Texas lawmakers have already introduced dozens of bills that take aim at gender-affirming care, transgender kids, and their parents.
The proposals are carried by Republican lawmakers, like Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood.
鈥淭his is loving care,鈥� Hall told The Texas Newsroom on Thursday. "(It) expresses our love and concern for children, to give them the opportunity to reach a maturity where they can make a decision for themselves.鈥�
Hall鈥檚 bills are part of a growing effort to pass legislation banning gender-affirming care in GOP-led states.
According to , state lawmakers across the country introduced 306 anti-trans bills in 2020 and 2021. An overwhelming majority targeted trans youth.
While Republicans hold majorities in the Texas House and Senate, LGBT advocates in the state say that doesn鈥檛 mean their proposals are destined to become law.
Anti-trans legislation
Hall鈥檚 bills range from prohibiting insurance companies from covering gender-affirming care to revoking the license of a doctor who performs a gender-affirming surgery on a minor. His legislation would apply to people under 18 years old, although Hall said there is some talk about increasing that to people under 21.
He also is the author of a Senate Resolution that calls for the 鈥渆nding鈥� of gender-affirming care in Texas.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 let children get tattoos, drink alcohol, even buy cough medicine in a drug store, or smoke,鈥� Hall said. 鈥淪o, why in the world would we let them cut their body parts 鈥� healthy body parts off?鈥�
While arguments like this may make sense to some, research backs up the importance of allowing trans children access to gender-affirming care.
According to the , 鈥淕ender-affirming surgeries are associated with numerous positive health benefits, including lower rates of psychological distress and suicidal ideation, as well as lower rates of smoking.鈥�
Meanwhile, the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University transgender and nonbinary children without access to this care experience higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation than their cisgender peers. Those with access tend to see a decrease in gender dysphoria, depression and anxiety.
Other bills before the Texas Legislature go after drag shows, as sexually-oriented businesses.
This would mean that minors to attend events with drag queens, and the venues would be from the Texas Comptroller.
Overall, more than 40 such bills are being considered by state lawmakers.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 alarming to see how many have been filed.鈥� said Johnathan Gooch, the communications director at Equality Texas. 鈥淭hese bills target every aspect of life for LGBTQ Texans.鈥�
Gooch told The Texas Newsroom the proposals are part of a slate of 鈥渋nvasive鈥� legislation presented by the Republicans in state government.
He said there鈥檚 a tendency by legislators to fetishize the lives of LGBTQ people and that their perceptions starkly differ from how these Texans actually live.
鈥淢ost LGBTQ Texans, to be frank, are boring,鈥� Gooch said. 鈥淭hey just want to go about their lives, and enjoy our beautiful state, and eat some good BBQ.鈥�
Gooch said people pushing for restrictive policies are out of touch with what Texans really want 鈥� and there is some data backing that up.
According to a 2022 poll by the LGBT advocacy group , 45 percent of Texas voters support transgender minors having access to gender-affirming care.
Meanwhile, 31 percent opposed providing those services.
State Representative James Talarico, a Democrat from Round Rock, said Republican lawmakers are focusing on the wrong priorities.
鈥淲e talk about the impact on trans kids and their families, which is horrific,鈥� Talarico said. 鈥淏ut there鈥檚 also an opportunity cost because we only have five months every other year to try to solve all the huge problems our state faces.鈥�
He said Texans who support LGBT rights should not feel defeated after seeing what bills have been introduced, and points to 2021.
That year, during Texas鈥� last legislative session and the special sessions that followed, over 70 anti-LGBT bills were introduced. Yet only one 鈥� a bill prohibiting transgender athletes from competing on school sports teams that match their gender identity 鈥� .
鈥淲e shouldn鈥檛 give up, because you can fight here in this building,鈥� Talarico said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a Republican dominated-Legislature, bad things are going to happen, but there鈥檚 absolutely room to weaken bills, kill bills, slow down bills, and there鈥檚 room to change hearts and minds.鈥�
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