Tell the Texas Legislature NO to Healthcare Discrimination!

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LGBTQ people, especially transgender and gender non-conforming youth, deserve full access to affirming healthcare.

Bills that undermine healthcare for LGBTQ people are progressing in committee in the Texas Legislature. These bills would all but eliminate access to affirming care for transgender youth and introduce refusal rights based on religious belief. These bills are nothing short of legislated discrimination and run contrary to medical ethics and best-practice care.

Some bills to be heard include:

SB 1646, a bill that would create a criminal penalty for providing affirming medical care for transgender youth. This would virtually end transition-related care for minors in Texas.
HB 1399, a bill that would make it impossible for medical providers to get professional liability insurance to provide affirming care. This bill would severely limit the ability to provide crucial transition care.
HB 1424, a bill that would allow any medical provider to refuse care based on ethical, religious or moral grounds. It does not even contain a carveout for critical lifesaving care.

Your members of the Texas Legislature need to hear your voice! Feel free to add your own thoughts and experiences to the draft letter we have provided here.

Want to do even more? We need your help! We are looking for people to testify in person during the committee hearings. Sign up via Equality Texas below:

Monday, April 12th: Senate State Affairs (SB 1646)
Wednesday, April 14th: House Public Health (HB 1399, HB 1424)

Stand with us and tell your members of the Texas Legislature to not engage in any needless attacks on transgender youth or LGBTQ Texans!

Make sure to sign up for Resource Center advocacy alerts to stay in the loop as the session progresses!

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Tell the Texas Legislature NO to Healthcare Discrimination!

Your Members of the Texas Legislature

Subject: Oppose LGBTQ Healthcare Discrimination Bills

Message:

I write as your constituent to strongly urge you to oppose all bills such as SB 1646, HB 1399 and HB 1424 that would legislate healthcare discrimination for LGBTQ Texans. These bills go against prevailing standards of care and run contrary to medical ethics. SB 1646 and HB 1399 would virtually end life-saving, affirming medical care for transgender and gender non-conforming youth. These bills rely on medically inaccurate information and fear around transition-related care. Without age-appropriate intervention, transgender youth will experience the irreversible effects of unwanted puberty. Trans youth experience higher rates of suicidal ideation, harassment and substance abuse. Criminalizing access to care, or eliminating professional liability insurance to provide this care, will only heighten these risk factors. Transgender youth deserve access to best-practice approaches as supported by numerous professional medical organizations such as the American Medical Association, American Psychological Association and American Academy of Pediatrics. Similarly, HB 1424 would allow any medical provider to refuse care based upon “ethical, moral or religious” objections. The bill does not even contain a provision for emergency, life-saving critical care. This bill would create a dangerous situation and opens the door to refusal of care for any reason. Despite legislative priorities such as the budget, coronavirus response and redistricting, it is dismaying that these heartless and discriminatory bills are even receiving a hearing. As the legislative session continues, I am counting on you to stand up to these blatant attacks on transgender youth and the LGBTQ community at large. I urge you to forcefully and vocally oppose SB 1646, HB 1399 and HB 1424 and all bills that undermine the dignity of LGBTQ Texans. Thank you for your attention.

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