Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a new interpretation of Texas state law on Monday, which deems some types of therapies for transgender kids are child abuse reports The Dallas Morning News. The dramatic development that flies in the face of mainstream medical “ethics” can make Texas one of the strictest states to combat the phenomenon of child gender surgeries if implemented.
On Monday, Paxton issued an opinion stating that gender-related treatments for transgender kids — such as hormone therapy or puberty blockers — are a form of child abuse. Medical and child welfare groups oppose his legal opinion.
“There is no doubt that these procedures are ‘abuse’ under Texas law and thus must be halted,” Paxton said in a news release. “The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has a responsibility to act accordingly. I’ll do everything I can to protect those who take advantage of and harm young Texans.”
It is still not clear what Paxton’s opinion might mean for transgender kids. Attorney general opinions don’t have the power to enforce the law and are crafted as written interpretations of the current statute. Paxton proclaimed his opinion after an inquiry on the matter from state Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth.
Representatives from the Department of Family and Protective Services and Texas Health and Human Services said the agencies said they’ll examine the statement.
Paxton compared treatments for transgender children to the opioid crisis.
“There is always the potential for novel medical determinations to promote purported remedies that may not improve patient outcomes and can even result in tragic harms. The same potential for harm exists for minors who have engaged in the type of procedures or treatments above,” Paxton stated in the written opinion.
“The State’s power is arguably at its zenith when it comes to protecting children,” he added.
