John,

We wanted to let you know that Texas is taking a stand against radical gender ideology by filing new bills that would stop barbarous gender modification procedures and protect fairness in women’s sports. Both of these issues are top priorities for Texas Values Action.

First, Senator Donna Campbell and Representative Tom Oliverson worked closely with our policy team to file identical bills to ban the radical and harmful practice of gender modification surgeries and treatments on children in both the Texas Senate and Texas House. In addition, earlier today, Representative Mayes Middleton filed legislation in the Texas Senate to protect women athletes in college sports, one of our top priorities this session.

House Bill (H.B.) 1686 and Senate Bill (S.B.) 625 by Rep. Oliverson and Sen. Campbell

These bills would protect children from experimental and harmful sex reassignment medical procedures by prohibiting Texas medical professionals from engaging in these practices and holding those who violate the law accountable.

Based on the weight of available and emerging research, these medical procedures violate the first duty of medicine, which is to “Do No Harm.” Children struggling with their gender and their families deserve compassionate care, not experimental and harmful medical intervention. These bills will ensure that these children and their families are able to receive real help rather than false hope.

Senate Bill 649 by Rep. Middleton 

This legislation would make sure that men cannot compete on women’s sports teams at the college level. Last session, the Texas legislature passed HB 25, authored by Representative Valoree Swanson, that keeps boys out of girls’ sports in K-12 UIL athletic competitions. With the recent incident like that of male swimmer Lia Thomas competing and dominating the NCAA championship for women’s swimming, the state needs a law to make sure that women’s athletics competitions and scholarships are protected at the college level as well.

A petition asking the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to stop men from competing in women’s sports of over 10,000 signatures was hand delivered to NCAA officials at their national convention held in San Antonio in January. Rep. Swanson filed a similar version of this bill, HB 23, on the House side back in November 2022.

Texas Values Action is the leading faith and family organization in Texas that is working on the ground at the Capitol and focusing on the issues of banning gender modification surgeries and treatments in the State of Texas and protecting fairness in women's sports. These top priorities for Texas Values Action and other bills on this issue will be supported as well as we continue to be on the front lines of this issue. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to further our work, or consider volunteering your time for our work.

Faith & Family Legislative Day at the Texas Capitol

Join us on Monday, March 13th, 2023, for a day of education and advocating for faith & family values at the Texas Capitol. The price of your ticket includes lunch, please register today!