Texas bill would brand parents of trans children as “child abusers” if they support their kids

Texas Senate Bill 1646 would brand the parents of trans children as “child abusers” if they support their kids. Parents could face jail time and have their children taken away if the bill passes.

Despite overwhelming evidence that supporting a trans kid is better for their mental and physical health, Texas Republicans are willing to sacrifice “personal freedom” for government regulation.

Related: Arkansas governor urges Republicans to send a “message of compassion” to trans people

The law would redefine child abuse to include “consenting to or assisting in the administering or supplying of, a puberty suppression prescription drug or cross-sex hormone to a child, other than an intersex child, for the purpose of gender transitioning or gender reassignment” or “performing or consenting to the performance of surgery or another medical procedure on a child, other than an intersex child, for the purpose of gender transitioning or gender reassignment.”

This bill in Texas, SB1646, would remove trans kids from their homes if a parent affirms their gender. Truly barbaric. — Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio) April 12, 2021

The bill had its first hearing yesterday.

The group Doctors For Change released an open letter to the sponsors of the legislation pointing out that the bill flies in the face of medical research and standards of care.

“The care provided to children and youth with gender dysphoria is tailored to their specific needs by a team of highly trained providers, including pediatricians, mental health specialists, endocrinologists, surgeons, and allies and supporters including parents and guardians,” they wrote. “Each provider plays a role in ensuring the health of the child based on established standards of care and the peer-reviewed medical literature.”

“In our experience, affirmation and acceptance from parents, guardians, physicians, and all other important adults in a child’s life is extremely beneficial to the child’s health outcomes and happiness. These benefits are also supported overwhelmingly by the medical literature and highly respected pediatric organizations including the Texas Pediatric Society, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Pediatric Endocrine Society.”