Gregory Wayne Abbott (born November 13, 1957) is an American attorney who has served as the 48th governor of Texas since January 20, 2015. A member of the Republican Party, Abbott previously served as the 50th attorney general of Texas from 2002 to 2015. He is the third governor of any U.S. state to permanently use a wheelchair. He is also the first disabled governor in Texas history.
Texas bid to ban gender care for trans minors fuels LGBTQ+ rights clash
With young transgender Americans caught in the middle of a culture war over LGBTQ+ rights, Texas has sought to clamp down on gender-transitioning medical treatments that Governor Greg Abbott says are “child abuse.” A Texas judge on Friday imposed a temporary injunction on investigations into parents that Abbott had ordered state child protection services to carry out, saying the probes endangered children and their families.
Friday’s ruling marked a victory for LGBTQ+ groups, medical professionals and civil liberties advocates opposing moves by conservative politicians in dozens of states to criminalize the provision of gender-transitioning treatments for trans youth.
What is happening in Texas and how could it impact the wider battle over LGBTQ+ rights in the United States? The directive issued by Abbott in February called on doctors, nurses and teachers to report cases of trans minors receiving gender-affirming medical treatment such as hormones or face criminal penalties.
Abbott’s order was challenged in court by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and LGBTQ+ advocacy group Lambda Legal on behalf of the family of a 16-year-old trans girl targeted for investigation.
