AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's request for information from PFLAG National regarding transgender youth care has been temporarily halted by Travis County District Court Judge Maria Cantú Hexsel.
For the time being, PFLAG will not be forced to turn over information and documents about its support of families in Texas seeking gender-transitioning medical care for their transgender youth.
The attorney general's office has a hearing on March 25 to argue against extending Friday's order.
Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, the ACLU and Transgender Law Center issued a joint statement stating, “We’re grateful that the Court saw the harm the Attorney General’s Office’s intrusive demands posed for PFLAG National and its Texas members — and is protecting them from having to respond while we continue to litigate the legality of the office’s requests."
"We now will return to court to seek an extended and ultimately permanent block so that PFLAG can continue supporting its Texas members with transgender youth in doing what all loving parents do: supporting and caring for their children," the statement continued.
On Feb. 9, PFLAG received civil demands from the Attorney General's Office, requesting information and documents concerning their efforts in supporting families with transgender adolescents.
PFLAG National sued the office office Wednesday saying that Paxton is demanding “documents and communications” related to a sworn statement the group’s CEO Brian Bond provided to a court last year while opposing the state’s transgender youth medical care ban.
PFLAG National is involved in two lawsuits challenging Texas' restrictions on gender-transitioning medical care for adolescents.
Prior to Friday's ruling, Paxton issued a statement on the lawsuit claiming it was an attempt to "hide" documents that show PFLAG was likely "committing fraud" or violating Texas' recently enacted Senate Bill 14, which prohibits gender-transitioning care for minors.
“Texas passed SB 14 to protect children from damaging, unproven medical interventions with catastrophic lifelong consequences for their health,” Paxton wrote. “Any organization seeking to violate this law, commit fraud, or weaponize science and medicine against children will be held accountable.”