Elliot Page, Ariana Grande & other stars speak out against Texas gov’s attack on trans youth

Academy Award-nominated actor Elliot Page said that he is “horrified” by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) order to investigate families that allow their trans kids to get medical attention for child abuse and said that doctors, nurses, and teachers who don’t report parents who allow their trans kids to get gender affirming medical care could face jail time. His order was based on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s (R) non-binding opinion that gender affirming care denies patients their constitutional right to procreate.

“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.”

Related: 4th grader who shamed Texas Republicans for attacking her rights is now getting death threats

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Lynda Carter – TV’s Wonder Woman – also denounced Abbott and Paxton, attacking their assertion that transgender children are somehow a recent phenomenon.

“There have always been trans kids,” she wrote. “This is nothing new. Letting them live their truth will save their lives.”

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

Actor Gabrielle Union, the stepmother of trans teen icon Zaya Wade, also denounced Abbott and Paxton.

“This is where we are,” the supportive stepparent 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.”

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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

Pop star Ariana Grande reposted an ACLU message about Abbott’s order to her Instagram stories, which said that Abbott “can’t change Texas law and can’t override the constitutional rights of Texas families.”

While the Abbott’s order may well be overturned by a court – he literally banned private citizens from getting life-saving and science-backed health care based on erroneous beliefs about the medical treatments – it’s also likely to lead to a lot of suffering along the way, like doctors refusing to prescribe puberty blockers out of fear of prosecution and teachers reporting the parents of transgender children to authorities even if the kids aren’t receiving any gender affirming health care.

Out actor Jen Richards dug in on Abbott’s hypocrisy for campaigning on a “parental bill of rights” as he declares parents to be child abusers for providing medical care to their kids.

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Horrific on its own merits, it’s also the rankest of hypocrisy from the very same people who claim they want the government to stay out of your business and say they support parental rights: https://t.co/IDZ8pdIVFl

— Jen Richards (@SmartAssJen) February 22, 2022

And we know, we KNOW, what the result will be. Because trans people exist, have always existed, and will always exists, it just means that trans youth will be more at risk, more vulnerable, at home and in schools. They will be kicked out or run away and suicide rates will spike.

— Jen Richards (@SmartAssJen) February 22, 2022

And this will only embolden right wing evangelical Christian fanatics who will then use the same playbook against gays and lesbians and women and any difference until someday they have their straight white fantasy fulfilled and realize they’re still empty and miserable.

— Jen Richards (@SmartAssJen) February 22, 2022

Follow @chasestrangio for all the efforts to stop these attempts to destroy trans youth. Listen to trans youth. Donate to both national orgs and local trans led efforts. Watch Changing the Game (Hulu) and Disclosure (Netflix). SPEAK UP. We can’t do this on our own.

— Jen Richards (@SmartAssJen) February 22, 2022

Pop stars Tegan and Sara were direct in their thoughts on Abbott’s order: “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.”

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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