Texas AG Maligns Therapy That Affirms Trans Youths' Identities as "Child Abuse"

"Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued a legal opinion declaring that the prohibitions under S.B. 14 making it illegal for health care providers to 'transition' kids does apply to 'mental health care providers' licensed by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. Therapists who affirm transgender youth are described as 'activists providing mental health care.'"

"Under his interpretation, therapists, counselors, psychologists and social workers who provide gender-affirming mental health care would be barred from receiving any public funding, including Medicaid, and could face revocation of their licenses and criminal penalties. The opinion also invokes mandatory reporting requirements, meaning therapists could be legally obligated to report colleagues and potentially the parents of transgender children."

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a legal opinion extending the state's ban on gender-affirming care for minors to mental health providers. Under this interpretation, therapists, counselors, psychologists, and social workers providing gender-affirming mental health care face license revocation, loss of public funding including Medicaid, and criminal penalties. The opinion classifies affirming a transgender youth's gender identity as "facilitating" illegal treatment and child abuse. Mandatory reporting requirements could obligate therapists to report colleagues and parents of transgender children. This announcement preceded Paxton's Texas Republican primary campaign for U.S. Senate against incumbent Senator John Cornyn and mirrors his 2022 child abuse declaration that triggered state investigations targeting transgender children and their families.

Read at Truthout