In a repulsive political move, the Texas attorney general ordered state child welfare agencies to launch child abuse investigations into reports of transgender kids receiving gender affirming care. 

Texas Governor Greg Abbott is calling gender-affirming care “child abuse,” but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Studies show that mental health problems decrease by nearly two-thirds with gender-affirming care, while suicidal ideation drops 75%.

This is yet another example of the Texas government turning its own citizens against one another. Just as S.B. 8 called on citizens to turn in anyone they suspected of aiding an abortion, AG Paxton’s statement asks people to turn in families. By calling gender-affirming care child abuse and calling on citizens to report it, Texas is opening up transgender children, and their families, to harassment and putting a target on any doctor or therapist who works with these children.

Parents of trans children should not have to choose between potentially lifesaving care for their children and risking having those children taken away by Child Protective Services. The national spotlight is on Texas, and we need to add every voice possible to put the pressure on the attorney general to rescind the order.