Austin, Texas – A Texas judge has temporarily blocked state Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, from requiring an LGBTQ+ advocacy group to disclose information about transgender children receiving gender transition treatment. The ruling came in response to a legal challenge brought by PFLAG National, which sought to prevent Paxton’s office from collecting the information.
Travis County District Court Judge Maria Cantú Hexsel determined that forcing PFLAG to provide the information would violate their rights of free speech, association, and protection from unreasonable searches. She described it as a “gross invasion” of privacy.
The judge’s decision will stand until a hearing scheduled for March 25, giving Paxton’s office an opportunity to argue against the temporary block.
Last month, Paxton’s office requested “documents and communications” related to PFLAG CEO Brian Bond’s statement last year, in which he mentioned members creating contingency plans after a ban on gender transition treatment for minors was imposed in Texas. The attorney general’s office claims that this information is crucial for investigations into possible insurance fraud by medical providers seeking to circumvent the ban.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), representing PFLAG in court, plans to seek a permanent block on Paxton’s request. The ACLU argues that the advocacy group should be able to support and care for transgender youth and their families without being subject to intrusive government mandates.
This is not the first legal battle between PFLAG and the state of Texas. In 2022, Texas adopted a policy of investigating cases of gender transition treatment for children as instances of child abuse.
The judge’s temporary block offers relief to PFLAG in their ongoing efforts to provide support to transgender youth and their families. The hearing on March 25 will determine whether the block should be made permanent.