Texas Transgender ‘Child Abuse’ Policy Can Go Back Into Effect, State Supreme Court Rules

May 13, 2022, 11:42am

The Texas Supreme Court on Friday lifted a lower court order that had blocked the policy statewide.

The Texas Supreme Court said the lower appeals court didn't have the authority to block the policy from being enforced statewide.

The family that filed the lawsuit is protected from state investigation because they are the only parents of trans children in the state.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services was directed by Abbott to investigate parents of children who have received gender-affirming care for child abuse, which could result in consequences like parents being put on a state child abuse registry or losing their jobs.

The merits of the actual policy still have to be considered by the lower courts, even though Friday's ruling only concerned the lower court's injunction blocking the policy.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the lawsuit on behalf of the people, has not yet responded to requests for comment.

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The decision means that the DFPS can start investigating parents of children receiving gender-affirming care again. The Dallas Morning News reported at least three families had been visited by officials from Child Protective Services, and multiple outlets reported that the agency had already launched nine investigations into families of trans children.

The policy has been heavily opposed by numerous medical groups including the National Association of Social Workers.

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