Parents of Trans Teen Sue Texas to Stop Investigations

March 1, 2022

The dad and mom of a transgender teenager in Texas filed a lawsuit to cease state businesses from investigating studies of gender-transition procedures on youngsters as instances of doable baby abuse.

The dad and mom, recognized as John and Jane Doe, and their baby, recognized as Mary Doe, say within the grievance that an investigator from state Child Protective Services got here to their residence Feb. 25 and sought permission to entry Mary’s medical data. The household mentioned they refused.

The investigator mentioned there was just one allegation towards the dad and mom, that their trans daughter could have been given gender-affirming well being care and was transitioning from male to feminine, the grievance mentioned.

“We are terrified for Mary’s health and wellbeing, and for our family. I feel betrayed by the state and the agency for whom I work,” Mary Doe mentioned within the grievance. She’s an worker of the Texas Department of Family Protective Services now on paid depart.

“Their (the defendants’) actions caused terror and anxiety among transgender youth and their families across the Lone Star State and singled out transgender youth and their families for discrimination and harassment,” the grievance mentioned.

The Does’ grievance, filed in Travis County District Court in Houston, seeks an injunction to cease state businesses from appearing on Gov. Greg Abbott’s order to analyze studies of the “gender-affirming” procedures. The Does say Abbott’s order violates the state structure and the rights of transgender youth.

Megan Mooney, a Houston psychologist who works with trans individuals, can also be a plaintiff. Abbott, Texas DFPS Commissioner Jamie Allen, and the division itself are defendants. The state authorities didn’t reply to The New York Times for a narrative in regards to the lawsuit.

Last week, Abbott despatched a letter to the DFPS directing it “to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of any reported instances of these abusive procedures in the State of Texas.” The letter mentioned outlawed “sex change” therapies embody reassignment surgical procedures, elimination of physique elements, and the administration of puberty-blocking medicine or supraphysiologic doses of testosterone or estrogen. Supraphysiologic means bigger than would seem naturally.

Abbott mentioned he was appearing in response to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s current opinion that “a number of so-called ‘sex change’ procedures constitute child abuse under existing Texas law.” Abbott’s order mentioned individuals with a authorized obligation to report baby abuse could possibly be prosecuted, together with docs, nurses, and lecturers.

The Times famous that Paxton’s opinion and Abbott’s order got here proper earlier than the March 1 Texas main election and that every politician faces competitors from far-right opponents. The Times mentioned the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and Lambda Legal filed the lawsuit for the household.