Lambda Legal Condemns Texas Gov. Abbott and AG Paxton for Targeting Health Care for Transgender Youth

Lambda Legal today condemned the latest attack on transgender youth by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, which culminated yesterday in a letter from Gov. Abbott to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) asserting that health care for transgender youth constitutes “child abuse.” Lambda Legal Senior Attorney Shelly Skeen issued the following statement.

“Yesterday, Governor Abbott issued a letter to DFPS underscoring Attorney General Paxton’s earlier opinion that does not rewrite Texas law, is not legally binding, and frankly is not worth the paper it is written on. It is, however, needlessly cruel and constitutes yet another brutal unwarranted attack on a most vulnerable population already under attack in state legislatures across the country. It seems Gov. Abbott and AG Paxton are intent on proving themselves to be the harshest in their attacks on LGBTQ people and particularly transgender youth.”

“Our hearts are with transgender youth in Texas and their families. We understand this is traumatizing and pledge to continue to support all the loving and supportive Texans and Texas groups who are working on the ground to continue to push back against these unrelenting attacks. We at Lambda Legal are with you. If you are contacted by child protective services or CPS opens an investigation against you for supporting your trans child, contact our Help Desk.”