begin investigating parents in these cases, noting that Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued a legal opinion terming such care “child abuse.” The move has drawn outrage from parents of transgender children, activists, businesses, and celebrities.
Texas legislators last year considered a bill to this effect, but it failed to pass. Some Texas prosecutors have already said they will not bring charges against parents.In the lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Travis County court in Texas, the ACLU and Lambda represent an employee of DFPS with a trans child, her husband, and the teen herself, all of whom are remaining anonymous, referred to as Jane, John, and Mary Doe.
An investigator has already come to the family’s house, according to the suit, and has demanded medical records the family refused to turn over.
The Does appear to be one of the first families investigated.Megan Mooney, a licensed psychologist who is considered a mandatory reporter under Texas law and cannot comply with the governor’s directive without harming her clients and violating her ethical obligations, is also a plaintiff in the suit. “Plaintiffs in this suit will face imminent and irreparable harms absent intervention by the Court,” the complaint reads. “Specifically, Jane Doe has already been placed on administrative leave at work and is at risk of losing her job, her livelihood, and the means of caring for her family.