Democratic state Rep. Jessica González of Dallas, pictured here in a file photo from 2021, repeatedly questioned Republicans in the Texas House over anti-LGBTQ bills that GOP lawmakers pushed through the House. González is chair of the Texas Legislature’s LGBTQ Caucus. (AP Photo/Acacia Coronado, File)
JAMES RUSSELL | Contributing Writer
james.journo@gmail.com
As the 89th Texas Legislature winds down, the attacks on LGBTQ people have ramped up, and three bills affecting the community have passed through the legislative body in less than a week.
Headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk to await his signature is Senate Bill 1257, authored by Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola). It passed in the House on Monday, May 12, and requires health benefit plans providing coverage for gender transitioning and affirming care to also provide coverage for so-called detransitioners.
“Detransitioning” is a colloquialism lobbing together the reasons people halt or reverse their transition. It is relatively rare. According to a study by United States researchers, a full “detransition” only happens in an estimated 8 percent of cases.
And here’s what’s rich: When anti-transgender lawmakers tout research to support their arguments, they tie their bans on gender-affirming care to studies in Denmark questioning the safety of the process. But here’s another study from Denmark: Transgender people rarely regret transitioning.
Anti-transgender activists and cisgender lawmakers typically connect “detransitioning” to the individual’s regret. That’s not the case, either according to another study, which found those who halted their transition faced external pressures, including from family members, and stigma surrounding transgender people.
But bill sponsor Jeff Leach (R-Plano) said it “is meant to protect Texans, not to harm them. If at some point in the future they decide to detransition, the bill will require any health benefit plan that provides coverage for gender transition procedures and treatment.”
Opponents call it the “trans tax.” Rep. Jessica González (D-Dallas), who is also chair of the LGBTQ Caucus, came out forcefully against the bill.
“This bill is meant to accomplish one thing. In my opinion, it is to block transgender individuals from accessing lifesaving medical care. To mandate health insurance plans to cover the transition of care … signals to insurers to deny coverage for all transgender folks,” she said.
González added, “Evidence has proven that providing necessary care significantly improves the mental well-being and overall quality of life for individuals. Denying them this crucial health psychological support is deeply immoral. These are adults making deeply personal decisions about their own bodies, and this state mandate is designed to ensure they do not get the crucial care they require.”
The bill passed 87-58 on final vote.
HB 229
The House also passed HB 229 by Rep. Ellen Troxclair (R-Lakeway). What she called a “Women’s Bill of Rights,” would require all public entities to identify a person’s gender as either male or female on legal documents and force state agencies to align and use an individual’s biological sex when collecting data.
“Without a clear definition, these protections are vulnerable. If anyone can claim the legal status of women based solely on identity, then the very concept of sex-based rights collapses,” Troxclair, flanked by fellow Republican women, said.
Again Rep. González was out in force: “I’m just trying to figure out the purpose of why you’re trying to erase trans individuals,” she asked the author.
Troxclair said she was concerned women and girls were being “erased” given the pressures of “activists judges and political pressure” to recognize transgender people.
“I just don’t understand why people’s lives, why you’re playing with their lives due to politics, when in reality it’s just, you’re just discriminating against these people,” González insisted. “People are going to exist and look a certain way whether you like it or not.”
The bill passed 87-56 and was set to be heard in the Senate on Thursday, May 15.
HB 1106
On Wednesday, May 14, the House gave final approval to HB 1106 by Rep. Matt Shaheen (R-Plano), which would redefine abuse and neglect of children, making it harder for Child Protective Services to intervene when parents reject their LGBTQ children.
The bill passed 85-59, but not before González got the final word.
“These are not isolated tragedies. They are connected by a culture that criminalizes and punishes queerness, especially in children,” the Dallas lawmaker said. “The same children this body claims it is trying to protect. I ask you to really protect our kids. Vote no,” she said.
It awaits a hearing in the Senate.
The session ends on Monday, June 2.