ACLU Supporter –

Late last Friday, the ACLU, ACLU of Texas, and Lambda Legal secured an injunction blocking the state of Texas from implementing a new, harmful directive that targets transgender youth and their families. That same evening, almost immediately following this ruling, Attorney General Ken Paxton appealed the court's order.

We expect this case to continue to move very quickly, so we wanted to give you an update on these latest events to help you stay informed as possible as things unfold:

First, as a reminder, the directive in question – which came from Governor Greg Abbott – ordered Texas' Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to investigate parents who work with medical professionals to provide their adolescent trans children with medically necessary treatment.

DFPS immediately implemented the Governor's unlawful directive and investigations into families with transgender children have already been reported across the state.

That's why we sued Texas officials and, after a day-long hearing last Friday, the Texas judge recognized the state's actions for what they were: unauthorized and unconstitutional exercises of power that cause severe, immediate, and devastating harm to trans youth and their families across Texas.

ACLU Supporter, our witnesses from Friday – including a parent targeted by these attacks, experts on medical care, and a supervisor within Texas Child Protective Services – gave courageous and emotional testimony about the fear and harm caused by the state's unlawful actions.

It's a relief that the judge understood the magnitude and breadth of this impact. We'll also be clear that we do not believe the newest appeal from AG Paxton has merit. But his zealousness to persecute trans youth and their families in this way affirms even more how critical our fight ahead will be.

That's exactly what we will continue to do – until this cruel directive in Texas is stopped for good and until all trans people are affirmed and have access to the healthcare they need across the country.

Thank you for being with us in this fight, and we'll be sure to keep you updated on the latest on this case – and on all our work for people's rights.

Onward,

The ACLU Team

P.S. ACLU Supporter, these types of attacks are not isolated to Texas. Dozens of states are targeting trans youth through anti-trans legislation – and because the fight for trans justice has never been more urgent, an anonymous donor has pledged to match all donations up to $200,000 to fuel our legal, advocacy, and organizing work. So please, if you'd like a way to help right now, donate today and your gift will be put directly into this effort – with twice the impact. Thank you.