AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- City and county officials say Austin is a "safe and inclusive city" for transgender families and the larger LGBTQIA+ community, despite recent efforts by the State of Texas to identify "gender-affirming care" as child abuse.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Andy Brown, along with local lawmakers and other elected officials made the announcement Wednesday morning.
“Austin should be considered a safe place, a sanctuary, for transgender children and their families,” said Adler.
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Wednesday's proclamation follows a directive issued by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last month, which called on the state's Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to "conduct prompt and thorough investigations of any reported instances of Texas children being subjected to abusive gender-transitioning procedures."
Abbott's order followed a formal, but nonbinding, opinion issued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, which concluded that "gender-affirming procedures," including the administration of puberty-blocking drugs, doses of testosterone or estrogen and reassignment surgeries, qualify as child abuse under Texas Family Code section 261.
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Those state efforts are facing pushback from some across the state, along with legal challenges. Wednesday, the state's Third Court of Appeals dismissed an appeal from Paxton seeking to overturn a temporary restraining order issued by a Travis County district court judge last week, halting a state investigation into the parents of a 16-year old girl in a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal.
A lower court hearing is expected in the case on Friday as to whether a broader restraining order is suitable; for the moment, the judge's order only applies to that specific case.
“Efforts to deny medical care for transgender youth are unjust and are not supported by major healthcare organizations," said Brown. "Today, we will stand together as a community to fight for the protection and support of our LGBTQIA+ community. Today we will stand together to protect the rights of transgender youth and their families in Travis County.”