Court grants injunction halting AG’s demand for PFLAG documents, info
The Travis County District Court on Monday granted a temporary injunction blocking the Texas Attorney General’s Office’s demand that PFLAG National turn over information and documents about the organization’s support of families in Texas seeking gender-affirming medical care for their transgender youth. “PFLAG families in Texas gained further protection today when the court reaffirmed that the Attorney General can’t two-step around the law with an outrageous demand for private information,” said Brian K.
Bond, CEO of PFLAG National. “PFLAG National will continue to fight to protect our families, because trans youth and their loved ones deserve better, and loving your LGBTQ+ kid is always the right thing to do.” Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, the ACLU, Transgender Law Center and Arnold & Porter, who earlier secured a temporary restraining order on PFLAG National’s behalf, had asked the court to issue an injunction blocking the attorney general’s investigative demands while the legal advocates pursue their challenge in court.
The court agreed and issued the order upon completion of the hearing. “PFLAG National has consistently protected Texas families with transgender youth in the face of the state’s persecution,” said Chloe Kempf, attorney with the ACLU of Texas. “This court ruling is a critical step in allowing PFLAG National and its members to join together and advocate for each other, free from the threat of the attorney general’s retaliation and intimidation.
But we know that this isn’t over,” Kemp said, “and Texans of all races, genders, and backgrounds must be able to continue to engage in civil society to advocate for their safety, equality, and constitutional rights.” Elizabeth Gill (she/her), staff attorney for the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Project, said, “We’re so thankful the court saw through this transparent abuse of power by the Office of the Attorney General.
