Texas Officials Issue Directive Calling Trans Health Care a Form of 'Child Abuse'

In Texas this week, Governor Greg Abbott issued an order to state agencies criminalizing gender-affirming surgery and medical care for trans youth. This decision followed an opinion issued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton earlier in the week stating that providing gender-affirming medical care to minors is considered child abuse under Texas law.

While Gov. Abbott is saying that gender-affirming care could be considered child abuse, medical organizations including the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics say there are long-standing and significant benefits for social, medical, legal and surgical aspects that assist transgender and gender-nonconforming young people.

We heard from Kimberly Shappley and her daughter Kai, about how this directive in Texas is affecting Trans youth and their families. We also heard from Andrea Segovia, Senior Field and Policy Advisor at the Transgender Education Network of Texas.