Following the news on Tuesday that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton declared medical care for transgender “child abuse” under Texas law, directing Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate the use of such treatments, LGBTQ activists and allies are speaking out — including one of the most visible trans voices in the world, Elliot Page.
“I am horrified by the inhumane and downright dangerous declarations by the Texas Governor and Attorney General,” Page said in a statement to Variety. “Trans youth deserve gender-affirming care and to be able to live their true, authentic selves without fear and oppression. I stand with trans youth and their families.”
He also shared, on Instagram, a post from American Civil Liberties Union trans-rights attorney Chase Strangio, adding the comment, “Horrific.”
Paxton, in a tweet earlier this week explaining his formal opinion, said, “Sex-change operations and puberty blockers prescribed to kids is ‘child abuse’ under Texas law. These procedures are monstrous and tragic. I’ll do everything I can to protect against those who take advantage of and harm young Texans.”
Sex-change operations and puberty blockers prescribed to kids is “child abuse” under Texas law.
These procedures are monstrous and tragic. “I’ll do everything I can to protect against those who take advantage of and harm young Texans. https://t.co/AOoO5NNmyC
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) February 21, 2022
Criticism of the official order was instant, with many joining Page to speak out.
Busy Phillips, whose child Birdie identifies as gay and uses they/them pronouns, also chimed in.
“Supporting who your children are is the opposite of abuse. It’s your only job as a parent,” the actress and host wrote in an Instagram post that tagged Abbott.
“Your disgusting attempt to distract from the reality of your failures as a politician will not be tolerated. The cruelty of your actions towards parents, children, caregivers and doctors is remarkable. You are a villain for a superheroes journey. And I am here to tell you, the superheroes are ready to face you and your tiny army of intolerance and hatred.” Phillips added, “DON’T MESS WITH MOMS.”
Lynda Carter, most known for playing the original Wonder Woman, also weighed in.
“There have always been trans kids. This is nothing new. Letting them live their truth will save their lives,” she wrote on Twitter. “To all the trans kids and families who love them, in Texas and around the world: stay strong and keep fighting for your freedom.”
There have always been trans kids. This is nothing new. Letting them live their truth will save their lives.
To all the trans kids and families who love them, in Texas and around the world: stay strong and keep fighting for your freedom.
— Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) February 24, 2022
Gabrielle Union, a staunch queer activist and stepmother to Zaya Wade, who’s blazed a trail in transgender representation since coming out last year, gave her own thoughts.
“This is where we are,” she tweeted. “We shot past dangerous and horrific a long time ago. The rubber has hit the road so who is standing shoulder to shoulder in this fight? Who truly gives a sh*t and whose on that performative bs? Let’s see.”
This is where we are. We shot past dangerous and horrific a long time ago. The rubber has hit the road so who is standing shoulder to shoulder in this fight? Who truly gives a sh*t and whose on that performative bs? Let’s see. https://t.co/WEFH0xETGw
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) February 23, 2022
Elijah Wood weighed in with his own thoughts. “Wow, just when you thought he couldn’t get any worse…Greg Abbott is a ghoul. My heart is with the families that are effected by this heinous order,” he wrote.
Activist and author Roxane Gay added: “This abhorrent bullshit, like TX SB 8, is lethal legislation, further empowering individuals to self-deputize and enforce bigoted laws that reflect whatever fears and hatred they harbor. What starts with trans children and people w/uteruses will not end there.”
Scandal star Kerry Washington added that she thought the directive was “horrific.”
“My heart goes out to the entire Trans community of Texas and their families,” Washington wrote. “Texas, this is happening in your state. Now is the time to use your voice and your VOTE.”
Meanwhile, Frozen star Josh Gad called the move “pure evil.”
“Cruelty isn’t a policy,” he wrote. “Bigotry is not leadership. Transphobia doesn’t solve real world problems like a broken education system, failing infrastructure & rising student debt. This isn’t leadership. It’s hate.”
Jamie Lee Curtis, whose trans daughter Ruby has been a hot topic in the past, also spoke out.
“As a mother of a trans person I’m am outraged!” she wrote before sharing links to local trans resources.
Advocate groups are also pushing back, including Strangio, whose tweets about the matter have been highly shared this week.
What is happening in Texas is terrifying and unimaginable. It is also part of a global attack on trans people, fixated on trans youth as a gateway into attacking all of us. If you want to take action start with Texas but do not stop there.
— Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio) February 23, 2022
Second, the fact that trans youth still experience depression and other mental health conditions even with treatment does not mean the care doesn’t work. It is hard to be trans in this world and these conditions of the discourse escalate those mental health outcomes.
— Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio) February 24, 2022
Third, even if we didn’t have as much evidence as we have, we DO have evidence that taking kids out of their homes is EXTREMELY harmful. So, the idea that removing a child would be less harmful somehow is dystopian and absurd.
— Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio) February 24, 2022
Fourth, much of pediatric medicine involves treatments that are not FDA approved for a particular purpose or tested with randomized controlled trials. The claim that this is the level of evidence needed to prove effictiveness is a standard for this care alone.
— Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio) February 24, 2022
Fifth, many of the same people seeking to ban this care based on claims of a lack of evidence of efficacy are pushing for unfettered use of experimental-COVID treatments with absolutely no evidence of efficacy.
— Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio) February 24, 2022
As the conversation continues, more of Hollywood’s biggest allies are speaking out:
Fuck Greg Abbott. And fuck every single adult obsessively fixating on hurting trans youth instead of offering love, support, and respect. You are monsters. Every single one of you. Fuck off already you dinosaurs.
— Tegan and Sara (@teganandsara) February 23, 2022
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