Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently issued an opinion classifying medically necessary gender-affirming care to youth as child abuse. AG Paxton’s statement stands in direct opposition to the evidence-based care recognized by numerous professional societies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, Endocrine Society, and American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America) knows that providing necessary and adequate medical care to your child is not child abuse, and that transgender and non-binary children need access to age-appropriate, individualized medical care just like every other child. Therefore, PCA America opposes legislation and laws that would deny healthcare access to any child, regardless of their gender identity. Such laws threaten the safety and security of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens — children and youth.
Additionally, transgender youth are subject to violence based on their gender identity, and suffer substance abuse, homelessness, suicidality, child welfare involvement and other negative outcomes at distressingly higher rates. Medical and mental health care can reduce serious risks to their health and well-being and lead to healthy, resilient children, youth, and families.
Our network can take action to strengthen the foundations of love, safety, and support that enable all of our nation’s children to thrive. Please contact your legislators in states considering such proposed laws to make them aware that you oppose legislation that prevents access to medically necessary care for any children and youth, including those whose gender identity is transgender or non-binary.
To find your state legislators, click here. To learn more about the American Academy of Pediatrics’ position on gender-affirming care, click here.
Together, we CAN prevent child abuse, America—because childhood lasts a lifetime.
Dr. Melissa Merrick
President & CEO
