Governor Abbott uses trans kids as political pawns, again

Well, here we are again. Another special session for the Texas legislature, and once again, attacking transgender kids is on Governor Abbott’s agenda. He’s continuing his effort to exclude transgender kids (girls, in particular) from playing on sports teams in alignment with their gender identity.

As in the last special session, this bill will hopefully not go very far, as long as the House Democrats continue to break quorum and Republicans don't make up new rules. But the committee hearing alone will be harmful. “Even though these bills have not yet passed into law, the cruel rhetoric used by their supporters has already taken a toll on the well-being of transgender Texans,” says Ricardo Martinez of Equality Texas in a statement about the special sessions.

As if that weren’t enough, within 24 hours of announcing the special session agenda, Abbott asked the commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services to determine whether surgeries related to gender-affirming care for minors are considered child abuse. He seemed to delight in using particularly nasty and hurtful language, which I won’t repeat, but here’s his letter if you can stomach it.  

Adding insult to injury, he suggests in the letter that “it might be helpful” for DFPS to remind everyone about the mandatory reporting requirements of child abuse. In the final blow, he reminds DFPS, don’t forget to investigate the child’s parents! Promptly and thoroughly! Have a nice day!

This is political posturing, plain and simple. Abbott’s got a primary in his future, and he’s attempting to secure his conservative base and distinguish himself as the MOST CONSERVATIVE OF THEM ALL! [insert maniacal laugh here] Like the supporters of anti-trans bills, he’s using inflammatory (and false) language to rile people up into thinking there’s an actual problem here that needs to be solved. But there’s not. Children under 18 RARELY, if ever, get the kinds of surgeries he cites. And the government has no business in private medical decisions anyway.

So what IS gender-affirming care for trans kids? Izz Scott LaMagdeleine of the Texas Tribune recently wrote an excellent article outlining the process.

Quickie summary: The best gender-affirming care for children starts with social transition, which can include steps such as wearing different clothing, choosing a different name, or wearing their hair a different way.

Some kids need more medical support. Puberty blockers are a fully reversable medical treatment that hits the “pause” button on puberty in order to give a transgender child some time before deciding on more permanent transition-related treatment. Then, some children go on to receive more advanced treatments, like testosterone or estrogen therapy. And that’s it for kids, except in very rare cases, until the child turns 18.

All of this gender-affirming, best-practice medical care for trans youth is done in conjunction with a team of medical professionals and the support of the child’s parents. No one is being coerced, influenced, or abused. There is no danger to anyone. Scientific American states in a recent editorial, “The actual danger comes from denying trans people the medical care they need.”

Social justice advocate and proud genderqueer Texan Ash Hall reminds us, “Abbott would prefer that no trans kids have supportive parents, even though lack of support is the biggest predictor of suicidality in our youth. Here’s the thing: we don’t transition to become trans, we transition because we are trans.” Trans kids need access to gender-affirming care and need the support of their parents to do it. Their lives depend on it.

So while Abbott’s letter doesn’t do much, it does plenty. It sends the very clear message that he will not stop attacking transgender kids, and it keeps transgender individuals on pins and needles wondering what attack will come next. Most importantly, it serves as a reminder to Texans to vote people into office who will not use our children as political pawns.