Standing up for queer and trans youth

Queer and trans youth and allies protest outside of the Texas State Capitol Building in Austin

It’s been a hard winter for progress as we’ve seen some of the grossest, most blatant attacks on our community in states like Texas and Florida.

As you may be aware, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has sent a letter to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services classifying gender-affirmative healthcare for trans youth as child abuse, directing them to investigate parents who support their trans kids, and requiring medical professionals to report this as abuse to the authorities. To be clear, this is based on an opinion by Texas AG Ken Paxton, not an actual law, but the effect is much the same.

This is wrong in more ways that we can count, and while it has been paused by the courts, we must ensure it will be fully overturned as we work toward a more just and equitable world for trans youth. However, these efforts will take time (and a lot of legal work and strategy), and in the case of tweens who are facing puberty, time is of the essence.

Harper’s Bazaar has published a list of organizations who are addressing this on the ground in Texas, as well as links to contact both Governor Abbott and AG Paxton. Direct care and advocacy are both going to be crucial, and we appreciate your thoughtfulness in helping these young people in Texas.

Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida has been championing CS/CS/HB 1557: Parental Rights in Education, the “Don’t Say Gay,” bill. It has passed the Florida House and Senate, and we have no reason to believe that DeSantis won’t sign it into a law effective as of July 1. It will prohibit classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity at certain grade levels, as well as requiring that school counselors notify parents (or “out” their students) should they mention their LGBTQ+ identity to teachers or school health personnel. Imagine a 2nd grade student being unable to even mention that she has two dads during a discussion of families or home life, or a child outed against their will to unsupportive parents.

This bill is just one of 195 currently proposed in state legislatures, most targeting transgender youth. For more on this bill, or to support advocacy efforts to keep it from passing, visit Equality Florida.