Texas Governor Greg Abbot has called on state agencies to carry out “prompt and thorough” investigations regarding the use of transgender treatments on children after the state attorney general constituted such treatments as child abuse.
On Tuesday, Abbott sent a letter to the state’s Department of Family and Protective Services directing it to begin investigations into the use of transgender treatments on minors. He cited an opinion issued on Friday by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who contended that treatments for transgender children such as gender reassignment surgery and puberty-blocking medications “can legally constitute child abuse under several provisions” of state law.
Texas Attorney General: “There is no doubt" that gender transition of minors is ‘child abuse’ under Texas law.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 22, 2022
The Texas Dept. of Family & Protective Services will enforce this ruling and investigate & refer for prosecution any such abuse.https://t.co/hZQguNOiye
In a post on Twitter, Abbott wrote that the agency “will enforce this ruling and investigate & refer for prosecution any such abuse.”
According to The Washington Post, Abbott said that Texas doctors, nurses and teachers are obligated to report the use of these treatments as cases of child abuse lest they face criminal penalties. A similar reporting requirement was issued to the general public.
Several prosecutors and county attorneys, however, said they will not comply with the governor’s directive.
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee (D) argued in a statement that Abbott and Paxton are “ignoring medical professionals and intentionally misrepresenting the law to the detriment of transgender children and their families.”
“As the lawyer who represents DFPS in civil child abuse cases in Harris County, I can tell you my office won’t be participating in this political game,” he added in a tweet.
Harris County attorney @CDMenefee isn't amused by either Paxton's opinion itself or Abbott's effort to promote it to a "ruling": #txlege pic.twitter.com/CXS7ILbx4P
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) February 22, 2022
Meanwhile, Travis County Attorney Delia Garza (D) told The Morning News that “Republican leadership of this state is trying to turn loving and supportive parents into criminals, and this office will play no part in it.”
As of August 2021, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services started recognizing gender-affirming surgeries as child abuse.
While some institutions support the use of transgender treatments on mionrs, most doctors advise that children should wait until puberty to start taking treatments.
Related:
Texas A.G. Declares: Transgender Treatments on Minors Is Child Abuse under State Law
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Vladimir Vladimirov
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
