Texas Supreme Court Rules , State Can Investigate Parents
of Trans Kids.
The ruling by the Texas Supreme Court was handed down on May 13.
It overrules the injunction of a lower court that disallowed state officials to investigate parents for child abuse who allow gender-affirming care for their trans kids.
Republican TX Governor Greg Abbott had issued
a directive on Feb. 22 that equated
"sex change procedures" to "child abuse.".
Furthermore, his office ordered the Texas Department
of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)...
... to "investigate the parents of a child who is subjected to these abusive gender-transitioning procedures." .
I hereby direct [DFPS] to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of any reported instances of these abusive procedures in the state of Texas, ACLU of Texas, via NPR News.
The Texas Supreme Court's ruling was unanimous and surely to be contentious.
While it
overrules the injunction
placed upon Abbott's order, .
it also states that child welfare agencies are
"not compelled" to follow the views of Abbott or his
Attorney General, Ken Paxton.
Just as the governor lacks authority to issue a binding 'directive' to DFPS, the court of appeals lacks authority to afford statewide relief to nonparties, Texas Supreme Court, via NPR News.
In responding to the ruling, advocacy groups seemed to recognize the nuances of how the court responded.
Denying healthcare to trans kids is life-threatening, ACLU of Texas, via NPR News.
Multiple court rulings have now made clear that enforcement of this policy causes harm to youth and their families, ACLU of Texas, via NPR News.
According to NPR,
Gov. Abbott's order has
caused some families who
support their trans children
to leave Texas