Faithwire
  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • SCOTUS
  • Life
  • Religious Liberty
  • News
  • Politics
  • Faith
  • Opinion

‘There Is No Doubt’: Texas May Soon Prosecute ‘Sex Change’ Surgeries on Minors as Child Abuse

AP Photo/Eric Gay
AP Photo/Eric Gay
Share Tweet
By Tré Goins-Phillips
Editor

February 28, 2022

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has directed state agencies to undertake “prompt and thorough” investigations into so-called “sex change” surgeries and treatments to determine if such actions constitute child abuse, and can be prosecuted as such.

In his letter to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, the governor referenced a non-binding legal opinion put forward by state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), who stated certain treatments for gender dysphoric minors — such as so-called “sex reassignment surgeries” and puberty blockers — “can legally constitute child abuse under several provisions” of state law, according to The Washington Post.

Texas Attorney General: “There is no doubt" that gender transition of minors is ‘child abuse’ under Texas law.

The Texas Dept. of Family & Protective Services will enforce this ruling and investigate & refer for prosecution any such abuse.https://t.co/hZQguNOiye

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 22, 2022

Paxton’s ruling comes after the DFPS issued a report in August of last year, which found some transgender surgeries, when performed on minors, constitute child abuse. DFPS issued its ruling after Abbott asked the state agency to investigate whether such procedures fell outside the perimeters of allowable treatments for gender dysphoric children and teenagers under Texas state law.

“Genital mutilation of a child through reassignment surgery is child abuse, subject to all rules and procedures pertaining to child abuse,” DFPS Commissioner Jaime Masters stated at the time. “Such mutilation may cause a ‘genuine threat of substantial harm from physical injury to the child’ [according to Texas law].”

Listen to the latest episode of the Faithwire podcast 👇

“This surgical procedure physically alters a child’s genitalia for non-medical purposes, potentially inflicting irreversible harm to children’s bodies,” the commissioner added. “Generally, children in the care and custody of a parent lack the legal capacity to consent to surgical treatments, making them more vulnerable.”

In his letter, Masters did carve out certain exceptions:

It may be warranted for the following conditions including, but not limited to, a child whose body parts have been affected by illness or trauma; who is born with a medically verifiable genetic disorder of sex development, such as the presence of both ovarian and testicular tissue; or who does not have the normal sex chromosome structure for male or female as determined through genetic testing.

As for Abbott’s latest directive, it is not yet clear if all the agencies across the state will follow his guidance.

Given Paxton’s ruling does not carry legal weight, some prosecutors and county attorneys have indicated they will not enforce the directive, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee (D) of the Houston metro area is accusing Abbott and Paxton of “ignoring medical professionals and intentionally misrepresenting the law to the detriment of transgender children and their families,” adding his office “won’t be participating in this political game.”

***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up for Faithwire’s daily newsletter and download the CBN News app, developed by our parent company, to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***

Latest

  • News

    ‘In the Arms of Christ’: Pastor’s Daughter Among Children Killed During Christian School Shooting

  • Faith

    ‘Thank God He Was There’: Off-Duty Firefighter Says It Was the Lord Who Led Him to Save Deputy Hurt in Crash

  • News

    ‘Kind of a Miracle’: Storm Chaser Rescues Family After Tornado, Pledges to Help Rebuild Home After Terrifying Ordeal

  • News

    Amid ‘Hidden Dangers That Lurk’ in Culture, Christian Video Games Could Offer Parents a Powerful Solution

  • News

    All-American Swimmer Blasts ESPN for Promoting Transgender Athlete in ‘Celebrating Women’s History Month’


Sponsored
Sponsored

Newsletter
Signup

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • ‘In the Arms of Christ’: Pastor’s Daughter Among Children Killed During Christian School Shooting
  • ‘Thank God He Was There’: Off-Duty Firefighter Says It Was the Lord Who Led Him to Save Deputy Hurt in Crash
  • ‘Kind of a Miracle’: Storm Chaser Rescues Family After Tornado, Pledges to Help Rebuild Home After Terrifying Ordeal
  • Amid ‘Hidden Dangers That Lurk’ in Culture, Christian Video Games Could Offer Parents a Powerful Solution
  • All-American Swimmer Blasts ESPN for Promoting Transgender Athlete in ‘Celebrating Women’s History Month’

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016

Categories

  • Christian Persecution
  • Coronavirus
  • Culture
  • culture
  • Entertainment
  • Faith
  • Faith
  • Family
  • George Floyd
  • Go!
  • Israel
  • Life
  • Life
  • Lifestyle
  • Media
  • Men
  • Mission Haiti
  • News
  • News
  • Opinion
  • P.O.V
  • Politics
  • Politics
  • Roe
  • Sponsored
  • Sports
  • Virtue
  • Women

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Navigation

  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day.

Newsletter Signup

Do you want to read
more articles like this?