who provide vital care to transgender children.”
They also alleged in a complaint that Abbott and DFPS have “without Constitutional or statutory authority, acted to create a new definition of ‘child abuse’ that singles out a subset of loving parents for scrutiny, investigation, and potential family separation.”
Not only are transgender children and their families now fearful and anxious, but they are also more openly subject to harassment and discrimination.
The family who filed the suit had also already been approached by DFPS. “Jane Doe” and “John Doe” care for a sixteen-year-old named “Mary.” Jane also worked at DFPS herself until word of Abbott’s letter hit the office.
Jane was placed on administrative leave and investigated regarding Mary’s gender care. A DFPS worker visited Jane and John’s home, but the family “refused” to hand off Mary’s medical history records.
“Plaintiff Mary Doe is transgender, has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria– a serious medical condition– and is currently receiving medically necessary care for the treatment of her gender dysphoria,” the suit said.
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It also described how traumatized Mary is at the thought of possibly being separated from her parents, as well as losing her necessary medical treatment.
Abbott harked back to Texas law in his letter as a fallback. He wrote, “It is already against the law to subject Texas children to a wide variety of elective procedures for gender transitioning.” These procedures include reassignment surgeries and the administration of hormones.
“Texas law imposes reporting requirements upon all licensed professionals who have direct contact with children who may be subject to abuse, including doctors, nurses, and teachers,” Abbott continued.
However, accredited medical organizations across the country– such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics– have fought back against Abbott’s misinformed stance. They both have found that gender-affirming care is utterly necessary for transgender children.
In addition, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas released a statement.
“No court here in Texas or anywhere in the country has ever found that gender-affirming care can be considered child abuse. The opinion released cites highly partisan, outdated, and inaccurate information that ignores the consensus of every major medical association and the evidence-based and peer-reviewed standards of care. Trans youth continue to be threatened in Texas by state leadership as part of a politically motivated misinformation campaign that harms children,” the group wrote.
The White House has since commented on and condemned Abbott’s discriminatory move. Deputy Principal Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “Conservative officials in Texas and other states across the country should stop inserting themselves into health care decisions that create needless tension between pediatricians and their patients. No parent should face the agony of a politician standing in the way of accessing life-saving care for their child.”
To read Abbott’s original letter, visit the link here. To read the lawsuit documents, visit the link here.
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