Pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Ximena Lopez started a clinic for trans youth in 2014. But she’s leaving Texas ahead of an expected law that would ban transition-related care for minors.
LGBTQ+ Texans
About 1.8 million Texans are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender — the second-highest such population for any U.S. State — according to the Public Policy Institute of California. In recent years, state officials and lawmakers have pursued legislation and policies that could dramatically affect LGBTQ+ Texans’ lives. Texas Tribune reporters are covering LGBTQ+ Texans’ lives and how these bills, laws and directives impact them.
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LGBTQ+ Texans
Texas Senate again advances proposed restrictions on lessons about gender identity and sexual orientation
For the third time, the Senate is pushing a proposal critics say will ignore the existence of LGBTQ people in every grade level. Two other bills that contained similar language missed key legislative deadlines.
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Texas Legislature 2023
Republican blitz on LGBTQ issues exposes fractures among Texas Democrats
The defections have sparked feelings of betrayal and promises of retribution, particularly as Republicans in the Legislature have presented a unified front.
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LGBTQ+ Texans
Texas attorney general investigating second children’s hospital for transition-related care
The Legislature recently passed a bill that would bar minors from receiving this medical care, but it has not yet been signed or gone into effect.
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Texas Legislature 2023
Texas expected to ban puberty blockers, hormone treatments for trans kids
Gov. Greg Abbott said he will sign Senate Bill 14 into law, which will make Texas one of over a dozen states that restrict transition-related care for transgender minors. Legal groups have already pledged to challenge it in court.
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Texas Legislature 2023
Texas House passes bill restricting the college sports teams transgender athletes can join
Senate Bill 15 would allow people to sue colleges or universities they believe violate a prohibition on trans athletes’ sports participation.
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LGBTQ+ Texans
Pivotal House vote moves Texas closer to banning puberty blockers, hormone treatments for trans kids
The House approved a bill Monday that would ban doctors from providing transition-related care to children. It now heads back to the Senate, which can accept the changes or ask for a committee to iron out the chambers’ differences.
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LGBTQ+ Texans
Austin doctors who treated trans kids leaving Dell Children’s clinic after AG Paxton announces investigation
Attorney General Ken Paxton previously announced an investigation into “potentially illegal” activity. Parents are scrambling to find transition-related care for their kids as the Legislature appears poised to ban it altogether.
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Texas Legislature 2023
Bill striking unconstitutional state law that criminalized homosexuality fails to meet critical deadline in the Texas House
In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Texas’ law banning sodomy in 2003. It took almost 20 years for Democrats to get a bill to repeal the defunct ban on the House calendar.
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Texas Legislature 2023
House bills could make HIV tests a standard part of sexually transmitted infection screenings and health checks
House Bills 3377 and 2235 were authored by freshman state Rep. Venton Jones, the Legislature’s first openly HIV-positive member. They’ve received overwhelming public and bipartisan support.