AUSTIN, Texas — “Protect trans kids” is a chant that rang through the heart of Austin on Saturday. Fifteen hundred people showed up to the Texas Capitol to protest anti-LGBTQ bills moving through the state legislature. 


What You Need To Know

  • Roughly 1,500 people showed up at the Texas State Capitol on Saturday to protest anti-LGBTQ bills 

  • With just six weeks to go in the legislative session, the Texas Senate has passed all of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s priority bills focused on LGBTQ Texans

  • Late last week, a House committee advanced bills to ban transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care. Trans children already receiving treatment would have to be weaned off of it if this legislation becomes law.

  • According to studies done by the University of Texas at Austin, puberty blockers can have positive and negative effects

With just six weeks to go in the legislative session, the Texas Senate has passed all of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s priority bills focused on LGBTQ Texans. 

Historically, the Texas House has avoided legislation that would curb LGBTQ Texans’ rights. But late last week, a House committee advanced bills to ban transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care. Trans children already receiving treatment would have to be weaned off of it if this legislation becomes law. Now, these bills could head to the House floor for a vote. 

The issue hits close to home for Sherry Brodell, who has a trans son. She requested that he not be named for privacy and safety reasons.

“I’m here to stand up for what’s right, and that all Texans deserve to have equal rights and access to health care,” Brodell said.

Transgender children might choose to temporarily suppress puberty through the use of prescription medications. According to studies done by the University of Texas at Austin, puberty blockers can have positive and negative effects. They can decrease thoughts of suicide in adulthood, improve psychological functioning and better someone’s social life. At the same time, puberty blockers can slow down a child’s growth. 

Brodell worries about her son’s mental health if he’s not eventually able to get gender-affirming care.

“An environment is being created where my child’s risk of suicide or suicide ideation is increased exponentially because their access to mental health care has been taken away. It’s terrifying,” Brodell said. “I live in fear of that every single day. And that’s why I’m here, because I am not going to allow my child or any other transgender child in this state to become a statistic because of ignorance and fear.” 

But some conservatives support the move by lawmakers to restrict youth access to gender-affirming care.

“I think it’s very important to have this legislation to protect kids from the puberty blockers, but also the cross-sex hormones and even the surgeries that are happening, because this is doing permanent damage to children that can affect them their entire lives,” said Mary Elizabeth Castle, the director of government affairs for Texas Values. 

Still, Brodell thinks the decision to use puberty blockers should be made with a doctor. Her son is not ready for the treatment yet, but when he is, Brodell wants the option.

“We are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure he has the support that he needs to have a happy, healthy childhood,” she said. “And if puberty blockers is part of it, that’s a decision that I need to make with our child with our doctors. And it does not belong in that building.” 

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