Austin, Texas – A Texas judge has issued a temporary block on the Attorney General’s request for information regarding transgender minors undergoing gender-affirmation treatment. Travis County District Court Judge Maria Cantú Hexsel made the ruling on March 2nd after Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, sought “documents and communications” from an LGBTQ+ advocacy group. The group, which remains unnamed in the article, had been providing gender-affirming care to transgender minors.
In response to Paxton’s request, the PFLAG National took the matter to court, arguing that the demand for information constituted a severe invasion of privacy. Judge Hexsel agreed, stating that compliance with the request would harm the organization and its members on various levels. Additionally, she deemed it a violation of the group’s freedom of speech, association, and protection against unreasonable searches.
A hearing is scheduled for March 25th, allowing Paxton’s office an opportunity to present their case against the temporary order. The attorney general’s office had initially requested the documents in question after PFLAG CEO Brian Bond made a statement to the court last year. In the statement, Bond explained that the organization was devising contingency plans in response to a state-imposed ban on gender-affirmation treatment for minors.
According to Paxton’s office, the requested information is pertinent to investigations regarding potential insurance fraud committed by medical providers still offering gender-affirming care to minors. The American Civil Liberties Union is representing PFLAG in court and is seeking a permanent block on Paxton’s request. Their aim is to enable PFLAG to continue offering support to its Texas members with transgender youth, emphasizing that they are simply trying to provide loving care for their children.
It’s worth noting that a ban on gender-affirmation care for children went into effect in Texas on September 1st. However, this ban had been temporarily blocked by Judge Hexsel prior to its implementation. The ban prevents transgender youth from accessing puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy. The Attorney General’s office had filed to block the judge’s temporary injunction against Senate Bill 14, which ultimately enabled the law to take effect at the start of September.
In her assessment of the bill, Judge Hexsel noted that it encroaches upon the private decisions of Texas families and infringes on parents’ rights to seek and provide medical care for their children. At the time, the Attorney General’s office filed an appeal with the Texas Supreme Court, which automatically suspended the injunction and allowed the law to proceed.