Judge blocks Texas investigating families of trans youth 6/10/22 Transcript

Speaker 1: (00:00) A district judge in Travis County has granted a temporary restraining order that blocks the state from investigating families who provide gender affirming care to their transgender children, as abuse. Elissa Rivas: (00:12) So this comes from Governor Abbot's directive to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services back in February. ABC13's lead reporter on Race & Culture issues, Rosie Nguyen, joins us from the newsroom with the details of this latest development. Rosie? Rosie Nguyen: (00:27) Elissa, the decision came from a lawsuit filed by ACLU Texas, Lambda Legal, as well as PFLAG National. This is on behalf of three families who were being investigated by Texas DFPS, as well as families who have membership with PFLAG National. Rosie Nguyen: (00:44) PFLAG is an LGBTQ advocacy group with more than 600 members in Texas. DFPS says it has opened nine investigations following Governor Abbot's directive. This ruling comes about a month after the Texas Supreme Court ruled in favor of one family in a previous lawsuit against the state. Rosie Nguyen: (01:04) This case used written testimony from some of the nation's largest medical groups, such as the American Medical Association, that voice opposition to the Governor's order. Rosie Nguyen: (01:14) Here are arguments from both sides during today's hearing. Paul Castillo: (01:18) Every plaintiff in this case has illustrated that stress and trauma of even the potential of having a child removed merely based on the suspicion that the family has pursued the medically necessary course of care that is prescribed by their doctors for gender dysphoria. Courtney Corbello: (01:39) DFPS, as the Supreme Court recognized, is tasked with investigating child abuse. No new rule was needed or made in this case. Giving a child hormones or pubertal blockers could constitute child abuse under our current laws. Rosie Nguyen: (01:55) Now, we have reached out to the Governor's office for comment, but have not heard back. Texas DFPS says that they do not comment on ongoing litigation.