President Joe Biden tore into Texas’ ‘cynical and dangerous’ plan to investigate the parents of transgender children seeking gender affirming medical treatments, saying it amounted to ‘weaponizing child protective services against loving families.’
‘This is government overreach at its worst,’ Biden said in a statement Wednesday night, saying Texas’ Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive came about ‘just to score political points.’
Abbott was on the Republican primary ballot Tuesday.
President Joe Biden tore into Texas’ ‘cynical and dangerous’ plan to investigate the parents of transgender children seeking gender affirming medical treatments
‘Today, the Department of Health and Human Services has announced several actions to keep transgender children in Texas and their families safe – putting the state of Texas on notice that their discriminatory actions put children’s lives at risk,’ the president said.
Earlier Wednesday, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra announced the agency was releasing guidance to state child welfare systems that makes clear those governmental agencies should be used ‘to advance safety and support for LGBTQI+ youth, which importantly can include access to gender affirming care.’
HHS also released guidance on patient privacy that clarified that health care providers are not required to disclose information about gender affirming care to state authorities.
The federal agency also made clear that patients cannot be denied healthcare based on their gender identity.
Becerra said he ordered HHS to look into other ways the federal agency can protect transgender children and their families.
‘These announcements make clear that rather than weaponizing child protective services against loving families, child welfare agencies should instead expand access to gender-affirming care for transgender children,’ Biden continued.
The president pointed out that respected medical organizations have said that access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth can have mental health benefits, lower the suicide rates and improve other health outcomes.
Protesters gather outside the Texas capitol in Austin on Tuesday to protest Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive to state health agencies to investigate gender-affirming care to transgender youth as child abuse
A demonstrator holds up a sign that reads, ‘Being trans is not child abuse,’ as activists rally outside the Texas capitol in Austin over GOP Gov. Greg Abbott’s anti-trans initiative
‘Children, their parents, and their doctors should have the freedom to make the medical decisions that are best for each young person – without politicians getting the way,’ Biden said.
‘In the United States of America, we respect the rights and dignity of all families,’ he added. ‘Transgender children bring fulfillment to their parents, joy to their friends, and are made in the image of God.’
‘Affirming a transgender child’s identity is one of the best things a parent, teacher, or doctor can do to help keep children from harm, and parents who love and affirm their children should be applauded and supported, not threatened, investigated, or stigmatized,’ the president continued.
The president also called attention to remarks he made about supporting transgender Americans during Tuesday night’s State of the Union address.
‘Jill and I are standing with the incredibly brave transgender children, their parents, and families throughout Texas and around the country, and we will continue to fight for a future where all children can thrive,’ Biden added.
On Tuesday, Biden called on the lawmakers in the audience at the State of the Union to ‘finally’ pass the Equality Act.
The Equality Act – which federalizes protections for LGBTQ invidivuals, adding them to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – passed the House of Representatives last February, but the bill hasn’t budged from the Senate Judiciary Committee.
It’s unlikely to pass the 50-50 Senate without filibuster reform.
‘The onslaught of state laws targeting transgender Americans and their families is wrong,’ the president said. ‘As I said last year, especially to our younger transgender Americans, I will always have your back as your President, so you can be yourself and reach your God-given potential.’
Lawmakers in Alabama are pursuing a similar bill to what Abbott announced in Texas – using state child welfare officials to launch investigations into families where a child is receiving gender-affirming care.
Earlier this month, South Dakota’s Republican Gov. Kristi Noem signed a bill that would ban trans youth from participating in school sports with students of their same gender identity.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who gave the Republican response Tuesday night to Biden’s speech, says she supports similar legislation, which is going through the Iowa legislature currently.
In Florida, the state legislature is debating what’s being called the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, which would bar teachers from discussing LGBTQ people.
At the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida last weekend, a number of Republican politicians brought up the issue of trans women playing in women’s sports.
Former President Donald Trump said liberals ‘teach four-year-olds to pick their own genders.’
‘And they say it’s absolutely fine for boys to participate in women’s sports,’ he said to boos from the crowd.
Biden’s move was applauded by the LGBTQ group, the Human Rights Campaign.
‘The president’s call for action couldn’t come at a more urgent moment as state legislatures across the country are increasingly advancing discriminatory measures that seek to take us backward as a nation, shamelessly attacking transgender youth,’ a statement from HRC’s interim President Joni Madison said.
‘We applaud the president’s commitment to having the backs of trans youth, and HRC stands in solidarity with the president, pledging to continue fighting back against the harmful, discriminatory attacks on trans kids and families who deserve to be supported, not attacked, by our elected leaders,’ Madison continued. ‘The president’s message tonight is one that must be amplified across the country, especially amongst young transgender people.’
