Texas Judge Blocks Investigation on Parents of Trans Youth

Last week, Travis County District Judge Amy Clark Meachum granted a temporary order that will prevent Texas Governor Greg Abbott  from using the state’s Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to conduct “child abuse” investigations against parents providing their trans kids gender-affirming healthcare. 

Attorney General Ken Paxton released a formal attorney general opinion, concluding that performing certain “sex change” procedures on children and prescribing puberty-blockers in them is “child abuse” under the Texas law on February 18. A few days later, Abbott pointed to Paxton’s opinion in a letter claiming that gender-affirming care for minors can legally constitute child abuse under the law of Texas. In his letter, he calls upon the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to further investigate. 

The state court in Texas temporarily halted the child abuse investigation of parents providing medical treatment for their 16-year-old transgender daughter, but the court allowed other investigations to continue under the policy initiated by Abbott. The parents sued over the investigation, and Abbott ordered that officials look into reports of such treatments as abuse. Judge Meachum will hold a hearing Friday, March 11 about the legality of Abbott’s order. 

Meanwhile President Joe Biden issued his first comments on Texas policy saying that “the Governor’s actions callously threaten to harm children and their families just to score political points.”

In the State of the Union Address, Biden said, “I’ll always have your back as your president, so you can be yourself and reach your God-given potential.” 

Biden also said that the Department of Health and Human Services announced several actions to keep transgender children and their families safe in Texas. 

“HSS is committed to protecting young Americans who are targeted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and supporting their parents, caretakers, and families,” says Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Any individual or family in Texas who is being targeted by a child welfare investigation because of this discriminatory gubernatorial order is encouraged to contact our Office for Civil Rights to report their experience.”