Life

Texas judge expands temporary order blocking investigations into families of trans youth

By Jordan Robledo

19th September 2022

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A Texas judge has expanded a statewide injunction blocking harmful “child abuse” investigations into parents of trans youth.

Back in February, Attorney General Ken Paxton released an official opinion denouncing gender-affirming care. He also said that the life-saving treatments should be considered “child abuse”.

Shortly after his harmful statement, Governor Greg Abbott released his own transphobic letter – which ordered the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to start investigations into parents of trans youth.

“Because the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is responsible for protecting children from abuse, I hereby direct your agency to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of any reported instances of these abusive procedures in the State of Texas,” he wrote.

Even though the anti-trans order was not legally binding, the DFPS began the aforementioned investigations shortly after.

Over the last few months, families of trans youth and LGBTQ+ organisations have sued the state of Texas for its harmful directives – resulting in two statewide injunctions from District Judges Jan Soife and Amy Clark Meachum, respectively.

On 16 September, Meachum issued another temporary injunction that would ban DFPS from investigating members of the LGBTQ+ organisation PFLAG.

According to ABC News, there are over 600 members in the Texas branch of the advocacy group.

In her official statement, Meachum wrote that without the injunction, families would “suffer probable, imminent, and irreparable injury in the interim.”

Shortly after the news made headlines, PFLAG’s Executive Director Brian K Bond issued a statement praising the recent ruling.

“Today, families of transgender kids in Texas who are members of PFLAG National find shelter from Gov. Abbott’s unjust order,” he said.

“PFLAG, our chapters in Texas and around the country are sources of support and safety from government harm because every LGBTQ+ person deserves respect, dignity and the right to access the care they need when they need it.”

American Civil Liberties Union of Texas member Adri Pérez echoed similar sentiments in their own statement.

“Once again a Texas court has stepped in to say what we knew from the beginning: State leaders have no business interfering with life-saving care essential for transgender youth,” they said.

“We should trust doctors and every major medical association on how to support transgender youth.

“State leadership continues to attack parents for how they raise their kids — and all our plaintiffs are doing is providing unconditional love and support for children of all gender identities.

“We will never stop fighting for the rights, safety, and dignity of transgender Texans.”