Aimee Walker
A new Texas bill has been brought forward which means parents of trans kids could now be classed as ‘child abusers’.
The law was filed on March 11 and has been promoted by 13 Republican state senators.
Chase Strangio, from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has branded the move ‘totally barbaric’.
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On Twitter, he wrote: “This bill in Texas, SB1646, would remove trans kids from their homes if a parent affirms their gender. Truly barbaric.”
The state’s potential new bill will mean that a person will be considered guilty of child abuse if they are ‘consenting to or assisting in the administering or supplying of, a puberty suppression prescription drug or cross-sex hormone to a child’.
Policy and advocacy strategist for the ACLU of Texas, Adri Perez, has also slammed the ruling.
He shared a video on Twitter, saying: “Gender-affirming care is essential and life-saving care.
“Make no mistake, restricting and even criminalizing access to healthcare for transgender people will cost lives.”
What are Texas’ child abuse penalties?
Penalties will be given out, including fines up to $10,000.
In certain cases, the child could even be removed from their residence and parents could face jail times.
But Texas isn’t the first US state to take such a harsh stance on transgender people.
Its ruling comes after Arkansas banned transition healthcare for trans children, which 17 other states are considering passing too.
Many Republicans who voted for the bill say it’s simply like banning minors from smoking or having tattoos.
How does a bill become law in Texas?
To make a bill become law in Texas, it will be put forward to the House Committee and then put forward for debate.
If it passes, the ruling is then sent onto the Senate where it will be amended.
60 per cent of the Senators must then agree it should be sent to the Senate floor and if it then passes the majority, it’s sent to the Governor.
The Governor then signs the bill into law, although there’s still the possibility it can be overridden.
Recently, a Texas abortion bill was put forward and passed.
The bill means that abortions are banned if a fetal heartbeat has been detected, which can be as early as six weeks.
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