WASHINGTON — Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, member of the House Judiciary Committee, and co-chair of the Transgender Equality Task Force, issued the following statement in response to reports that the state of Texas has begun investigating parents of transgender children for ‘child abuse.’
“I am disgusted by Governor Abbott’s reprehensible, discriminatory attack on transgender youth and their families. The fear and psychological impact that such attacks will cause on transgender children and their parents is incalculable. No person should have their fundamental right to be who they are questioned, and no parent should ever face criminal action for simply supporting their child. This is destructive discrimination and it must be stopped.
“I was pleased to hear President Biden reiterate his support of our transgender kids last night in his State of the Union address. Today, I am calling on the Department of Justice to follow through by investigating these events in Texas and ensuring we protect young trans Texans and their families.
“I speak from personal experience as the proud mother of a transgender child. I have seen my child come to understand who she is and take the risk to come out as her authentic self. I’ve seen the weight that lifts when she’s able to live freely — the joy, beauty, and creativity she brings to the world. As a mother, supporting my child in living as her true self is my obligation as a parent and the farthest possible thing from abuse.
“What is harmful is depriving our children of the love that each and every one deserves, and making it unsafe to be who they are. A 2020 survey found that two in five LGBTQ+ youth have ‘seriously considered’ suicide. Violence against transgender and gender non-conforming people reached a record high in 2021.
“While this Texas action may be the latest and most egregious attack on the community at the state level, it is certainly not without precedent. In 2021, 147 anti-trans bills were introduced in state legislatures. Just by February 24 of this year, already more than 125 anti-trans state bills have been introduced. Make no mistake: this is a coordinated effort to erode what protections the transgender community has already won and legislate transgender people out of existence.
“When people’s rights are assailed like this, the federal government has an obligation to step in. This crisis is just one of the many urgent reasons for abolishing the Jim Crow filibuster and passing the Equality Act to finally codify nationwide, explicit, consistent protections against discrimination for LGBTQ people. And the executive branch must respond as well."
