The Senate State Affairs met on April 12 to take up a number of bills. This report covers SB 721 (Schwertner), SB 723 (Schwertner), SB 726 (Schwertner), SB 1699 (Hughes), SB 1311 (Hall), SB 1646 (Perry). Part one of the hearing can be found here and part two can be found here.

 

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics the committee took up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the hearing but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions

 

Vote Outs

CSSB 1158 (Kolkhorst) (6-2)

CSSB 721 (Schwertner) (8-0)

CSSB 723 (Schwertner) (8-0)

CSSB 726 (Schwertner) (7-1)

CSSB 1418 (Schwertner) (8-0)

CSSB 1439 (Campbell) (8-0)

CSSB 1531 (Campbell) (8-0)

SB 1675 (Campbell) (8-0)

SB 1901 (Zaffirini) (8-0)

SB 1936 (Hughes) (8-0)

  • New committee substitute laid out by Hughes
  • Expanded visitation and expanded parenting
  • Requires AG’s office to supply info materials on this matter on their website for parents
  • Zaffirini – Can you explain how children can have reasonable time with both parents without traveling a lot if the live apart?
    • This bill takes expanded visitation and moves to default if parents live within 50 miles
    • If families live further, then it is not reasonable and it does not apply
    • More equal parenting when it is appropriate
  • Zaffirini – And choices should always be made with best interest of the child? Not for the convenience of one or both parents?
    • Absolutely

CSSB 885 (Hughes) (8-0)

SB 1699 (Hughes) (6-2)

 

 

SB 721 (Schwertner) – Relating to the disclosure of appraisal reports in connection with the use of eminent domain authority

  • Requires condemners to provide appraisals used at commissioner court hearings at least three days prior to the hearing; currently, landowners are required to provide the appraisal and condemning entities are not
  • Bill attempts to make information equally available between power with eminent domain and landowner

SB 721 left pending

 

SB 723 (Schwertner) – Relating to certain requirements in connection with the acquisition of real property for public use by an entity with eminent domain authority

  • This bill furthers landowners bill of rights
  • Bill requires placement of further information in the landowners bill of rights concerning the existing rights and obligations of the condemning entity and the land owner
  • Bill provides information on surveys in the landowner bill of rights, including the condemners obligation to pay for damages arising from a survey
  • Bill protects the owner’s right to seek and negotiate the terms of the survey and the condemning entity’s right to sue for a court order authorizing the examination or survey if the property owner refuses entry or consent to the survey
  • An entity who makes an initial offer must specify any property they do not seek to acquire through condemnation; entity must make a separate offer for this portion of the property
  • Bill of rights must be delivered to landowner with the initial offer instead of 7 days before final offer

 

Eric Opiela, South Texans’ Property Rights Association – For

  • Landowners must be fully informed about their rights on and around surveys
  • We would like the written survey agreement to be required rather than optional, but this bill is a good step toward reducing litigation
  • Dialogue from first point of contact is key to prevent unnecessary litigation
  • Provide a level playing field for land owners in the condemnation process

 

James Mann, Texas Pipeline Association – Against

  • We agree that any landowner can refuse to sign a survey form, but we are opposed to the way the bill is drafted
  • We will spend time in appellate court on this
  • Current law allows the landowner to say no and the condemner can appeal to the judge for an injunction to see if the land is a viable option
  • Campbell – Exactly which lines, where are you concerned?
    • It says there is a right to refuse a survey; we do not know if that is an absolute right and the implications that follow
    • We believe you have the absolute right to decline to agree
  • Campbell – I agree to disagree because I think the bill is good; you can not give me as specific line you disagree with. You testify against the bill while also saying you will not know the implications until the bill is enacted. This is strong for property rights

 

Schwertner, in closing:

  • Now, a lot of private property owners have the right to refuse a survey, which compels the condemning entity to seek redress through the court system to come on land and do the survey
  • Bill makes landowners aware of that right, and if they so choose to exercise it, condemners must go to courthouse
  • Your company has not sent forward any specific language that could be revised in the bill

SB 723 left pending

 

SB 726 (Schwertner) – Relating to establishing actual progress for the purposes of determining the right to repurchase real property from a condemning entity

  • Refile of SB 554 from last session
  • The bill strengthens private property rights by raising the bar for how an entity demonstrates how it has made “actual progress towards the state public use for which the property was condemned”
  • SB 18 allows private property owners to repurchase their land acquired through eminent domain if, within ten years, the entity did not make progress towards the stated use of the land
  • Under current statue, entity need only to complete two of seven statutorily specified actions; this threshold is unnecessarily broad and easily accomplished without showing actual progress
  • Bill raises the threshold by requiring three of five requirements be met
  • There is an exception for port authorities and navigation districts given their unique characteristics and long-term planning
  • Committee substitute provides that a water district implementing a project under Texas Water Development Board is subject to the same rules as the port authorities and navigation districts

SB 726 left pending

 

SB 1699 (Hughes) – Relating to the protection of expressive rights of student organizations at public institutions of higher education

  • Freedom of speech and association transcends political lines
  • SB 18 gave protections of free speech at higher institutions; SB 1699 addresses the ability of student organizations formed for the purpose of exercising expressive rights
  • Example: if students want to form a young democrats club, they can set rules for membership and republicans could not show up in a meeting and take over
  • Expressive rights of students

SB 1699 left pending

 

SB 1311 (Hall) – Relating to the provision of and professional liability insurance coverage for gender transitioning or gender reassignment medical procedures and treatments for certain children

  • Prevents physicians and other health care providers from removing any non-diseased or non-working body part for gender reassignment
  • Revoke license or registration from physician or doctor for prescribing hormones or allowing gender reassignment
  • Exception is made in this bill for treating children with medically verifiable intersex disorders
  • University of Pittsburg study on 2,000 Transgender students found that 85% of transgender students had contemplated suicide while over 50% had tried
  • Sweden study showed the suicide rate for those who underwent a sex change surgery to be 20x higher than normal suicide rates
  • Prevent gender reassignment or hormone blockers to children
  • Do not let kids vote, buy cigarette, drink alcohol, carry a gun; why would we let their minds be corrupted by this

 

Jeff Younger, Self – For

  • Did not get consent from ex-wife on hormones for his own kid after he picked a girl’s toy at McDonalds
  • The reason you are not hearing from more parents is because court is putting gag orders on people and not allowing him to speak or practice his religion
  • Ex-wife enrolled son into school as a girl without his consent, also illegally changed his name
  • Got equal parenting rights so he could veto chemical castration
  • Claims son acts like a boy around him and everyone else, only acts like a girl when around his mother
  • Psychologist and pediatrician referrals were not consulted with me; was referred the Genesis
  • States that if you leave children alone, 80-90% will come to identify with their biological sex, so why are children put into a pipeline so early, could watchfully wait and not force anything
  • Issue with role of affirmative counseling, says courts need legislative guidance
  • Hall – Why should we be doing this right now?
    • Same argument that Hutchinson gave in Arkansas
    • Texas Democrats in 1993 interfered in parent-doctor relationship and ended barbaric practice of electroshock therapy on children
    • In therapy, when asked which one he wanted to be he picked boy
  • Hall – What is Genesis, what you referred to earlier?
    • Clinics that chemically castrate and sterilize kids
    • Laws that prevent female genital mutilation; This bill extends that protection to boys
  • Hall – About how many castrations per year?
  • Clinics in Dallas/Houston have approximately 250-300 each
    • Even on court order they would not tell us the specific number
    • Yohanan Kennedy had personally referred over 250 prepubescent girls for total mastectomies
  • Birdwell – Would either of Senator Hall or Senator Perry’s bills help repair what you have already endured?
    • It would going forward; would not address the problem that psychologists in this state can only help a child identify with a sexual identity different from their biological sex
    • Best outcome for child is to identify with biological sex, they have lowest depression and suicide rates
  • Birdwell – Based upon the timing of when the law passes, would it change the outcome of the case? Would the judge continue the way they had been ruling or go back and change because of the new law?
    • Time is of the essence; I really hope that this can pass with enough time to do something
    • Compared banning this to banning electro therapy
  • Hall – Psychologists are the problem; they are using them to reaffirm the mental issues of these kids. It is important to pass this quickly, so we can protect your son and all kids in this pipeline

 

Alan Hopewell, Self – For

  • Does not think what many therapists and psychologists are doing is legally or ethically binding
  • The original clinic that delt with this was at John Hopkins, this is what they studied at UT Galveston
  • Experts have said it is not possible to change one’s sex/gender, gender only applies to nouns and languages, you can only change your behaviors
  • Over the years we have found that kids cannot make these kinds of decisions about their sexual identities that are vastly life altering
  • Most expensive and longest trial in US history was the McMartin Daycare Center trial, children were making outlandish claims about their identity that did not make any sense
    • The main kid spoke up and said that he had just said and done what his parents wanted him to say
  • Have never documented an adolescent or young person who has committed suicide because they could not receive sexually documented surgery or because they could not receive drugs
  • The threat of suicide is not really a threat, never really been documented but it will be used to manipulate
  • A survey found 11% female and 4% male regretted their surgery; roughly 4,000 were unhappy they had gone through these procedures
  • States that people still stay psychologically disturbed quite frequently after treatment, the surgery does not solve all unhappiness
  • Hall – England, which surprises me, has already done what we are trying to do?
    • Basically, yes
    • There was a lawsuit involving the Tavistock clinic and England is a nation that is doing what this bill is trying to do
  • Hall – This is what Arkansas has recently done, as well? Overrode the governor, vetoed the bill, brought it back up, and passed it?
    • I have not read that bill in its entirety, but that is my understanding
    • Nothing in England or Arkansas that I am aware of prevents people from seeking treatment later on
  • Hall – We should let them get to at least 18 years of age, as we do not even let them get tattoos before that
  • Agree

SB 1311 left pending

 

SB 1646 (Perry) – Relating to the protection of children, including the definition of child abuse and the prosecution of the criminal offense of abandoning, or endangering a child

  • This bill protects those who do not understand the irreversible implications of their decision
  • As a state, we are in charge of providing guard rails and protections when needed
  • WPATH studies recommend that kids wait until they are 18 in the US to perform transitional sex surgeries
  • Would prohibit children from receiving puberty suppressant subscription drugs, cross sex hormones, or medical procedures or surgeries for the purpose of transitioning genders
  • Bill in original file amended family code to include administering/applying childhood transitions or gender reassignment; CPS can intervene with those in violation
  • Committee sub removes penal code provision of the bill filed and allows for children to continue the transition process if they were born on or before August 10th of 2010 and began medically transitioning prior to that enactment date
  • Zaffirini – Bill similar to Sen. Hall’s, one is civil and one is criminal penalties – where does your bill fall?
    • I took the criminal charges out in the substitute, just a child abuse designation through CPS enforcement
  • Zaffirini – What are the other major differences before yours and Senator Hall’s bills?
  • I have not studied and comparted the two bills yet, but will probably be a supporter of Hall’s from what I have heard
  • Hughes – Is Hall’s bill directed more towards those doing the treatments and Perry’s bill more towards the parents?
    • Yes
  • Hall – My bill is more towards those who are providing the services, and my interpretation of Perry’s bill is more towards appearance
  • Birdwell – If both bills are passed, would they cause issues with each other? No conflict with each other or code?
    • My understanding is no, it may be duplicative
    • Hall – Describes it as “belts and suspenders.” I did not see anything that conflicted or would cause problems when I looked at Perry’s bill

 

Bryan Slaton, Self – For Both

  • Speaks about the introduction of electroshock therapy
  • Explains the gender modification of a child is permanent and barbaric

 

Jeff Younger, Self – For Both

  • In favor of both approaches of invalidating the procedure and child abuse, says they are harmonious
  • Criminal charges were removed from child abuse
  • Urges you to pass both 1311 and 1646

 

Dr. Kevin Stuart, Austin Institute for Study of Family and Culture – Did not specify whether For or On

  • Here to address many false claims repeated that give misconceptions
  • The truth is that there is no significant psychological difference between patients who receive drugs, surgery, and psychological support and those just getting psychological support
  • Suicide rates and thoughts go up after surgery
  • Drugs do not pause, they push to a lifetime of health complications, which is why UK stopped process
  • 88% of patients’ dysphoria desists after puberty
  • Williams’ Institute estimate is $3 billion dollars for trans drugs for kids, could be even as big as $13 billion as the industry grows
  • Perry – I do not think anyone is suggesting that these kids do not need support, I do not think anyone is trying to block legitimate, experienced professionals. Do you show any research showing doctors continue to do these procedures early?
    • Evidence of doctors doing exactly that
    • There is not data to show that these drugs and radical approaches help
  • Perry – Is there a herd mentality to be a part of something such as Genesis?
    • “Social Contagion” studied by Brown University scholar
  • There are clustering effects and suggesting/pushing for a certain agenda
  • Hall – I had no idea that there was so much money involved, $13 billion?
    • Could be, that number was based on the census bureau’s reporting on Gen Z, comparing all the people going though transitioning and those who claim they are trans
    • Important to understand with this diagnosis comes with a lifelong course of expensive treatment
  • Hall – These kids do need help of some kind. They need the right kind of help
    • Psychological support is what is needed, not drugs and surgery

 

Jill Glover, Self – For SB 1646

  • Has professional experience as a counselor
  • Drugs are a new phenomenon or way to treat
  • Lures kids into mythical thoughts because they impressionable; currently somewhat of a “fad”
  • Deliberate attempt to profit financially
  • Tik Tok video that makes transition surgery looks good and simple
  • In US when you turn 18 you can do whatever you want to your body, so this should apply
  • No chance for normal sexual function or ability to have kids
  • Hall–You should be able to get your hormone treatments and physical changes, but that is recognized as an adult and not as a kid so we can assure that they can make their own decisions
    • Psychologists say 18 is majority so exactly
  • Hall – If we leave kids alone, they will develop as God intended for them to be
  • Even if someone is male or more creative, musical, sensitively inclined, perfectly normal; does not mean they need to feminize their bodies

 

Dr. Kevin Stuart, Austin Institute of Family and Culture

  • There is no evidence that puberty blockers are temporary or reversible
  • Side effects last with the drugs for a lifetime, no exit once the path is taken

 

Alan Hopewell, Texas Psychological Association, Self – For Both

  • Concurs what previously said and applies to this bill
  • One issue that comes up with this question is the ability or willingness of the state to interfere in Dr/Parent Dr/Patient relationship
  • As a doctor there is nothing that is not regulated by government, so this doesn’t make sense on why this doesn’t apply

 

Dr. Andrew Reichert, Self – Against 1646

  • Bill intrudes in decisions by parents/patients/clients, not the state
  • Need to be cautious with transgender youth; increased suicide rates due to societal stigma
  • Bill may add stigma/shame to these patients, and bill should not interfere on the actions of physicians or patients

 

Indigo Jasper Giles, Self – Against Both

  • Non-binary person; received gender-affirming surgery
  • Lives have been saved due to similar affirming and best practice medical care
  • Decisions should be made between the physician and their patient

 

Neil Giles, Self – Against Both

  • Has two transgender children; is a perception seeking medical treatment for transgender kids is spur of the moment
  • These decisions are taken with care between the kids and medical professionals; they should continue to do so
  • SB 1311 interferes with the rights of commercial parties to contract

 

Dillion Yeary, Self – Against Both

  • Currently recovering from gender reassignment surgery; if this legislation had passed years ago, they would not be here today
  • Struggled with their mental health; have not had a therapy session since their gender reassignment surgery
  • Its claim that hormone therapy causes infertility; the bill is misinformed in this topic

 

Monib Aslum, Self – Against Both

  • Language puts gender affirming care as child abuse except for those born as intersex
  • Gender is nonbinary; Texas is number 45 in healthcare access, need to increase this, not decrease this
  • Mental health providers need to help spearhead the process to ensure transgender kids get adequate treatment
  • Body needs to hire a fact-checker; references a UK transgender bill that was mentioned has been overturned
  • Hughes – Will follow up on that
  • Powell – What other things should we fact check?
    • Facts like that 88% overturn their decision to transition

 

Aaron Riche, Self – Against SB 1646

  • Has transgender children; after months, gender affirming surgery was deemed the best life-saving choice
  • Need to oppose this bill so parents/medical professionals/kids can make their own decisions

 

Dr. Marjan Linnell, Self, Texas Pediatric Society, Texas Medical Association, Etc. – Against Both

  • Organized medicine strongly opposes these bills; would harm transgender youth and penalize licensed pediatricians
  • When provided with appropriate treatment, suicidal ideation falls dramatically
  • This is a personal choice unique to each individual/their family
  • Before puberty there is no medical/surgical treatment; treatments are reversible
  • Physicians need to practice freely and have to help rather than harm patients
  • Here to make sure kids and their futures are supported
  • Powell – Are you aware of any hormone therapies that would render them incapable of having a child?
    • Puberty suppression medicines do not have an effect on infertility; are also used for children who start puberty too early
    • Hormonal medicines are taken after some time after puberty; every institution who provides this care takes infertility concerns into account
    • Legislation takes away individuals’ power to decide; is their risk to take
    • Is currently research to prevent infertility with these treatments

 

Remington Johnson, Self – Against Both

  • Is a pastor; states transgender children are sacred, and they are worthy of protection
  • These bills do not protect transgender children, they hurt them

 

Brian Klosterboer, American Civil Liberties Union of Texas– Against Both

  • Texas already has robust child abuse laws
  • No doctor or healthcare provider can go against medical best-practices
  • Discusses Younger’s case; if the things they were saying had been true, they would have won
  • ACLU is planning to sue Arkansas on a similar bill; the England bill was overturned
  • Bill is an unconstitutional attack on transgender children
  • Hughes – We are reading the UK case has been upheld on certain circumstances, but is still going through the courts

 

Dr. Megan Mooney, Self, American Psychological Association – Against Both

  • Notes Dr. Hopewell is not up to date on APA policy
  • Transgender children fare best when the physicians support teamwork with the individual and their families
  • Currently, children under the age of 16 can receive puberty blockers with court permission, with other stipulations
  • Psychological care is not enough for best practices; SB 1646 could take physician’s ability to provide healthcare and could mentally traumatize the patients
  • Powell – Are there published standards for your care?
    • Yes
  • Powell – What age do children have an idea of their gender identity?
    • Children as young of 6-7 understand gender constancy
  • Powell – They have a sense of normality?
    • Yes, we live in a gendered society
  • Powell – Providing this care has caused psychological trauma?
    • Is not evidence this is traumatic or abusive
    • Powell – What are the known mental health benefits?
    • Helps reduce depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation; is life-saving
  • Powell – Are there negative consequences to delaying gender care?
    • Yes, those things increase over that period

 

Alison Mohr Boleware, National Association of Social Workers Texas – Against Both

  • Worried these bills would change the definition of child abuse; could harm a therapeutic relationship between the child and their mental health professional
  • Social workers help all of those in society; includes conversations about identity, should not be considered child abuse
  • Powell – What are the dangers associated with this bill passing?
    • Concern if we change the definition to include gender affirming care, how would that mean for child welfare?
    • Would not want families investigates when providing gender affirming care decided by the patient/family and their expansive team

 

Lauren Rose, Texas Network of Youth Services – Against SB 1646

  • Transgender youth are already disproportionally involved in these different systems such as DFPS and homelessness
  • Will push youth further into these systems

 

Kate Murphy, Texans Care for Children – Against SB 1646

  • Removing a child is very traumatic; LQBTQ children are already more likely to be pushed into foster care due to a family who does not understand
  • They have higher rates of depression, PTSD, homelessness, victims of sexual abuse
  • If a child is accepted by their family, they are eight times less likely to not attempt suicide
  • Defining medically recommended practices as abuse could traumatize and increases depression/suicidal ideation in transgender children
  • Powell – What are the unintended consequences for these bills?
    • We already see negative consequences, this could be taking kids away from loving parents who are working with medical best practices

 

Kevin Barajas, LQBTQ Non-Profit – Against Both

  • Bills are a number of attacks against trans youth who need this treatment
  • Transgender care is lifesaving; every medical group says that gender affirming treatments are necessary
  • Care is not child abuse; abuse is preventing the access of healthcare

 

Charlie Apple, Self – Against Both

  • Provides a personal anecdote of their transition; most transgender kids to not make it through their teens
  • These treatments can save lives; getting their child the treatment they need is not abuse

 

Adere Apple, Self – Against Both

  • Provides a personal anecdote of their transgender child
  • 40% of LGBTQ responded they considered suicide in the last 12 months
  • If this bill passes, the state will be guilty of child abuse

 

Landon Richie, Self and Transgender Education Network of Texas – Against Both

  • Provides a personal anecdote of their transgender treatment process
  • Gender affirming medical care saved their life; it’s not abuse to provide these medically necessary treatments
  • Does not believe he would be live today if he could not have medically transitioned

 

Melody Gomez, Self – Against SB 1646

  • Provides an anecdote of their transgender child; children need to opportunity to have the space to become the best version of themselves
  • Parents of transgender children are not abusers

 

Diana Richards, Self – For Both

  • Gender reassignment surgeries/treatments are based on pseudoscience and scar children

 

Holt Lackey, Equality Texas – Against Both

  • Uses power of the state to violate the independent decisions made by families and doctors
  • Medical experts support treatments for children to prevent depression, suicide, and dysphoria
  • Parents act out of love, not abuse
  • Wanted to Note that Senator Hall and others absented themselves before testimony yesterday
  • Claims statements and accusations about England and Wales are false
  • Zaffirini – Some testimony has implied that some children are being manipulated by parents, can you speak to that? That the child on their own might not make that decision but the parents make it for them and act accordingly?
    • Has heard that, personally has only heard that in cases of divorce where parents disagree on transgender
    • In family court the best interest should be the interest of the child and hopefully our court system can catch that
  • Zaffirini – Do you have an opinion on legislation that had already been decided and is not on appeal?
    • At no point did the England court ban hormone treatment for youth, and they did not call it abuse
    • Bell vs Tavistock held that kids under 16 probably cannot make these decisions for themselves and implemented a structure that looks something like what is in Texas for abortion “a best interest order” from a judge
    • Passed in court in England that parents can give consent for children to get hormone treatment and under 15 children can get a court order to override

 

Maggie Stern, Children’s Defense Fund of Texas – Against Both

  • Seeks to provide care for transgender youth, and defend every child
  • Transition -related healthcare is critical to transgender youth to prevent mental health issues and potential future medical issues
  • 13% of children below 18 in Texas did not have health care in 2019; on the rise
  • Bills would harm children, and force parents and doctors to harm children
  • Marginalizes trans children and criminalizes those trying to help them

 

Helen Eastman, Self – Against 1646

  • Transwoman
  • Study published in Mental Health Magazine claims that suicide rates in trans youth dropped from 67% to 3% after access to gender -affirming medical care
  • Bill’s passage will lead to the deaths of transgender youths
  • Myth of parents forcing the choice upon children

 

Anna Eastman, Self – Against Both

  • Asks the senators who left before testimony to listen
  • Saddened by the bill and the need to testify against the discriminatory policy
  • Allow us to make decisions in the best interests of our family and our children – stay out of it
  • Zaffirini – All the senators move around from hearing to hearing, especially when there are multiple going on at once. Senator Hall and I both had another meeting, but our team was here.
    • I appreciate that, there are a lot of people who don’t know that
    • But we have a lot of important legislature to do this season, this isn’t important

 

Sarah Newberry, Self – Against Both

  • Mother of transgender daughter
  • Only want to testify because the bill leaves them with no choice
  • Bill suggests lack of trust and faith in parents
  • Lives are at stake, will hold legislature accountable

 

Jeffrey Morgan, Dad Talk Today – For Both

  • Was at the trial with Mr. Younger and has met James (Younger’s son)
  • Has testimonies of transgender youth who regret their transition most of whom waited until they were 18
  • About 90% of gender dysphoria will go away after puberty
  • Female genital mutilation is a federal crime here, Zaffirini co-sponsored legislation making it a crime in Texas
  • Process is child abuse; need to prohibit these treatments

 

Cynthia McAdam, Self – For Both

  • Is a mother of an autistic daughter with rapid onset gender dysphoria
  • These kids need affirmation not drugs and surgery
  • Threat of suicide is emotional blackmail – daughter believes that she needs medicine and surgery because the “experts” told her she needs it
  • Turns children into lifelong patients – only doctors and medical establishment benefit

 

Carroll Fedrick, Self – For Both

  • Transgender people have always been around, but it’s very different from what we see today
  • Children referred to gender dysphoria clinics in the UK have increased 2600% from 2010 to 2018
  • Children are being inundated with messages designed to confuse them
  • Society is selling gender dysphoria to kids, billion -dollar industry
  • Studied Bell v Tavistock: to reach verdict, they called on directors, professors, physicians, researchers who were involved in hormone and drug treatments
  • The high court found that treatments were experimental, the psychological effects of stopping blockers was unknown, and long -term effects were unknown
  • Puberty blockers are the “gateway drug” to transitioning, as less than 2% of Tavistock’s patients did not continue to cross sex hormones
  • These bills protect doctors from having to give experimental treatments, releases pressure on parents to give children long -term changes through treatments, and prevents children from making a mistake with irreversible consequences

 

Savannah Bowden, Self – Against 1311

  • Thinks this bill is unempathetic to transgender individuals
  • Lots of misinformation about the treatments being discussed; puberty blockers do not have many negative or serious side effects, as supplements resolve issues like lower bone density
  • In many cases, social and medical transitions are necessary for the health of the child
  • Parents and doctors are not forcing anything on children; rhetoric that these people are is dangerous

 

Karen Kritzer, Self – Against Both

  • Parent to Transgender child
  • American Academy of Pediatrics says Children have a solid idea of their gender by age 4
  • “How could a child possibly know they’re transgender?” How old were you when you decided you were a boy or girl?
  • Transgender individuals can identify differently early because the way they feel differs from the expectations of those around them
  • Transgender youth have been hiding for years
  • If these bills pass my daughter and I can’t live here – it will be too dangerous without a guarantee of treatment
  • Many children in foster care are transgender, have been rejected by their biological families
  • Zaffirini – Why can’t you live here if they pass?
    • Because I will be charged with Child abuse for everything I have done to help my child, including potential medical treatments in the future
    • Puberty blockers are not permanent, as soon as people stop them they will go through puberty

 

Hailey Harris, Self – For Both

  • Mother of transgender child with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
  • Gender Dysphoria is a psychological issue not medical – it is self -diagnosed
  • When medical-affirming options are the only options presented, we miss half the picture
  • Those diagnosed with BPD have a very high rate of suicide, many identify as transgender
  • Similar to autism; many transgender individuals have autism, high suicide rate among those individuals
  • Puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones and other experiments are a part of a trillion -dollar industry; parents are using their kids as guinea pigs

 

Lynn Meager, Self and on Behalf of Parents of Children Who Want to Transition – For 1311

  • Works with Gender Mapper Project; have identified seventeen facilities in Texas that are prescribing puberty blockers, wrong sex hormones, or surgeries to minor children in an attempt to change their natural sex
  • Transgender identities in children are no longer rare
  • No criteria beyond a child’s feeling to verify their self-diagnosis; doctors put children on puberty blockers on first visit, many doctors recommend either hormones or surgery on the first visit
  • High Court of England was correct to rule that children are not able to give consent to treatments that will result in lifetime sterilization and sexual disfunction
  • Children are not mature enough to understand the implications, and parents do not have the right to decide for them

 

Tracey Shannon, Self – For Both

  • Personal story about husband who transitioned into a woman; left her and her children
  • Victim and witness to “trans ideology” in the health care system and gender therapists
  • Therapist went “behind my back” to help my husband transition
  • Health care system has moved to “affirmation only” instead of “watchful waiting”
  • Affirming idea that a child was born in the wrong body is dishonest and puts kids on the wrong path to irreversible harm
  • Any adult putting children on this path is an abuser

 

Ash Hall, Self – Against Both

  • In a survey, only 8% of respondents reported de-transitioning, and 60% said they de-transitioned temporarily
  • The most common reason for de-transitioning was pressure from a parent
  • 4% of respondents de-transitioned because they realized it wasn’t right for them
  • In response to UK banning this treatment, it was overturned last month in favor of youth getting parental consent to undergo gender affirming treatments like puberty blockers
  • Puberty blockers give kids more time to think through the transitioning process
  • Today, being transgender has been compared to having depression and schizophrenia; DSM 5 articulates that gender nonconformity is not a mental disorder, in fact, DSM 5 expressly notes that mental health issues arising from nonconformity has to do with societal pressures
  • Being transgender is not what makes trans people suicidal, but bills like these that marginalize
  • Should not allow a single case of child abuse to legalize marginalizing transgender folks

 

Lynn Toullie, Self – For Both

  • Formerly transitioned, has since transitioned back to biological gender
  • Dealt with gender issues for 50 years, lived as a woman for 20 years
  • Went into severe depression a year after gender surgery; three suicide attempts after the surgery, only one before
  • These kids cannot make the decisions, I could not make it at 38 years old and now I live in regret
  • No matter how hard I tried, I could not be the woman I wanted to be; shocking that kids can transition at their age knowing the damage that the drugs and treatments cause
  • Has had serious medical issues, including COPD, due to extended period of treatments

 

Lindsay Foster, Self – Against Both

  • Parent to transgender daughter, it is lifesaving care
  • Before changing pronouns, she exhibited anxiety, aggressive behavior and severe tantrums; once we began affirming her identity, she displayed nothing short of joy
  • I am protecting her from child abuse by the power of state government

 

Lisa Stanton, Self – Against Both

  • Being transgender is not a choice and no parent would choose this adversity for their child
  • Parent of two twin males at birth: twins were raised with the same toys, same room, same routine, but one child presented female mannerisms
  • We tried to ignore the signs at first, but after a year and a half of therapy and anxiety and depression, we allowed her to socially transition, and she has drastically improved
  • Legislators have no expertise in this area; 90% of trans youth with blocked access to medication commit suicide

 

Mia Stanton, Self – Against Both

  • I used to think God put me in the wrong body, but I am in this body to teach people like you about diversity, tolerance, and how people can be different
  • If this passes, I will not be able grow up as a woman in Texas; though my friends and family are here, I cannot live in a boys body

 

Danielle Skidmore, Self – Against Both

  • The care that is recognized as best practice by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Counseling Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, etc. is being labelled as child abuse
  • Transgender adults, like myself, prayed for this kind of care during our own childhood; puberty can be traumatic
  • Imagine penalizing doctors for best care practices in other sectors of medicine; could not legally treat your child’s diabetes or ADHD
  • The private medical decisions between children, their parents, and doctors are, by no means, affairs of the state

 

Alexi Sworski, Self – For Both

  • This is mutilating a child for life
  • Doctors in Nazi Germany mutilated children and were arrested after WWII
  • A medical license should be akin to being a licensed butcher if doctors perform these surgeries and treatments
  • Texas should take away licenses and prohibit insurance coverage of physicians who perform these procedures

 

Sam Club, Self – Against Both

  • Group therapist for 12–18-year-olds, leads gender identity group
  • Many kids came to us after suicide attempts
  • While therapy can teach youth how to cope and deal with dysphoria, it does not correct the imbalance of hormones they are experiencing; same with depression
  • Hormones are not a life sentence, they are a choice

 

Dr. Camille Ray, Self – Against Both

  • Access to age -appropriate treatments for transgender youth is an immediate issue for my family
  • Without treatments, children face emotionally crippling dysphoria and self-loathing
  • The healthiest and happiest transgender children are those that socially transition early and those who get the recommended care that delays puberty until they can make their own decision

 

Vera Dusik, Self – Against Both

  • When talking about medical treatments for trans youth, we are never talking about surgery
  • Life saving, transition related medical treatments for a trans child include using their correct names and pronouns, supporting their clothing and style decisions, ensuring they can exist in society, and possibly using medication to delay puberty
  • Delaying puberty to make absolutely certain that they are prepared for the changes that come with puberty, a completely reversible courtesy that we do not offer to cisgender children
  • Older teens, under the advice of guardians, therapists and physicians, can begin hormone therapy to ensure they do not develop physical features that would require major medical interventions to correct later
  • Physicians, statistically, care for primarily cisgender patients; taking their license away, under this statute, would cost every child in Texas
  • Texas already has abysmal health outcomes; what are you willing to lose?

 

Professor David Albert, Self – Against Both

  • Choices and reality are not binary; binary is a mirage
  • Listen to the scientists and the scholars to comprehend the nuance

 

Catherine Emory, Self – Against Both

  • Maybe you do not know any trans people
  • Let the professionals and families make these decisions
  • Republicans like to say they are small government and do not like interference; please prove it and stay out of our homes

 

Steve Atkinson, Equality Texas Foundation – Opposes Both

  • Transgender Texans are under attack with these bills; seeks a solution to a problem that does not exist
  • Many politicians who support limited government abandon that stance to interfere with the LGBTQ community

SB 1646 left pending