- United States
- Texas
- Letter
Texas is on the verge of unlawfully and harmfully criminalizing efforts to support transgender youth thanks to the efforts of Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton. There is no evidence that affirming a child's gender identity leads to unnecessary medical interventions. Social transitioning allows children to explore their identities in a supportive environment, improving their mental health and wellbeing. Attempting to legislate against this vital form of care is unethical and likely unconstitutional, violating the rights of families, students, and educators. Governor Abbott's directive to investigate teachers who use a student's preferred name and pronouns is a drastic overreach that disregards educational practices and freedom of expression, as per the landmark Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) decision, which remains a landmark case law in scholastic settings. Educators should be empowered to create inclusive classroom environments, not subjected to scrutiny from law enforcement for exercising basic kindness. This misguided crusade needlessly pits the state against its own families and alienates LGBTQ+ youth who already face heightened risks. Texas' fixation on policing gender and promoting demonstrably false narratives about the trans community is deeply troubling. Proposals to criminalize gender self-identification or penalize individuals navigating their identity are draconian and scientifically unfounded. This appears to be an ideological campaign masquerading as a safety measure. True concern for youth would involve protecting their freedom of expression and access to supportive resources, not villainizing their very existence. Transgender people deserve to live authentically without excessive government scrutiny into private matters of identity and anatomy. Educators should be able to support all students' wellbeing without fear of reprisal. I urge an immediate course correction away from these discriminatory policies that endanger trans youth and those who advocate for them. Lawmakers need look no further than town halls across the country to see that there are more pressing concerns than further shrinking the rights of their constituents. Thank you for your time, and Slava Ukraini.
