Challenges to Trans Rights in Texas
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
The Governor and Attorney General of the state of Texas have declared that the provision of gender-affirming care to trans children constitutes child abuse, and have directed social services legal personnel to investigate trans children and prosecute their parents. They have also directed mandated reporters in Texas to report all trans children to the authorities. In Texas, every adult is a mandated reporter, not just lawyers, teachers, and clergy. The declaration lists several examples of medical care that can be provided to trans individuals, virtually none of which are typically provided to children. For example: for young children, transition is about clothing, name, and which bathroom to use. Puberty-delaying drugs are not typically administered until the tween years, at the earliest. Hormones are not typically administered before the older teen years. Gender-affirming surgery is only performed on adults. The Texas declaration is inherently misleading.
We as Thelemites support the individual’s right to discover and express their own identity. It is the right and responsibility of the individual to be who they are. Even though minors are legally incapable of giving consent for gender-affirming surgery, that is not what is at issue here: the gender-affirming health care most trans children receive consists of love and support. If you happen to see a trans kid, it does not mean that they are necessarily receiving any gender-affirming medical care at all other than, perhaps, counseling. Even for older youth, there are safeguards in place to ensure that the treatments are in line with the individual’s own wishes, and are not being imposed on them against their will by their caretakers.
I encourage all Thelemites to support human rights for transgender individuals, and to educate themselves on these issues. These organizations are a solid place to start:
- ACLU
- Transgender Education Network of Texas
- Transgender Law Center
Love is the law, love under will.
Sabazius
