Youth Gender Affirming Procedures Called ‘Child Abuse’ by Texas AG Opinion

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Texas AG Ken Paxton Trans Youth Opinion Overview: 

• Who: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote an opinion on whether he believes certain medical procedures constitute as child abuse.
• Why: Paxton was responding to a question by Texas Representative Matt Krause.
• Where: Paxton is the Texas attorney general.

Texas’ Attorney General Ken Paxton released a formal opinion last week in which he concluded that “sex change” procedures performed on children constitute as child abuse. 

In addition to sex change procedures, Paxton wrote he believes prescribing puberty blockers to children is also a form of sexual abuse. 

“There is no doubt that these procedures are ‘abuse’ under Texas law and thus must be halted,” Paxton wrote. “The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has a responsibility to act accordingly. I’ll do everything I can to protect against those who take advantage of and harm young Texans.”

Paxton’s opinion was written in response to a question asked by Texas Representative Matt Krause about “whether certain medical procedures performed on children constitute child abuse.” 

The AG writes that sex change procedures performed on children can cause them mental or emotional injury and stunt their growth, development and psychological functioning. 

Paxton asserts, further, that the “novel trend” of sex change procedures “permanently sterilizes” minor children, and, instead of actually changing their sex, simply “creates the illusion of a sex change.” 

“While you refer to these procedures as ‘sex changes,’ it is important to note that it remains medically impossible to truly change the sex of an individual because this is determined biologically at conception,” Paxton wrote.

Paxton also took aim at the idea the long-term mental health of children who identify as transgender is improved by early-stage surgical intervention or hormone replacement therapy. 

“Childhood-onset gender dysphoria has been shown to have a high rate of natural resolution with 61-98% of children reidentifying with their biological sex during puberty,” the AG wrote.

Texas Previously In News After Passing Restrictive ‘Heartbeat Act’

Paxton’s opinion is the latest to make headlines outside of Texas, which was also in the news last September after it passed a restrictive new abortion law, dubbed the “Heartbeat Act.” 

Also known as SB8, the new law placed sweeping restrictions on women attempting to seek abortions inside the state, perhaps most notably that they must be performed within six weeks of conception. 

Among other things, the new law includes a cash incentive of at least $10,000 for any citizen who is able to successfully sue someone found to be facilitating an illegal abortion. 

Individuals who have an abortion are not eligible to be sued under the law, however. 

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Texas over SB8, with Attorney General Merrick Garland arguing that the new law is “clearly unconstitutional,” Politico reports.

Access To Abortions Restricted In State During Pandemic Height

Texas had already made waves a year prior when Texas Governor Greg Abbott effectively banned abortion services with an executive order limiting state medical services to “essential care” during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Abbott, along with Paxton, agreed at the time that an abortion qualified as an elective procedure that would not have a negative long or short term impact if it was delayed. 

The only instance where an abortion would be necessary was if the life of the mother was at risk, the governor and the AG determined. 

“No one is exempt from the governor’s executive order on medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures, including abortion providers,” Paxton’s office said in a statement at the time. “Those who violate the governor’s order will be met with the full force of the law.”

Planned Parenthood, along with several other health providers, fought back against the new restrictions by filing a lawsuit against Abbott, Paxton, and other officials, arguing they were simply using the pandemic as an excuse to restrict access to abortions. 

Do you agree with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s opinion? Let us know in the comments! 

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