TEXAS HOUSE LGBTQ CAUCUS RESPONDS TO ACLU & LAMBDA LEGAL SUIT TO BLOCK INVESTIGATIONS OF PARENTS WHO AFFIRM THEIR TRANSGENDER CHILDREN

For Immediate Release Contact: Chesley Hinds
March 1, 2023 Office: 512-463-0613
Chesley.Hinds@House.Texas.gov

(TEXAS) ⸺ Today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of Texas, and Lambda Legal filed a motion for a temporary restraining order to block the Texas Department of Family Services (DFPS) from investigating parents who work with medical professionals to provide their adolescent children with medically necessary gender-affirming care.

The Texas House LGBTQ Caucus issued the following statement: “The negative impacts of Governor Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton’s most recent political attacks on innocent trans children and their families are already being felt within our communities. Despite the fact that neither the Attorney General’s opinion nor the Governor’s letter carry any legal weight, the DFPS has begun to investigate Texas families who support their trans kids. This ongoing terrorization of families and vulnerable children is cruel, unconstitutional, and in violation of Texas law.

We applaud and support the actions of the ACLU, ACLU of Texas, and Lambda Legal to defend the rights of transgender children, their parents, and the child welfare and medical professionals who continue to provide life-saving, medically necessary gender-affirming care to trans youth. Children’s lives are at stake and we continue to demand that Governor Abbott, Ken Paxton, and all officials in our state leave healthcare recommendations to
medical professionals and stop endangering the lives of Texas children for political gain. We remain steadfast in our commitment to the fight to protect trans kids and their families and our message remains clear: Don’t mess with Texas. Don’t mess with trans kids.”

• 6/21/22: Press Release: Pray Away Screening
• 3/25/22: LGBTQ Caucus Response to DFPS Investigations Into Parents Providing Their Children with Gender-Affirming Care
• 3/1/22: LGBTQ Caucus Statement on ACLU and Lambda Legal Lawsuit
• 2/24/22: Trans Healthcare Joint Statement
• 2/23/22: LGBTQ Caucus Statement on AG Opinion